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Winchester 1885 Thick-Wall vs Thin-Wall (Read 848 times)

Dr.J Full Member Offline Posts: 100 Location: Arizona Joined: Jul 22^nd, 2015	Winchester 1885 Thick-Wall vs Thin-Wall Sep 29^th, 2025 at 5:25pm	Print Post
	I understand that difference between a thick- and thin-wall receiver, but am interested in finding out the “practical “ difference(s) between the two. For example, would a thin-wall receiver be suitable for a .22 bpcr rifle build? In general, would a thick-wall be better suited to building a centerfire rifle? Are there other differences between the two? Thanks. Tom


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 17288 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Winchester 1885 Thick-Wall vs Thin-Wall Reply #1 - Sep 29^th, 2025 at 5:58pm	Print Post
	Dr.J wrote on Sep 29^th, 2025 at 5:25pm: I understand that difference between a thick- and thin-wall receiver, but am interested in finding out the “practical “ difference(s) between the two. For example, would a thin-wall receiver be suitable for a .22 bpcr rifle build? In general, would a thick-wall be better suited to building a centerfire rifle? Are there other differences between the two? Thanks. Tom Thin walls are plenty strong enough for any cartridge Winchester offered in the 1885 High Wall. The same isn't true for the Low Wall 1885 as a flat side Low Wall is the weaker over the normal that people sometimes call a thin side Low Wall.

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bpjack Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 3414 Location: East Olympia, WA Joined: May 18^th, 2008	Re: Winchester 1885 Thick-Wall vs Thin-Wall Reply #2 - Sep 29^th, 2025 at 6:07pm	Print Post
	Here is an old thread on the differences mostly centered around manufacturing dates. (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links)

	ASSRA # 11318 There are more hydrogen atoms in a single molecule of water than there are suns in the entire solar system.
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830singleshot Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 451 Location: Texas Joined: Feb 11^th, 2007	Re: Winchester 1885 Thick-Wall vs Thin-Wall Reply #3 - Sep 29^th, 2025 at 8:50pm	Print Post
	I'll throw my unsolicited hat into the ring. Personally I'm I would NOT use a high wall for a 22bpcr rifle. They are way too difficult to load and unload. If you must have a 1885, make it a low wall. However note that it's possible for a spent cartridge to fall into the action and tie it up. IMHO a Ballard or 44 1/2 action would be my choice. I own and as hoo to all of the above.

	J. Scott McCash&&New Braunfels, TX&&830-237-2376&&jsmccash@yahoo.com
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Crooked_Creek Participating Member Offline Posts: 16 Location: St. Charles, MO Joined: Jan 20^th, 2009	Re: Winchester 1885 Thick-Wall vs Thin-Wall Reply #4 - Nov 1^st, 2025 at 12:44pm	Print Post
	830singleshot wrote on Sep 29^th, 2025 at 8:50pm: I'll throw my unsolicited hat into the ring. Personally I'm I would NOT use a high wall for a 22bpcr rifle. They are way too difficult to load and unload. If you must have a 1885, make it a low wall. However note that it's possible for a spent cartridge to fall into the action and tie it up. IMHO a Ballard or 44 1/2 action would be my choice. I own and as hoo to all of the above. I'll add my two cents also. I have a C.Sharps High Wall in 22 LR. In addition to difficult to load, you can get the rim ahead of (in front of) the extractor if not very careful. Then, if you close the action briskly, the round can fire before the block is totally 'in battrery'....not good at all! P.S. I posted about mine back on 1/23/09 here: (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) And here, where I mentioned that same issue and caution: (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links)
	« Last Edit: Nov 1^st, 2025 at 12:58pm by Crooked_Creek »

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gunlaker Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2453 Location: lower mainland, B.C. Joined: Dec 13^th, 2010	Re: Winchester 1885 Thick-Wall vs Thin-Wall Reply #5 - Nov 1^st, 2025 at 1:47pm	Print Post
	I'll throw in my $0.02 too I have a CPA with a 22 LR barrel and I once accidentally extracted a fired case and it fell into the action and it took a little while to get out. I think you can fumble finger any of them But I'd take my CPA .22LR ahead of any of my C. Sharps highwalls in terms of accuracy. Chris.


