[Shiloh1944]

I don’t go by the gun shops very often simply because I don’t want to be tempted to buy something I don’t need. My current main hobbies are shooting traditional bows and guns. I use to fish quite a bit but since the local lakes have gone down and some even dried up I don’t fish as much as I use to. I also have this equilibrium problem that sort of put a halt to my kayak fishing which is what I use to like to do mostly. Not sure I could stay upright in a kayak anymore because of the equilibrium so I sold my kayak several years back. Now about the only time I fish is when we go to the Rocky Mountains. I love fishing for Trout in the mountain streams and rivers.

Sorry for wandering. Anyway, I started all this because a friend and I stopped by one of the local gun shops a few weeks back and I saw a rifle that really caught my fancy. I am a sucker for old west stuff and they had a Winchester 1886 that I took a likin’ to. Over the past couple of weeks that rifle has stuck in my mind.

The wife and I went to the Sweetwater Rattle Snake Roundup today. Not really for the snakes but because the wife likes to go to the huge arts and grafts fair they always have, I go for the gun and knife show, and we both enjoy the food venders. Me going to the gun and knife show only reinvigorated my interest in the 1886 rifle I had seen several days before. The photo is proof positive that I realized I needed that rifle.

 

[PFC THOMAS]

A little heads up on 1886's

Don't get STARTED. They are as bad 14's. One is NEVER ENOUGH. I have had my share and still have one. Running that lever makes one fell like the biggest MoFo on the planet. DON'T START RUN RUN. I'm not going to tell you which direction,but will let you sort it out.

 

[Shiloh1944]

PFC THOMAS,

It's too late. I have been shooting 45-70's for several years. Some Sharps and a few trapdoors. This is my fourth lever action. I had a Browning 1886 in the rifle but sold it a few years back. Have sort of regretted that. I still have the Browning carbine and now the Winchester. Here is a photo of them both.

I haven't shot the Winchester yet but will later this week. Hope it shoot as well as the Browning carbine.

 

[Wasted ammo]

Fine looking rifle with awesome furniture.

 

[PFC THOMAS]

Shiloh,

Well I tried. I won't tell you how many 45-70's I have had. Please NOTE "I HAVE HAD". There is nothing like big bores 40 on up. I have a 405Win Hi Wall I'm working on with open sights.
take care,
Pfc out

 

[Big Maico]

Shiloh,

I still have both of my 45-70's

A Navy arms\Pedersoil( SP) rolling block & a Browning 1886.

I haven't shot the 1886 in years! I doubt if it has more then 30 or so round shot thru it.

(Broken shoulder & it hits like a mule)

What part of Texas do you live in? I'm in Kingwood (NE Houston)

 

[Doc]

The 1886 has long been on my list --- I love them, never owned one but have shot them and lusted for years after one in .45-90.

 

[Rich D]

Really nice lever gun.

 

[dist1646]

Sold my '86 and my '71 years ago. Should have kept the '86 high grade!

 

[CrackHo]

Mistress of temptation.......beautiful rifle.

 

[Shiloh1944]

Big Maico,

West Texas, San Angelo.

PFC Thomas, absolutely correct about one is never enough. Over the years I have owned a few 45-70's of different rifle configurations. I also have a weakness for the 1874 Sharps and still own a few. I have had a couple of Springfield trapdoors in the past also and an 1875 Sharps. I have seen a few high walls, and rolling blocks, and Ballard's I would liked to have had the opportunity to shoot. All those old single shots are a definite plus for me.

 

[Boiler2012]

I was over come by the 1886 temptation as well. I purchased a Browning 1886 on Gunbroker last week, and it should arrive tomorrow at my FFL. I am pretty excited since this is my first lever gun, and I have wanted an 1886 for years.

 

[Grunt03]

Bought my first lever action (Henry Big Boy in .357/38) a few weeks ago and I'm waiting for the weather to break to take it out to the range. Looking forward to giving it a run.

