In the dim & distant past, I had an 1886 Winchester in 33 WCF. This was back when Hornady was still making their 200 grain jacketed flat/softpoints for that caliber. The other half of my shooting with the rifle got done using the RCBS #338-200-FP castings, which I enjoyed mostly for the cost savings.
The rifle was a takedown Featherweight example, though even in my relative youth at the time I would have argued against the accuracy of it FWT labeling. 22" barrel, 1/2 magazine......the magazine tube unscrewed and released the barreled half to be detached with a half-turn/interrupted thread arrangement between the barrel root and action front ring.
In keeping with the inaccurate labeling, the rifle's downrange performance was......lackluster. The j-words at 2100 FPS and the castings at 1600-1700 both patterned at about 3.5"-4.0" at 100 yards. 33 caliber bullets aren't for whacking rats, though. I hunted with the rifle for a couple seasons, and never grassed a deer with it. A collector type at the range I infested saw me shooting it one day, and when I finished I dismounted the barrel to clean it from the breech end. He walked over and said, "Excuse me for asking, but why on earth are you firing such a valuable rifle?"
Me--"Hunting season is over, and wanted to empty out the cases for cast bullets". He looked like he just got gut-punched.
Him--"Would you be interested in selling that rifle?"
Me--"For the right money, sure. I have reloading dies and case-forming set as well." (In reloader-speak--I am SO DONE with this rock around my neck).
Long story made short--the guy OFFERED 2.5X what I had in the kit, and I sold it for that offer. The only interesting rifles are accurate rifles. Have at it, Pilgrim.
