1876 Winchester Parts Gun

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Dusty Texian
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1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by Dusty Texian »

After collecting 1876 Winchester rifles for several yrs. I ended up with a drawer full of parts . A few yrs. ago I decided a parts gun project would be fun . Ended up making some of the springs the stocks a side plate and butt plate , Button mag tube plug and other parts also the lower tang had been cut off , so I fabricated a new one and welded it on and shaped to duplicate the lower tang . I had a 22" round carbine barrel in 45'60 wcf with a pretty good bore . Put it all together in my spare time over a couple months and this is what I ended up with . A handy little short rifle that packs a punch . Here is the little parts gun along with its first test target . Load was Jamison brass Head Stamped 45-60 wcf 57 gr. Swiss ffg under a 300 Gr. Winchester original 45-60 wcf cast bullet . SPG lube . The little rifle shoots as well using the same components using IMR 3031 powder . No collector value but better than a drawer full of parts .,,,DT
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.45colt
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by .45colt »

How Sweet is that!! Great All around. :D
southfork
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by southfork »

What recipe worked for you with 3031 powder and the 300 grain lead bullet?
Dusty Texian
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by Dusty Texian »

southfork wrote: Thu Jul 07, 2022 12:55 pm What recipe worked for you with 3031 powder and the 300 grain lead bullet?
It likes 32 gr. of IMR 3031 .
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by gamekeeper »

Unique and useful what's not to like..... :mrgreen:
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octagon
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by octagon »

like the color on that wood, you've got some nice skills Texian.
Dusty Texian
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by Dusty Texian »

octagon wrote: Thu Jul 07, 2022 4:39 pm like the color on that wood, you've got some nice skills Texian.
Thanks Octagon , the stocks are finished with John Kay Winchester Restorations stock oil . I like the deep red brown color also .
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by Griff »

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
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Pat C
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by Pat C »

Anouther nice one!! I find myself as of late buying receivers and various parts to eventually become my own spin on my favorite rifles.

I have 1876 frame ,1892 SRC 44 almost complete , original deluxe 1894 just missing a barrel , 1873 lacking just a couple pieces and TLC ,

The 1876 is a new found love of mine and anxiously await when I can start working on it.

I have located most of the original WRA blueprints for most of the 1876 parts .
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by Ysabel Kid »

Dusty Texian wrote: Thu Jul 07, 2022 4:54 pm
octagon wrote: Thu Jul 07, 2022 4:39 pm like the color on that wood, you've got some nice skills Texian.
Thanks Octagon , the stocks are finished with John Kay Winchester Restorations stock oil . I like the deep red brown color also .
I'll second that!
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OldWin
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by OldWin »

Cool project. That is really neat. I always wanted to mess with 45-60, but I never have had one.
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by AJMD429 »

.
Definitely cool.
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Dusty Texian
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by Dusty Texian »

OldWin wrote: Thu Jul 07, 2022 8:27 pm Cool project. That is really neat. I always wanted to mess with 45-60, but I never have had one.
It's a good cartridge , basically a 45-70 shortened aprox. 2/10" and uses a lighter 300 Gr. bullet . Has just enough bottleneck to allow good gas seal . I know most think its a straight wall cartridge but when fireformed in a Winchester chamber its bottleneck is defined .
black river smith
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by black river smith »

Dusty Texian wrote: Fri Jul 08, 2022 8:31 am Has just enough bottleneck to allow good gas seal . I know most think its a straight wall cartridge but when fireformed in a Winchester chamber its bottleneck is defined .
Dusty, thanks for the above comment. This is the answer to a question that has long plagued me about my rifle and its' chamber. The RCBS and Lee dies put a distinct bottle neck into the tapered cut 45/70 brass. But upon firing with smokeless the casing come out 'straight' looking. I will have to load up some good old BP rounds and see if that makes a difference or if Chaparral chambers are the issue. Chamber inspection indicates a 'step' but it could be just too shallow.

Just no real good time to travel about 20 miles to a conservation run outdoor range that can handle BP, just for a few test rounds. Indoors one's frown on BP smoke.

Thanks again BRS
Dusty Texian
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by Dusty Texian »

BRS here are two Jamison cases ,the one on the bottom is new unfired the one on the top has been fired in a Winchester 1876 once with Bp . The picture is not good but you may be able to see the fire formed shoulder. ,,,DT
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Last edited by Dusty Texian on Fri Jul 08, 2022 4:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Woodsloafer2
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by Woodsloafer2 »

Avery cool good looking and useful rifle. I would be very proud of it if i had built it. What great gun for a day of woods loafing!
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Pat C
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by Pat C »

That old 1876 receiver I have is stripped with complete broken lever . Heavy brown patina with some pitting .
Thought about restoring it but may just leave it as found.
Originally was a 45-60 octagon barrel.
At one time I planned this to become a deluxe rifle ,color case receiver ,H checkered fancy walnut ,the full deal .

