Gamerancher wrote:Considering the 1866 Winchesters were originally only chambered in .44 rimfire l don't think the sights were designed with bison shooting in mind. Still reckon someone has f*cked with it if it was filthy dirty inside, ( low pressure sqib loads are common with cowboy action), it don't work right and feels like it's 150 years old. I've handled an original '66 and it was as smooth as silk.
The action is quite smooth, it's just obvious that it's a primitive and over-complex design when you operate it They use the levers to operate it without taking advantage of the leverage to make it easier. Throwing the lever with the hammer down takes over 2kg of force and the 3.84kg weght of the rifle will happily hang on the trigger scale without firing. I measure the break at 4.14kg!
An original '66 has probably had so many people inside it by now that it's unlikely to represent the era very well at all.
Started loading ammo for it tonight.
Slugged the bore at .3555" which seems tight?
And a .358" bullet dropped down into the throat pretty easily.