The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The North Corral > Curios and Relics

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old February 7, 2013, 08:53 AM   #1
DiffyDoc
Member
 
Join Date: December 18, 2012
Posts: 22
40-82 Winchester Ammo?

Great news for me! I acquired a 40-82 Winchester from my Dad that has been pretty well taken care of. I have no ammo or brass or loading info. Is any of that stuff out there? I would love to shoot this beautiful lever gun, but need something to shoot out of it. Any threads, ideas, suppliers would be great. Thanks.
DiffyDoc is offline  
Old February 7, 2013, 09:13 AM   #2
Mike Irwin
Staff
 
Join Date: April 13, 2000
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 41,374
Buffalo Arms carries it, but it is back ordered.

Brace yourself for the price:

http://www.buffaloarms.com/Detail.as...58039&CAT=4446

Heed the warning about smokeless powder and jacketed bullets, though. You don't want to ruin a fine old 1886.


Graf & Sons also has brass:

http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/...categoryId/845
__________________
"The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza

Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.
Mike Irwin is offline  
Old February 7, 2013, 09:17 AM   #3
Mike Irwin
Staff
 
Join Date: April 13, 2000
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 41,374
I looks like Ten-X also has it, with lead bullets:

http://www.tenxammo.com/files/Shoote...g_05052011.pdf
__________________
"The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza

Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.
Mike Irwin is offline  
Old February 7, 2013, 09:57 AM   #4
HiBC
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 13, 2006
Posts: 8,272
If you get to loading for it,you might contact Mount Baldy Bullets.He has a pretty good idea of just what alloy your 86 will like.
The caution is those barrels were real soft steel and too hard of a bullet can hurt them.

I beleive Mike Venturino wrote a book on "Shooting Old Lever Action Rifles" or similar.Midway may have it.I suggest you order a copy and read it.

Of course,as your Dad's fine old rifle,it is priceless already,but if you have access to a Gun Trader's Guide,you might try to learn just what you have..perhaps for insurance reasons.Like,it might be a Lightweight,octagon barrel,color case hardened takedown and you might be looking at more than $10,000

I am not the guy to teach you,but there is some to learn before you shoot it.

Good for you!!
HiBC is offline  
Old February 7, 2013, 10:20 AM   #5
Jim Watson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 25, 2001
Location: Alabama
Posts: 18,483
Yes, Mike Venturino's book Shooting Lever Guns of the Old West is a good source.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...ripbooks%2C300

The 1886 action is amply strong for smokeless powder but if it is not a nickel steel barrel, I would stick to cast bullets at moderate velocity for any amount of shooting. A 260 gr lead bullet at 1200-1400 fps will do anything necessary to a target... or a deer.

A box or two of jacketed just to say you had shot the gun will not hurt it. Jacketed bullets were available in the late years of the caliber's production.
Jim Watson is online now  
Old February 7, 2013, 10:51 AM   #6
Mike Irwin
Staff
 
Join Date: April 13, 2000
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 41,374
If it's not a nickel steel barrel I wouldn't shoot any smokeless or jacketed bullets out of it at all.

You can do an amazing amount of damage to an old soft steel bore in short order with smokeless powder and jacketed bullets.
__________________
"The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza

Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.
Mike Irwin is offline  
Old February 7, 2013, 10:16 PM   #7
DiffyDoc
Member
 
Join Date: December 18, 2012
Posts: 22
Thanks y'all, I will look into the info and the book. I had no idea where to start looking. But this is a great forum with great info. Thanks.
DiffyDoc is offline  
Old February 8, 2013, 02:01 PM   #8
randy45
Junior Member
 
Join Date: January 25, 2013
Location: Austin, Tx
Posts: 6
this may sound like a stupid question but what does "40-82" Winchester actually mean....I understand it is caliber but what number represents what? Thank you for overlooking my ignorance.....
randy45 is offline  
Old February 8, 2013, 04:34 PM   #9
James K
Member In Memoriam
 
Join Date: March 17, 1999
Posts: 24,383
The second number on those old black powder cartridges represents the weight of the black powder charge in grains. Sometimes there is a third number, indicating the bullet weight, also in grains.

