Middle of range 200 G jacketed
32 gr  4198
38 3031
41 4895

Fresh off the latest 1940's Ideal Handbook.  Tom

I've killed a few white tails with a. 33, it's a little bit overkill but not to bad. 
Lee Gibbs pres.ASSRA

westerner wrote on Dec 25^th, 2020 at 4:52pm:

Those lightweight rifles in that configuration chambered for .33WCF used to be "cheap". In the 1970s or earlier, they could be bought for little more than a nice '94 in .30WCF because few folks were interested in chasing down rounds for the obsolete cartridge or forming brass themselves. I bought mine in the early 1970s strictly because it was the only M-1886 I could afford AND it came with case forming dies. The '86 .33s still command much less than all other '86s chambered for any of the other cartridges. I love the .33WCF. It looks like a super-duper .30-30 - plus it hits like a sledge hammer and penetrates deep. 

Had a couple 1895 Marlins in .33 Win. and same thing for them too. The old 1895 Marlins got such high prices I didn't want to spring for one. But in .33 Win. they were almost a bargain price. Cheap enough that one of mine was a takedown version, and was less money than any .45-70 solid frame 1895 I'd seen for sale.
I never hunted with mine, and both got sold to fund the Ballard fever. But I love the cartridge, and think it's one of the best ever. My feeling was the .348 Win killed the .33 Win. back then. Once it hit the market nobody wanted a .33 anymore, even when ammo was available.

When I first started hunting deer in Maine 1964 I hunted with a pre 64 M70 in .257 Roberts for two years. Same story both years clean shots, they were dead but just did not know it. Had to trail them and did get them but was unhappy because I did not consider them CLEAN Kills. So went home and spoke to a Gunsmith and told him I wanted a Rifle that would be a clean humane Hunting rifle. Pulled out an 86 Winchester he had in .33 Winchester with a barrel he had made himself. Chased down dies and Bullets .200 Gr. round nose. It shot really good, since that time I have taken 9 Deer with it none ever got a leg back under them. Found the 3031 and 4064 worked fine no matter which was used. still have the .257 Roberts and the .33 Winchester, just don't want to part with either
of them. Hunting should be a Humane activity with no significant suffering on the 
Game side. Now I have them coming into my back field to graze under Pear tree's. I just enjoy seeing them there. No desire to hunt that way. Well good luck to all in the future. Regards FITZ OLDTUCK.

My 33 Win high wall build is out for blueing. Found a decent stick of lumber that whittled out to a decent stock.

Not my handy work; that stock work was done by David Janac of Caldwell, Texas.

Beautiful wood and impressive  craftsmanship.  I hope you post photos of the completed  project. Did you do the checkering?  I like the  pattern you chose.

I guess the old 200 grain FP is discontinued. I just saw these listed in an upcoming auction.  (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Thats a nice stock, great work.

Correct bullet choice is often overlooked as is the placement. You don't want a bullet that goes in one side and out the other and expels all of the shock and energy into the dirt. That should take place inside the animal and the most humane way is a high just behind the shoulder shot. The shock goes right to the spinal cord and the nervous system and along with the energy they drop dead right on the spot and I used 90 grain Seirra's in my 270.

Beautiful. Nice job.

Not sure what you will be hunting with the 33 wcf but my experience with my 25-35 wcf in a single shot says leave the flat based bullets in the box for use in an 1886 lever action and go with a Nosler 210 grain Partition for most applications and the Nosler 180 gr or 200 gr Accubond  in many situations.  You can load the longer pointed bullets to a longer oal than you can for a lever action and the rifle can stand higher pressure loads than an 1886 as well so might as well take advantage of it.  Hawk bullets makes flat nosed and round tip bullets if you want to go that route but a 210 grain Partition at 2500 fps muzzle velocity would be a 300 yard rifle for elk in my opinion for whatever it is worth.  Re17 would be my powder to try first and then the tried and true IMR 3031.  Nice shootin iron!     Tom

Bulseyetom wrote on Dec 17^th, 2020 at 1:59pm:


When I had my 1895 Marlin in .33 Win. I used that 195 gr. cast bullet with 18 grs. of 4759 to take a couple mule deer Tom. It was a very accurate load in my 1895, and did the task on mule deer with no trouble at all.