Winchester 1886 Shooter Rebarrel

We turn a Winchester 1886 destined to be a parts gun into an excellent shooter by swapping the barrel. Join us as we show our method for replacing a barrel. Then we'll take it out for a few test shots while an audience of Mule Deer gather.

[@slowtwist]

Thanks for the video. My brother had a 33 that P.O. Ackley had redone with a round barrel. He always wanted a 40-65 because it was Tom Horn's favorite. I almost one upped him in the mid eighties. I made a widow woman a good offer on a nice 38-56, she said she would call me if she decided to sell it. Some shyster told her he could get more if he took it to an auction. She never saw him again.

[@user-ou1og8fs5m]

Wow, had no idea that Winchester threads were all timed. Appreciate your sharing of your technique.

[@marknovak8255]

Stuff a tight fitting drill bit in the mag tube, then hold in a vise. Won't crush the tube, and you can pull the gun off the tube using it as a handle......

[@mikerobinson6606]

Thanks Mark and Mark. I'm fighting with a 86 mag tube at the moment.

[@douglasklick5529]

I have always liked lever guns I recently bought an original 1873 in 44-40 the rifle was manufactured in 1887 the rifle is a saddle ring carbin with a 20 barrel. I was able to restore the rifle and it is shooting great al because of your help and nolige I watched your show on how to slug the bore and found out that the modern day ammo is .427 I measured.430 so I ordered.430 lead bullets reload a bunch and now have holes touching I am loading 16.9 grains of imr 4227 . So thank very much for your channel and all your help. And because of you I am getting ready to purchase another old Winchester . Thanks again and have a great time in your shop

[@Melcop1886]

Love those 1886's. Thanks for bringing that old gal back to the dance and sharing it with us!

[@thecinnabar8442]

My pleasure!

[@oregonoutback7779]

Mark, I also had a blast. Love these fix-or-repair videos !! Also love your homemade tools. As a life long furniture maker, my shop was full of homemade contraptions that helped make life more productive. Thanks for taking us along on this one.

[@thecinnabar8442]

You're very welcome.

[@Tex_I_Can]

Nice work! I love these detailed fix and shoot videos. It fascinates me how well you can bring back an old classic and make it live again.

[@timcrisell343]

I get a lot of enjoyment from your videos. Keep up the great work

[@cariboupetepeterson3711]

That is the best rebarreling video I have seen on KZbin! You have a great knack for teaching! Thank You!

[@exothermal.sprocket]

You probably know this tip already, but I'll suggest it anyway. You can dab the dovetail sights with fingernail polish and let it dry. When you drift the sight to make minute adjustment, you can tell how far its moved by the break in the polish. .40-65 is a neat old cartridge. I understand one can make it from .45-70 brass.

[@michaelchristianson7743]

Great show...you was like a kid In a candy store when ya got to shootin!!!

[@nlormanstuckman7408]

Haven’t seen you for a while glad to see you again

[@Justin69ford]

I want to thank you and Mark Novak for sharing the tips and tricks of the trade! I rust blued the barrels of an old German drilling over the past several days. There was absolutely no finish left on the barrels but it was a great shooter. Now it looks like it just left the makers shop. Crisp markings and a new life. Woodwork is my next step but dang those checkering tools are expensive!

[@ronjones1414]

If the checkering is still there, a v groove file is more important than checkering tools, and far less expensive. Just deepen the existing pattern and sharpen the diamonds, then finish.

[@Justin69ford]

@@ronjones1414 unfortunately on the drilling I have been restoring there was a stock repair in the wrist and there's some checkering but not all. The repair looks great, but they didn't bother checkering the new wood that was spliced in. I will look into the v groove file though for some of the others I have that are worn nearly smooth.

