My 1885 highwall (45-70 Govt) gets here Monday...

[XTR]

and I cant wait! I've been lusting after one of these for yrs. Found one for hunting with a 24" barrel and pulled the trigger as it were.

I have been agonizing over this decision for a while now, the problem I've had is the idea of target shooting with one and the real want to hunt with it are at odds. I don't want to haul a really long barreled rifle into a deer stand. I finally came to realize that right now I'm shooting F-tr and in the middle of building an F-TR rifle and an AR-15 for service rifle to give that a whirl in 2012 so I really don't have time to do another type of target shooting right now, so I bought one with a 24" barrel that I can scope for hunting.

Now my OCD is kicking in, I've already got a full compliment of reloading stuff in my shopping cart at Midway and heaven forbid I'm actually looking at casting equipment. This could end badly.

 

[tazzman]

Congratulations are in order, XTR !!!
All that's missing are chaps and a coonskin hat !!
A single-shot rifle, Hi-wall or other style, in 45-70 is considered the seminal hunting rig.

Pictures, of course, will be expected.

Again congratulations,

Phil aka tazzman

 

[wboggs]

Have one, very accurate. Major design flaw is the trigger which is not a problem in hunting. Go with cast bullets. Much higher velocity and extremely accurate. A great hunting, target, or silhouette rifle.
You will be pleased with it.

 

[XTR]

Have one, very accurate. Major design flaw is the trigger which is not a problem in hunting. Go with cast bullets. Much higher velocity and extremely accurate. A great hunting, target, or silhouette rifle.
You will be pleased with it.

I've read about the triggers. I get the impression that they are a bit of a crap shoot as to whether you get one that is OK or one that is bad. They have like a dozen parts, but the new ones are supposed to be better than the old Browning B78s. OMG, over 20 parts in the trigger!? One person commented that the B78 version was like a Chinese puzzle box.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

I have a C Sharps with a single set trigger that is just wonderful.

 

[Greg110]

Don't worry about barrel length in a tree stand. Here in Ohio, no rifles allowed for deer. So, I have killed them with a 19" barrel shotgun and a 38" flintlock. Either works well.
Enjoy the High Wall, it will really be fun!

 

[wboggs]

I have shot silhouette with some shooters that are masters and they confirm there is never a good trigger, only tolerable, and these guys are shooting BP rifles with the most accurate loads you can imagine.

 

[LorenC]

Envious, for sure!

 

[DHD]

I have a C Sharps with a single set trigger that is just wonderful.

A "Me Too" on that one. Lets see, C Sharps Highwall, 32" Badger heavy octagonal, single set trigger, extra fancy pistol grip wood, MVA LR Soule sights. It is a little too big for me to carry into a stand and feel confortable to shoot at some of the ranges the stands sit over, but it can do it.

You might as well buy a mould and start casting too. It is an enjoyable (maybe) art in and of itself. Oh, and when you finally decide to try real gunpowder in it, you won't shoot smokeless in it anymore, or so I have found. Good moulds aren't cheap, but they last who knows how long if you take care of them. I use Paul Jones' and Old West moulds fwiw.

 

[wboggs]

DHD The rifle will shoot a long way. You must know the wind, almost exact range, your load and sight settings. Should be no problem up to 300yds. and an experienced shot could stretch that much further. You can also mount a scope.
Try some cast bullets, you will really like them. There are several sources with superb bullets if you want to give them a try prior to casting your own. Sagebrush Shooting Products, Montana Bullet Works, Buffalo Arms. Go with the heavy 500-535 gr. and have them lubed so you don't have to do that. I have some Sagebrush Postell that will shoot 3/4" groups everytime.
Bill

 

[xbr]

Depends what game you want to play. If you're talking about a scoped 1885 sporter, than consider modern components. I had very good luck with hornday 300 gr hollow points and varget powder. Very impressive deer performance. For a more traditional approach use cast bullets, iron sights and black powder. There great guns. Something for everyone.