Jim
James K is offline  
Old February 8, 2013, 05:27 PM   #10
TomADC
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 14, 2009
Location: San Diego County
Posts: 795
Wow, I wonder what it could be relined to? depending on the value of the gun of course.
Even the brass is expensive.
How about a picture of this jewel!
__________________
US Navy Retired,NRA Life Member,SASS member, Time magazine's Person of the Year 2006!
TomADC is offline  
Old February 8, 2013, 07:22 PM   #11
Rainbow Demon
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 27, 2012
Posts: 397
I've read that the .40-80 bottleneck (a bit different cartridge of the same class) as used in match rifles held the record for smallest grouping at 1,000 yards till the development of the .25-06.
Rainbow Demon is offline  
Old February 10, 2013, 05:28 PM   #12
James K
Member In Memoriam
 
Join Date: March 17, 1999
Posts: 24,383
Lining, reboring and re-rifling, and re-barrelling are all options, but ones that should not be used unless the bore is really, really bad. Any of those options will completely destroy the collector value of an old gun if it is in anything like decent condition. Only if it is a shot-out clunker would I consider barrel work, but then the work could cost more than the gun is worth.

Jim
James K is offline  
Old February 10, 2013, 05:58 PM   #13
HiBC
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 13, 2006
Posts: 8,272
I did find out the bores were .408,and,for some reason,the factory load used .406 bulletes.(Cartridges of the World)I think 255 gr,IIRC.Likely twist will be too slow for heavy bullets.

Look to Bufffalo Arms for some sources,I believe the cases can be formed from 45-90.Likely they have dies.Starline sells good 45-90 brass.

It would not be wrong to load it with black powder.You will need to clean it properly the same day you shoot,and wash your brass.Black powder cartridge has its own set of rules to learn.It is a fun education.

Subscribe to Black Powder Cartridge News.Great magazine!You will learn a lot.

From your post,its not clear to me,is it still possible to discuss shooting the rifle,loading for it,etc,with your dad?
HiBC is offline  
Old February 11, 2013, 08:24 AM   #14
DiffyDoc
Member
 
Join Date: December 18, 2012
Posts: 22
According to Lloyd (the Dad) this rifle had less than one box of shells ran through it. I cleaned the bore and the action up pretty good and it looks pristine down the bore. No pits or shot out chamber. The stock is not broken, but it has some scratches and wear. I will get some pics and post them for y'all to drool over. I have that problem too....I drool alot when I get around this rifle
DiffyDoc is offline  
Old February 11, 2013, 09:55 AM   #15
Mike Irwin
Staff
 
Join Date: April 13, 2000
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 41,374
"The second number on those old black powder cartridges represents the weight of the black powder charge in grains. Sometimes there is a third number, indicating the bullet weight, also in grains."

Occasionally you'll also find a fourth set of numbers, as well -- the case length in inches.

During the black powder era (just as today) some people had VERY definitive ideas about what made for a proper, accurate cartridge.

Some absolutely refused to accept a bottlenecked round, believing that the bottleneck degraded accuracy.

So, manufacturers often had two cases, or two companies both offered a similar cartridge, but one was necked, the other straight...

A good example is the .40-70 Sharps.

The necked case was 2.25 inches long, while the straight case was 2.5 inches long.
__________________
"The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza

Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.
Mike Irwin is offline  
Old February 16, 2013, 11:28 PM   #16
finloq
Member
 
Join Date: October 2, 2010
Posts: 73
RMC has the brass: http://www.rockymountaincartridge.co...ice%20List.pdf
__________________
"Self-realization. I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "... I drank what?"
finloq is offline  
Old February 19, 2013, 04:38 PM   #17
HiBC
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 13, 2006
Posts: 8,272
I found 250 pcs of Buffalo Arms brand 40-82 brass,new,in 50 ct bags,with the Buffalo Arms tag.It is reformed Starline 45-90.I have it in my possession.
Buffalo Arms says "currently unavailable" In a qty of 50,they ask $1.82 apiece

I don't think we're supposed to buy/sell in this section .Those who need some may PM me.
HiBC is offline  
Old February 22, 2013, 08:55 AM   #18
DiffyDoc
Member
 
Join Date: December 18, 2012
Posts: 22
40-82

Hello again.
The past week has been really tough. The Dad is passing away quicker than I planned. So much for planning. Please e-mail me about buying the brass from you for this 40-82. [email protected]
Thanks
DiffyDoc is offline  
Old February 23, 2013, 07:57 PM   #19
HiBC
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 13, 2006
Posts: 8,272
I copied your address,will write soon.In the future,I suggest use "search" on my handle and send a PM.
For now,go ahead and edit your e-mail address off of the public forum,it will save you some spam.

My respects with you and your dad.
HiBC is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:57 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.08521 seconds with 10 queries