.33 Winchester

[chrome]

Anybody here reload for the old .33 WCF ?  


I'm thinking about getting a new barrel for my T/C Encore Carbine in this caliber.

The old factory load pushes a 200 gr. Flat point at 2,200 fps., and that is out of the Winchester model-86 lever action.

I was thinking out of a modern Encore I could get around 2,500 fps with the 180 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip.  I figured this would make a good 200 yard lightweight deer gun.

P.O. Ackley's Handbook shows 2,430 fps. with a 200 gr. bullet.  So I think I could probably safely boost this a little ?

 I would like to try something different. I need some helpful opinions ?

[leadbutt]

Your thinking along the same lines as myself, I hunt and reload for the 33 use a 86 . Have an NEF bbl to send off and have done up in 33 should work great.

[Advocate]

I"m not too familiar with the .33 Winchester, although I have heard of it.  Just out of curiousity, why are you attracted to this round?    How do you get brass? Is it nostolgia?  Ballistics? Availability in a rifle that you like?  Just "becuase"?  All of the above?

[86er]

I got mine BECAUSE it's an 1886. 'Sides the price was right, condition is excellent, and it is 60 numbers from the last '86 built. Reloading is a must. I form my cases using Remington 45-70 brass. Redding makes the forming die to begin the necking and reshaping of the 45-70 case. Then all I do is run 'em through the 33 WCF sizing die. I have not tried to get 2400fps out of my gun, at least not yet. The Hornady 200 gr FP is the best all around bullet I've found. 44 grs of IMR3031 will give 2300fps and great accuracy. Mule deer and elk will fall to it, no problemo. I am not aware of Ackley's load data, and would like to see it. The 1886 Winchester is more than capable of handling full power loads. I have '86s in several calibers and load for all of 'em.

[Advocate]

86er.   Cool.   Have you tried Hawk Bullets?

[86er]

Hi, Advocate. No, I've not yet tried Hawks. They are pretty pricey, ain't they? I do intend to try some one of these days, though. MidwayUSA has all the reloading stuff anybody needs, and at darned reasonable prices,too. They sure beat the heck out'ta RCBS. This shooter's done shoppin' there.

[marlinman93]

I get the bullets for my .33 from Liberty Bullets in Forest Grove, Oregon. They sell a wide variety of good custom swaged bullets for a very reasonable price. I paid $8 per 100 for cast bullets.
 I load for an original 1895 Marlin lever action, so I don't push it as fast as you might in the Encore carbine.

[Dand]

Was cleaning out a pile of gun magazines and stumbled into the following article.  Thought I'd post the reference here FWIW.

Handloader Magazine
January- February 1991  # 149
page  18
Cartridge Board by Gil Sengel

.33 Winchester.

Has a small amout of load data for cast and jacketed bullets and a discussion of the cartridge, rifles, and use.  Sounds like a nice combination for deer hunting.  It looks like it would be a  natural for cast bullets too.

[Dutch4122]

Just thought I'd add in case anybody here was interested that in Wolf Publishing's book, "Big Bore Rifles and Cartridges" on page 29 there is an article by Wilf Pyle on the .33 Winchester.  He lists nine different handloads using the Hornady 200 grn Interlock F/P.  IMR-4064 and 4895 gave him the best velocities, both well over 2,400 fps.

Hope this helps. :-)

[86er]

Hey Dutch, How about posting those two loads. I've been loading for my .33 quite a while and have not approached that velocity. Maybe I am too conservative, the rifle is certainly capable of more.

[Dutch4122]

86er-

Here are the loads printed by Wolf Publishing in the above mentioned article:

#1  IMR-4064   Starting charge = 45 grns   Velocity = 2,216 fps
                 Maximum charge = 47 grns  Velocity = 2,467 fps

#2  IMR-4895   Only charge listed = 45 grns   Velocity = 2,471 fps
***Comments for this load indicate that it is NOT RECOMMENDED.  Variation between shots averaged 128 fps.

I scanned through the article and didn't see any specific primer listed.

Hope this helps,

[marlinman93]

By the way, I don't use forming dies to make my .33 Win from .45-70. I have dies for my 1881 Marlin .40-65, so I run the .45-70 cases through them, and then into the .33 dies, and that's all you need. These two sets of dies were cheaper than the forming die set was. Lyman sells both sets for about $20 each at Midway.