Winchester 1886
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Alpo
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Ivan the Butcher
Member
In 1986, I bought a Browning 1886 (grade 1) in 45-70. it has a 26" heavy (1") octagon barrel and about the sweetest, smoothest action I have ever felt! So, in 2005 when Davidson's had a close out on a Winchester 1886 Takedown in 45-90 (1 of 501) I jumped on it with both feet! It turned out the great gunsmith's that assembled my Browning had all retired and my Winchester was a nightmare! It had a "Hitch" in the cycling of the action, that about halfway through the lever swing it caught, so drastically it would jerk from my shoulder. I know how to smooth up actions on Model 92's, but this was way beyond me. I took it to a nationally known and self-proclaimed "Greatest Lever Action Gunsmith." He had it almost a year and did very poor work and scratched the left side of the receiver and may or may not have actually worked on it, but nothing was accomplished! I know how much I can accomplish in 3 hours on a 92, I've taken that 86 and my other 86 all the way apart and can tell he didn't do more than take it apart and put it back together and scratch it in the process! What he did with the other 2 hours and 35 to 40 minutes is an expensive mystery! I was so disgusted I gave up and sold it off!
My first 1886 (the Browning) was and is so slick that I entered a "Speed Rifle" side match at our clubs 3-day event. It is 10 rounds fired offhand. You start on an empty chamber and at the buzzer fire as fast as you can hit the single target at an unknown distance. This event is open to any lever action in rifle caliber and using "Cowboy" ammo (reduced velocity of 1200fps or less and lead only projectiles). I was first up, and at the buzzer I cycled and fired, my first round and hit the chest sized steel plate dead center. I knew I was the good to go for all out speed! But my group didn't get any larger, just a dark grey spot about the size of an old silver dollar! The crowd was yelling about something, but you try to ignore them, if there is a safety problem the Timekeeper will stop you! The timer stops counting on the last shot's report. 10 shot's in 2.45 seconds. The "Unknown" distance was 105 yards. I was rather pleased with myself. The then current National Champion for Speed Rifle was the 8th shooter. I came in First place; he finished Second almost a full second behind me! He was using a tricked-out Marlin 336 in 30-30, mine was stock out of the box 45-70!
This model is an early John Moses Browning design. They were designed to be used hard. When firing some people have a little trouble cycling the action, you need to use a good deal of force on the lever! (You won't break it!) and slam it into battery to fire the next shot. All the time your other hand is pulling the butt tight against your shoulder! Seeing "Movie Stars" lower the gun after each shot taught Saturday movie goers how to use a lever action wrong! The heavy barrel holds the gun on target very well! Even the round barrel 22" Carbines and Short Rifles are heavy enough to stay on target while cycling easily!
When Winchester stopped production originally, the most common model was the 22" light round barrel in "Short Rifle", non-takedown configuration. The next year they brought out the Model 71 in 348 Win. and in the Light Short Rifle configuration only! (Don't mess with success!)
I hope you enjoy your 1886 as much as I enjoy the one I bought first!
Ivan
My first 1886 (the Browning) was and is so slick that I entered a "Speed Rifle" side match at our clubs 3-day event. It is 10 rounds fired offhand. You start on an empty chamber and at the buzzer fire as fast as you can hit the single target at an unknown distance. This event is open to any lever action in rifle caliber and using "Cowboy" ammo (reduced velocity of 1200fps or less and lead only projectiles). I was first up, and at the buzzer I cycled and fired, my first round and hit the chest sized steel plate dead center. I knew I was the good to go for all out speed! But my group didn't get any larger, just a dark grey spot about the size of an old silver dollar! The crowd was yelling about something, but you try to ignore them, if there is a safety problem the Timekeeper will stop you! The timer stops counting on the last shot's report. 10 shot's in 2.45 seconds. The "Unknown" distance was 105 yards. I was rather pleased with myself. The then current National Champion for Speed Rifle was the 8th shooter. I came in First place; he finished Second almost a full second behind me! He was using a tricked-out Marlin 336 in 30-30, mine was stock out of the box 45-70!
