I always thought this round was a pretty good thumper, but a friend commented that a 200-grain bullet at 2200 is .35 Remington territory -- not that there is a thing wrong with that.
There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t. – John Green, author
Posts: 16671 | Location: Las Cruces, NM | Registered: 03 June 2000
I have a friend that used to hunt with his Winchesters in that calibre. I loaded for him;still have the dies + the case form dies for making 33 brass from 45-70.
I don't remember the load. I used new brass from Starline, resized in a 33 WCF die, and cast WFN @235 gr. Might find the loads this evening. I killed a nice Missouri buck north of Stockton Mo by Blackjack. He was dead and not going down, 30 yards from a fenceline I couldn't cross, so I shot him with two more slugs. But the first shot was a pass through and did lots of damage in the lungs and heart. Mine is an original made about 1903 for smokeless powder loads. (New barrel). Be Well. Packy
Bill I have some old Hornady flat point jacketed but have enough cast loaded to use up for a while. Go to hawk bullets and get them the way you want. Flat point or round nose. Be Well. Packy
Packy, I was just curious about .33 Winchester performance. A friend has his grandfather's 1886 in this caliber, but has never shot it. I always thought it was about as cool as its more powerful brother, the .35 Winchester. Always thought a .35 Winchester on a Ruger No. 1 would make a righteous elk rifle.
There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t. – John Green, author
Posts: 16671 | Location: Las Cruces, NM | Registered: 03 June 2000
Bill, my friend (he's 76) is bringing his original 1886 in 33 WCF over to my range on Friday to play with. He shot a Whitetail with it years ago in PA, but hasn't used it since. Should be fun.
Posts: 20173 | Location: Very NW NJ up in the Mountains | Registered: 14 June 2009
As mine was rebarrelled I don't know what caliber it was originally. I'm pretty sure the serial number set the DOM as 1903. It needs some metal repairs. If I get it properly restored it will take a few bucks! I don't know the precise velocity but it seems to have a bit of power. Be Well. Packy
I have a few .33 win flatpoint bullets, silver/nickel colored. They have the recessed base, like Rem bullets did. Just counted, 34 of them, anyone want them?
I hunted with a friend who used a 33 Win. He killed his elk every year, but he was a careful and skilled hunter..He got close and placed his shots, he lived in an area with lots of elk and he had lots of time on his hands, where he could get away with that..He didn't particaly recommend it to others btw, he admitted a large 45 caliber like a 45-90 or 50-110 was a better option. He also used a 348 Win. and a 30-30, all with the same results..I believe his favorite elk rifle was his .348 Win. with the old 250 gr. WW Silvertip..He was bothered by Win. dropping that load..
He owned several mod. 70 pre 64s and other bolt guns, but to my knowledge never hunted with them. Id loved to had his 33 win. it was a lightweight with half oct/half round barrel, Id sure hunt elk with it..