[@marknovak8255]

If you remember one thing about checkering.....it's 2 dimensional art, on a 3 dimensional surface. Always look at the pattern from the SAME place in space ( 90 degrees, profile). Also, the bottoms of the grooves must cross at the same depth. Get these right and it won't look too bad. Best of luck to you

[@ronjones1414]

@Mark Novak my grandfather taught me that. Everyone worries about spacing and straight lines, and those are important, but the depth of the line controls how "big" that line looks, and they all need to be the same size.

[@davidharris7687]

Thanks for this! I'm greenhorn to barrel replacement, good see how! And an 86 and 40-65 I'd love to have!

[@mikeallen2523]

great vid. I like old things brought back to life

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks Mike!

[@daveclemons1225]

Great video on a great old Winchester. I am glad you made this video, I often wondered how to get the barrel squared to the receiver. I have came across a few nice old Winchesters with poor bores. I often wondered how I could correct that with a replacement barrel. You made it look easy! Very well explained through the entire process. Thank you again for the informative video Mark!

[@daveclemons1225]

PS... If you would like to part with the 1886, I might be interested!!

[@gilbertdelgado6703]

That trick is also how you align Garand barrels.

[@snappers_antique_firearms]

Boy she turned out beautiful. Great idea putting gun oil on one side. I am definitely going to have to remember that. I like your way of lining up the barrel with the receiver. Its simple and straightforward. I use at Starrett extremely sensitive machinist level when i do colt barrels. Only problem is I find myself chasing the bubble. Knowing it doesn't need to be nowhere near that accurate. Unfortunately though if bubble isn't perfect. I can't help myself 😅. I have only been doing hobby gun smithing for about 5 years. So i still have a lot to learn. I used to be an engineer. I owned a company designing and building high-end sports car prototype parts and race car parts. we were a machine shop and also modified high-end sports cars. I sold the company and several patents in 2018. now I am lucky enough to get to play with antique guns all day. Now all i need to do is finally move away from the city. I hope to one day live on a large piece of land similar to the area you live. as a young kid I worked on a ranch. God I miss the open space and the beauty. 🍻🤠

[@jeffe.9904]

Great Video Mark, Thanks a Bunch!

[@joelowery6919]

Another fantastic video, thanks for letting us watch! I love to handload so be sure to take us along with your load development.

[@toyotaBrad62]

I love my 86's ! You make work look so easy Mark ! Thank You for sharing !

[@wilberfifer5563]

Thanks Mark, I learn valuble tips evertime I watch your videos. I've struggled with the barrel vice and looks like you have a good solution. Should be starting to green up in few more weeks and should be some new fawns starting to show. Thanks again.

[@JoeMartinez-eb3xc]

Always a lot of fun with them old shooters. Happy Easter to you!

[@thecinnabar8442]

Happy Easter to you and your family, too!

[@jamesmooney5348]

Nice! Very nice!

[@oldiron3735]

Neat barrel swap on that old 40-65! That sure makes for a handy size 86. Ive never shot 40-65 before, looks like a neat option for a deer getter!

[@thecinnabar8442]

It is a good caliber for deer sized game and has an excellent reputation for accuracy. It may not have the best long range ballistics, but with open sights and my old eyes, I wouldn't be shooting far enough for that to be a problem.

[@oldiron3735]

@@thecinnabar8442 I feel the same way with all my leverguns except for two. Ive got glass on an old Savage 99C in 284 Winchester and its a pretty flat shooter. I shot a small Texas whitetail with it this past November. My other flat shooting levergun is a BLR in 300WSM. All the rest are tube feeders.

[@MegaRiffraff]

I’ve had several 86s over the last 40 years , my favorite calibers were 40-82 and 33 wcf, The 33 was probably the most accurate of all . But i never had a .50 or the 38-70 ,

[@oldiron3735]

@@MegaRiffraff An 86 in 40-82 is on my short list. Id love to find one that I can afford.

