The Winchester 1886 was chambered for several different calibers from 45/60 to 50/110. I have a newer 1886 chambered for 457 Wild West Magnum. Question is what was done to receiver and loading gate to allow loading of the longer 45/90 or 50/110 cartridge?

JAG

JAG,
All the M '86 cartridges had about the same overall length, about 2.7".
I am not aware of the .45-60 in the '96: it was a '73 round.
The '86 was produced in .33WCF, .38-56, .38-70, .40-65, .40-70, .40-82, .45-70, .45-90, .50-100, .50-110-300 Express, and I don't know what else.
Cheers from Darkest California,
Ross

acually the 45-60 was a '76 round

Thats correct the 45-60 was a larger caliber introduced in the Winchester 1876. In the move Crossfire trail Tom Selleck uses a Centennial model 1876 in 45-60.

My problem is I have tried to load my 86 with cartridges loaded to 2.85 O.A.L.(same O.A.L. as 45/90) and they will not go in. Best it will take is a length of 2.70

The .457 is a cartridge from Wild West Guns in Alaska. Case is .100 longer than 45/70. Over all case length is 2.205.

My thought was that if I can load the .457 to a longer O.A.L. I should be able to get an increase in velocity with heavy (up to 540 grain) bullets.

JAG

I don't know what Winchester did with their rifles with those longer cases but I can tell you what I did on an orginal 1886. It was a 40-82 that I converted to 50-110 Express. I lengthened the port to about 3.300 then tig welded the gate so that it fit the new port. For the 50-110 there was also some carrier work that had to be done. I do not think you would need to do this unless your cartridiges were getting hung up while you were working the action because they are too long. Hope this helps.

Michael

Winchester 1886's used a larger loading gate, different carrier and magazine tube to handle the longer & larger diameter 50-110 cartridge. I don't know the exact dimension changes, you'll have to find an original that the owner would let you measure. You might try asking at Lever Guns, someone there may know the dimensions.