 

[XTR]

This one is to be scoped and hunted; however, long range black powder are very appealing to me, just not right now. I want to play with my F-TR shooting for a while. Maybe one day I'll get a C Sharps (if I do it will probably be an 1874) and try long range BPCR shooting.

Casting on the other hand is probably in my immediate future. (Did I mention that I'm OCD ) Cast bullets for this puppy cost more than SMKs and nearly what Berger 185 LRBTs do for my 308.

 

[xbr]

If you're going to shoot a lot, then casting your own is the way to go. But that another topic. Enjoy your new gun.

 

[lelongcarabine]

I have a BPCR Browning, .45/70 with the Badger Barrel.. One fix for the trigger on that model is to remove the buttstock. Get an allen plug screw about 3/4" long, the same thread as the stock bolt (7mm metric thread, IIRC). Turn a cylindrical dog (and trim to length, for adequate stock bolt engagement) on the opposite end of the plug screw from the allen wrench access. That dog will contact the sear when the plug screw is installed through the stock bolt access in the receiver. Install with removeable loctite on the threads. Adjust it up to the trigger pull you desire and measure the stock bolt engagement. You may be required to shorten the threaded portion of the stock bolt to make room for the trigger adjustment screw. Re assemble.
I dont know if the newer "Highwalls" work the same way as the Browning BPCR's. I bought mine about 10 years ago. Hope this is helpful?
Greg

 

[Greg110]

When you decide to shoot real black powder, go with Swiss. It's expensive, but worth the difference, especially for what you will be doing.

 

[MrMajestic]

Thanks Guys, got me wanting one now! Congratulations on the purchase. Can't wait for the pictures!

 

[jonbearman]

My experience with the browning high wall is the wood and checkering is quite nice.The bad part is the gun itself is junk and you should immediately send it to me.LOL I had a friend who had one and loved it,then with no notice he traded it for something of lesser value.I wanted it,but he forgot. So as the story goes,he is kicking himself in the *** for the rest of his life.I don't have one,however I have a encore and an earlier H&R with the shikari barrel.Now start laughing at the h&r except,it is one of the most accurate cast bullet guns I have ever shot with open sights. Oh I forgot,I have a trapdoor for nostalgia and a 1895 marlin that shoots jacketed bullets real well. You will love that high wall Browning.It should deliver good accuracy and you will get alot of looks with it,as it is one of the nicest est older designs on the planet.Winchester hit it out of the park with the high walls and low walls. Cant wait to see what kind of accuracy you get.If you shoot any lead out of it,try the lee tumble lube 350 I believe cast bullet mould.It works outstanding and with the lobe all over the bullet,It leaves almost nothing in the bore to clean out except powder and trace lead. Keep us updated.

 

[45bpcr]

It's one of my favorite rifles, that and my Sharps

Browning BPCR in 45-90

Shilo 45-70 MVA sights and scope

I shoot only black and cast in it.

Paul jones 535grn. bullet and Swiss powder

Flame, Smoke, Stink. Gotta love it

45Bpcr

 

[XTR]

I'm in love, and I am feeling pretty certain that this will not be my last or only highwall. Wow, 24" barrel, reasonable weight, even with the heavy octagon barrel, it almost handles like a carbine, and IMO one of the most beautiful rifles ever designed (Oh yea, it was that Browning guy again).

In all of the hunting I've ever done I've never needed a follow up shot on anything but squirrels, rabbits and birds that I couldn't do with the single shot.

Yea, I'm seeing a modern cambering in the future.


Oh, fun time at the range yesterday, started with the anemic Remington factory stuff that is suitable for trapdoors, right at 1000 FPS with 405s, really mild recoil, much less than my 17lb 308, then I loaded up some of my hand loaded 2100+ FPS 350gn round nose bullets, yea, that is a different experience. Eventually the guy sitting 2 benches down from me stands up and looks over and says "What a beast!". That was about the time I figured out it had broken the turrets in my Bushnell DOA 250. smile

 

[kitsap]

XTR,

You are just blowing smoke until we see some high quality pictures!!

DougF