Model 1885 Winchester weaknesses

[COLT45SA]

Everything I've read warns about the early 1885 Winchester lo-wall being too weak to handle cartridges with chamber pressures greater than 20,000 psi. I want to know what specific parts will fail if much higher pressure cartridges are fired.
Montana Vintage Arms makes reproduction bolts, firing pins, and other action parts for the 1885, and I would assume that the steel used to make them would be of much greater strength than the steel used in the early original parts. Wouldn't that avoid the problems encountered when using high pressure cartridges~?

 

[nvtoy]

The frame will stretch and eventually crack behind the breech block.

 

[Ggmac]

^ frame cracks . Its better to not push the limits

 

[COLT45SA]

^ frame cracks . Its better to not push the limits

I probably will never shoot the thing more than 100 shots when I take it out, and it probably won't go out more than 4 or 5 times a year. I doubt that the receiver in an 1892 was significantly stronger than that of an 1885 low wall, yet over the years I've seen quite a number of old '82s converted to .357 Magnum, Hancock has a video on YouTube where he's shooting a converted '92.
There's no .25RF available anywhere for less than a kings ransom if you could find it, and the once popular .32-20 has pretty much dried up.
I would be wise to just sell it and buy a Miroku in 6mm Creedmoor~!!

 

[Cbashooter]

I have a low wall 357 but only load 38 special pressure.The action isn't up to that much bolt thrust.Best in 25-20 32-20 level cartridges.

 

[potatojudge]

The Browning (Miroku) low walls came in 243, 260, 223, 45 Colt, 44 mag, 357 mag, 22 hornet, 6.5x55 Swede. Winchester makes them in 6.5 CM. One of my Brownings I had rebored to 338 Federal.

With modern steels the design handles 308 family loads just fine.

A modern breech block in an old Winchester would not be stronger than an unaltered Winchester, I don't believe, and I wouldn't push it in those guns.

 

[COLT45SA]

Thanks for the responses. Based on what was written, I just bought a Miroku built 1885 in .38-55 and that should take care of my concerns~! This one is under the Olin brand.
It looks very much like the original Winchester with a crescent butt, case colored receiver, and a tang site. It also stays at full cock when the lever is returned.

 

[epc308]

Thanks for the responses. Based on what was written, I just bought a Miroku built 1885 in .38-55 and that should take care of my concerns~! This one is under the Olin brand.
It looks very much like the original Winchester with a crescent butt, case colored receiver, and a tang site. It also stays at full cock when the lever is returned.

Beware, the inner parts have zero in common with original high/low wall rifles. TexasMac is on the web, and has large amounts of info on the Olin/Miroku single shots.

 

[Uncle Bruce]

Beware, the inner parts have zero in common with original high/low wall rifles. TexasMac is on the web, and has large amounts of info on the Olin/Miroku single shots.

To all the people in the know, how would you rate a Uberti replica 1885 low wall chamberd in 30_30 win. as far as safety and quality of steel.

 

[hoosiermike]

To all the people in the know, how would you rate a Uberti replica 1885 low wall chamberd in 30_30 win. as far as safety and quality of steel.

The Uberti low wall was at one time a factory offering in 30-30 so it must be safe for it. Shooting it is another story- it likely will kick the snot out of you due to the light weight. I have rebarreled a few Uberti low walls in 30-30 pressure class wildcats to meet some of Indiana's deer hunting regulations- they have proven to be up to the task, that is how I know that they kick hard. On the other hand they are nice to carry in the field and you won't be shooting more than a round or two in the field. I would not go above 30-30 pressures in one.