Paco Kelly's Leverguns.com

71fan

The Win 94AE TRapper in .45 Colt was introduced in 1985. There was no cross bolt safety or tang safety at that time. My 1985 serial number is 53556XX. If the one you are looking at is color cased on the receiver it is a first year production - 1985. If not it's later. Here is all the information I ...

71fan

86er....PM sent

71fan

I'm going to sway from the crowd a bit, with a few points to think about. -You already have high-powered, pointy bullets covered. The 308 offers no advantage over either of your current bolts. -A 308 with open sights seems a bit silly at your stage in the levergun evolution. You'd be shooting a ligh...

71fan

The most unpleasant gun I ever shot was a 329PD with the wood stocks on it, shooting full house 44 mag. My FA 454 5-1/2" was close behind, but rolled better in the hand. Those 329PDs are brutal. One cylinder and your finished. As far as rifles, I guess the Timber 450 Marlin and the WWG Copilot ...

71fan

That's great news for the 33 wcf shooters. Now we have several choices to choose from, assuming Rem eventually sells the bullets as components.

71fan

It looks like a nice rifle, but I'd prefer an original any day, and for less money. I just sold an original deluxe on GB for $1,350. No issues...85% condition. IMO, there are too many good deals on original guns out there to mess with copies. 71s and 1886s are going very cheap lately, compared to a ...

71fan

Welcome to the fire!! If you could post a picture of the front sight area that would help. Front sights on all round barrels were an intergral ramp front with a pinned blade. If yours is missing the blade, it will be hard to find a ready replacement, and you may have to get one made up. From Madis' ...

71fan

FWIW, plain-jane 1881 Marlin's were worth $3500 USD over 20 years ago, nevermind a rarity like that one. IMHO, it's easily a $5000-6000 USD rifle, if not more with a letter. Good luck. I don't mean to butt in, but I want to make sure things stay realistic here. I think that price is way off unless ...

71fan

Nice find! Let us know what happens. I don't know where you'll find parts. There isn't much out there. I got to the point where I thought I would need a parts gun to keep my first 1881 running. I sold it instead and bought one that worked. My new one is a light frame 40-60, with a factory 26" b...

71fan

Wait a minute.... There are three frame sizes - a heavy frame, a light frame, and a small frame. The heavy and light were both offered in 45-70 (and 40 Marlin), while the small frame was for the 32-40 and 38-55. I suspect the rifle in question is a true light frame, as the small frame most likely wo...

71fan

Dave James wrote:Where did they come up with a 120 grain bullet for the 243????

+1 I'd sure like to know too. Maybe European?

71fan

Wow. Last I knew they hadn't broke $200. I enjoy finding/colllecting/using the old sights every bit as much as the guns themselves. I'm assembling quite a little collection of such sights (attached to rifles, of course). I've spent a lot of time studying Nick Stroebel's book and Madis' Sight book, a...

71fan

Any receiver sight with a screw in aperture works for me, with a thin post front sight like the Skinner fronts. I also use a Lyman 17 up front on a few of mine so I have a choice of front sights. I like to used the crosshair with the circle in it for paper punching. The 17s aren't the greatest for l...

71fan

Tough decision. If you are going to shoot it a lot you'd sure appreciate a pad, but I'd with a decelerator pad instead of the Winchester red. If you want it to look "right" then definitely the steel. I just listed a M71 on Gunbroker that I had a decelerator pad installed on, but the origin...

71fan

The last "Antique" serial number is 53941. Any number past that was built after 31 December 1898 and is considered "Modern". But not by the Feds....yet :wink: I'd like to start calling these "gap" rifles (Serial 53,942 through Madis' 147,684) because they can still be ...

71fan

Both of those rifles MAY have the date code stamp on the bottom of the barrel, just in front of the receiver. I think they started with the date stamps in the mid 20s, so these may be too early. Anyway, Bert H. at Winchestercollector.org has compiled an extensive list and will have the dates you're ...

71fan

It's not about you. It's about putting holes in paper

71fan

It's a very long shot for me. We have a house full of family in for the holidays so it would be a bit awkward for me to leave for a day. OTOH, I really want to go, so I've already started working on the boss/wife. Anyway, you guys have a wonderful time and I will be there in spirit alongside Jeremy.

