Winchester 1886 misfeed / timing issue

[aric84]

Hi all.

Trying to rectify a timing / misfeed issue in a new production Winchester 1886 that I purchased used recently. Occasionally, maybe 5% of the time I will get a jam while feeding where the rear of the cartridge will hop up when released by the carrier hook and jam as shown in the photos below. Once the lever is released slightly the case drops down again and feed normally. I have not had it happen on a live round yet, just dummy rounds with 300gr sierras loaded. I am kinda nervous with how close the extractor tip is to the primer in case I closed down on a live round like this, could end badly!

I believe it may be that the carrier hook is a bit short and allowing the case to release too early from the carrier. It does not look to have been modified at all and could just need replacement or a bit of material added to the top of the hook to delay release from the carrier.

Are there any other things to check that could be causing this sort of feeding issue? I will try longer bullets once I get my mould but I'd like to be able to use 300gr bullets as well.

Here are a few pics of what the jam looks like:

 

[Northern Amateur]

Is the primer hole in your dummy round filled or left open?

 

[aric84]

No primer in the dummy rounds. The extractor catches the case just above the hole as seen in the bottom photo.

 

[Northern Amateur]

These rifles have very tight tolerances. Try a snap cap or seat a spent primer in there and try again. Or, in an area where you are allowed to shoot, cycle some live ammo and see what happens. Looks like the extractor is catching your primer pocket.
I had one of these. Too nice to actually use so I ended up selling it. However, I did notice it would not load reloaded ammo previously fired from my Marlin. Factory ammo no problem and no doubt anything fired from this rifle would have loaded too. Not the same issue as yours however it just goes to show how fine tuned they are.

Nice rifle!!

 

[aric84]

They certainly are tight to start off! this one only had a handful of rounds through it when I got it.
I will have to try to cycle to fully loaded ammo and see if the weight of the powder and the added primer keep it from hopping up so much. Not too sure about it catching the primer pocket at it does not seem to quite hop up that far and is about 1mm above the pocket when caught, not in it. Anything is possible though!

Once it is running smoothly I am sure it will be carried plenty as I will be helping a friend scout out his new property and get our hunt camp set up. They are beautiful guns but I think they look even better with a bit of hard earned wear on them!