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Greetings to all, I’m a new WACA member and trying this forum stuff out so hope it works. I have in my collection of 1886 Winchesters one chambered in 40-70 wcf. i know very very few where chambered in this caliber, my question is how many? I have gone thru all my books but numbers seem all over the map,. Lowest puts the number at 629 highest is 840. Anyone want to enlighten me?
Tom Hardy said
Greetings to all, I’m a new WACA member and trying this forum stuff out so hope it works. I have in my collection of 1886 Winchesters one chambered in 40-70 wcf. i know very very few where chambered in this caliber, my question is how many? I have gone thru all my books but numbers seem all over the map,. Lowest puts the number at 629 highest is 840. Anyone want to enlighten me?
Tom – rare caliber for sure. I saw the 629 number in the Pirkle book. In the Summer 2018 edition of the Collector, there is a John Madl article on Model 1886 carbine research – he indicates a survey of all available 1886 records indicates 29 carbines in 40-70. You might want to do some research of the old Collector magazines and see if you can find anything more – they are available under “publications” and you can do a search – you must be logged-in to have access to the magazines. It is a nice feature for WACA members.
January 26, 2011
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I’m seeing 862 in John Madls book.
~Gary~
Yes i see similar numbers. I will certainly try and research the COLLECTOR, one reason i joined this esteemed group of folks. Funny thing is I also have a 1894 loading tool and bullet mold for paper patched bullets for it also. Doesn’t make it worth more just more interesting.
Tom–would like to see pictures of your gun. I have 3 in 40-70, 2 are takedown. 862 is correct. I collect OBCB rifles, they are my favorite style–Bill
Tom,
I’m sure you are aware 40-70 does not always mean WCF 40-70. Sharps, Ballard, Winchester single shot, and Remington used 40-70 of various shapes, some with paper patch bullets. T/R
Bill I will do my darndest to get some for you to see. She ain’t perfect but I like anything named 1886!lmao
TR, you are so correct. Im only assuming, and you know what that gets you, that due to the provenance of my mold its for a Winchester.
TR, just went to check on the mold I have and it is a Winchester manufactured mold. It will drop a 265 gr. flat nose bullet.
Winchester made tools for non Winchesters, the 1885 single shot, and the 1886 (WCF 40-70) that used a 330 gr. bullet diameter .405-.406. My Winchester mold is simply marked “40-70” and cast .406 330gr bullets. I found them to be a long, stable bullet that shot accurate in my guns. T/R
steve 004 I have not ever fired my 40-70 nor do I have any loading info.
TR said
Winchester made tools for non Winchesters, the 1885 single shot, and the 1886 (WCF 40-70) that used a 330 gr. bullet diameter .405-.406. My Winchester mold is simply marked “40-70” and cast .406 330gr bullets. I found them to be a long, stable bullet that shot accurate in my guns. T/R
TR that is very interesting. I would like to know what this mold was for then.
The 40-70 Peabody, Winchester, Sharps straight and bottle neck and the Remington all used a 330 grain bullet. So did the 40-72 Winchester. The Winchesters and Peabody both used the same Lyman #406150 mold. The others used a different mold.
Tom
The only patch bullet 265gr in the Winchester catalog during the mid 1890’s is 40-50 Sharps adapted to Winchester Single Shot and Sharp’s Rifles.
In Lewis Yearout’s Publication he lists a 40-265 patch bullet mold as being made by Winchester and interestingly the previous owner of my copy has written next to it 40-70. I got this list from a tool collector in Topeka Kansas, he has long since past away. T/R
Tom Harty said
TR, just went to check on the mold I have and it is a Winchester manufactured mold. It will drop a 265 gr. flat nose bullet.
Tom, How is your mold marked? Would you mind posting a picture of the caliber markings and of the cavity for my survey?
TR said
Tom,I’m sure you are aware 40-70 does not always mean WCF 40-70. Sharps, Ballard, Winchester single shot, and Remington used 40-70 of various shapes, some with paper patch bullets. T/R
Concerning .40 Caliber Winchester bullets molds, my research has found that Winchester offered, sold, or made 34 different cherried bullet molds (and possibly more).
The 40 – 70 (W.C.F.) mold is on the harder side to locate, but they do turn up.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
Hello Maverick
I’m going to attempt a dynamic move here and send pictures of my .40 cal. mold
Tom Harty said
Well here I go again, how do i post photos?
Outside hosting source is what you’ll need unless you’re a member. I like Ingmur. Some like photobucket. There are many others out there.
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