Browning 1886 Grade 1 w/Photos now

richcory

richcory

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Stopped into Cabela's over lunch & in the gun room they have the 1886 rifle I have lusted for. Has the box & manual. Looks like it has zero or minimal use. 26" barrel curved butt plate, just like I want. I realize they price on the high side, but I got to thinking I could trade my Browning Auto 5 Classic for it. While I love the Classic, I'll never shoot it. I would love to use the 1886 for elk. Thoughts

Cory
 

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I had one of the Browning model 71's, (Basically the same gun as the 1886 except for caliber and butt stock shape).

They are beautifully made rifles. Slick action, reliable, and accurate. Their action puts a Winchester model 94 to shame in smoothness and strength.

The price seems a little salty for a grade 1, but they seem to go up every year, so maybe not. Don't let the Japanese manufacture throw you, my Browning 71 was just as well made, if not better than my original Winchester 71 made in the 1950's. The Brownings were made in limited numbers, a very close copy of the original. Later Winchester marked Jap models used a different rebounding hammer, and a safety, if I remember right. I do remember the later Win. models did not seem as nice as the earlier Brownings.

The 45-70 and close to medium range elk go together like peanut butter and jelly. You might find that curved "rifle" butt a little harder on the shoulder than a flat, "shotgun" style used on modern rifles.

Larry
 
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Thanks Fishinfool, I should have added that this is the classic style I want. The SRC just doesn't do it for me. I'll never be able to afford an original 1886 & while I like the current production Winchester one, I like the Browning version better because of the hammer & no safety. They aren't deal breakers, but I'd rather do without. The action was great when I handled it. I have high confidence that it was fired little to none. The high grade or Montana centennial would be nice to have in my opinion but aside from some fancy wood & engraving it's the same rifle. I'm thinking hard about this.

Cory
 
I didn't take a photo of the rifle, how ever it was in great shape. A very minor mark on the forend wood was all that I remember seeing. Didn't see any marks on the metal.

Cory
 
That price isn't bad if it is NOS. Last summer they were moving for $1200ish on GB, used no box. I lifted one, unfired w/o box, locally for a little over $1k two years ago. I think you should be able to do better than $1500.

They are very nice rifles.....
 
I think I know what I'm going to do. When I saw the Classic I thought "man that's beautiful. I've always wanted a fancy engraved gun". Looking at the 1886 makes me think "I'd love to own, hunt & shoot an elk with it". Its such a classic firearm & a classic cartridge.

Cory
 
I purchased a SRC Browning in 1992 when they first came out. It was a beautiful rifle. However, the action was balky, indeed, it was acknowledged to be so in the Rifleman, IIRC. Shooting did not smooth it out. Just a thought.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
 
kaaskop49 said:
I purchased a SRC Browning in 1992 when they first came out. It was a beautiful rifle. However, the action was balky, indeed, it was acknowledged to be so in the Rifleman, IIRC. Shooting did not smooth it out. Just a thought.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
Click to expand...

Mine is smooth as butter, just as my Miroku manufctured 1892's. Hickok45 just put out a new video about his Browning 1886 last week.

browning1886 - YouTube
 
The action on this was nice & smooth. I'm about 90% of the way there mentally to calling them to ask if they'll hold it for me until I can get back there.

Cory
 
I bought my Browning 1886 chambered in 45-70 in 1987 for around $600 at a LGS. I bought my current Winchester 1886 take-down chambered in 45-90 in 2005 (or so) for about $800/850. The Browning is the smoothest lever action I've ever operated, the Winchester is the worst! (I have had around 45 or 50 lever guns over the years!) I can take the roughest '92 and make it smooth as glass, but the darned '86 wouldn't smooth out for me of two other accomplished gunsmiths. So I sold it to Cabela's for about $1200.

