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November 21, 2014
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I would like to know any experiences you may have shooting 200gr, or lighter, jacketed bullets out of the 33. Bullets don’t have to be limited to tubefeed style. I’m not opposed to a 2 round lever gun. Load info greatly appreciated also. My rifle is a 1910 TD 1886. Thanks for reading.
September 19, 2014
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You may wish to try the 200 gr flex tip Hornady bullet. It works in my takedown 1886 if you will unscrew the magazine tube about one turn. That bit of extra clearance allows the tip to clear enough to feed reliably. Else, single load. Look into using IMR 3031 for about 2100 fps. Tim
April 15, 2005
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200 Grain bullets were the standard factory load from day one of production. Like Tim, I load them with IMR 3031 powder (33 grains).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 21, 2014
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Win1886 33 WCF said
I would like to know any experiences you may have shooting 200gr, or lighter, jacketed bullets out of the 33. Bullets don’t have to be limited to tubefeed style. I’m not opposed to a 2 round lever gun. Load info greatly appreciated also. My rifle is a 1910 TD 1886. Thanks for reading.
Thank you, Tim and Bert! Does magazine length matter with the FTX, or is it bullet design? Any crystal ball for when they might be available? Have either of you used the Hawk 200gr FN? Your thoughts on the need to crimp, some say yes, other’s no need.
April 15, 2005
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When loading cartridges for a magazine tube-fed lever action rifle, you must always crimp the bullet. The FTX bullet is longer than the flat-point bullets traditionally used for the 33 WCF. You either have to seat them deeper in the case mouth or try what Tim suggested. The goal is to get them to fully clear the magazine tube before the cartridge carrier tries to elevate them up through the action.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 31, 2009
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I’d agree with Bert if I were using original 1890’s loading methods. Which most of the time I am. But for accuracy I prefer to adjust my expander OD to get the tightest grip I need to keep the bullets from moving. Your accuracy can be improved when not crimping. I took a universal expander mandrel die and then used a pin gauge as the mandrel. You need to test how much neck tension you need to keep the bullets from moving. Load powder less and primer less loads into the magazine. Try smaller pin gauges until you find the one that gives you the tension you need. To measure neck tension first measure the OD of a sized case then seat a bullet and re measure. The difference in .001″ is the neck tension.
November 21, 2014
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Bert and Chuck, Your knowledge and experience is invaluable! Thank you for your input. I’m looking forward to shooting more of my lever guns. I have shot scoped rifles for so long my confidence with open sights is lacking. I’ll probably shoot my ’07 1894 30 WCF OCT rifle as a less expensive option to get proficient with open sights. Thank you again.
April 3, 2018
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Bert’s advice is well taken.
Hornady discontinued the well-made 200 gr flat point bullet some years back, but they can still be found on
dealer’s or sporting goods shelves in more remote places in the outback. Hawk Bullets also makes a flat point bullet in 180-200 gr weights.
I prefer the 200 gr weight as this was the weight bullet originally used and loaded by WRA for the 33 WCF chambering in the 1886. The Hawk bullets
have interesting copper jacket material that is both easy on older bores and effective as a hunting choice. Flat point bullets transfer much of their energy
directly to the target. Another option for bear, elk and moose is to single load the 210 gr Nosler .338 semi-spitzer partition bullet. That bullet can be
chambered-followed by FP Hawk or Hornady bullets.
I just received 3 boxes of Hawk 200 gr bullets with cannelures for crimping. The quality is excellent and effective as a hunting bullet.
November 21, 2014
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450 Fuller, Thank you for the input on your experience with Hawk bullets. I’m getting ready to order some 200 gr Hawk. I have the #10 Hornady manual that lists 33 WCF data shot in a 1886. Has anyone used this data up to max loads in older 86s?
November 19, 2006
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The .348 WCF followed the .33 WCF. This prompts me to reflect that with the .348, factory loads came in 150, 200 and 250 grain. The 150 grain turned out to be a pretty poor performer.