This model is an early John Moses Browning design. They were designed to be used hard. When firing some people have a little trouble cycling the action, you need to use a good deal of force on the lever! (You won't break it!) and slam it into battery to fire the next shot. All the time your other hand is pulling the butt tight against your shoulder! Seeing "Movie Stars" lower the gun after each shot taught Saturday movie goers how to use a lever action wrong! The heavy barrel holds the gun on target very well! Even the round barrel 22" Carbines and Short Rifles are heavy enough to stay on target while cycling easily!
When Winchester stopped production originally, the most common model was the 22" light round barrel in "Short Rifle", non-takedown configuration. The next year they brought out the Model 71 in 348 Win. and in the Light Short Rifle configuration only! (Don't mess with success!)
I hope you enjoy your 1886 as much as I enjoy the one I bought first!
Ivan
Yendor357
Member
My1886 is a Miroku Winchester light round barrel. It is a big, good looking man’s rifle. Whimps need not apply. As Ivan said, if it’s a Browning designed gun, you have to work it like you mean it; like the Model 12 shotgun. The one I bought has been flawless. I took the rebounding hammer spring out of my ‘86 (and my 1892 44 Mag). And I put a Lyman 66LA peep sight on it. It’s very accurate, and it’s not finicky, either. Now, different loads impact dirrerently, but that’s when the Lyman peep sight comes into play. I guess mine is over 20 years old. I can’t think of a bad thing to say about it. It’s been great.
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Beautiful. Would love to have one. That crescent butt plate is a KILLER. My 16 in octagon 47-70 Marlin with plastic butt plate kills on both ends.
Whimps need not apply for sure. My Miroku octagon takedown 1886 has to weight in at 10-11lb unloaded. It becomes quite a load at the end of a day hunting. But it’s super smooth and accurate with almost any load I shoot out of it. Enjoy they are great guns.
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I’ve owned three over the years, two rifles and a carbine. Like the others said, they’re wonderful rifles but that crescent butt will bite you. Especially with a heavily loaded 405 gr. Bullet. Ask me how I know that. 
And not with some wimpy 38 wadcutter at 15 yards, but a kicking 45-70 at 105 yards! That's absolutely stunning!
Yendor357
Member
Whoever decided to put a crescent butt plate on a 45-70 was some kind of sick masochist. Those things, plus a full power load will get you hurt. Get a Limbsaver slip on pad, and tell everyone you use it to correct the short length of pull.
The Remington 405 grain Soft Point was a Masterpiece, and was probably a big reason the 45-70 earned a reputation for accuracy. That R 405 looked like a hunting bullet, and shot like a match bullet. So naturally, they quit making it.
The best replacement projectile that I’ve found to take the place of the R 405 is the Hornady 410 Sub X. But the Sub X is practically a cylinder, and it takes up a lot of powder space if you’re trying to use it like a 405, which it was really never designed to do in the first place.
The Hornady 325 (whatever they call it) propelled at 1775 fps out of the muzzle is a Killer Deluxe on Whitetail deer. I cannot duplicate the accuracy of Hornady’s factory round.
I have a Lyman mold that casts a nice four hundred some grain bullet that makes an easy going black powder equivalent load. Somewhere along the line, I’ve decided that casting 45-70 bullets was not worth the return. But they shot well, and were a whole lot of fun to hit swinging steel with.
The Remington 405 grain Soft Point was a Masterpiece, and was probably a big reason the 45-70 earned a reputation for accuracy. That R 405 looked like a hunting bullet, and shot like a match bullet. So naturally, they quit making it.
The best replacement projectile that I’ve found to take the place of the R 405 is the Hornady 410 Sub X. But the Sub X is practically a cylinder, and it takes up a lot of powder space if you’re trying to use it like a 405, which it was really never designed to do in the first place.
The Hornady 325 (whatever they call it) propelled at 1775 fps out of the muzzle is a Killer Deluxe on Whitetail deer. I cannot duplicate the accuracy of Hornady’s factory round.
I have a Lyman mold that casts a nice four hundred some grain bullet that makes an easy going black powder equivalent load. Somewhere along the line, I’ve decided that casting 45-70 bullets was not worth the return. But they shot well, and were a whole lot of fun to hit swinging steel with.
Excellent........Now practice for the Quigly & Billy Dixon shot.