The Browning 1886 was so smooth, that with a target load I won a "Speed Rifle" match (and beat one of the national champs). I was the first shooter in the match. The target plate was at 110-115 yards and bright white. My 5 shots for score were in about 2.8 seconds which ended up winning, but the surprise was the group was about 2-2.5" (not bad for fast offhand), I got comments on that group for almost three years.

I've kept my eves out for the Canadian Commemorative carbine model but the Grade I guns are outrageous or totally beat.

Buy the gun, get the best price you can, but above all else BUY THE GUN!

Ivan
 
I've got on of the Montana Commemorative models. I like it. I've had it for a long time now and don't want to part with it. I agree with the smooth comments, but its just a little stiff. Probably because I've only put about 20 rounds thru it. I understand you wanting the shape of the recoil "pad", but I always refer to it as the recoil absorbing steel butt plate. It does you no favors when it goes bang. Its also not the "airweight" model. I envy you for wanting to take it elk hunting, but I also think you'll only do that one time. I assume you already know elk don't live on the flatlands. Maybe lugging the artillery piece downhill wouldn't be so bad, but taking it back uphill would be painful. Maybe you should consider taking along a gun bearer for that duty.

If you still hunt, this might just be the gun for it. Well, except its too shiny and reflects too much light.

But I do like the gun even if its shiny and heavy.
 
Im going to second Ivan. Do the best deal you get can, but get the gun.
 
rburg, any chance you'd want to trade it for an Auto 5 Classic. I'm from MT, hence the reason for wanting the Montana one.

I love owning my Auto 5 Classic, but I think I want to own the 1886 more.

Cory
 
crescent butts are no fun to fire especially for a longer range session... 1886's, 1895's with the shotgun butts are much more pleasant to shoot... a good recoil pad is a plus.... The weight of an 1886 helps tame recoil too... & if that extra 2 lbs of weight bothers a hunter... they need to be in better shape & train harder for a good hunt... walking briskly (if not jogging/running) up & down miles of hills everyday getting in shape.. carrying a heavy pack.
 
They are holding it for me.

I'm actually packing for elk hunting as I type this, so yes I know what it would be like to pack it in the mountains. To me the 26" octagon barrel, crescent butt plate scream old west cowboy which is why I want it so much.

Cory
 
I've shot curved and shotgun type butt plates on the 45-70. and a lot of black powder .54 cal Hawken. I learned to lift my right or shooting elbow up until it stuck straight out. The curved butt plate fits over ball of the shoulder next to the arm.

if you shoot it with the arm down the sharp points will let you know why the shotgun pad is better.

I've always wanted the Browning/Winchester lightweight in 45-70, be nice for packing, I always found the long octagon bbl.

I've killed a ton of whitetail with an early Marlin 45-70 I had.

I love the caliber, hope you get and enjoy yours.
 
I have the browning 1886 SRC and love that rifle.
That price is a bit high. But you don't find them for sale very often. Your call.
I didn't care for the rear sight. Folded down, its only windage adjustable. Folded up, the ladder and slide won't stay put. I changed it out for a simple marble's Semi-buckhorn which works just fine.
As mentioned, that curved steel butt plate is no fun on a .45-70. It just plain hurts! :eek: I had Lever Gun leather make a butt cover for it and it helped a lot.
Great rifle and a great cartridge. I think you've already talked yourself into it.
 
I keep thinking about hunting elk with it & if I was ever lucky enough to draw a Bison tag it would be the only rifle I'd use. I have a much bigger desire to shoot that 1886 compared to my Classic. I'll have to wait & see what we can do with the trade numbers. They said they don't have much room to move on it, although I know they work on the 2/3rd price when they buy used guns. They probably paid about $1000 for it, is my guess.

This 1886 would go nicely with my new production 1873 Winchester in 45 Colt. Checks that old west hunter box.

Cory
 
Ive owned 2 Browning lever guns the 95 and the 71 and wish
i had kept them both.
Smooth and reliable was the experience i had.
I really miss that '95


Chuck
 
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