JM Browning designed rifles

[Ivan the Butcher]

IN 1987 I bought a Browning 1886 45-70, 26" octagon barrel' Made in Japan by Miroko. Just about the sweetest lever action I ever cycled! A friend died and left me all his 45-70 Target loads. I ended up in a side match for Speed Rifle. This is for any lever action in a rifle cartridge. On an empty chamber with 10 in the magazine. At the buzzer shoot as fast as you can offhand. Fastest time wins (5 seconds added for every miss) This time the target was a 16" steel plate at 125 yards. I was the first shooter, so I had a clean target. At the buzzer my first shot was dead center. so that was my aiming point for the next 9. It made it in 4.7 seconds. I ended up beating the then current State Champ by almost 2 seconds. (My friend's ammo won his first match, a year and a half after he died!)

In 2005 Davidson's was having a sale and I bought a Winchester 1886 45-90 26" Octagon Take Down 1/501. Also made in Japan but about the worst lever gun I've ever cycled! The guy that assembled my first one must have retired. (Sold to Cabela's several years ago!)

In that same 2005 purchase I bought a Winchester 1885 Low Wall in 38-55. I installed a Lyman 17 globe front sight and a Lyman tang sight. I took this rifle to a small range out in the sticks so people would leave me alone while I got it dialed in. Using a Bear Creek Moly coated 300 grain FN bullet over 8.0 grains of Trail Boss, (Virgin, but FL sized Winchester Brass and Federal 210M primer) I got the sights adjusted for 100 yards. This is a super slow load and I was told it was accurate! On a fresh target I fired my first three shots and the group was about dime sized! So I fired 17 more aimed slow fire all at the original hole. I ended up with a 20 shot group that was the size of a Nickel!

I have had Rossi, Navy Arms, and Browning Model 92's. All told about 15 total. The smoothest? Of course, it was the Japanese Browning! The Navy had a 20" octagon barrel and was very heavy! IT was great at Cowboy Action matches in moving targets! I'm now down to one 357 stainless SRC and a 45 Colt blue 20 inch carbine. Some were much better than others, but none was truly "Bad."

I have a mountain of Browing designed shotguns and handguns, but I down to these four rifles, and they will have to be pried from my cold dead hands.

Let's keep it to rifles, and share your experiences.

Ivan

 

[scooter123]

I have a 1904 vintage 1892 that I picked up at a local Gun Show. Cost was 600 dollars and a previous owner had sent it to Winchester for a new barrel in 357 Magnum and a complete re-finish so it's not a collectable but is a very pretty shooter. BTW, the high grade wood is also courtesy of that previous owner. From a rest using Marbles rear peep and front bead I've manage sub 1 inch groups at 100 yards, so it's a very accurate sample. Cycling with 357 Magnums is flawless, with 38 special you have to put a bit of a hitch in the lever movement or it will jam. Note, I've been told that the preferred variant of the original 1892 for re-barreling in 357 Magnum was one in 32-30 because the magazine tube is perfectly sized for the 357 Magnum.

 

[M29since14]

I’ve always wanted an 1895 in ‘06 or .405, but have heard the ‘06 in that action is not a particularly good idea, and the .405 is said to be abusive due to the stock design. So until now the only lever action I have is a ‘50s 1894.

I wouldn’t mind having an 1892 in something other than .44 Magnum. A friend had one of the Japanese Brownings in 44. It was a meanie! I’ll probably never see one that I have to buy. Prices are high, like everything else. I can’t see iron sights on a rifle anymore, which further discourages buying that kind of rifle, but they are indisputably handy.

 

[StrawHat]

I have one lever action repeating rifle. It is all I need.

It is chambered for the 405 WCF cartridge and with full powered loads, you know when it goes off. My reloads use the 300 grain Lyman 412263 bullet over 28 grain of 5744. It about duplicates the 40-72 blackpowder load. A very comfortable load and one capable of anything I will hunt.

I have two boxes, less 4 rounds, of factory loads. Maybe 100 reloads. Enough for the rest of my life.

Kevin

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

To celebrate JMB rifle designs don't forget smallbore. The Browning SA 22, in production now for 109 years and still going strong.

