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I have acquired a pair of 1866 Winchester Receivers.
One is well beaten but serviceable. The second is nicer, but has some minor modifications.
Neither one is what I would consider a prime collector.
These came from Peru.
I am told that in the early 1860’s Winchester sold a lot of guns to South American Governments.
In any event these are original 1866 Winchester Bronze receivers and they are mine now.
I want to make them shooters.
I want to fit them with newly manufactured barrels chambered in 44 Russian – Centerfire.
44 Russian is approximately the same bullet and case length the original 44 rimfire.
Starline Brass has new cases for sale, and loading is easy.
The questions are:
** Is there a Centerfire bolt and firing pin available for this receivers?
** Can anyone suggest an acceptable method of adapting a centerfire – firing pin and bolt?”
** Would it be better machine a new bolt and firing pin, and to modify old parts? (dimensions for the parts are available in the literature)
I also have a very nice 1866 late model Winchester rifle – 44 rimfire
Which is cool to look at, but there is no ammo to shoot.
Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.
Dan
Broken Arrow, Ok
Dan, Go on EBAY and search Winchester 1866, someone is parting one out. He has some good pictures that will give you an idea of how it’s done. Do not break the firing pin, common mistake on 66’s when you don’t remove the extractor pin. That pin holds the firing pin in the bolt. T/R (EBAY idem number 153495426101)
Thank you for your replay / comment.
Yes I have see Dr Winchester’s add on Ebay for that 66 bolt and broken firing pin.
What I can’t figure out is where is the extractor pin?
What diameter is the pin?
Does it nest under the firing pin, in a slot which permits the firing pin to move just a little in and out?
Search this site. Not long ago there was a discussion on the center fire 1866’s that were made late in production.
The extractor is the claw on top off the bolt that hooks the case rim. The pin that has to be removed is small, maybe .078″, goes thru the bolt, thru the extractor. In order to punch it out you have to remove the hammer, toggles, and slide the bolt back to align it with a small hole in the receiver made for just that purpose. The pin holds in the extractor that keeps the firing pin from turning, then you can turn the firing pin to unscrew the striker. If you try to turn the firing pin before removing the pin and extractor, it will look like the one on EBAY. The one on EBAY was converted to center fire by filing off the points on the striker and adding a pin to the end of the firing pin. The added pin if to long will cause the gun to fire as you close the chamber, if to short the gun will not fire. T/R
Thank you TR
That explains a lot.
I was wondering why there was a hole across the top channel of the receiver.
Thank you for taking the time to educate an novice like me, and save me trouble and money.
I was ready to drill something in trial and error to get it apart.
You da Man!!
I changed the post to reflect the the dia. of the pin to .078″. That came for the Stone 73 book so it’s for a 73, I assuming the 66 is the same. Both the ex tractor pin and the extractor have to be removed before turning the firing pin! The inside of the striker is threaded onto the firing pin complicated by rust. Winchesterbob sells the firing pin and strikers, they take fitting but can be used. T/R
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