Had some fun with a 97 year old today.

[Les Staley]

My buddy has his dad's Winchester 1886 extra light 33 WCF built in 1914 .. we lit a fire in her for the first time in 45 years today. I found brass at Midway and used some Hornady 200 gr FTX.. found a Lee Loader in that caliber a few months ago.. everything came together today at the range.. bright bore, good and tight.. moved the bootjack up a couple of notches and she's right on at 100 yds.. shot a three inch group.. you should have seen the grin on Kurt's face... priceless!! Les

[RIHMFIRE]

I bet it was fun!
next time take a few pics...
kinda like to see a pic of the old girl...

[Borregos]

I bet it was fun!
next time take a few pics...
kinda like to see a pic of the old girl...

+1

[Les Staley]

We're gonna take her out hunting in a couple of weeks.. WILL take some pictures... promise....

[kimwcook]

Sounds like fun. Wish I had a 100 year old something '86 around to shoot.

[Mike D.]

Old Winchesters are always a delight to hunt with and are guaranteed head turners wherever they are carried. I packed my old '95 last weekend and it was highly praised by my fellow hunters, many of whom had never seen any such thing before. Funny how a beat up old gun can make so many smiles come to folks faces.

[1894]

As much as I love my Marlins , this old girl told me she really wants to get out in the woods this fall . Can't turn down a request like that from something over 100 years old

[Mike D.]

SWEET .38-55, Phil. You bet that one begs for some heavy usage. I never subject a fine Winchester to "safe queen" status where it will languish unloved for the duration. No sir, all of my guns get field time, regardless of their perceived value.

This 1886, a scarce .45-90 Extra lightweight Takedown, is 105 years old and gets plenty of hunting use. 250 grain Barnes TSX bullets at 2400 FPS are deer devastators out to over 150 yds and it accounted for one nice buck last season. One shot at 85 yds, DRN.

[Bill in Oregon]

Mike: Nice leverguns. Really like that 95!

[Mike D.]

The little '95 is a 1924 vintage .30 Gov't '06 that is too "recent" to letter. The records for the 1895 stop at serial number 59999 and mine is a shade over 413000. Oh well, it is most certainly legit and shoots like a house a fire. That reminds me, I gotta wipe the copper from the bore; it's been quite a while and the copper Barnes bullets have most likely colored the grooves.

[1894]

Thanks "Rock Star" Seems that great attitude and old leverguns are working well for you
I was gonna try an all wrenchester hunting season this fall . Leave my 3 marlins home and just run a couple W 1894s and a newer ( 1984 M 1895 ) . And the 88 that goes every year. A couple days shooting them and I just couldn't get comfortable with them. Couldn't afford the range time and ammo so the early 40's '94 and the pretty brown-miroku-chester went back to the safe
That 38-55 just literaly called to me and said " I wanna go this year ! "
So we went back out and we are ready . better to just learn one new rifle at a time for me. The marlins will be there , but that old 1894 from 1906 will also be there , soaking up the smoke from the wood stove , conversations around the table , and some fresh air and sunshine walking around the woods.

ETA : The last 2 times a rifle spoke out to me , was the bear that walked in front of my recently passed Fathers 336 , and the marlin 1936 that called out to me from a used gun rack and the nice lil 5 pt white tail that walked up to us the day I took that out for a walk.
No expectations for this one other than some nice walks in the woods. Probably jinxed myself LOL'

[Dave]

There is just something about shooting the old guns that is good on a deep level.

[Sixgun]

Les,
That an itch that will never subside. The 33 is an outstanding caliber of which I have taken a truckload of deer with over the years. (42 gr. 3031/200 Hornady)

Mike & 1894, that sure is a fine looking pair of Winchesters. Can I have both of 'em? -------Sixgun