Be safe and start low and work up.

The forearm has the same wood as the stock, but is darker. Don't know if it's from oil or what. 

I'm not comfortable with black powder loadings. So I'm planning on starting with a 350 grain LFPGC bullet sized to .459

And I'm starting with IMR 3031 and RL7, and loading for 1300-1400 fps.

I'd gladly listen to any suggestions.

It must have the 1 in 32 twist, as it has a 26" barrel and the cleaning rod with a tight patch only made about 3/4 of a revolution.

While I understand why collectors worship an all-original, high condition gun, I think it is wrong to say a knowledgeable and skillful refinish "wipes away a gun's history and character."  What this rifle and others like it exemplify is a well-used but well cared-for piece. The Brits shoot in rainy weather and a man lucky enough to possess a matched pair of Boss bird guns is not going to let their steel go bare. The receivers are cased or coined with fine scroll that holds protective oil, but the barrels go back to the maker for "re-blacking" as required. Regularly. Americans who go shopping for such weapons expecting a huge discount are in for a rude shock. 

I'm not suggesting refinishing an 1886 Winchester won't affect its market price; it provably does. Nor do I condemn collectors who refuse to have a refinished gun in their collections. I do suggest voluably regarding with derision a fine piece that has been carefully and correctly refinished, is ignorant and short-sighted. The tail is wagging the dog. Caveat: "carefully and correctly" means an experienced collector has to look twice to be sure. 

The stock has a lot of figure for what appears to be a standard grade rifle. Is the forearm as dark as it appears in the photo?

I assume this rifle has the 45-90 "express" barrel with 1-in-32 twist? How do you plan to load for it? 

It looks like a fine adventure to me. 

Mike

One thing you want to watch for is what I experienced with my 12 gauge 1947 Skeet Gun. It wasn't until 1950 that Winchester consistently installed a "recoil abutment" device in the Model 21 Walnut forearm, to restrain the forearm iron from splitting the forearm wood between the iron and the receiver, the result of repeated inertial hammering generated by recoil.  

My gun didn't have such a device and had several small beginning fractures visible only from the inletted side. My first shot separated the forearm from the gun and left a visible split. The ammunition was Winchester AA 1 ounce #8 at 1350 fs. A light load but pretty fast. Recoil was stiff enough to break my shooting hand grip and draw blood from my middle finger, which had been cut by the edge of the trigger guard. 

My gunsmith, Ron Gervase, is an expert who deals with high end shotguns. He instantly recognized the problem and solved it by repairing the split and then glass bedding the iron into its inletting,  testing the work with a couple of proof loads. A permanent solution that cost me a very reasonable $350 USD.  

Ron advised me to stay away from heavy shot quantity, high velocity ammunition, for which the Skeet Gun was not designed. At 7.25 pounds, it is too light for that kind  of abuse. 

My gun originally had a bare, checkered wood butt some fool made standard for the Skeet Gun style. A prior owner sensibly had the butt trimmed to retain LOP and added a Pachmayr solid brown pad. That helped reduce my price and saved me from having to pay for a pad installation.

I don't care what the fashionable appearance was supposed to be for Skeet - only a moron would try to compete with a 7 pound 12 gauge without a recoil pad. I've never seen a match where anybody shot without one. But I digress...

Remove the forearm and closely examine (1) to see if an abutment device is installed; (2) to see if any actual or incipient splitting is present.  If there is no abutment device in place and I liked the gun, I would have the forearm iron glass bedded to preempt the problem. The problem was widespread enough to justify the expense.  

In the alternative, assuming you can find an abutment device on eBay, you could have it installed. I'm sure CSC/Galazan would install one for you but ask the price first.

I've attached a photo of my gun's forearm so you can see where the problem occurs. I've also attached an excerpt from The Model 21:  Winchester's Finest that illustrates and discusses the abutment device.  

Bert

First year production, two triggers, 26" barrels, choked cyl, and mod.

Your thoughts?

One of my early mentors was Steve Camp, one day we were discussing an ugly gun I shot well and enjoyed shooting. He told me something that stuck with me, "Pretty is as pretty does". I recently put together a gun so ugly it's kinda cute. I won't win any beauty contests and neither will a few of my guns, that's OK by me. We get the job done!

