1886 Winchester 45-70 Experience

[Neumann]

I have a Winchester (Miroku) 1886 with a crescent steel butt plate. I'm keeping the butt plate but using a stiff, gel pad on my right shoulder. Stay loose and let your body rock back. It gets really painful sighting in from a bench, pushed up against the stock in a chair.

A .45-70 is not meant to be used with a scope with your head raised up. If you mount a scope, use a low power scout scope with long eye relief. It's more comfortable (less painful) if you shoot with your head down. Better yet, install peep sights.

 

[ameridaddy]

....I think my problem is that I am always looking to recapture my experience with the marvelous M-14 at dear old Fort Bragg.

Me too. (Ft. Jackson)
I realize now my basic training M-14 was near shot out with rifling barely visible; still made expert. Got to my unit and was issued a brand new one. On my next qualification with the new rifle, I knocked down 87 out of 90 silhouettes at distances of 50 to 350 meters.
I felt like I couldn't miss with that thing. It was a real confidence builder.
Now, I reminisce, thinking I'd like to have an M1A, but when I think of bang; $1.00 downrange, bang; $1.00 downrange, I hesitate. And think - But I could be disciplined, making every shot count, and be OK.
And then when I heft the rifle, I realize I'm arthritic nowadays, and not half the man I used to be, and about 11 lbs of gun with sling and loaded magazine becomes too much too quickly.
Ahh, youth.

 

[Ed Fowler]

I have been shooting crescent butt plates on 86 Winchesters, a 405 High Wall, 30-40 High Wall and a Rem Hepburn and Sharps 40-90 most of my life, not once has one hurt me. All I do is move the butt plate out on my arm just enough where the points are not digging in.

You just have to hold them a little different, or maybe I am build different.

Last weekend my friend and I dug out my grandfathers Marlin Safety 30-30 and shot it, he tried to shoot it with the butt plate way in on his shoulder and got bit. I showed him how to hold it, but he had been bit and was crescent butt shy, would not fire it again. It was the first time I have shot it although I had owned it for over 30 years. At 100 yards I could hit a 3" chain sprocket every time using the fine and beautiful full buck horn sights. For me they act about like a peep sight and I could see the target very clearly. Going to hunt up my brass that I have been saving and load more rounds up for her.

 

[Grayfox]

I have a Browning 1886 Saddle Ring Carbine. It also preffers the 405 gr bullets both jacketed and lead. The rifle is rated to handle Level II loads, but I learned real quick that I wasn't. So I keep it at the standard velocities.
I also learned real quick about that crescent butt plate. OUCH! I got a butt cover from Lever Gun Leather and it made a world of difference. The man does outstanding work and I highly recommend him.