86 Win. Caliber change

[Jed Cooper]

Does anyone know who would either have the parts, or even do the conversion on an original 86 winchester from 40-82 to 50-110?   I know the barrel is the easy part, but the internal stuff is a whole nother matter. I know how some feel about altering old guns, But this one has been relined anyway. It is a nice old gun, I just want to make it into a serious hunter. I have another one just like it in 45-70. This would make a cool set of hunting rifles. Any help welcome.    Jed

[John Taylor]

I have done more than a few. There are three different ways the action was converted. All include opening up the carrier and taking a little off the end of the lever. Getting the big cartridge to go in the mag is the big problem, some have to have the frame opened up a bit and the mag tube opened on the right side. Most need the feed guides narrowed a bit, about .020 off the right and enough off the left to allow for the fatter brass. The chamber needs to be polished and the bottom edge rounded off or there will be a feeding problem. Runs about $175 to do the action. An octagon barrel with all the cuts in the white is about $450. I would recommend going with a 1 in 24 to 1 in 28 twist. The originals had 1 in 48 to 1 in 60. The same chamber is used for the 50-100-450 with twist rate from 1 in 36 to 1 in 48. The later rifles had the faster twist.
The 50-110 was called an express rifle with it's 350 grain bullet. High velocity for the black powder days but not much knock down at long range.

[Jed Cooper]

JT Cartridges of the world lists the twist at 1/54 for this cartridge. My barrel is round. Green Mountain lists an 86 round barfrel  in this twist. I haven't checked availability yet. Do you still do this type of work?   Jed

[John Taylor]

The 1 in 54" twist is what most books say but actual checking of old barrel shows different twist rates. Most of the older Winchesters started with a slow twist and as the years went by the twist rate was changed to a faster twist. I will still do the work but I don't think you will be happy with a 1 in 56 twist.