Daimler1989
Member
A Miroku made Browning 1886 with octagonal 22" barrel was my first rifle, bought it in 1987 on credit as a student. price was about 1500 D-mark then, and that was pretty expensive... But I still have it.
My first shooting experience on a 100-Meter-Range on a very hot summer day, I was only wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt and shot prone with both elbows propped up. A rough carpet was stretched on the bench. After 20 rounds, I had a deep scratch on my shoulder from the butt plate and a bruised collarbone and circular abrasions on both elbows. That was a pretty brutal first meeting, but it couldn't bring us apart.
She likes most a handload with Hornady 300 grs HP and about 55 grs VV N130. But never shoot prone.
best regards from Germany
Ulrich
My first shooting experience on a 100-Meter-Range on a very hot summer day, I was only wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt and shot prone with both elbows propped up. A rough carpet was stretched on the bench. After 20 rounds, I had a deep scratch on my shoulder from the butt plate and a bruised collarbone and circular abrasions on both elbows. That was a pretty brutal first meeting, but it couldn't bring us apart.
She likes most a handload with Hornady 300 grs HP and about 55 grs VV N130. But never shoot prone.
best regards from Germany
Ulrich
BigMuddy
Member
Congrats on acquiring one of the best lever guns ever designed. The key to enjoying these, or any 45-70, is lighter loads. A 400 grain bullet at 1300 fps is enjoyable to shoot and if you hunt it will work on any animal on earth. When someone uses a 475 Linebaugh in a handgun with these same ballistics no one seems to question its killing power but load a 45-70 in that range and all of a sudden it’s a target load only.
I have done the “whomper stomper” 45-70’s and realize now they just ain’t needed. If you re-load then 5744 powder is your friend. I use nothing else in my 45-70’s anymore. Only smokeless powder I’ve used that gets single digit extreme spreads in the big case.
Dan
I have done the “whomper stomper” 45-70’s and realize now they just ain’t needed. If you re-load then 5744 powder is your friend. I use nothing else in my 45-70’s anymore. Only smokeless powder I’ve used that gets single digit extreme spreads in the big case.
Dan
22lrfan
Member
I guess I'm the oddball here. My only 1886 is one from 1891 in .40-82. I found it in a pawn shop about 15 years ago. It took some time to round up brass and bullets for it but I'm glad I did. I initially set up a target at 50 yards to get it on paper. This is the first three rounds I fired from it. It has the dreaded crescent butt plate but with these light loads the recoil is no problem.
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Grayfox
US Veteran
I have one of the Browning SRCs. Great rifle! 
And I completely agree about the steel crescent butt plate. That's why mine wears a leather butt cover.
That's it on the far left along with a few friends.
And I completely agree about the steel crescent butt plate. That's why mine wears a leather butt cover.
That's it on the far left along with a few friends.
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gmiller0737
Member
I got one of the Browning Limited Editions from 1986 NIB I loaded some ammo for it earlier this year maybe eventually I will get around to taking it to the range
I had a Miroku 1886 take down same as the OPs. Only shot trap door loads out of it so didn't get thumped. a very heavy rifle. I didn't like the rebounding hammer so I traded it off after finding a nice model 71 from the early 50's. Bought it along dies, brass and bullets for a really good price because the rifle was tapped for a side mount scope. Shoots very well with 200 gr bullets and recoil is on par with heavy 30-06 loads. The shotgun butt makes it bearable.
John
John
I’ve never shot a 45/70 with a crescent butt (my 1886 is a lightweight with a shotgun butt) but I’ve handled a few and can’t help but to think they don’t seem like they’d be that bad IF you shoulder it correctly. I think maybe this is where people make a mistake. Just holding it on my shoulder it feels fine if I hold it just a little farther out on my shoulder than I would a shotgun butt. Having said that I’m a skinnier guy so maybe that’s all because I don’t have enough fat on my arm for it to poke into lol
I don't currently have a 45/70 lever action but I learned my lesson from those I've had in the past, as I noted above. However, I do have a number of Shiloh Sharps rifles in calibers from 40/70 to 50/90 with three 45/70's. ALL of those rifles have shotgun butts.
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