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 17288 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Winchester 1885 Thick-Wall vs Thin-Wall Reply #6 - Nov 1^st, 2025 at 4:01pm	Print Post
	What extractor does C Sharps used on their .22RF High Walls? Is it typical RF style that covers the bottom half of the barrel, or 9 o'clock style? My 1885 High Wall with Pope .22 barrel is a 9 o'clock extractor setup.

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JKR Full Member Offline Posts: 101 Joined: Nov 2^nd, 2021	Re: Winchester 1885 Thick-Wall vs Thin-Wall Reply #7 - Nov 1^st, 2025 at 4:20pm	Print Post
	Well since we’re all throwing in our two cents… I have a Highwall musket in 22 LR. I don’t find it hard to load at all. Plus, it ejects empties smartly. I love it!


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Oldman1950 Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 257 Location: Virginia Joined: Feb 8^th, 2014	Re: Winchester 1885 Thick-Wall vs Thin-Wall Reply #8 - Nov 1^st, 2025 at 6:53pm	Print Post
	I have a HIGH Wall in 22 short and a Unertl scope on it. I can load it without BIG problems and the extractor kicks the spent brass out with gusto. A. J. Palik


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Crooked_Creek Participating Member Offline Posts: 16 Location: St. Charles, MO Joined: Jan 20^th, 2009	Re: Winchester 1885 Thick-Wall vs Thin-Wall Reply #9 - Nov 1^st, 2025 at 7:12pm	Print Post
	marlinguy wrote on Nov 1^st, 2025 at 4:01pm: What extractor does C Sharps used on their .22RF High Walls? Is it typical RF style that covers the bottom half of the barrel, or 9 o'clock style? My 1885 High Wall with Pope .22 barrel is a 9 o'clock extractor setup. My C. Sharps has a 6 o'clock extractor/ejector, but not near half the bottom of the barrel...mine is about 1/4" wide or so.


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bpjack Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 3414 Location: East Olympia, WA Joined: May 18^th, 2008	Re: Winchester 1885 Thick-Wall vs Thin-Wall Reply #10 - Nov 1^st, 2025 at 7:55pm	Print Post
	I recently acquired a high wall in 30-30 that I figure was originally a .22 as it has the right side wall cut down. Couple that with the ejector spring on some models, Winder muskets for sure and now it is easy to load and the empties will end up behind you.

	ASSRA # 11318 There are more hydrogen atoms in a single molecule of water than there are suns in the entire solar system.
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westerner Frequent Elocutionist Offline deleted posts and threads record holder. Posts: 11952 Location: Why, out West of course Joined: May 29^th, 2006	Re: Winchester 1885 Thick-Wall vs Thin-Wall Reply #11 - Nov 2^nd, 2025 at 1:18am	Print Post
	I borrowed Tommy Masons Helm .22 at Spokane one year. Think it had a scope on it. Was difficult to load but I managed. Think a Borchardt 32-40 with scope mounted is even more difficult to load. Shooters adapt. I like thick side Winchesters. Not seen all that much. I found one at a gun show in Idaho this summer. Jack was with me so I tricked him into buying it. Thick side Winchester single shots, big and beefy. A manly mans rifle.

	A blind squirrel runs into a tree every once in a while.
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bpjack Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 3414 Location: East Olympia, WA Joined: May 18^th, 2008	Re: Winchester 1885 Thick-Wall vs Thin-Wall Reply #12 - Nov 2^nd, 2025 at 12:45pm	Print Post
	You tricked me into buying it for $500 less than you wanted to buy it for. Good thing you didn’t have a bag of cash with you or we would have gotten into a bidding war.

	ASSRA # 11318 There are more hydrogen atoms in a single molecule of water than there are suns in the entire solar system.
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westerner Frequent Elocutionist Offline deleted posts and threads record holder. Posts: 11952 Location: Why, out West of course Joined: May 29^th, 2006	Re: Winchester 1885 Thick-Wall vs Thin-Wall Reply #13 - Nov 2^nd, 2025 at 1:45pm	Print Post
	You don't know that but we both know the outcome. You did good Jack.

	A blind squirrel runs into a tree every once in a while.
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westerner Frequent Elocutionist Offline deleted posts and threads record holder. Posts: 11952 Location: Why, out West of course Joined: May 29^th, 2006	Re: Winchester 1885 Thick-Wall vs Thin-Wall Reply #14 - Nov 2^nd, 2025 at 1:55pm	Print Post
	Were all the Browning Brothers rifles thick sided?

	A blind squirrel runs into a tree every once in a while.
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