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Hey Guys
Looking for information on 1876’s, with only 63871 rifles made there is not much information.
Anyways going to look at 3rd model 40-60 WCF this weekend serial number 39067 according to Madis manufactured 1883 standard rifle in 28 inch octagon barrel , full mag , crescent butt plate correct ladder sight.
Sorry no pics, just heard of this gun and haven’t seen it yet.
Some concerns are, I looked over a few articles, saying the 40-60 was not offered till 1884. Is any body out there shooting these old gals? I enjoy my antique rifles by shooting them. I like to find a good mould and some correct stamped brass (almost impossible in Canada) and reload for a 76.
I understand the bigger the caliber the more collector value . I was just wondering about the 40-60WCF or other 76 calibers advantages and disadvantages to shooting and collector value?
Thanks guys for any info Bruce
There has got to be some 76 lovers out there.
Aim Small ,Miss Small
The Madis quoted manufacture date is incorrect. According to the new DOM search feature on this website, serial number 39067 was produced in 1884.
I’ve had two different original Model 1876’s. One was made in 1878 and the other in 1886. Both were 45-60’s and I shot them a lot and even hunted with one, one year. Here’s a photo of it hunting in a Cedar swamp …
As for brass and dies, Buffalo Arms sells some beautiful 40-60 W.C.F. brass made by Captech (formerly Jamison) http://www.buffaloarms.com/40_60_Winchester_Brass_Cases%20_it-160058.aspx?CAT=3838 . Excellent quality and cheap like Borscht. However, I doubt they ship to Canada, so you will need to figure out how to get it. Sometimes Ellwood Epps sells hard to find brass. For dies, several companies make dies. I was completely happy with my Lyman dies for the 45-60 and they also make dies for the 40-60, as does RCBS and Lee. http://www.buffaloarms.com/39_40_caliber_reloading_dies_pr-4043.aspx For smokeless loads, I would only recommend one powder …. 5744. You will have to start low and work up until you achieve the original Black Powder velocity with a 210 grain lead bullet at 1,533 fps. Only do this with 5744, as a BP equivalent ballistic will give you a lower peak pressure than FFg. DO NOT use IMR 4227 …. waaay too position sensitive for a ’76.
Thanks guys for info.
Kirk that is a good looking 1876, Thanks for sharing picture.
Bruce
Aim Small ,Miss Small
All 76 Winchester’s came standard with blued receiver’s, like the 73’s, correct?
Bruce
Aim Small ,Miss Small
I acquired a nice custom ordered 1876 in caliber 40-60 WCF (vintage 1884) back in 1985. For years I’ve been shooting it with my own customized handloads. I’ve been using 45-70 Government brass that I trimmed and re-sized, though now one can now buy 40-60 brass (with correct headstamp) from Buffalo Arms. This past summer I got 100 cases but haven’t reloaded any yet.
I’m using Lyman mold 41028, which is 212 grains, sized to .406.
9.5 grains of Unique drives the bullet at about 1350-1385 fps and I can get a consistent 2.5″ group at 100 yards with the factory iron sights.
My 3rd Edition of Cartridges Of The World (1972) shows a loading of 21 grains of 4198 behind a 210 grain bullet with a muzzle velocity of 1520. I prefer a little less stress on my favorite antique shooter.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
IMR 4198 has a lot slower burn rate than Unique, so it will give a much lower peak pressure than Unique, all other things being equal (velocity, bullet, case, primer). For this reason, one can get original Black powder ballistics with IMR 4198 that actually have a lower peak pressure than even FFg (or similar) black powder (all other things being equal). Sherman Bell has done some great testing on IMR 4198 vs. Black Powder, complete with pressure curves.
This is great ! It is not often I run into fellow 1876 Winchester shooters. The 40/60wcf is one of my favorite cartridges in the Model 1876 Winchester. I have been loading and shooting my original rifles with black powder for many yrs. The 40/60wcf can be very accurate .Just this past wk. my 1876 Winchester in 40/60 wcf has taken two wild hog and one Wt. buck . The season has just started here in Tx. so I expect it will get a bit of a workout before the season ends. I would like to hear more about the Unique powder load . May give this a try. Up to this point Bp. is the only powder I have used in any of my 1876 Winchesters. And the load I am using in my 40/60wcf is a 210gr.soft cast bullet @.406″ from the original Winchester mould ,over 55gr. by volume of Swiss 2ff Bp.,a standard Winchester Lg. rifle primer ,tallow/beeswax lube in a Jamison case. I assemble this load using an original Winchester tong tool. This makes a very accurate load for this rifle. I have experimented with the 255gr. Winchester bullet from my 40/82 Winchester mould, with all other powder charge, primer, case being the same . This load is very accurate and has accounted for many wild hog and deer in the old 76. Standard 1876 Winchester rifles had blue receivers . Only Special order or Deluxe rifles were color case receivers. Look forward to hearing more from you fellow 40/60 wcf fans.,,,,,,DT
I876 45-60 made in 1886
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Hello 25-20! Sounds like you have that 1876 Winchester shooting good. For some reason I cannot see your pics. If I can learn the new process of posting a pic. I will post some pics. of my 1876 Winchesters, and their reloading tools. ,,,,DT
Hi Dusty initially on the new forum I was able to post pics from my computer , but something changed and now I cannot, so am hoping this gets worked out
Phil
The test worked.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
Good Morning, As a 1st time post/guest I’d like to say I’ve always been an admirer of old Winchester firearms. The 1st time I got to shoot one was several decades ago. It was my grandpa’s 1912 M12-12 and it was like it was personally made for me, as I hit everything shoot at. I guess I’m a some-what of a knowledgeable person but by no means an expert on firearms. The reason I’ve become a guest is my interest in Winchester firearms. And what motivated me to join this forum is I’ve recently purchased a early model 40-60 Winchester bullet mold at a rummage sale. It was in the kitchen wares area 
. I’ve spent several days researching it (that’s how I found this forum) and can not find a manufacturing date “window” for it. It is like new, with all it’s bluing except for minor pits on the handle. I was surprised that I could not find a better condition mold in all my searches. I’ll have to have my local gunsmith verify the bluing is original. Maybe a beautiful old rifle in 40-60 I thought? Smoke rings at shooting range. Wow, those are pricey
! Anyways, does anyone know of the manufacturing window?
Note: Having difficulty uploading the image of the mold, Sorry, Have a Great Week End anyways, “Snowy Pheasant Tracks”
Hello,
Please consider signing up for a Membership with the WACA. With it you get our quarterly Collector magazine, the annual calendar, free access to our complete magazine history database, and direct uploading of pictures on the forums. We have multi-year membership packages available is you so desire.
There are several WACA members that can quickly identify your Winchester bullet mold if you can post pictures of it.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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