[@cervus-venator]

That was just an awesome video. I've done this with two guns now. They were my step father's and he had to get rid of all of his guns after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's. I was going to sell them as parts guns, but ended up rounding up parts and redoing them. One was an old single shot bolt action .410 that I had to completely redo. I actually took it to the dove field and got a couple of dove with it. The other was an old Winchester .22lr. It was missing several parts and I rounded them up and made it whole again. There are a couple of things I want to continue working on with it, but for now this thing shoots really well. Watching you work on these old rifles and making them great shooters is really enjoyable to me. I'd love seeing you be able to develop a great hunting load and actually take a deer with this gun. Thanks, best of luck in the load development and hunting.

[@Danceswithempties]

Great video! Thanks for sharing.

[@prestonmonaghan499]

Enjoyed it. Happy Easter!

[@chrisevansgunshorsesranchi699]

Love the 1886 rifles. Some day I will have a original one. I have a Miroku made 1886 in 45-70 it is a great rifle but is not an original. Thanks for sharing all of your knowledge and great videos

[@bibbyman2]

I've changed out barrels on several Marlin lever guns. I was also lucky the barrels turned in lined up and no headspace problems.

[@grammyhall53]

i am really glad i found your channel,real imformative. ty santee......on the brazos.

[@davidsonneman1121]

Happy Easter! Love the barrel vice

[@jeffreygraf3358]

What a nice shooter. Good job!

[@stephenrice4554]

Great , interesting video 👍🇬🇧

[@CaptainCock99]

Great work Mark! Love watching your videos especially on gunsmithing content

[@richardboquist1531]

Great video! Happy Easter.

[@dogbone1358]

Great episode Mark. Really enjoyed this gunsmithing video. 😊 Happy Easter 🐣

[@boydsteenblock1328]

Great content! I really like those old lever guns.

[@tacman2893]

That’s what I call a success my friend! Love those 1886. Love to see that load development video!

[@peterconnan5631]

Beautiful rifle. Looking forward to the load development!

[@ricktaylor5744]

I always love your videos mark. What a great shooting rifle! I am looking forward to seeing a load development video.

[@bullseyedixon5660]

THANK YOU SIR FOR YOUR TEACHING TALENTS.

[@dfinan6404]

Great stuff!

[@richardbest6588]

Wonderful stuff as always. I really really want that rifle!!

[@brokendad2222]

Very good video Sir. I will need to start looking for a lever gun now. Whitetail are feeding about 25yards from the house now, but they all have calendars.

[@chrischiampo7647]

Happy Easter Mark Awesome Job and You Made a Great Shooter 😀😊😀😇

[@miker258]

Man, you live my dream GOD BLESS YA

[@Tom-ki3lq]

Thanks for the video. I am a fan of the 86(I have four) but no experience with the 40-65. I appreciate that you get these old rifles out and shooting .

[@owensiegel272]

I do like those challenging calibers, like this one. finding original properly stamped cartridges is always interesting. I have an 1886 in 38-56 currently at my smith being fixed up. After 124 years it is allowed a little help.

[@errolpoxleitner9586]

Very good lesson thanks.

[@lloydryan7716]

That was a very interesting video. You are a true gunsmith. I am always impressed with your ability. I did see a video on relining a barrel it was a single shot lever action .22 I do want to see your's. Thank you for the great videos.

[@lusitanooutdoorchannel680]

I love the 1886 rifle.

[@redtobertshateshandles]

I'd call that rifle priceless.. Keep it.. When you really need the money you can sell something you don't love so much..

[@henrysara7716]

Thank you Mark.

[@wagon9082]

Good video

[@daleflinchum3244]

Mark, like your methods but would like to add for my money I would put the action wrench around to the other side of the action so I can push down as I did when loosening. Easier for me to control my actions as I tighten the barrel.

[@michaelhayes7471]

That's a nice gun

[@jlpjlp1953]

The deer somehow know when hunting season comes around. I don't know where they keep their calendars. Great video. Thanks!

[@mikerobinson6606]

Great video! 👍.40-65 and .40-82 are my wish list 1886 rifles. Out here in the east they are rare.

[@lennemoy1971]

NICE1. I’d love one of those.