71fan

here is mine ... 45lc redhawk, cut to 3" with a rounded grip .. with a full moon conversion // http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q318/H_Talon/carved1.jpg Talon First off, that is a beautiful gun. I like every aspect of it, especially the sights and rounded butt. I too would like to know know ...

71fan

That is a great looking rifle - congrats! I am particularly pleased that you bought THAT rifle in THAT caliber, so you can do some of my work for me :D I'm on my second one, having upgraded earlier this year to a higher condition one than my first, both in 40-60. Neither shoot the 40-65 wcf PMC ammo...

71fan

Agreed. 90% of the stuff listed on GB is so high that only a fool would buy it. To add insult to injury, many people refer to the listed prices on GB to price their guns they want to sell. GB prices are NOT indicative of fair market prices. I agree as well, but that can easily be overcome / ignored...

71fan

GB is a decent sight for location hard-to-find stuff, and I have found a LOT of good deals using a buy-it-now option over the years. I don't use it for NIB guns so I can't speak to that. IMO, here is no other place / source with as broad a reach as GB and the opportunity to get a great deal. I use A...

71fan

I can tell you from personal experience that GB is, in fact, dead right now. I have some very reasonably priced rifles listed and I'm barely getting nibbles (they are linked in the "classified" here). Last year they'd all be sold at these prices. On the other hand, the live auctions are al...

71fan

Most of mine and my kids stuff is handled by AA, but for a few applications the AAA is appropriate. So I'd have to say AAA as a minimum. I prefer Duracel on account of the Energizer bunny being pink.

71fan

I have the Stoney Point you mentioned. Pros: lightweight, sturdy, use like a hiking stick (about like a backcountry ski pole) Cons: It's a bit long for my day pack, sticking out the top and snagging on overhead branches; I have to prop it against a tree to really steady it - it does not work as a st...

71fan

What a dork (I can think of many other names, but this is a "G" rated forum).

Un-frickin-believable. I got po'd just reading it and I'm still hot about it. I hope he gets into serious (felony) trouble with DFG.

Thanks for the post deerwhacker.

71fan

Only $8,500

71fan

There is a spot on the Gunbroker site ("For Buyers" I think) that says something like "Find a dealer" adn you type in your zip code. There are many of us that do a lot of business on Gunbroker. It's a safe method for buying used, as long as you do your homework, ask questions of ...

71fan

NOPE, you are all wrong. The 1886 was the big one and the 1892 was the small one. How could they market a mid-size with a model number that was 1894. We would never be able to figure it out and factory orders would always be getting messed up thinking that the mid-size should be the middle number m...

71fan

I bought a '48 vintage one about 2 years ago, with a Redfield Series 80 receiver sight, for $325. As with most rifles I buy, I can't justify buying new production when the older, higher quality and nostalgia can be had for the same price. Mine shoots into an inch at 50 yards with Walmart Remington 5...

71fan

My S&W 637 (Airweight, 38+, 1-7/8") is my answer. 158 gr. hps. Back pocket, front pocket...doesn't matter. It's light, compact, and there. I've been all over Nevada and California for 25 years, and I've seen one bear (running away) and zero lions. I had a horse spook out from under me once ...

71fan

Oh my!!!! That is a NICE rifle, perfect in every way (for a Savage 99, anyway

).

Did you use it on the piggy?

Welcome to the fire OkR.

71fan

You may give Wind River Rifle a call. They do Winchester restoration work. My 303 brit 1895 has been restored and has replacement wood. It is a beautiful rifle and gets a lot of field time. I don't worry too much about scratches or dings, or normal wear, because it's already been "wrecked"...

71fan

I am actually living this scenario. I am selling of a very large chunk of my collection to build a three barrel TD 1886 on an original (mfg 1894) base rifle, in 40-70 wcf, 33 wcf, and 50 express. It letters with all three barrels. If I can swing it, it will be my "one." If I have to turn i...

