33 Winchester: Powders and bullets with brass

450 Fuller

Beginner
Dec 22, 2020
9
7
Last chambering in the Winchester 1886 ending in about 1936. The 33 WCF was also available in the 1885 Winchester Single Shot and the Marlin 1895.
An excellent cartridge, but ammunition started drying up in the 1950s after W-W
discontinued production.

Now, reloading for the 33 WCF is about the only option in town. Quality Cartridge in Maryland makes good brass. Number 65 of Handloader magazine (Jan-Feb, 1977)
provides a good article on loading the 33 WCF.
Hornady discontinued their fine 200 gr flat point a few years back. Only Hawk Bullets
and a few others offer good bullets.I rely on a few Hornady bullets along with Hawk
180-200 gr bullets.

Nosler offers the 210 grain PT which will work with a cartridge in the chamber
or placed last in the tubular magazine. The Nosler bullet/cartridge combination
works well on moose and elk.

SC H- 4831, H-4198, and 3031 are excellent powder choices for the 33 case in the 1886.

The 33 WCF and the 1886 Winchester are an excellent combination for deer, moose, bear and elk. I have two of these fine rifles and they work well.
 
Never seen one in person, but man I’d like to. Ain’t met a Winchester I’ve hated yet and anything 1886 is cool to me.

Any pictures of the rifles 450?
 
Good friend, true Oregon old timer has one. I found a dusty box of .33 at an out of the way hardware store just before we left. Kid at the counter seemed confused, tag said $10.00 😂
 
Must have been a tag from 50 years ago. lol That is a good find.
Since it has been quite awhile since they made bullets for the 33 Winchester (and the 33 OKH wildcat that predated the 338-06), the tag could have been right!
 
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