[@evankibbe590]

Looking good 😊

[@milesh.1125]

happy easter! I hope someday to get an 1886 as it is my goal to get an example of each of the winchester leverguns. I already have a 94. thanks for the video.

[@gilbertdelgado6703]

For your load development the first thing I would try is to shoot some rounds over a chronograph to get the velocity of those cowboy loads. Knowing what the gun likes velocity wise is a good start.

[@Siskiyous6]

I really like that barrel vise. I struggle to hold barrels with my current fixtures. on occasion Blacktails would hang out on my range while we shot.

[@arthurekman8281]

I have a the same rifle with the same problem, only they cut at just at the muzzle. I got a coupl of tools from Brownells and went to work. I made a short rifle out of it. It came out ok, not perfect but pretty good. Shoots ok.

[@Aussie038]

I liked the half magazine look better 😁

[@ronjones1414]

I love button magazines on lever actions, and weird length barrels. I would hold on to that short barrel and do some work on the crown. You might use it to turn a basketcase into a shooter some day.

[@jeffryrichardson9105]

I’ll have to bring my 40-65 1886 over and see how it patterns!👍🏽😀❤️🇺🇸

[@cliff8680]

Just found your videos. I really enjoy watching your gunsmithing videos. Wish i had a talent for fixing my guns. Can you give us a tip for fixing or replacing messed up gun screws.?

[@loupuleff571]

Man that turned out just great ! I have a puma model 92/454 getting rebarreled from round to octagon now so this was very interesting to see would have been nice to do it myself but for one barrel doesn't make sense to make all the tools you have !

[@richardhutchinson4016]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Very clearly presented. Can you get headspace gauges for this caliber? How do you check headspace? Happy Easter.

[@terryes1872]

Headspace, my question too. Love the old Winchester lever actions, remind me of my horses and simpler times.

[@wilmamcdermott3065]

As a shooter it a good candidate for a reblue job

[@thecinnabar8442]

Great idea! But even better, it would have been original with a case-colored receiver. You've really got me thinking now.

[@wilmamcdermott3065]

Got a new 1886 in 4590 its a kicking Mule with the cresant steel butt stock

[@wilmamcdermott3065]

Have case hardning on my sharps 4570

[@AngelRodriguez-du5rp]

Mark, you should of had your Wheaties!😊 Excellent video!

[@thecinnabar8442]

Haha, I'm going to have to get on a weight training program to bust loose these old barrels.😉

[@cameronmccreary4758]

Mark, when you first showed us the rifle it looked a little strange. Please do that "Ho do that you do" and make her the life of the party. There has to be some type of fixture you can make where you put it in there, I hold the magazine around the outside around the circumference so, nothing gets damaged. When I work for John Martz the Luger carbine maker from Lincoln California we had vise jaws that were made out of hard lead machined to the shape of the rear of the barrel. Do you prefer plywood or have you tried lead or copper jaws? Also, we had a flat top fixture that clamped onto the top of the receiver and a moving indicator that was affixed to the sight post of the barrel. As the barrel was screwed in we could check it's position on the indicator. When the indicator red zero all the way along the bar on the top of the receiver; the barrel was in. Everyone do have a nice Resurrection Day celebration today.

[@jims9249]

Wow, that turned into a great shooter. Good luck with the load workup and getting some venison with it :)

[@224Nisqually]

I am looking forward to the load development. Maybe Acc 5744?

[@millcreekrange]

Mark, another great video Sir. And that 86 looks to be a fine ole good too. They all don’t have to be collector’s pieces now do they? Old pieced together guns can shoot just as good or better than the nice shiny collector guns. Thank You for turning that old gun around. I just love a full length magazine tube on a lever action anyway. 👍👍

[@redtobertshateshandles]

Shiny collector guns don't shoot. It's a crime..

[@millcreekrange]

True. 👍

[@rgbgamingfridge]

new video lets gooo

[@skylersmith9465]

Yeah, what you said!