 

[bmcgilvray]

1887 vintage Winchester Model 1886 .45-90


1896 vintage Winchester Model 1892 .32-20 saddle ring carbine



1941 vintage Winchester Model 94 .32 Winchester Special


1904 vintage Winchester Model 1895 .405


1924 vintage Winchester Model 90 .22 Long Rifle


All are great, dependable, satisfying guns to use. All have been put to work, hunting, range, and for plinking entertainment (even the Model 1895 .405).

The .22 pump is a darling. Both the Models 1886 and 1892 are slick and most gratifying designs to use. The Model 1895 is a hoot as well as being very positive to use. The Model 1894 action is my least favorite of Browning's lever-action designs, being less smooth than the others. There's probably a good reason for the design change from the '86/'92, but in my opinion a medium sized, "tweener," rendition of the design of the Model 1886 and Model 1892 would have been the superior choice as it is notably smoother in operation than the Model 1894 design. Heresy I know to say that, but there it is.

Oh, nearly forgot a few of the several models of Winchester's successes with several model variants of Browning's simple bolt-action single-shot .22 rim fire design.


1932 Winchester Model 60


Pre-1938 Winchester Model 67


Pre-1938 Winchester Model 68

 

[chief38]

I'm a HUGE fam of Lever Action Rifles and own my share of them and more. My "JM" Marlin 1895 has an octagon barrel, a pistol grip stock and a pretty darn nice American Walnut stock. I have some hot 405 grain SJSP hunting rounds but enjoy shooting hand loaded 300 grain LFN hard-cast bullets best. I load them somewhat light so my shoulder is still attached to me when I am done shooting.

As much as I do love my 45-70, my favorite big bore L/A rifle is my Marlin 38-55! It is much lighter in recoil, shoots very flat, more accurate than one can actually shoot and I had Marlin hand select a custom checkered walnut stock for it - back in the day they actually would do those things. It was a small run special edition and I can shoot it all day long with hand loads and not have any aches or pains. The 38-55 is what I'd use for long range SASS matches when they did them at 100 yards. I could consistently break sporting clays at that distance and still look at it as my fav. big bore L/A rifle. Got a bunch of others in pistol and RF calibers too.

 

[Alpo]

Browning designed rifles.


Got this 1895 in 30 US. A 53 in 32 Winchester and an 1886 in 45/70. All made by Myroku in Japan.


1892s - 357 Magnum, 45 Colt, 44 Magnum, and two 44 Winchester. All Rossi.

 

[Alpo]

Couple more 1892s. 38 Winchester and 32 Winchester, both Winchester's made in the teens.


Then some 1894s. The top and the bottom are 30 Winchester and the one in the middle is a 38/55.


Then there is the Winchester 1890 22 Short pump and the Rossi Model 62 22 long rifle pump - neither of which I appear to have a picture of.

 

[wcat94]

1895 Browning

The Browning 1895 in 30-06 made in 1985 is my favorite JM design at the moment. Someone did a nice job adding the old redfield peep and front pinned blade sight. Also a sling mount was added to the barrel. The leather butt pad is well done. The rifle looks to have wear and bluing loss of a much older gun. I need to get this one out and use it it much more than I have in the year I have owned it.

 

[mtgianni]

In 1987 I moved from SE Idaho to Montana and began hunting the heavy timber. I had it in my mind that I wanted a faster second shot and narrowed it down to a BLR in 284 Winchester. I could not find one locally but a friend saw one for sale in 308 Win. It was a first month issued BLR 81 with a manufacture date of December 1980 from the factory papers with it.

I have used it for everything from cottontails to moose and loved every minute of it. It is not and never will have a benchrest trigger. It has a 2x7 Leopold scope and does just fine with that. Longest shot to date was 365 yards on an antelope that stood up during a long stalk.

I own a couple of Rossi 92's, sold a more modern BLR in 358, and have shot several Garands and a Browning 50 cal at Knob Creek. I have read JMB's biography and consider both he and his father men far ahead of their times.

 

[old tanker]

It's JMB's first autoloader I have the hots for. A Model 8 in .35 Remington with a Lyman tang sight.

Makes me imagine an old time Yooper deer camp!

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I’ve always wanted an 1895 in ‘06 or .405, but have heard the ‘06 in that action is not a particularly good idea, and the .405 is said to be abusive due to the stock design. So until now the only lever action I have is a ‘50s 1894.

