Winchester 1886 Lever Actions Rifle Instructions Manual

							Cycling the lever smoothly  moves a cartridge from 
the  tubular  magazine  to the chamber. After  firing, 
working  the lever  ejects  the empty cartridge nearly 
straight  up and  slightly  to the  right, over  your head. 
Returning  the lever upward cycles a new cartridge 
from  the magazine  into the chamber.  The 
1886s 
uncanny,  reliable, smooth function  made it an 
instant  success  in its day.  We are sure  you will appre
- 
ciate  its incredible  design and high  level  of precision 
as you  become familiar  with it 
by reviewing  these 
instructions. 
Descriptions  in this manual  generally refer to the  gun 
in  the  horizontal  position. 
That is, in the  normal fir- 
ing position. For example,  the muzzle  is forward or 
front;  the buttstock is rearward or rear;  the trigger  is 
downward 
or underneath;  the sight  is upward or on 
top.  
						

							Throughout this manual the “action”  refers to the 
mechanism 
of this  rifle  which  loads and secures  the 
cartridge  in the  chamber. 
IMPORTANT: Refer  to Figures 2A-C for  general 
part  descriptions  and terminology regarding your  new 
rifle.  You must become familiar  with all part names 
listed before proceeding  with the rest 
of the  instruc- 
tions  in this manual.  
						

							The serial number  is located  on the  bottom  of the 
receiver, where  the receiver  meets the forearm  (see 
Figure 
3). Record  the serial  number  at the front  of 
this  book for  future reference. 
Your  Winchester  Model 
1886 is designed  to shoot 
modem  factory cartridges only.  The caliber  of your 
new  Model 
1886 is inscribed  on the top  of the  barrel 
in front  of the  receiver. 
MAKE  SURE YOU USE ONLY  THE EXACT 
AMMUNITION/ CALIBER AS LISTED ON  THE BARREL. 
IMPORTANT: USE  ONLY AMMUNITION 
SUITABLE 
FOR USE  IN A  CENTERFIRE 
RIFLE  WITH A  TUBULAR  MAGAZINE. 
Use only  flat point,  hollow point, round nose  flat 
point or  similar bullets.  Never 
use pointed or conical 
point  bullets  in a centerfire  rifle with  a tubular  maga- 
zine.  Failure 
to follow  these instructions  may result  in 
injury  to yourself  or others, or  cause damage  to your 
gun. 
Incorrectly  reloaded ammunition can  cause serious 
personal injury  and damage  to the  firearm due  to 
excessive  pressure. Reload only after  proper instruc
-  
						

							tion and in  strict compliance  with instructions  and 
data contained  in current  reloading  manuals. 
Winchester  ammunition  is always  an excellent 
choice  for your  new Winchester  rifle, delivering  the 
unmatched  performance  and dependability  you want. 
DISCHARGING FIREARMS IN POORLY 
VENTILATED  AREAS, CLEANING 
FIREARMS, 
OR HANDLING  AMMUNITION 
MA 
Y RESULT  IN EXPOSURE  TO L EAD AND 
OTHER SUBSTANCES  KNOWN TO CAUSE 
BIRTH DEFECTS, REPRODUCTIVE HARM 
AND OTHER SERIOUS  PHYSICAL INJURY. 
HAVE ADEQUATE  VENTILATION AT  ALL 
TIMES.  WASH HANDS THOROUGHLY 
AFTER  EXPOSURE. 
Some metal  parts of your  new  Model 1886 have been 
coated  at the factory  with a rust preventative  com
- 
pound.  Before using  your Model  1886,  clean the anti- 
rust  compound  from the inside of the barrel, receiver, 
cartridge feed  mechanism and the action/chamber 
areas. 
A high  quality,  light gun oil  should be used to 
remove  this compound  and to give your  new gun its 
first  lubrication.  Clean the barrel using  a cleaning rod 
and patch  as explained under “Cleaning  and 
Maintenance  Suggestions” found  later 
in this manual. 
First  lubrication  suggestions  are outlined  below. 
If your new Model 1886 is for collector’s purposes 
only,  and is to  remain  unfired,  it is permissible 
to 
leave  the rust  preventative  compound  in place  and 
keep  your Model 
1886 in its box for maximum pro- 
tection  during long term  storage. 
Before  beginning  the first firing 
of your  Model 1886  
						

							you should first wipe  the mechanism  completely 
clean, clean  the bore  and apply a  few drops  of quality 
oil  on the  following surfaces  (See Figure 
4): 
• Along  the breech bolt  surface. 
• Along the breech bolt  rail surfaces. 
• On all pivot points  and bearing surfaces on the 
lever mechanism. 
Avoid  applying  too much  oil. Only  a light  film is 
necessary.  Cleaning and Maintenance  Suggestions 
should  be followed before  each oiling. 
Your  Model 
1886 features a  new, innovative  safety 
(also  called  a manual hammer stop)  built into the  top 
tang 
of your rifle,  as well  as a rebounding hammer 
design  built into the hammer mechanism  itself. 
The  Model 
1886s Rebounding Hammer is a safety 
feature  designed  to protect  the firing  pin from being 
struck  by the  hammer  when the trigger  is not  being 
pulled.  After firing your rifle  the hammer immediate
- 
ly moves  to the  rebound  position.  The hammer  can 
also  be manually  lowered from full  cock to the 
rebound  position.  From the rebound  position, under 
normal conditions,  the hammer  is prevented  from 
moving forward  and striking  the firing pin.  The  
						

