Log In
December 9, 2024
Offline
This 86 has a 1” diameter barrel thats 21” long.
i’ve sent for a factory letter
Any advice on loading for it would be appreciated. Its a 40-82 and I’ve ordered dies and 45-90 brass so far.
Also it slam fires if you run the lever hard and wont stay on half cock. Thoughts?
any thoughts on the barrel configuration?
March 31, 2009
Online
Please don’t shoot this rifle until a gunsmith has looked at it first.
April 15, 2005
Online
Chopped barrel and magazine tube. It most likely originally had a 26-inch barrel and full length magazine tube. Overall, the rifle is in relatively poor condition, and I would not recommend shooting it until it has been inspected & repaired by a competent gunsmith.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
December 9, 2024
Offline
Bert H. said
Chopped barrel and magazine tube. It most likely originally had a 26-inch barrel and full length magazine tube. Overall, the rifle is in relatively poor condition, and I would not recommend shooting it until it has been inspected & repaired by a competent gunsmith.
Bert
I will for sure get it fixed before shooting, is the 1” barrel the normal dimension for this caliber?
April 15, 2005
Online
helidriver72 said
Bert H. said
Chopped barrel and magazine tube. It most likely originally had a 26-inch barrel and full length magazine tube. Overall, the rifle is in relatively poor condition, and I would not recommend shooting it until it has been inspected & repaired by a competent gunsmith.
Bert
I will for sure get it fixed before shooting, is the 1” barrel the normal dimension for this caliber?
Yes it is. The barrel was actually less than 1″ at the muzzle before it was cut down.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
December 9, 2024
Offline
Bert H. said
helidriver72 said
Bert H. said
Chopped barrel and magazine tube. It most likely originally had a 26-inch barrel and full length magazine tube. Overall, the rifle is in relatively poor condition, and I would not recommend shooting it until it has been inspected & repaired by a competent gunsmith.
Bert
I will for sure get it fixed before shooting, is the 1” barrel the normal dimension for this caliber?
Yes it is. The barrel was actually less than 1″ at the muzzle before it was cut down.
Oh that makes sense why it seems so heavy, plan is to get it up and running and back in the brush after black bears.
does anyone know of a gunsmith that does this kind of work in Northern California/Southern Oregon?
December 9, 2024
Offline
Chuck said
Please don’t shoot this rifle until a gunsmith has looked at it first.
Duly noted, thank you Sir.
April 15, 2005
Online
helidriver72 said
Bert H. said
helidriver72 said
Bert H. said
Chopped barrel and magazine tube. It most likely originally had a 26-inch barrel and full length magazine tube. Overall, the rifle is in relatively poor condition, and I would not recommend shooting it until it has been inspected & repaired by a competent gunsmith.
Bert
I will for sure get it fixed before shooting, is the 1” barrel the normal dimension for this caliber?
Yes it is. The barrel was actually less than 1″ at the muzzle before it was cut down.
Oh that makes sense why it seems so heavy, plan is to get it up and running and back in the brush after black bears.
does anyone know of a gunsmith that does this kind of work in Northern California/Southern Oregon?
There is a well-known Gunsmith school just outside of Susanville, CA… you might see if they will take it on as a project.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
December 9, 2024
Offline
Bert H. said
helidriver72 said
Bert H. said
helidriver72 said
Bert H. said
Chopped barrel and magazine tube. It most likely originally had a 26-inch barrel and full length magazine tube. Overall, the rifle is in relatively poor condition, and I would not recommend shooting it until it has been inspected & repaired by a competent gunsmith.
Bert
I will for sure get it fixed before shooting, is the 1” barrel the normal dimension for this caliber?
Yes it is. The barrel was actually less than 1″ at the muzzle before it was cut down.
Oh that makes sense why it seems so heavy, plan is to get it up and running and back in the brush after black bears.
does anyone know of a gunsmith that does this kind of work in Northern California/Southern Oregon?
There is a well-known Gunsmith school just outside of Susanville, CA… you might see if they will take it on as a project.
Gunsmithing – Lassen College
Thank you, I will look into it.
June 4, 2017
Offline
helidriver72 said
Bert H. said
Chopped barrel and magazine tube. It most likely originally had a 26-inch barrel and full length magazine tube. Overall, the rifle is in relatively poor condition, and I would not recommend shooting it until it has been inspected & repaired by a competent gunsmith.
Bert
I will for sure get it fixed before shooting, is the 1” barrel the normal dimension for this caliber?
helidriver72,
I would not do a thing to that gun until you read the letter. That barrel looks bigger than standard. A standard octagon barrel in that serial number range would be .890″ at the forearm cap, not one inch at a 21″ muzzle. T/R
December 9, 2024
Offline
TR said
helidriver72 said
Bert H. said
Chopped barrel and magazine tube. It most likely originally had a 26-inch barrel and full length magazine tube. Overall, the rifle is in relatively poor condition, and I would not recommend shooting it until it has been inspected & repaired by a competent gunsmith.