[@StevenMMan]

Got a case of dropsy like me I see. Looks like it's going to make a great saddle rig

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks Mountain Man!

[@Bearlake1624]

Great project

[@williamcrawford7982]

Got home , had the parts hahaha ✔

[@kevinroberson1985]

I was just wondering I took my old 1892 marlin 32 RF and when I got it from under a man shelter where he said he had a old lever action 32 short 32 long rifle rimfire marlin.well I got the rifle down and I looked at it and the barrel was full of mud dinner wasp dried mud from one end to the other. Well he gave it to me and I thanked him and went home and started cleaning and it still had some rimfire cartridges in the tubular magazine. I soaked the barrel for a while about two days and got all the mud dinners nest out with a air gun and cleaned it and it wasn't any sign of rifleing much and pitted so I ordered a barrel liner for it and put that in the barrel so I would have the original outer barrel. It turned out great and shoots very accurate just a very slow bullet around 800 fps. I have seen in my numerich gun parts corporation catalog they have a center fire barrel for my rifle and I'm thinking of getting one so it would be cheaper to shoot. The rimfire cartridges for it is very expensive. And numerich arms co in new York has a lot of parts and barrels for rifles like Winchester you work on to have . Well best of luck and thanks for a great video

[@alfredrogers6845]

I enjoyed your rebarrel video.I'm curious: I realize you're a Winchester fan. Are most barrel threads right-handed? Ironically, I'm going to do a Marlin 39. Also, do you really need a 20-ton jack? I only have a 4 ton.

[@chrisevansgunshorsesranchi699]

Mark have you ever used an angle finder tool on your straight edge to help with your alignment? You are an incredible skilled craftsmen I hope you have an apprentice to pass it onto.

[@douglopes7964]

Thank you, well done. I went to Lassen gunsmithing Mr wise was still teaching and Dunlap sure has changed since then. Have a question I have a 1886 win. 45-70 I am looking for a full barrel octagon for her any help would be appreciated. If possible..

[@453421abcdefg12345]

An absolutely wonderful video Mark, many thanks for posting, did you check the headspace after rebarreling? Chris B.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Yes. Thanks for the reminder. I intended to mention that and forgot. I blame it on the creeping onset ofo old age. That's also a part of why I was checking the brass after the first shot to see if I had a bulged primer. Of course, I wasn't expecting it because it headspaced almost perfectly.

[@453421abcdefg12345]

@@thecinnabar8442 I did not think for one moment that you had not checked the headspace, I noticed also that you checked the primers after shooting, I think it is a habit that we do this without thinking. Stay safe! Chris B.

[@danielalamo2075]

I loved the video! But I have a question. You mentioned adjusting the windage by moving the front sight. Is there a difference, front or back? I have a Winchester model 94 30-30 made in the 1950s. The front sight is soldered on. But it still has a dovetail between the soldered piece and the blade. I knocked the soldered piece clean off the barrel while trying to adjust windage. My father in law was a machinist and gun collector (and extremely intelligent). He told me to always adjust the rear sight. The guy at the gun shop I took my rifle in for repairs said the same thing. Maybe it was because this model has a soldered on front sight instead of the dovetail like my older Winchester model 94 rifle. I don't know. So I was curious when you mentioned moving the front sight. And thank you for your insight, tips and entertainment. So far my collection consists of 2 model 92 Winchesters in 25-20 (1 rifle, 1 carbine) and some model 94s. I have 2 rifles in 30-30, and some carbines in 30-30, 25-35, 32 Winchester special. I use a 94ae to hunt with a Cabela's scope for the the Hornady leverevolution ammo. But California hunting sucks. Anyway I always enjoy when you shoot these old guns.

