Winchester 1886 Extra Light to .45-90
- Thread starter bobsmith
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You should be able to fire .45-70 in a .45-90 chamber. Assuming the rifle is now .45-70, conversion would require at the minimum either altering or replacing the carrier, plus rechambering. If it is now some other caliber, conversion could be harder. The problem I see is that the Extra Light 86 is a pretty high dollar item if in good shape, and altering it in any way will definitely affect (read: wreck) the collector value.
Jim
Jim
Jim Watson
Member
I can't see the point.
An '86 level smokeless .45-70 will do nearly anything a .45-90 ever would.
Even in black, I recall the old advertisement for the 330 gr Gould Express .45-70 bullet: "This bullet, loaded with Hazard's Ducking Powder, will shoot practically as flat as a .45-90 and with better accuracy."
Then you talk about going back and shooting .45-70 in it after rechambering. That was an improvisation back when you could not get any of the old cartridge or brass at all. If you want a .45-90, load .45-90 for it. If you want to shoot .45-70, leave the rifle alone.
I presume it is one of the current Jap copies and not a real extra light weight Winchester for which rechambering would be butchery.
An '86 level smokeless .45-70 will do nearly anything a .45-90 ever would.
Even in black, I recall the old advertisement for the 330 gr Gould Express .45-70 bullet: "This bullet, loaded with Hazard's Ducking Powder, will shoot practically as flat as a .45-90 and with better accuracy."
Then you talk about going back and shooting .45-70 in it after rechambering. That was an improvisation back when you could not get any of the old cartridge or brass at all. If you want a .45-90, load .45-90 for it. If you want to shoot .45-70, leave the rifle alone.
I presume it is one of the current Jap copies and not a real extra light weight Winchester for which rechambering would be butchery.
The rifle is a Miroku Japan 86 lightweight. Do these have a lot of collector's value? The idea of rechambering to .45-90 is just that, an idea. I guess a lot of it is the charm and nostalgia of shooting these old big bore lever action cartridges. As you say, the .45-70 in an 86, especially one of the new ones, can be loaded up to quite potent levels.
Edit: Being able to shoot .45-70 through a .45-90 is the same as being able to shoot .22 shorts through a rifle chambered for .22LR. It just adds versatility to the gun. Is there anything wrong with that?
Edit: Being able to shoot .45-70 through a .45-90 is the same as being able to shoot .22 shorts through a rifle chambered for .22LR. It just adds versatility to the gun. Is there anything wrong with that?
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Jim Watson
Member
There was a gunsmith doing .45-90 and .50-110 conversions who said that at the uttermost top end, the extra volume of the .45-90 would add a little velocity over .45-70; so you could make a case for it as a pure conversion.
Shooting .45-70 in a .45-90 is a greater difference than shooting .22 short in a .22 lr.
Accuracy will likely be off due to the .3" jump of a .458" bullet through a .482" chamber. That .3" will also be a place to collect hard fouling that everybody whines about when talking about shooting .38s in a .357.
But it's your gun and your money. Why am I arguing? I'm done.
Shooting .45-70 in a .45-90 is a greater difference than shooting .22 short in a .22 lr.
Accuracy will likely be off due to the .3" jump of a .458" bullet through a .482" chamber. That .3" will also be a place to collect hard fouling that everybody whines about when talking about shooting .38s in a .357.
But it's your gun and your money. Why am I arguing? I'm done.
Yeah,
unless you are going to shoot blackpowder or a blackpowder substitute there is no real advantage to converting the gun to .45-90
A Miroku made extra light weight 86 is actually stronger than the last Winchester 86 rifles made and you can brew up some .45/70 handloads that will far exceed anything you can concoct with a more expensive .45/90 cartridge case and you will get get better ballistics from the modern powders using the shorter case.
Putting more smokeless powder in the longer .45/90 case will only turn your rifle into a bomb.
unless you are going to shoot blackpowder or a blackpowder substitute there is no real advantage to converting the gun to .45-90
A Miroku made extra light weight 86 is actually stronger than the last Winchester 86 rifles made and you can brew up some .45/70 handloads that will far exceed anything you can concoct with a more expensive .45/90 cartridge case and you will get get better ballistics from the modern powders using the shorter case.
Putting more smokeless powder in the longer .45/90 case will only turn your rifle into a bomb.
gary@r&g
Member
45-90
My partner was going to have his Davidsons takedown 45-70 converted to 45-90. Then they came out with the 45-90 takedown and he bought one. Loves it. We just picked up another 45-70 TD and it will be going to either Turnbull, Hunter or Clay for a 50-110 conversion. We both shoot original Winchesters in 33 & 35 WCF (an 86 & a 95). The new production guns allow the customization without compromising historical integrity. But then again Turnbull does a lot "rechambering butchery". And I like it.
Not much reason to shoot a 45-70 in a 45-90. But then again does logic really have to apply to custom work? Hell what works for me you may consider crazy. Its yours so do as you wish. Keep a gunsmith employed!
My partner was going to have his Davidsons takedown 45-70 converted to 45-90. Then they came out with the 45-90 takedown and he bought one. Loves it. We just picked up another 45-70 TD and it will be going to either Turnbull, Hunter or Clay for a 50-110 conversion. We both shoot original Winchesters in 33 & 35 WCF (an 86 & a 95). The new production guns allow the customization without compromising historical integrity. But then again Turnbull does a lot "rechambering butchery". And I like it.
Not much reason to shoot a 45-70 in a 45-90. But then again does logic really have to apply to custom work? Hell what works for me you may consider crazy. Its yours so do as you wish. Keep a gunsmith employed!
Exactly Gary,
To each his own. Actually, the idea came up in a discussion among friends one day so I thought I'd pop a question on how feasable such a conversion would be, not really how practical.
Hey, how can I contact David Clay? My brother is thinking about having him do some work on his 1895 Marlin.
To each his own. Actually, the idea came up in a discussion among friends one day so I thought I'd pop a question on how feasable such a conversion would be, not really how practical.
Hey, how can I contact David Clay? My brother is thinking about having him do some work on his 1895 Marlin.
gary@r&g
Member
Try this. Not sure if it is good. His website is down.
DRC Custom Guns
Leveraction Gunsmith
809 Harris Rd.
Arlington, Tx. 76001
(817) 465-7338
DRC Custom Guns
Leveraction Gunsmith
809 Harris Rd.
Arlington, Tx. 76001
(817) 465-7338
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