Winchester 1886 Lever Actions Rifle Instructions Manual

As is true with  other firearms,  when the safety  mech- 
anisms  on this  rifle  are engaged,  they are designed  to 
prevent accidental  discharge. However, 
these mecha- 
nisms  may not necessarily  prevent the accidental  dis- 
charge 
of this  firearm as a result  of jarring or  abuse 
such 
as occurs  when a  firearm is dropped. 
ALWAYS  ASSUME  THAT  YOUR  GUN  CAN 
BE  FIRED  AT  ANY  TIME,  EVEN  WITH  ALL 
SAFETY  MECHANISMS  ENGAGED. 
WHENEVER  YOU  ARE  NOT  ACTUALLY 
FIRING  YOUR  RIFLE...

Your Model 1886 comes  fully assembled  in the  box. 
No assembly  is required. No disassembly  is required 
for normal maintenance. 
If your  Model 1886 requires  disassembly for  any rea- 
son (such  as requiring  extra cleaning  after being 
dropped  in water)  it should be performed  by one 
of 
the U.S. Repeating Arms Authorized Repair  Centers 
(ARC
S).  See“Service or Repair”  later in this  manual 
for details  on how  to obtain  service  for your 
Winchester  rifle. 
ALWAYS KEEP  THE MUZZLE...

felt.  However, remember that this is a finely  fitted 
action  purposely made  with tight  tolerances.  This 
assures  your gun of good  part
-to-part fit  for many 
years  to come  and is the  sign  of a finely crafted 
firearm. 
USE THE  CORRECT  AMMUNITION  AS 
INDICATED  BY  THE INSCRIPTION ON  THE 
BARREL.  AS EXPLAINED  PREVIOUSLY, 
BEFORE  LOADING  YOUR RIFLE MAKE 
SURE  ALL GREASE AND  OIL HAS  BEEN 
REMOVED  FROM THE  BARREL AND 
CHAMBER,  AND THERE  ARE NO 
OBSTRUCTIONS  IN THE  BARREL  OR...

pull it downward  and fully forward  with the fingers  of 
your  hand  inserted  in the  finger  loop (see Figure 
10). 
Then  return  it upward  to its  original  position  (see 
Figure 
11). Keep  you fingers clear of the trigger  at all 
times  when  working  the lever. 
IN EITHER CASE,  ALWAYS FIRST PLACE 
THE  SAFETY  (MANUAL  HAMMER STOP) IN 
THE 
ON POSITION,  AND THEN  PLACE 
THE HAMMER  INTO THE REBOUND, 
POSITION UPON CLOSING THE  ACTION.  

LOADING THE MAGAZINE — 
The magazine is loaded  through  the port  on the  right 
side 
of the  receiver. 
1. With  the action  closed and the safety  (manual 
hammer stop)  in the  “on” position  and the hammer 
in  the  rebound  position,  press the spring  cover inward 
with  the tip 
of the first  cartridge  until all but  the rim 
has  entered  the loading  port (See  Figure 
12A & B). 
2. Then, insert the next  cartridge  in the  same 
manner,  pushing the preceding  cartridge into the 
magazine....

cover, allowing  the cover  to snap  closed (see 
Figure 
13). Do not  exceed  the recommended  capacity 
of  the  magazine. 
BEFORE LOADING,  ALWAYS MAKE 
SURE  TO ALWAYS PLACE  THE SAFETY 
(MANUAL  HAMMER STOP) IN THE 
ON 
POSITION, AND  THE  HAMMER IN THE 
REBOUND POSITION. 
CAUTION: ALWAYS MAKE  SURE THE CAR
- 
TRIDGES ARE OF THE PROPER  CALIBER 
FOR  YOUR  RIFLE. CHECK  THE  AMMUNI
- 
TION DESIGNATION  ON THE  BARREL. 
FAILURE  TO FOLLOW  THIS INSTRUCTION 
CAN  RESULT  IN SEVERE  DAMAGE  TO 
YOUR...

IT FULLY TO THE  REAR  UNTIL  THE “S” 
JUST FORWARD  OF THE  SAFETY IS 
VISIBLE.  KEEP YOUR FINGER  AWAY 
FROM  THE  TRIGGER WHEN CYCLING 
THE  ACTION. 
IMPORTANT: 
1. WITH  THE GUN  POINTED  IN A SAFE 
DIRECTION AND  YOUR FINGER  OFF THE 
TRIGGER, SWING THE FINGER LEVER 
DOWNWARD  FULLY.  THIS WILL EXTRACT 
ANY  CARTRIDGE  FROM  THE CHAMBER 
AND  EJECT IT. 
Capture  (or pick  up) the cartridge  and return  the fin- 
ger lever fully upward. 
2. Proceed  to operate  the finger lever  in the  same 
manner...

ALWAYS DOUBLE CHECK THAT  NO CAR- 
TRIDGES  REMAIN. 
After the last live  round is moved  out of the  magazine 
and  ejected,  immediately  lower  the hammer  to the 
rebound  position as explained  previously. 
IMPORTANT:  WHEN  YOU  ARE  PREPARING 
TO  SHOOT,  IT  IS  ALWAYS  ESSENTIAL 
THAT  YOU  BE  TOTALLY  SURE  OF  YOUR 
TARGET.  ALWAYS  BE  AWARE  OF  ALL 
OBJECTS  BEHIND  YOUR  TARGET.  KNOW 
THE  EXACT  LOCATION  OF  PERSONS  WITH  YOU  AND  ANY  OTHERS  IN  YOUR  VICINITY. 
FULLY. 
With  a...

2. Place the safety in the “off’ position  by pushing  it 
fully forward,  covering the 
“S”. 
CAUTION:  YOUR RIFLE  IS NOW  READY  TO 
FIRE.  REMEMBER,  THE  RECOIL FROM A 
LARGE  CALIBER  CENTERFIRE  RIFLE WILL 
BE  SOMEWHAT  HEAVY, 
SO FIRMLY 
SHOULDER  YOUR GUN, TAKE  AIM, AND 
— 
WHEN ON  TARGET — SQUEEZE  THE 
TRIGGER. 
3. Firmly  shoulder  your gun, take aim and when on 
target  squeeze  the trigger  smoothly, without  jerking. 
After  firing,  let the  trigger  return to the  fully forward...

5. WHEN FIRING  IS COMPLETED OR WHEN 
SHOOTING  IS NO  LONGER  IMMINENT, 
IMMEDIATELY  RETURN  THE SAFETY 
(MANUAL  HAMMER STOP) TO THE  “ON” 
POSITION AND  RETURN  THE HAMMER  TO 
THE  REBOUND  POSITION. 
IMPORTANT:  UNDER NO CIRCUM
- 
STANCES  SHOULD YOU MOVE  ON OR 
CONTINUE  TO HUNT  WITH  YOUR HAMMER 
OR SAFETY  IN THE FIRE  POSITION. 
6. At this point  you will  need  to either  refill the mag- 
azine  with loaded  cartridges  (if shooting  is going  to 
continue),  or fully  unload  your  rifle...