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Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) 1885 low-wall shooter (Read 2907 times)
colt45sa
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1885 low-wall shooter
Jul 10th, 2022 at 9:10am
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I’ve bought an 1885 Winchester low-wall, and wish to have it “spiffed up”, not “restored”. I want the barrel lined and converted to a modern cartridge.  I’ve found a likely starter.  It’s in .25 rimfire now. so the breech-bolt would also have to be modified to accommodate a center fire cartridge.    

When I say “spiffed up” I mean I don’t want a museum piece.  I want something I can take out and shoot and enjoy without the constant concern of damaging it in any way.  And I want it converted to shoot a cartridge that components will always be available for.  I’m thinking .357 magnum, but not sure yet.  There are a couple of rim-less cartridges that are somewhat intriging.   

I’m an old guy who loves the nostalgia of wood and blued steel, but I want an ’85 to shoot, not to go in the safe and hide.  The safe has too many of those ”queens” already.

Where do I find a skilled gunsmith to do what I'm after~?
  
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beltfed
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Re: 1885 low-wall shooter
Reply #1 - Jul 10th, 2022 at 9:32am
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JES could bore out and chamber the barrel to 357 mag
Not sure who can change the breechblock to C fire
beltfed/arnie
  
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Sure shot
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Re: 1885 low-wall shooter
Reply #2 - Jul 10th, 2022 at 9:43am
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I highly recommend JES for re-boring. Excellent work and super fast turnaround. Is an original low safe in .357 magnum, or would .38 special be a better choice?
  
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Smoke
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Re: 1885 low-wall shooter
Reply #3 - Jul 10th, 2022 at 11:24am
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You might try posting your rimfire breech block to trade for a centerfire one.

Never know what you might turn up.

And I'd go with .38 special.  Just as much fun to shoot with plinking ammo, easy to load up some hotter cartridges if you need them, and less likely that someone down the road would run some really hot .357 through it and have problems.
  
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amatuers built the Ark, professionals built the Titanic.
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George Babits
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Re: 1885 low-wall shooter
Reply #4 - Jul 10th, 2022 at 12:11pm
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I don't think it is any big deal to convert the breech block to centerfire.   Several ways to do it.   My low wall is a 32-20 and when the firing pin broke I had to pull the breech block.   Found that it had originally been a rimfire as the hole was still there.   Interestingly the barrel is stamped 32 WCF and the numbers match.   For me, I'd prefer the 32-20 over the 38 special, but the 38 special brass is a whole lot more plentiful these days.

George
  
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colt45sa
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Re: 1885 low-wall shooter
Reply #5 - Jul 10th, 2022 at 2:20pm
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beltfed wrote on Jul 10th, 2022 at 9:32am:
JES could bore out and chamber the barrel to 357 mag
Not sure who can change the breechblock to C fire
beltfed/arnie

The breechblock modification to center fire is a piece of cake according to a video I saw on YT by Larry Potter, the guy who owns Midway. No real sophisticated equipment needed either.
  
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colt45sa
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Re: 1885 low-wall shooter
Reply #6 - Jul 10th, 2022 at 2:23pm
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George Babits wrote on Jul 10th, 2022 at 12:11pm:
I don't think it is any big deal to convert the breech block to centerfire.   Several ways to do it.   My low wall is a 32-20 and when the firing pin broke I had to pull the breech block.   Found that it had originally been a rimfire as the hole was still there.   Interestingly the barrel is stamped 32 WCF and the numbers match.   For me, I'd prefer the 32-20 over the 38 special, but the 38 special brass is a whole lot more plentiful these days.

George

I likw the .32-20 too, but the ammo and reloading component prices are getting way out of hand.  I want something that is very common for which I can find components FOR EVER.
  
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colt45sa
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Re: 1885 low-wall shooter
Reply #7 - Jul 10th, 2022 at 2:25pm
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beltfed wrote on Jul 10th, 2022 at 9:32am:
JES could bore out and chamber the barrel to 357 mag
Not sure who can change the breechblock to C fire
beltfed/arnie

Who is JES and how do I find him~?  I have a machinist who could do he breech block but he doesn't rebore or reline barrels.
  
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colt45sa
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Re: 1885 low-wall shooter
Reply #8 - Jul 10th, 2022 at 2:27pm
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George Babits wrote on Jul 10th, 2022 at 12:11pm:
I don't think it is any big deal to convert the breech block to centerfire.   Several ways to do it.   My low wall is a 32-20 and when the firing pin broke I had to pull the breech block.   Found that it had originally been a rimfire as the hole was still there.   Interestingly the barrel is stamped 32 WCF and the numbers match.   For me, I'd prefer the 32-20 over the 38 special, but the 38 special brass is a whole lot more plentiful 
these days.

George

That is precisely the point.  .32-20 ammo and components have become unobtaqnium.
  
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Sure shot
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Re: 1885 low-wall shooter
Reply #9 - Jul 10th, 2022 at 2:49pm
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colt45sa wrote on Jul 10th, 2022 at 2:25pm:
beltfed wrote on Jul 10th, 2022 at 9:32am:
JES could bore out and chamber the barrel to 357 mag
Not sure who can change the breechblock to C fire
beltfed/arnie

Who is JES and how do I find him~?  I have a machinist who could do he breech block but he doesn't rebore or reline barrels.

JES 
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George Babits
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Re: 1885 low-wall shooter
Reply #10 - Jul 10th, 2022 at 3:08pm
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Yup, 32-20 brass is tough to find now.   I started shooting 32-20 back in the early 1980s with a #2 Reminton 32 rimfire.   I had it sleeved and converted to CF.  I think it only cost about $125 or so back then.  Now I have 4 rifles in 32-20, but plenty of brass.  I'll probably run out of primers before I wear out all my brass.

George
  
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1isenough
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Re: 1885 low-wall shooter
Reply #11 - Jul 10th, 2022 at 3:14pm
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Colt45sa,

I attached a copy of the DeHaas bolt thrust curve showing safe cartridges for the low wall action.  Given the short side wall, it has its limits.  As you can see, the 357 Mag is pretty stiff for this action.  The recommendations for 38 special in earlier posts are safe in terms of thrust and cartridge availability, but I like the 218 Bee, 25-20WCF and 32-20WCF better, in terms of performance for a rifle.  If you re-load, you can keep your eyes peeled on GunBroker for 32-20 cartridges (you can make 25-20 and 218 Bee from 32-20).  Also, if you go with a liner (my preference) you should consider John Taylor, a participant in this forum.  Good luck - I love my low wall (has several barrels, including the above-mentioned as well as 44-40).
  
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Mal
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Re: 1885 low-wall shooter
Reply #12 - Jul 10th, 2022 at 7:55pm
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Low wall makes a sweet little shooter in 218 Bee love mine! . Cast or Jacket.   Cheers Mal in au.




  
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kootne
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Re: 1885 low-wall shooter
Reply #13 - Jul 11th, 2022 at 11:50am
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I have a couple of those rifles, both in need of a little tender lovin' care. I'm more a sucker for the original calibers and will probably punch one out to .38/40 and sleeve the other one down to .22wcf (.22 Hornet). Both are in the round tuit pile for the time being.
  
You can't make good decisions without good information.
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colt45sa
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Re: 1885 low-wall shooter
Reply #14 - Jul 13th, 2022 at 9:37am
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beltfed wrote on Jul 10th, 2022 at 9:32am:
JES could bore out and chamber the barrel to 357 mag
Not sure who can change the breechblock to C fire
beltfed/arnie

There's an excellent video on YT by Larry Potter, owner of Midway Arms showing step by step how to do it.  It's not a big deal.
  
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