[@siege78]

Great video, I'm just now getting into cowboy shooting. Started out as more of a long range guy but getting sidetracked. Curious to hear more about how this process was done without headspace gages

[@thecinnabar8442]

I checked the headspace with a headspace gauge. I meant to mention it when I test fired the rifle but forgot to. Rarely is headspace an issue when changing a Winchester barrel unless there was an existing problem with either the barrel or the lock up of the bolt. Just like I mentioned about the barrels nearly always indexing up properly. If they index properly, they nearly always headspace properly. The headspace should be checked, but it's rarely ever an issue.

[@siege78]

@The Cinnabar that's very interesting! That would mean the bolt face to receiver face dimension from one rifle to the next would have to be very very close, correct? That's impressive of Winchester. Great content

[@b0rd3n]

Me likey. Hehhe. Take care, enjoy yourself!

[@flintrichards945]

I have a 86 that I bought from a guy in Colorado it was original but someone rebored it from .40 cal. To .45 and did a horrible job they stressed it outAnd put a curve in it. I bought a pre chambered barrel from Buffalo Arms and did the job myself and it is now a great shooter before it was awful min.of trash can lid at 50 yards and about8 inches to the left. Now it shoots dead on nice little groups.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Its gratifying to get them shooting straight again, isn't it!

[@paulbonino5134]

You mentioned the replacement barrrel length had been modified. Did you have to resize the mag tube to match the barrel length?

[@stihlsawrepairs7955]

Greetings from the PNW ! I just subscribed! Question, sir. I just purchased a 1942 year of a Winchester 64. I can tell that the muzzle-end of the thing shows wear…the bullet projectile goes into it about 99.8 percent. 30-30 caliber. It’s all original by the way. Is this going to cause any degree of inaccuracies shooting this firearm?

[@thecinnabar8442]

The best test is to shoot it. I've seen some pretty poor looking barrels shoot awful well, but you'll never know until you try it. Best of luck!

[@charlesrichardson3953]

They know when it's season😅!

[@MoxieFirearms]

I tried to mate up an early octagon 30-WCF barrel with a Winchester Model 94 receiver from 1921. The threads were clean and looked the same. But the turn was very tight. So tight I am afraid they are a different thread pitch. Is turning on a barrel for the first time supposed to be so tight?

[@jerrybeckmann5624]

Where do you get your barrels made, i have a win.1892 -25-20 carbine that needs a barrel

[@user-xd3um4km2g]

I have an original 1886 that has a problem with the mag tube hangar. Some one has bubba it and it has multiple stake marks around the dovetail. I want to know the best way to repair it. Do you have any suggestion and could I possibly send you some pictures; It has an octagon barrel. Thank You.

[@gilbertdelgado6703]

Really enjoyed the video, are you up in NE Commifornia or NW Nevada? The terrain looks familiar.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Close. We're about 50 miles north of the border between the two.

[@gilbertdelgado6703]

After I sent that comment, I watched a few more episodes and figured you were in the People’s Republic of Oregon. We need to bull dose a good portion of both states into the ocean.

[@Tammy-un3ql]

👌👌👍👍

[@gregorygibson5455]

I need a screw for the mag tube cap do you have those it’s for a 1873 winchester 32-20

[@randyguapo7793]

could you rebarrel a new frontier colt from a 7 1/2 barrel to a short 4 3/4 barrel ? would you even want to ?

[@williamkaiser8067]

Outstanding! I noticed you single-loaded the rounds in the rifle. You dissected the magazine tube so shouldn't you have checked that, also? And what about headspace? I thought that was related to where the barrel is. Or are these details resolved off camera? In any event, a most enjoyable video, thank you! I look forward to seeing the show on 40-65 load development. I like those old cartridges, even if I do shoot "modern" .356! (Everything is relative, you know)

[@thecinnabar8442]

Yes, I checked the headspace and the mag spring. They were both excellent, btw.

[@williamkaiser8067]

@@thecinnabar8442 I just watched this for a second time (or was it third?) and noticed a distinct lack of smoke from any of the fired rounds. Certainly not BP! I know you CAN load smokeless for BP if you're careful, and you are always careful, I notice. So will your reloads be smokeless or black powder? I am really looking forward to the development video!