Winnie '86, shooting Ranch Dog's Postal Match

[kimwcook]

When Ranch Dog's Postal Match came up I thought I'd try it with my new model (w/tang safety, rebounding hammer) Winnie '86 in 45-90. I went to the range yesterday morning before it hit 80 and see what I could do. I hadn't shot it yet. Well, the trigger is so bad that it's like letting loose a three pound hammer. I don't dry fire my leverguns as I broke a firing pin in a 94 when I was 12 and I don't have any snap caps for it. It was quite a surprise. I plan on changing the rebounding hammer out, but until then I've got to do something. It's useless to me the way it is. I had another surprise with it, I shot some factory low power 45-90 w/300 grn. RNFP's and at 50 yds., open sights, could barely keep three rounds on the target. I switched to some factory 300 grn. Remington Hot-Cor 45-70's, don't recall brand at the moment, that were a bit hot and they were very promising. Very close to be right on. With a good trigger I imagine I could get that round to group sub moa.

[86er]

It's pretty easy to get rid of the rebounding hammer yourself. There are directions posted elsewhere here and on the web. You'll have to reduce the spring a little by removing a few coils and polish the sear too. I'm sure it will get better. My 86 has a kind of heavy pull at 5 pounds 3 oz but it is crisp and smooth.

[Mike D.]

Toss the funky Winchester multi-piece trigger assembly and replace it with a one piece Browning trigger/sear. That, along with a Browning 1886 hammer, will make your gun more like an original Winchester and have a much smoother trigger.

[Blaine]

What is it with Wrenchester triggers? New 9422mag, trigger worthless....A beautiful 1886EL, trigger worthless.......A beautiful 1895 in 405, trigger not bad, but for the price you think they could do better.....

[kimwcook]

I know the right thing to do is eventually trade out the Winchester parts for the correct Browning's, but right now that's not gonna happen. I'll try pressuring the hammer and pulling the trigger a couple of times on a once fired casing w/primer. Maybe that'll rush the edge off the sear so I can at least tolerate it. As it is, it's atrocious.

Gonna have to shoot the postal match with my pre-war 94/30-30.

[Blaine]

Dirty bbl and every shot a cool bbl......I haven't shot this match for awhile, but my 336 in 30WCF was shooting in the .5 - .6 range with big old nasty fire sight on front and a 5D.....

I should ride over to Soap Lake and buy you a coffee sometime this summer........

[kimwcook]

Just let me know when. I'll buy the donuts.

[Cimarron Red]

Howdy, kimwcook,

The wretched Winchester tang safety has one minor virtue -- because it's a hammer block, you can engage it and dry fire to your heart's content. I've been doing it on my '86 for ten years. No harm.