April 15, 2005
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Win1886 33 WCF said
450 Fuller, Thank you for the input on your experience with Hawk bullets. I’m getting ready to order some 200 gr Hawk. I have the #10 Hornady manual that lists 33 WCF data shot in a 1886. Has anyone used this data up to max loads in older 86s?
In my opinion, there is no need to load (reload) the 33 WCF up to the maximum listed load. Start at the low-end of the listed loads and work up slowly to find the accuracy load and then stop. Old Winchesters should not be fed a steady diet of “max” loads.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 31, 2009
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Do what Bert said. Find the best powder charge then experiment with bullet seating depths. Make sure your primers are seated deep enough so the primer cup is bottomed out. If you have the tools to measure the distance from the base of the case to the “shoulder” fire from them so this measurement is the the same. This gets the case volume the same shot to shot. Here is a picture of a case comparator attached to a caliper. The orange is the body and the silver colored end is a case specific comparator. If this was a case that sets head space off the shoulder this is what you would use. It can also used on the rimmed bottle neck cases to make sure they have the same volume. I have a similar set up to measure the base of the case to the ogive of the bullet so you can set up your seating depth.
November 21, 2014
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Thanks, Steve, Bert, and Chuck! I have no intention of using max loads in the 86. The Hornady #10 loads max at 2200fps. There is data published that goes 2400fps with 200gr bullets for the 86. I am fine with 2200 or slightly less. Open sight, brush hunting for blacktails in Oregon doesn’t require lazer trajectory. I was reading some of Mike Venturino’s work on 33s in 1886. He said the Hornady loads he used seized the action. He went with slow H4350, pressure gone, accuracy improved. I don’t want a flamethrower so intend to use H4895, IMR-3031, or RL-15.
April 3, 2018
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As Bert has indicated, our 1886 rifles are older and deserve some care in reloading if we wish to continue shooting them regularly. I tend to avoid cast
bullets in the 33 WCF, with the Hawk bullets just as kind to the bores of the three 86 rifles I shoot. An early Jan-Feb 1977 Handloader Magazine article by
Jim Hanson showed the best research on the 33 WCF for reloading found. Using H-4831 powder and 200 gr bullets, Hanson was able to achieve groups
as small as 1.75 in at 100 yards. His chronograph showed average velocity around 2030-2050 fps with 200 gr Hornady bullets.
That is about the velocity I am comfortable with and that works well in the type of mule deer, white tails, and bear hunting I do-as a long shot
is anything over the length of a football field. Hawk bullets can make a 33 WCF bullet as light as 180 gr, but I prefer the 200 gr weight. Also have a few pre-
war Model 71s and the 200 gr bullet works well. For serious possible bear encounters, the 210 gr Nosler backed by a magazine tube full of Hawk -loaded
cartridges should work.
LtCol Ridge
April 3, 2018
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One other interesting point in reloading for the 33 WCF cartridge: The Lee Die Company in WI., I believe-make an interesting Factory Crimp Die. I use it for the 33 WCF just as Lee makes it. This die allows for crimping uniformity which really aids in accurate handloaded ammunition. The FC die can also be adjusted to a really firm crimp for bullet retention in tubular magazines. The die is reasonably priced and is fully adjustable.
I have had my Lee FCD for quite a few years and it may have been one of the first made in 33 WCF. It is very useful in crimping bullets without a cannelure. Hawk Bullets can be ordered with or without a cannelure. I have also used it with the Hornady .33 FP bullets which were expressly made for the Marlin and Winchester 1886 rifles. The Hornady bullets have been discontinued, but they can still be found in small sporting goods or gun shops.
They come with cannelured jackets in 200 gr weight.
