33 WCF What?

28 May 2015, 05:27

Quintus

33 WCF What?

My buddy just acquired his grand dads 1896 re-barreled by Winchester in the 33 WCF. It was built in 06' and re-barreled in the late 30s he thinks. It is a beautiful gun and looks like it could have been built 20 years ago, very well taken care of. He has a picture of Grampa and great Grampa in black and white with a brace of big northern MN deer with the 33 layed across a big timber buck. Canvas coats and knee high logging boots. Super cool to have the gun in the picture. Are there any 33 Winchester shooters out there?

28 May 2015, 07:31

Biebs

One of my friends has an original he used to hunt with. A "big bore" in its time.....200gr bullet at 2,200 fps.

30 May 2015, 06:09

Clayman

quote:
Originally posted by Biebs:
One of my friends has an original he used to hunt with. A "big bore" in its time.....200gr bullet at 2,200 fps.

How true. That combination will still take care of 90% of the hunting you'd do in North America.

31 May 2015, 02:19

Atkinson

Its a 38-55 on mild steroids..I had a friend that hunted with one..I shot a deer with his Win. 1886 oct. rifle and the results were as respected, dead deer...

He told me he felt it was a little weak on the several elk he shot with it, but was a lot better than my 25-35 that I shot elk with back then!! I'm sure that was a legitimate statement. I retorted that it would depend on where you stuck the bullet with either one, same with a 300 Win or whatever...

31 May 2015, 04:24

packrattusnongratus

Killed a sizeable Missouri whitetail buck a few years ago with my 86. It is a rebarrel.

31 May 2015, 04:39

9.3 X 75R

I had an '86 in 33 WCF for quite a few years and it was deadly on deer within its range limitations. Mine was sort of a pieced together rifle as some have mentioned, older receiver, newer Winchester barrel with a butt stock and forearm that were obviously not the same age. It shot pretty good, good enough for deer, but I never pursued any kind of accuracy load with it, too busy chasing other cartridges and rifles. I traded it for another '86 in 40-82 and had it restored...sort of. Guy didn't do all that good a job but then I didn't pay much either.

02 June 2015, 20:35

Dave James

I enjoyed the 2 I had, the 86 was a lightweight round barrel model and loved 200 grain load, deer where lights out if like any thing else hit right, we tried some of the raptors in it but the old rifling didn't take to it, the No-1 was a horse of a different color, using brass formed from 40-65 and the the raptors, it became a damn fine hog gun and the nephew took a 5x elk with it

02 June 2015, 21:01

Snellstrom

quote:
Originally posted by 9.3 X 75R:
I had an '86 in 33 WCF for quite a few years and it was deadly on deer within its range limitations. Mine was sort of a pieced together rifle as some have mentioned, older receiver, newer Winchester barrel with a butt stock and forearm that were obviously not the same age. It shot pretty good, good enough for deer, but I never pursued any kind of accuracy load with it, too busy chasing other cartridges and rifles. I traded it for another '86 in 40-82 and had it restored...sort of. Guy didn't do all that good a job but then I didn't pay much either.

Let me know if you get tired of that worthless, obsolete, poorly refinished 40/82.

02 June 2015, 21:50

9.3 X 75R

Duly noted Snellstrom. Not sure it will ever leave my possession as it is the rifle I killed my first hog with and probably the best game shot I ever made. The ol' boar was running flat out at about 60 yards, right to left, I acquired what looked like the right lead and pressed the trigger. One dead hog. I was shooting lever rifles and single actions a huge amount at the time. Probably couldn't find the sights that quick now.

02 June 2015, 22:38

bartsche

quote:
Originally posted by 9.3 X 75R:
I was shooting lever rifles and single actions a huge amount at the time. Probably couldn't find the sights that quick now.

Sounds like it's time for a pistol scope scout mounted up front.

roger

Old age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone..