Current reproduction 1885 Winchesters

[COLT45SA]

Tell me about your 1885 Winchester. Who made it, what CF cartridge was it built for, how accurate is it, and would you choose the same one again~?

Here is a field test of a modern 1885 Win repro that has a nice history of the 1885 Win single shot:

 

[ronsatspokane]

I've had a few over the years.

A B 78 in 25-06 did not shoot that well. I think the barrel was shot out but the stock was essentially presentation grade. One of the most beautiful pieces of wood I've ever seen on a rifle. Beautiful rifle all the way around. Would have been accurate enough for hunting.

A Cimmeron high wall in 45-70. The 30 inch heavy barrel did not compensate for the narrow curved butt plate. Shooting it with the customary 405 grain ammo would bring a tear to your eye in just a few rounds. Another very pretty rifle though with a long range soule sight. I preferred to shoot 300 grain bullets as it was less painful. I did hit the steel buffalo at 500 yards hand held. The RO said that was one of the challenges for the black powder shooters at that range so I decided to try it. Didn't realize that everyone on the line that day was watching. I fired, waited for the report to come back and it did. I look down the line and everyone is clapping. I put the gun down and walked away.

An Uberti (which the Cimmeron was as well as are pretty much all replicas) low wall in 22 mag. This one had the double triggers. Rear was set, front was fire. Had a full length Malcom scope with brass accents on it. It was a lovely and unique rifle to look at. You don't run across the double trigger versions very often. And it shot well for a 22 mag given that there is no such thing as 22 mag match ammo.

Alas, something else caught my eye and all three of those went down the road. The latter two traded to the same LGS did not even make it to the shelf before someone the owner knew put their name on them and they were gone.

Still have one that will piss a lot of people off. It is a Browning shot show special. In of all calibers, 6.5 Creedmoor. Shoots almost as well as one of my match guns in the same caliber. Bring forth the hateful replies about adulterating the memory of John Browning.

Oh, and would have kept them all if I did not have limited storage space (as in a wife who tolerates accumulation for the purpose of accumulation up to a point but beyond that point...) and a wandering eye. There is always another gun that I "must" have.

 

[hdskip]

Mine is an 1885 original Winchester in 38/40. It was purchased in Denver in early 1890s by my great grandfather. It and he found their way back home in Virgina. I was passed on to me about 30 years ago. Needless to say it is a cherished item.
Also I acquired a Uberiti SSA in 38/40 to go along with it and stitched up a gunslinger holster and belt rig to complete the set........ That was to satisfy the little boy in me.....

 

[V509]

My Browning B78 shoots very well

 

[Adam in WI]

There is always another gun that I "must" have.

Same. Usually at the expense of another nice rifle that I later really really wish I'd have kept. Still ain't learned...

 

[lotech]

I have three modern Winchester/Miroku 1885s, a .32-40 Traditional Hunter , a .38-55 Traditional Hunter, and a .405. The newest are the .32-40 and .405, bought a dozen or so years ago. The .38-55 I've had about twenty-five years, purchased not long after these were introduced. Mine are all cast bullet rifles and have been fired considerably. Accurate and well made guns.

 

[Uncle Bruce]

I have three modern 1885s, a .32-40 Traditional Hunter , a .38-55 Traditional Hunter, and a .405. The newest are the .32-40 and .405, bought a dozen or so years ago. The .38-55 I've had about twenty-five years, purchased not long after these were introduced. Mine are all cast bullet rifles and have been fired considerably. Accurate and well made guns.

Mine Is a uberti low wall 30-30, octagon bbl hooded front and a tang rear sight. Very nice colors on the receiver. A really cool gun to shoot.

 

[DHD]

When you get to the BPCR type rifles, there are a few made out there. I originally thought you were asking about the actions themselves but re-read your post.

My one and only 1885 is a 45/70 C Sharps BP Target rifle (my definition). It is not designed for and not really a good candidate for hunting. A 45 caliber 1-18" Badger 32" No1 heavy octagon barrel sees to that. I has a nice higher grade walnut w/cheekpiece, single set trigger, and Soule type tang w/bubble level front aperture. It is heavy enough to push it past the weight limit of BPCR Competition. BP and my own cast bullets is all it's ever fired. Very accurate rifle and even though it's heavy, recoil is cumulative.

I fired it the most with grease groove Paul Jones mold 525 grain bullets but have also fired it a lot with 540 grain paper patch bullets from a Buffalo Arms mold. It shoots about the same but the PP loads are significantly more powerful. I usually load 80-82 grains of Swiss 1.5F but have fired 80 grains of Swiss 3F (accurate and very powerful on the back end).

