I just received a Winchester Model 1886 in 33WCF. The plan was to reload jacketed bullets, but I can't seem to find any out there. Does anybody know where some could be had???

Hornady used to make a 200 grain FP jacketed bullet, but I believe I heard last year or the year before that it had been discontinued. About the only hope, if that is true, is to find some approx 200/210 gr jacketed SPs and snip/file the tips flat. Or, maybe someone here knows of some truly custom 200 Flat Point bullets s out there somewhere.

It is a very fine woods hunting cartridge. Would be a real shame to have all sources of handy components go by the wayside.

Still, Dick Corbin could no doubt supply tools t o make one's own bullets, and it would be well worth the effort. RCBS or 4-D can still supply loading dies.

The bullet diameter for the .33 Winchester is .338....Hornady (at least until recently) made a 200 grain flat point #3315

call them and ask....800-338-3220 and ask for Doug

As AC says....you could buy their spire point 200 grain #3310 and file a flat point.

Hornady no longer lists the 200 gr. flat nose on their web sit. I picked up some last year so I'm good for now.

You may have to resort to hard cast gas check bullets.

I was able to find that Hawk Bullets still make them. A bit spendy at $40 for 50, but they seem to be the only ones I can find...

Do any of you have any good recipes to load with the 200 gr bullet?

Thanks for your help guys.

quote:

Originally posted by Jay7_11:
I just received a Winchester Model 1886 in 33WCF. The plan was to reload jacketed bullets....

If that is an antique gun, do you want to shoot jacketed bullets? A cast or gas-checked cast bullet will be kinder to the bore.

Mine likes 44.0 gr. of IMR4320 with the 200 gr. Hornady FP.

I have read that the 33 WCF was introduced in 1903 as a smokeless cartridge and that all the 1886 rifles in 33 had nickle steel barrels. If so, there should be no problem using jacketed bullets as long as the pressure is kept in the proper range.

IF, repeat, IF you single load cartridges, you can use any .338 bullet. Most are pointed and for cartridges much faster than the old .33 so you will have great penetration without much expansion. Otherwise, as suggested, you can file the nose flat. Crude but effective. At these velocities, hard cast are almost as good.

Mr. Dave Corbin, swage.com, has a list of bullet makers on his web site that will make you whatever your wallet can stand.

Another, little "long shot" is to find bullets for the .348, the .33 successor in the redesigned mdl 71, and size them down WITH very, very good lube. Lanolin or castor oil or mix... This would be a bullet designed for performance approx. .33 level. Happy new year. luck.