Mike

They are both long since dead. 

The late John Wright was the London-trained Englishman who was the first person to head the Winchester Repeating Arms Custom Shop. 

His successor in that position was the late Robert W. Owen, who went on to establish his own custom stockmaking trade. 

These gentlemen brought their refined taste for the English magazine stalking rifle, as seen in the prewar Holland and Rigby Mausers, to Winchester. 

The Model 54 and 70 Super Grade (and in miniature, the 52 Sporting) stocks owe their long, tapering forearms, ebony-like forearm tips in lieu of schnabble beaks, and the graceful lines of their pistol grips and cheek rests, to Wright and Owen. 

Owen was one of the leading lights in the  early years of the "American classic" design movement and Alvin Linden, Alvin Biesen, Monty Kennedy, Lenard Brownell, Earl Milliron, et al. were his followers and essentially his students. 

It is unfortunate that their successors - David Miller and D'Arcy Echols, to name two of the very best still practicing the trade -- have to charge so much for their work to make even a modest living that their rifles have become investments incapable of being hunted except by the wealthy, who very sensibly won't take them out in the rain. 

Anyone who has seen any of the late Jack O'Connor's sheep rifles built by various top-shelf makers, principally but not exclusively Al Biesen, knows they wear a lot of scars and have been refinished more than once because of weather. 

You pays your money and you takes your choice. My bad weather hunting is behind me so I'm not put to any choice except what my pocketbook dictates.

As always, I wish you and whatever weapon you choose to take afield the very best success-- plus hoping you don't hurt yourself in dangerous  terrain. 

However, if you ever send me a photograph of yourself holding that Flash Gordon ray gun next to a B&C Elk,  I would be tempted to fire up Photoshop and substitute my Shiloh Sharps saddle rifle into your hands. And publish it, but only to preserve and defend my friend's reputation as a man of taste and fondness for the good things of this life. 

Zebulon said

Anthony said

Chuck said
A large majority of the target rifles today are 700 clones.  All 3 of mine are.
Chuck,
You're absolutely correct, as Remington's patent expired a few years ago, many are offering the custom rifles on the 700 platform as you stated. Here's one we just had made up for out west, in a 7 PRC, Caliber.

Tony
  

  

Tony,  There is no doubt in my mind that 7 PRC could put one through a coyote's earhole at whatever distance you'd care to name.  But - every time they see a picture of it, the shades of John Wright and Bob Owen moan "the horror" and weep bitter tears. 
As a Southerner born and bred, I will only say that's the ugliest gun I've ever seen - bless its heart. 
  

Bill,

I'm an ole' traditionalist myself, and can understand you're feelings. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, where different stroked surly apply. It's definitely a tool built specifically, for out west Elk hunts this fall in New Mexico, and Montana, and hopefully beyond.  My oldest Son won't have to worry about scratchin the Deluxe wood on it, and who ever those two gentlemen you mentioned, can keep they're moaning in their bedroom, along with they're snivlin towel, as a closed mind, never opens.

Tony

Anthony said

Chuck said
A large majority of the target rifles today are 700 clones.  All 3 of mine are.
Chuck,
You're absolutely correct, as Remington's patent expired a few years ago, many are offering the custom rifles on the 700 platform as you stated. Here's one we just had made up for out west, in a 7 PRC, Caliber.

Tony
  

Tony,  There is no doubt in my mind that 7 PRC could put one through a coyote's earhole at whatever distance you'd care to name.  But - every time they see a picture of it, the shades of John Wright and Bob Owen moan "the horror" and weep bitter tears. 

As a Southerner born and bred, I will only say that's the ugliest gun I've ever seen - bless its heart. 

Chuck said
A large majority of the target rifles today are 700 clones.  All 3 of mine are.

Chuck,

You're absolutely correct, as Remington's patent expired a few years ago, many are offering the custom rifles on the 700 platform as you stated. Here's one we just had made up for out west, in a 7 PRC, Caliber.

Tony