							rebound position and the safety (manual hammer 
stop) are  intended  to work  together  to provide pro
- 
tection  against unintentional or  accidental firing. 
HAMMER POSITIONS  — 
The rebounding hammer  on your  Model 1886 has 
two  positions  as  follows: 
• Rebound position. This position (See  Figure 5) 
takes the place  of the  dropped  and half-cocked  posi- 
tions found on the original Model 1886s of a century 
ago.  The  rebounding feature  of the  hammer  essential
- 
ly eliminates  the dropped position.  The hammer  only 
travels  to the  dropped position  momentarily after the 
trigger  has been  pulled with the hammer  cocked. The 
hammer  then automatically  moves 
to the rebound 
position. 
THE  REBOUND  POSITION IS THE RECOM- 
MENDED POSITION OF THE HAMMER AT 
ALL  TIMES  AND SHOULD  BE IN THAT 
POSITION  EXCEPT 
(1) WHEN FIRING IS 
IMMINENT (2) OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER 
THE ACTION HAS  BEEN CYCLED. 
• Cocked position. This  is the  position  that the  
						

							hammer is moved  to when  firing is imminent (See 
Figure  6). It is also  the position  the hammer  moves to 
when  the action  is cycled  using the finger lever. 
WHEN  THE HAMMER IS IN THE  COCKED 
POSITION  THE SAFETY SHOULD  BE IN 
THE 
“ON”POSITION (WITH THE “S” 
SHOWING) UNLESS FIRING 
IS IMMINENT. 
SAFETY POSITIONS - 
The  safety  (also referred  to as the  manual hammer 
stop)  is a modem  feature built  into the action  of your 
Model  1886  to provide  an additional  level of safety. 
When  the safety  has been  placed  in the  “on”  position 
it  serves  the function  of blocking  the hammer  from 
striking  the firing pin.  Even  if the  safety  is on,  it does 
not  prevent  the hammer  from falling  to the rebound 
position  when the trigger  is pulled.  When the trigger 
is  pulled 
- with  the safety  on - the hammer  drops, 
going immediately  to the  rebound position  without 
impacting  the firing pin. 
The  safety  on your  new Model 
1886 is built  into the 
top tang  of the  receiver.  The safety “switch”  itself is 
fitted  into an elongated,  machined  recess in the  tang.  
						

							“On” Position. 
When the  safety is pushed  all the  way  rearward  it is 
in the  “on” position  (See Figure 
7-A). In this  position 
an 
“S” is  visible  directly  in front of the  safety.  Moving 
the  safety fully rearward  and exposing  the 
“S” blocks 
the  hammer  from striking  the firing  pin. 
THIS IS  THE RECOMMENDED  POSITION OF 
THE SAFETY FOR ALL TIMES  EXCEPT 
WHEN  FIRING  IS IMMINENT. 
“Off” Position. 
When the  safety (manual  hammer  stop) is pushed  all 
the  way  forward  it is in the 
“off” position  (See Figure 
WHEN  FIRING  IS IMMINENT. In this position, 
when  the trigger  is pulled,  the cocked  hammer  will 
fall  and  strike  the firing pin. 
If a cartridge  is in  the 
chamber,  the firing  pin will  strike  the primer  and fire 
the  cartridge. 
7-B). THIS IS  THE POSITION  OF THE SAFETY 
USING THE SAFETY - 
To place the safety  (hammer stop) in  the “on”  posi- 
tion:  First,  point  your rifle in a safe  direction,  then 
place  the safety  in the  “on” position 
by pulling  it fully 
to  the  rear  with  your thumb until  the red “warning” 
spot  is covered 
by the  safety  and the “S” is visible 
(Refer again  to Figure 
7-A).  
						

							To place the safety  (hammer stop) in  the “off” posi- 
tion: Push the safety fully forward,  covering the “S” 
inscribed on the rifle,  and exposing the red warning 
dot. When the red dot  is visible below  the safety  it is 
in 
the “off position  (Refer again to Figure 7-B). The 
safety can be actuated  with the hammer  in the 
rebound  or cocked position. 
LOWERING THE HAMMER — 
At  any  time  the hammer  can be cocked  either manu- 
ally or by  cycling  the finger lever fully.  Unless shoot- 
ing is imminent  it is  important  to lower  the hammer 
immediately  to the rebound  position  from  the cocked 
position. 
To do  this: 
1. MAKE SURE THE BARREL IS POINTED 
IN A SAFE DIRECTION AND  THAT THE 
SAFETY (MANUAL HAMMER  STOP) 
IS IN 
THE 
“ON” POSITION. 
2. Get a stable  grip on your rifle  with your hand in 
shooting  position.  Place your  thumb 
on the hammer 
and  firmly 
hold the hammer  back slightly  with your 
thumb. 
3. While  holding  the hammer back,  apply just 
enough  pressure 
on the trigger  to release  the hammer  
						

							from the full-cock position (see Figure 8). 
Immediately remove your finger  from the trigger and 
slowly and carefully  allow the hammer to lower into 
the rebound  position (see  Figure 9). 
IMPORTANT  INFORMATION  ABOUT  THIS  RIFLES 
SAFETY  MECHANISMS 
— 
REMEMBER,  NEVER RELY TOTALLY 
ON  YOUR  FIREARMS  MECHANICAL 
SAFETY DEVICES.