 

[Lucky#13]

Very nice piece. I can see why it was hard to resist. I was pining for a nice one I saw at my local Cabelas last year. In this case, it was a Model 95 Takedown in 30-06. Man, I would like to have had that, but not at the $3k asking price!

 

[armscorp]

A classic beauty - no bathing suit or evening gown required.

Howdy,

Long ago I had a couple of Winchester mod. 88's in .308.
Great rifles but they had no spirit.
Sold them.

Later I picked up two Winchester mod. 71's.
A 1937 short tang Deluxe Short Rifle (carbine) with a factory bolt mounted peep sight.
Then a 1941 long tang Deluxe Rifle with the factory bolt mounted peep sight.
Both guns were in 98% plus condition.

These were the last incarnation of the model 1886 and they had spirit galore.
The balance, looks, fit and finish were unparalleled (especially the carbine).

Never shot them, can't handle the recoil of the .348 WCF round and sold them around 2003.

To me, the mod. 1886 and mod. 71 are the most beautiful rifles ever made.
Followed at a distance by Hoffman Arms custom Mauser rifles.

Keep them levers lubed and don't let the blueing get dry,

John

 

[Big Maico]

I was over come by the 1886 temptation as well. I purchased a Browning 1886 on Gunbroker last week, and it should arrive tomorrow at my FFL. I am pretty excited since this is my first lever gun, and I have wanted an 1886 for years.

Boiler,

Is this your first 45/70 & do you/are you going to reload for it?

 

[Boiler2012]

Big Maico - This is my first 45/70, and I plan to start reloading for it.

 

[Shiloh1944]

Reloading is good! It has been awhile since I have reloaded for a lever gun.

I had some 350 gr. flat nose gas checked bullets a friend cast for me several years ago that I really liked. I have run out of those bullets and the friend has passed on. I sure wish I had the mold he used so I could cast some more.

Guess I will have to see if I can find some on line. I am sure there are some good cast bullets out there. I use to get some from Montana Bullet Works but I don't think he is in business any longer.

Boiler2012, You will not be disappointed it the Browning carbine. Be sure and provide photos when it arrives. I love mine. My new Winchester is a bit heavier but I think better balanced than the Browning rifle (26" barrel) I preciously had since it has the shorter 24" barrel. I still haven't had a chance to get to the range but hope to this weekend.

 

[1100 tac]

A few years ago, about the time I was bitten by the M1A bug, I was also bitten by the lever gun bug. I have always had a 336 around, but that was more like a utilitarian tool, than a classic rifle.

So anyway, I wound up with a Winchester '85, '86, and '92, in .45-70 and .45 Colt. Except for the rebounding hammers and tang safety on the '86 and '92,(easily "fixed") these Winchester/Miroku's are flawless and very accurate.

Sadly, there is no possible way that I could have afforded originals.

 

[Instructor]

During my years being away from match shooting and the M1A/M14 rifles went on quest to collect lever guns and ended up with a Browning version of the 71, 92, 95, and the 86.
As mentioned those Browning reproductions are of first class quality and reportedly more accurate than the originals, but that is just rumor and the originals in good condition certainly do fetch premium dollars these days. Sold them off and only recently did sell the last one a, 71 which is a somewhat improved version of the 86 and of course in 348 caliber. Pedersoli now offers the 71 in 45/70 I believe?? Actions on all of these rifles are super smooth but for me the 95 was by far the slickest operating lever gun I have ever experienced and in 405Win. was the rifle Teddy Roosevelt preferred for lions. The 86 in 45/70 with stout loads will wake you up but can be loaded down to trap door levels and actually pleasant to shoot and makes for a fine deep woods hunting rifle. Found the IMR 3031 powder with the 350gr. bullet to give best accuracy in the 45/70 but did shoot a lot of those Remington jacketed 405 bullets and there is a loud "whack sound" from the target board, others at the range will comment about it for sure and you have no problem seeing the bullet holes in the target, big hole!! The 86 is definitely an American classic lever gun and works today on about any game in North America just as it did over 100 years ago.