Ridge Marriott
NM-AZ mountains during deer-bear season…
December 27, 2025
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450 Fuller said
One other interesting point in reloading for the 33 WCF cartridge: The Lee Die Company in WI., I believe-make an interesting Factory Crimp Die. I use it for the 33 WCF just as Lee makes it. This die allows for crimping uniformity which really aids in accurate handloaded ammunition. The FC die can also be adjusted to a really firm crimp for bullet retention in tubular magazines. The die is reasonably priced and is fully adjustable.I have had my Lee FCD for quite a few years and it may have been one of the first made in 33 WCF. It is very useful in crimping bullets without a cannelure. Hawk Bullets can be ordered with or without a cannelure. I have also used it with the Hornady .33 FP bullets which were expressly made for the Marlin and Winchester 1886 rifles. The Hornady bullets have been discontinued, but they can still be found in small sporting goods or gun shops.
They come with cannelured jackets in 200 gr weight.
Ridge Marriott
NM-AZ mountains during deer-bear season…
Fuller,
Apologies for reviving an almost two-year-old thread. I’m curious what seating die you use to seat the Hawk bullets? I’ve had no problem with the original hornady bullets, but since they’re getting so scarce I’ve switched to the hawk bullets. On the Hawks, the jacket is shorter than on the Hornadys and I often end up with a circular pressed-in “dent” in the lead section of the ogive of the bullet when seating them with my Redding die. I emailed Redding to see if they have a special die for seating flat nosed bullets and they said they do not.
Thanks in advance!
September 19, 2014
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In my estimation, the circular impression is not an issue. It is uniform around the bullet. Any air disturbance is very minor. I’ve several calibers that get the ring around them with available seating stems, and none seem to make any difference in accuracy. Tim
April 15, 2005
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tim tomlinson said
In my estimation, the circular impression is not an issue. It is uniform around the bullet. Any air disturbance is very minor. I’ve several calibers that get the ring around them with available seating stems, and none seem to make any difference in accuracy. Tim
Much as I hate to admit, I concur 
Now, if the bullet in question was used for a small caliber high velocity cartridge, then it most likely would have an effect on terminal accuracy.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
April 3, 2018
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The 1886 in 33 WCF is NOT a Model 71 and should not be pushed by fast powders or bullets heavier than 200-205 grs IMHO.H- 4831 and any of the 4350s will work fine, as do 3031 or 4064. Look at the burn rates of these powders. I have recently tried Alliant CFE 223. It is accurate and I do not handload the 33 WCF above 2200 fps with 200 gr FP bullets.Hornady has discontinued their FP 200 gr bullets in both 33 WCF and 348 WCF. I have recently tried CFE 223 in the 33 WCF case and found it accurate.
As an aside, an interesting bullet is the 205 gr Nosler Partition bullet, as the 210 Partition is flat-pointed by hand. This results in a very effective bullet on game up to bear or moose. Using my supply of both Hornady or Hawk bullets, I chamber a Nosler 205 gr Part bullet with either Hawk or Hornady bullets between the first and last 205 gr Nosler. It works.
Bullets for the 33 WCF in either the Winchester 1886 or Marlin 1895 are becoming scarcer. I have not had to resort to casting 33 WCF bullets yet, as my supply is sufficient for the present. I also do not target shoot with my 86 Winchesters. They are for hunting deer, black bear, or possibly moose. I use a set of CH dies for the 33 WCF and they have 100% quality in their manufacture. Ditto with the Lee Factory Crimp die. As stated, rifles that are 110-120 years old need not be pushed too hard with their nickel steel barrels. Earlier barrels may show some pitting or corrosion history. This is mainly due to mercuric primers. Modern primers made in the USA do not use corrosive compounds. It is still a good idea to lightly coat rifle rifle barrels with quality gun oil after firing and cleaning them, or in storage preparation.
December 27, 2025
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The impression on these isn’t particularly uniform because the lead itself on the hawk bullets isn’t perfectly flat at the meplat. I do however have a second seating die that is from CH tool I’ll see if I can dig out and see if it changes anything. Thanks for the advice all
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