More than likely have Bob at Winchester Barrel make the tube.
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Dusty Texian
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by Dusty Texian »

Woodsloafer2 wrote: Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:03 pm Avery cool good looking and useful rifle. I would be very proud of it if i had built it. What great gun for a day of woods loafing!
Thanks , a walk in the Cool Autumn woods sounds great right now !! Burning up down here in the Invasion Zone ! ,,,DT
Dusty Texian
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by Dusty Texian »

Pat C wrote: Sat Jul 09, 2022 6:53 pm That old 1876 receiver I have is stripped with complete broken lever . Heavy brown patina with some pitting .
Thought about restoring it but may just leave it as found.
Originally was a 45-60 octagon barrel.
At one time I planned this to become a deluxe rifle ,color case receiver ,H checkered fancy walnut ,the full deal .

More than likely have Bob at Winchester Barrel make the tube.
3 rd. Model 1876 , a good Winter project for a rebuild . ,,,,DT
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Pat C
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by Pat C »

I noticed you said welded the lower tang ,what filler did you use ? I've used 4130 tig on 1892 tangs worked fine.
The 1876 lever as You can see was broken at the cam shoulder. Hoping to save it by welding.
It was originally color case hardened ,probably temper the weld zone back some .
Dusty Texian
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by Dusty Texian »

Just plain old 6010 . I had to make the block that the main spring stop and Tang bolt threads into also . The weld joint was under this block .
Dusty Texian
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by Dusty Texian »

Pat if decide to repair the lever , I can give the measurements and a template if need . That would be an easy fix .
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Pat C
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by Pat C »

DT thanks, I actually have the original drawings of the lever and most of the internal parts . Thanks to Micheal two bit . Cody's McKrakin research library has most of Winchesters drawings.

Is the cam the same as 1873?
Dusty Texian
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by Dusty Texian »

Pat C wrote: Sun Jul 10, 2022 11:56 am DT thanks, I actually have the original drawings of the lever and most of the internal parts . Thanks to Micheal two bit . Cody's McKrakin research library has most of Winchesters drawings.

Is the cam the same as 1873?
They may be the same , but I do know different lift sizes are available . Winchester Bob would be a great help .
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by black river smith »

Dusty Texian wrote: Fri Jul 08, 2022 4:21 pm BRS here are two Jamison cases ,the one on the bottom is new unfired the one on the top has been fired in a Winchester 1876 once with Bp . The picture is not good but you may be able to see the fire formed shoulder. ,,,DT
Dusty, so for not getting back to you sooner but the weekend was a little tough for me. But anyway, thanks for the photos to clarify what you are experiencing. My experience is just the opposite of your photos. The top casing is what mine look like after cutting the 45/70 and sizing in a RCBS die. Your second casing is what mine look like after ejecting the fired 'smokeless filled' casing.

Like I stated, I will have to load some good old full BP rounds and see what happens. I sure do miss shooting exclusively BP, like during my CAS shooting days. Also, regret not having my own property, to shoot what and when, I want.
Dusty Texian
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by Dusty Texian »

black river smith wrote: Tue Jul 12, 2022 1:31 pm
Dusty Texian wrote: Fri Jul 08, 2022 4:21 pm BRS here are two Jamison cases ,the one on the bottom is new unfired the one on the top has been fired in a Winchester 1876 once with Bp . The picture is not good but you may be able to see the fire formed shoulder. ,,,DT
Dusty, so for not getting back to you sooner but the weekend was a little tough for me. But anyway, thanks for the photos to clarify what you are experiencing. My experience is just the opposite of your photos. The top casing is what mine look like after cutting the 45/70 and sizing in a RCBS die. Your second casing is what mine look like after ejecting the fired 'smokeless filled' casing.
BRS the fact that your brass forms into a straight taper with no shoulder visible is interesting . In the Winchester chamber even the 40-60 wcf forms a very slight shoulder , a little less noticeable than the 45-60 wcf but there none the less . ,,,DT
Dusty Texian
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Re: 1876 Winchester Parts Gun

Post by Dusty Texian »

Some fire formed 40-60 wcf brass , the shoulder just visible . These were once fired with 57 Gr. ffg Swiss Bp. under a 210 Gr. original Winchester bullet .,,,DT
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