I wouldn’t mind having an 1892 in something other than .44 Magnum. A friend had one of the Japanese Brownings in 44. It was a meanie! I’ll probably never see one that I have to buy. Prices are high, like everything else. I can’t see iron sights on a rifle anymore, which further discourages buying that kind of rifle, but they are indisputably handy.

Why is the 95 in 30/06 a bad idea? I've owned a Miroku version for many years. It will handle any 30/06 ammo made. Check out the huge locking block behind the bolt.....Bolt ain't going anywhere...Miroku also chambered the 95 in .270. But they were slow sellers and discontinued after only a few were made.

 

[wundudnee]

The bottom rifle is a model 99 Winchester .22. It was Browning's first bolt action offering to Winchester. All their later .22 single shots were based on this rifle. Many models up to the early 60s were variations of this rifle.

The top rifle is a model 58 Winchester. Probably the cheapest Winchester ever produced. The stock is even made from flat lumber.

Browning offered Winchester drawings for a slide action .22 rifle. Winchester told him they didn't think it would work. So Browning went back to his shop and built the 1890 slide action and took it back to Winchester and told them it seems to function well.

Here is my 1890 made in 1922

 

[M29since14]

Why is the 95 in 30/06 a bad idea? I've owned a Miroku version for many years. It will handle any 30/06 ammo made. Check out the huge locking block behind the bolt.....Bolt ain't going anywhere...Miroku also chambered the 95 in .270. But they were slow sellers and discontinued after only a few were made.

I don’t know, Mike. I’ve heard the action lets the high pressure rounds stretch cases. Have you ever noticed that? I have no firsthand knowledge. I’d be interested in your opinion. I still may weaken someday and buy a ‘95.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I don’t know, Mike. I’ve heard the action lets the high pressure rounds stretch cases. Have you ever noticed that? I have to firsthand knowledge. I’d be interested in your opinion. I still may weaken someday and buy a ‘95.

NOPE. Have all shot manners of 06 in mine. No problems. Look at the wide receiver, huge wide bolt and lock lug. Browning knew what he was doing when he designed this rifle. I have never read or heard of one stretching. It was chambered in......

1896 30 US army(30-40 Krag)
1896 38-72 Win.
1896 40-72 Win
1898 303 British
1903 35 Win
1904 405 Win
1905 30 Gov. (M/03)..........30/03
1908 30 Gov.(M/06)............30/06
1915-1916 7.6x54R Russian
1988 30/06 & 270 (Miroku
2000 405 Win(Miroku)

I have faith that mine will outlast me will no failures.

 

[StrawHat]

Why is the 95 in 30/06 a bad idea? I've owned a Miroku version for many years. It will handle any 30/06 ammo made. Check out the huge locking block behind the bolt.....Bolt ain't going anywhere...Miroku also chambered the 95 in .270. But they were slow sellers and discontinued after only a few were made.

I believe the operative phrase here is “Miroku version” . There are more than a few reports of stretching in original Winchester Model 1895’s chambered for the 30-06. Maybe this is all conjecture but these were reported long before the internet echo chamber and in days when journalists had to be able to back up their claims.

The Miroku rifles are made from much better grades of steel.

Kevin

 

[M29since14]

Thanks for the input, you guys. You are trying to push me over the edge! Some day maybe a .30/06!

 

[TheTinMan]

The Miroku made 1892s are just beautiful.

This is a new 1892 Deluxe Takedown that I stumbled upon at Kittery Trading Post. I went for boots but checked inventory the night before. Salesman didn’t even know it was on the rack yet:

This is a 1990s production 1892 Deluxe with a nicely engraved receiver:

I confess that I have not fired either one - both are LNIB condition. However, I should be getting an 1892 Deluxe Trapper Takedown this summer and THAT will get used!

Chip

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I believe the operative phrase here is “Miroku version” . There are more than a few reports of stretching in original Winchester Model 1895’s chambered for the 30-06. Maybe this is all conjecture but these were reported long before the internet echo chamber and in days when journalists had to be able to back up their claims.

The Miroku rifles are made from much better grades of steel.

Kevin

Key word in your post "Maybe".