Bert
I will for sure get it fixed before shooting, is the 1” barrel the normal dimension for this caliber?
helidriver72,
I would not do a thing to that gun until you read the letter. That barrel looks bigger than standard. A standard octagon barrel in that serial number range would be .890″ at the forearm cap, not one inch at a 21″ muzzle. T/R
Thank you, I’ll post the letter when I get it.
December 9, 2024
Offline
heres the serial number search results from Cody Museum says it was a 24” extra heavy barrel.
April 15, 2005
Online
helidriver72 said
heres the serial number search results from Cody Museum says it was a 24” extra heavy barrel.
That definitively answers the questions at hand… 
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 19, 2006
Offline
helidriver72 said
heres the serial number search results from Cody Museum says it was a 24” extra heavy barrel.
That’s a shame it has been cut. At first I was quite excited as about 45 years ago I passed up (i.e. no money) a .40-82 with a 21 inch heavy round barrel – that lettered!
June 4, 2017
Offline
helidriver72 said
heres the serial number search results from Cody Museum says it was a 24” extra heavy barrel.
A Winchester 1886 with a extra heavy barrel is rare and would be fun to shoot. I would not let the fact that the barrel has been cut ruin your fun. I would leave the barrel and repair the things necessary to make it feed and fire, add a tang sight, and have fun shooting an old rare Winchester. Yours has a plain trigger so a trigger or hammer would be easy to repair or replace with an original. The missing piece of wood on the butt stock is easily repaired if it bothers you. Don’t sand the wood or clean the metal, just make it work . 40/82 is a good caliber to shoot.
I have owned and shot several 1886 Winchester extra heavy guns including a 32″ that letters 15 lbs. I still take it out and shoot it. If the rifling is still in the barrel it will shoot accurately.,
The value of the gun will go down if you do non professional restoration on your own. Mechanical repairs to make it work will increase value if done right. Have fun, I wish I owned it. T/R
December 9, 2024
Offline
TR said
helidriver72 said
heres the serial number search results from Cody Museum says it was a 24” extra heavy barrel.
A Winchester 1886 with a extra heavy barrel is rare and would be fun to shoot. I would not let the fact that the barrel has been cut ruin your fun. I would leave the barrel and repair the things necessary to make it feed and fire, add a tang sight, and have fun shooting an old rare Winchester. Yours has a plain trigger so a trigger or hammer would be easy to repair or replace with an original. The missing piece of wood on the butt stock is easily repaired if it bothers you. Don’t sand the wood or clean the metal, just make it work . 40/82 is a good caliber to shoot.
I have owned and shot several 1886 Winchester extra heavy guns including a 32″ that letters 15 lbs. I still take it out and shoot it. If the rifling is still in the barrel it will shoot accurately.,
The value of the gun will go down if you do non professional restoration on your own. Mechanical repairs to make it work will increase value if done right. Have fun, I wish I owned it. T/R
An old family friend passed away who had an extensive collection. We were invited over to view some firearms for sale by the family and my 23 year old son who is an avid hunter fell in love with it. He kept picking it up and shouldering it imagining the sights on a black bear in thick cover. Then he would sigh and put it back because he just got a fixer upper house and he knows he cant be spending money on this kind of thing right now.
I went back the next day by myself and pointed out the mechanical issues and they made me a good deal on it. I’ve found a reputable gunsmith to repair it and it will be under the Christmas tree with my sons name on it.
my son has made several comments about “the heavy barrel 1886” and “I cant believe I’ll never see it again” and the whole time its hidden under my bed in the next room!!
Needless to say I’m really looking forward to Christmas morning!!
November 7, 2015
Offline
Helidriver-
I know many of us can identify with the drain on resources a “fixer-upper” house can have as well as the attraction to a big bore, heavy barrel rifle. You’ve raised that boy right, I think many of us will be smiling with you on Christmas morning.
Mike
April 15, 2005
Online
Your last post made my day, and your son is a very lucky young man!
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
December 9, 2002
Offline
I agree!
Great Story!
Congrats!
Anthony
December 9, 2024
Offline
TXGunNut said
Helidriver-
I know many of us can identify with the drain on resources a “fixer-upper” house can have as well as the attraction to a big bore, heavy barrel rifle. You’ve raised that boy right, I think many of us will be smiling with you on Christmas morning.
Mike
I’ll try to remember to post a picture of him holding it!
it gets better too, my older son is a huge WWII firearms enthusiast and I snagged a broomhandle Mauser for him that he has no idea about.
2 Guest(s)