71fan

That's because Winchesters don't need any bling

71fan

I got it!! Take one rifle with two front-ends, and you can decide when you leave the truck whatever magazine capacity your heart desires :D :lol: Here's mine - a work in progress. The rear end is a semi deluxe PG with double set triggers and crescent butt, and a Lyman 21 (factory installed I think)....

71fan

Do you want the "best" on your wallet or the best bullet? I'll tell you what worked for me, but I wouldn't consider it the "best" factory load. A premium bullet is usually better than a standard bullet, but not usually necessary for deer. My first rifle was a Featherweight M70 24...

71fan

FYI, when I conducted the the levergun poll last year, the magazine length question was posed. Out of 26 responses, the results regarding what the ideal rifle contained were as follows: 17 for full mag; five for 2/3 mag; four for button mag. Here's my idea of perfection in an 1886 - 1/2 octagon w/ b...

71fan

I agree with your assertion Kirk. The majority of my Winchesters (six of eight) are 1/2 or 2/3 mag, be they 71s, 1894s, or 1886s. All were acquired with hunting in mind. Four in the tube is more than you should ever need and I prefer the balance of the stubby mags. Interestingly, the three Marlins I...

71fan

They are the rarest caliber, at only about 300 ever manufactures. If you find one in decent condition it would be a treasure. I have an '86 in 40-70....sort of. It was originally a 40-70 and is currently a 33 wcf. It is being rebuilt as we speak and will once again be a 40-70, as well as a 50 Expres...

71fan

Great report and pictures! Thank you.

I've spent a lot of time in the Sierras around Tahoe and it is, most definitely, beautiful country. All of my deer hunting has been to the north and west, on the Nevada side.

Good luck going forward.

71fan

It is very hard to decide. I know it's a winchester, but beyond that it gets foggy. The 1886/71 platform, in just about any configuration is probably at the top of the list: http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/DSC_0046.JPG I'm particular fond of 1/2 octagon barrels, and most of my Winchesters see...

71fan

Nice pics El Chivo. Hopefully your hard work and scouting will yield this year. Good Luck! I'm heading out to southwest Utah on the 15th for the opener on Oct. 17. I'll be there six days and then back to San Diego for the the local season. I'll hunt around here a half dozen days or so until the seas...

71fan

I'm not sure that an inside neck reamer is any better than an outside neck file (fine file), and the inside neck reamer is a lot more expensive. I've done the outside neck file (put the case in a chuck, spin it up to medium speed, and apply a fine file to the neck, moving the file slowly up and dow...

71fan

Congrats on a respectable and tasty CA deer, and thanks for helping excite our next generation of hunters. I'm interested in your call too. I used a fawn bleet call for many years with interesting results. It would get them to stand up out of their beds, and it would stop a departing buck in his tra...

71fan

Update... With the bullets Kansas Ed sent me I was able to determine the largest bullet that will chamber is a .407, and that is very tight. I am ordering a neck cutter and an inside neck reamer from Forster to shave down to ~0.008 neck thickness so I can fit a 0.411 bullet, then Kirk D's COW filler...

71fan

Welcome, Mike. Your .50EX conversion is certainly doable, but would caution you if the gun has a BP frame. Generally speaking, it would be a gun manufactured prior to 1900, or thereabouts. Is your .45-70 barrel a Nickel Steel one, and made for smokeless powder? If so, and it's in good enough shape,...

71fan

I just started having one built in 50 Express that was a 33 wcf. It's certainly doable. PM me if you want my gunsmith info. He's in So Cal. I think a lot of people can't even see the target at 300 yards, open sight, let alone hit an 18 inch circle. I'm happy when I can get 6~8 inches at 200 with my ...

71fan

By "most powerful" I'll take it to mean a combination of TKO, momentum, sectional density, and energy (ala Robertson's Dangerous Game criteria) It's close 3-way tie between: 348 / 71 358 Savage 99 30-06 Rem 700 But the 348 with a 270 gr Hawk at 2,250 fps comes closest to Robertson's criter...

71fan

Update: I made a chamber cast with Cerrosafe tonight, and it confirmed what I already knew - no big revelations, except bore size is even bigger at the breech end. So the following numbers are pretty solid now, based on a combination of slugging, fire-forming brass, and chamber casting: Throat: 0.42...

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