I've wanted to build a custom using a MVA 1885 DST action but my son doesn't have the interest and/or dedication to cast and load for them so that wish will have to pass me by.

 

[ISS]

I own several originals. The old ones in shooter grade/condition are a great place to start building a custom, and just what YOU want in a rifle. Varmint rifle, big game hunter, even target to a certain degree. I have been bitten by the Sharps Borchardt viper, for which there is no cure, I am going to start selling the High Walls.

ISS

 

[mike mccormick]

I had, and traded away, a Taylor & Co ( uberti) high wall 45/70 with a 32 inch barrel. Put a reproduction 6x long Malcolm on it. Shot 500 gr cast over 65 grains of goex REALLY well.

 

[Adam in WI]

I have been bitten by the Sharps Borchardt viper, for which there is no cure,

Bankruptcy is a powerful treatment for these afflictions...

 

[nakneker]

Still have one that will piss a lot of people off. It is a Browning shot show special. In of all calibers, 6.5 Creedmoor. Shoots almost as well as one of my match guns in the same caliber. Bring forth the hateful replies about adulterating the memory of John Browning.

Bash the Creedmoor all you want, if it shoots like that it’s a keeper. I’ve always wanted to try one of those, been playing around #1s but I can feel an itch I’ll need to scratch soon.

 

[ronsatspokane]

Bash the Creedmoor all you want, if it shoots like that it’s a keeper. I’ve always wanted to try one of those, been playing around #1s but I can feel an itch I’ll need to scratch soon.

I've had #1s as well. Hell for stout. I i want something that I can shoot monster loads through, #1 is the answer. The 1885's looks a bit more elegant to my eye but they are all nice.

 

[nakneker]

I've had #1s as well. Hell for stout. I i want something that I can shoot monster loads through, #1 is the answer. The 1885's looks a bit more elegant to my eye but they are all nice.

Agreed!

 

[Rook 6]

I too have originals, but the OP was talking about new production 1885's so I'll talk only about them.
First one I owned was a Browning BPCR in 40-65. It came with a Badger barrel, which was a gold standard for black powder barrels in the 90's and 2000's until they went out of production. This particular model was only produced three years. I added an aftermarket vernier tang sight which was an important improvement over the one Browning provided. I NEVER felt out gunned in competition shooting this rifle against custom built rifles. It was very accurate and I won many times with it. If you can find one, I would absolutely recommend.

I replaced the Browning with an Montana Vintage Arms Action. I did not expect to have a more accurate rifle with the upgrade, but it is a lot prettier. I barreled it in 45-70 with a Krieger stainless 1-16 twist barrel which I had cerakoted to keep it looking traditional. I shoot 540gr bullets in front of Swiss 1.5 BP. It is a hammer. The MVA action is an absolute jewel and is the finest example of an 1885 action IMO. Period.

Pic's of the rifle and my first 5 shot target with my test load at 100 yds. The flyer was from a clean barrel. Scope is an NRA legal 8X DZ Arms scope and DZ mounts. Clearly love the rifle.

EDIT: I realizee the OP was likely referring to modern cartridges regarding CF. I believe the the MVA being made with modern steel is capable but you would want to confirm with MVA. The Miroku derivatives are not exactly the same design as the originals but a very capable.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

My Browning (Miroku) 1885 Low Wall in K-Hornet gets field time every spring for ground squirrels and rock chucks. Shooting the old Nosler 45gr Solid Base Hornet bullet, it still shoots in the .3's using A1680 and Rem 6-1/2's with only floating the hanger and barrel, plus a trigger job.

Sweet little rifles!

 

[Kittitas George]

A number of years ago I had a .223, 1885 Winchester (Miroku) , it didn't shoot as well as my Rem. 700 so I sold it. I now have a 17HMR Win. (Miroku) that shoots fairly well. The trigger pull was affected by the tension on the stock thru bolt. I'd like to tighten up the groups but don't know what to do. I think I've tried all the brands of ammo. I've killed gophers at 150-175 yards with it.

 

[deltaoutdoorsman]

I have a late 90s Browning 1885 Miroku in 45/70. Installed skinner sights and it will shoot better than I can with open sights.
Less than 2” at 100. Sometimes I can get 1-1/2”.
No idea what it will do with a scope but it’s definitely a shooter, and it’s got some of the best wood I’ve got on anything modern. Trigger is not great. That would be my only complaint.