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Hi folks
My name is Marc and I’m 67. I’ve been snooping around for a few days now and decided to say hi.
‘I recently moved across country and am unpacking my old rifles. I have always loved Winchesters. My father passed down to me a model 1885 low wall, serial #86963 in 22 WCF. Very clean. Barrel looks good. My father called it a Hornet but I don’t know if that is correct. Would you folks advise me. I will be researching in the meantime. There are very few markings. I would just like to bring these rifles up to speed and shoot for fun. Here are a few pix.
Thanks
The other rifle is one I purchased quite a few years ago. It’s an 1890 also in nice shape. The problem with this rifle is it has two serial numbers. One on the bottom of the action and one on the trigger guard. The serials are within a couple years of each other.
Action serial is #319933 1907
Trigger guard is #238218. 1905
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Hello Marc and welcome to the WACA website.
Your Winchester Single Shot rifle (a.k.a. Model 1885) was manufactured in October of the year 1900.
The 22 W.C.F. cartridge was essentially the black powder predecessor to the 22 Hornet, but it used a slightly larger diameter bullet. The 22 WCF bullet was .228″ whereas the 22 Hornet uses a .224″ bullet. 22 Hornet ammo can be safely fired in a 22 WCF chambered rifle, but the accuracy will more than likely be marginal. You can fire form 22 Hornet cases to reload using .228 bullets and be in good shooting shape.
Your Model 1890 rifle is what we refer to as a “Frankenchester”… a gun assembled from the useable parts from more than one donor carcass. It has no value or interest in the collector arena but should be a reasonable “shooter”.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thank you for the information Bert. My only interest is in shooting the rifles so the “Frankenchester” is fine with me.
I am tracking down some WCF for the single shot. Oowee hens teeth and expensive.
I am very much enjoying these rifles and plan on getting a few more.
‘I just retired this year and learning to reload is appealing to me.
‘Thanks again for the information.
Marc
Marc, are you looking for a period box of ammo for display or are you wanting to shoot the rifle? If you plan to shoot it use Hornet brass and some .228″ bullets. Both are easy to find. You fire form the cases by using a mild load. I was shooting mine before I had dies. If you use Hornet dies don’t full length size. Just size the neck. The neck can be belled just enough to start the bullet by using a tapered punch.
I never had experience with the .22 WCF and it was only in the last year or two, on this site, that I learned it took .228 bullets. That interested me as I have a supply of those size bullets here to feed my Savage .22 High Power. In my experience, jacketed .228 bullets have never been that easy to find – maybe I’ve been looking in the wrong places? Hornady made .227 jacketed softpoint bullets for a good long while – I have a small supply. I’m tempted to say they discontinued them not that long ago – but I am sure it is much longer than I think. I come across them at gunshows every now and then. I assume they would work much better in the .22 WCF than .224 bullets do.
Thank you gents.
I very much appreciate the info.
Chuck I am looking for a box of original loads (just to have the originals) and am looking for loads to safely shoot it.
Y’all have already answered the first question about loads to fire these days. The modified Hornets.
‘I’m not familiar with black powder loaded cartridges. Would a box of real 22 WCF be safe after all this time?
Looks like I’ve got some studying to do.
Marc Hunter said
Chuck I am looking for a box of original loads (just to have the originals) and am looking for loads to safely shoot it.Y’all have already answered the first question about loads to fire these days. The modified Hornets.
‘I’m not familiar with black powder loaded cartridges. Would a box of real 22 WCF be safe after all this time?
Looks like I’ve got some studying to do.
Marc, the original ammo would be safe but I wouldn’t shoot it due to the collector value. If you could find some singles you could shoot those but don’t break up a full box. I load smokeless powder in my 22 WCF. I have no experience with jacketed bullets, only lead.
Steve, if you find a stash of the .227″ jacketed bullets I would be interested in some just to see how they shoot. The bullets I have are 46 grain. I used an expander from the High Power before I finally got a die set made.
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