Modern Winchester/Miroku lever guns

[SLT223]

Anyone else enjoying these fine firearms? I have two 1892's now in .357 and .44. I also have an older Browning 1886 in .45-70, also made by Miroku. I must say these are far superior, in my opinion, to what New Haven made in the four decades prior to closing...the 9422 being an exception.

 

[les.b]

I have a beautiful 1892 16" .45 Colt (I know that was not an original chambering). I got it fairly cheap at a gun show from a fellow who had bought it and took it home brand new, and his young son had promptly dropped it on his tiled kitchen floor, leaving a big ding on the stock. He couldn't stand to look at it, and I bought it for a substantial discount.

The craftsmanship is fantastic, but the lawyers must have been at work, as it has a rebounding hammer and a safety, which spoils the authenticity.

But...it is a beautiful gun (even with the ding), and I am happy to have it. I also have the current iteration of the Browning .22 semi auto rifle, formerly made in Belgium, and now made by Miroku. It is also a very nicely made and finished little gun.
See post #22, I finally got around to taking a few photos today.
Edit:

Best Regards, Les

 

[SLT223]

I have a beautiful 1892 16" .45 Colt (I know that was not an original chambering). I got it fairly cheap at a gun show from a fellow who had bought it and took it home brand new, and his young son had promptly dropped it on his tiled kitchen floor, leaving a big ding on the stock. He couldn't stand to look at it, and I bought it for a substantial discount.

The craftsmanship is fantastic, but the lawyers must have been at work, as it has a rebounding hammer and a safety, which spoils the authenticity.

But...it is a beautiful gun (even with the ding), and I am happy to have it. I also have the current iteration of the Browning .22 semi auto rifle, formerly made in Belgium, and now made by Miroku. It is also a very nicely made and finished little gun.

Best Regards, Les

Les is your 1892 "Trapper" a takedown model?

 

[The Norseman]

Miroku Winchester 1895 3006 & 270

Back in the day I wanted the Original 1895 Winchester.
I looked and looked, spied several I would like.
Their condition was questionable.

I found a new in the box Miroku Winchester 30-06 .
Wow, what great Craftsmanship in the machining
and wood to metal fit. I knew with the Miroku I
wouldn't blow my face off, so I got it.

Then I found a NIB Miroku Win in 270. The above
applied again, so I got it.

I have a Friend that always says "yea but their not
Winchesters" (he collects Winchesters). My reply
is always "Your damn right their not!, my 1895's are
built better than Winchester ever could!".

I shoot both with great care, and the 30-06 is softer
in recoil and the 270 has a sharp kick. I prefer the
30-06. I Reload so cost is not that much of a factor.

 

[Ranger514]

I bought a new .357 magnum 1873 Miroku Winchester last Christmas. The craftsmanship is superb. I didn't care for the standard buckhorn sights, so I added a Marble's tang mounted peep sight.

 

[les.b]

Les is your 1892 "Trapper" a takedown model?

I don't think so... I think I would have noticed, but I have ot had it out for over a year... I'll have to check!!

Best Regards, Les

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have a 1986 production 1886 Browning in 45-70. Out of the box it is fantastic. I have won speed rifle competitions with this rifle with a 435 grain "target" load. With "full Power" hunting loads, it shoots in the 2-3 inch area off a rest with the factory iron sights.

I bought a modern Winchester '86 takedown in 45-90 (501 produced in 2004 +/-). It had a hitch in the action neither I or another gunsmith could get rid of. The little old Japanese man that assembled my browning must have retired! I sold the 45-90 about a year and a half ago. The action frustrated me so much, I never bothered to test how well it could shoot!

Ivan

 

[mauser9]

Been wanting one of the 1873 models with a 20 inch barrel since they were introduced. I heard the Miroku guns have quality workmanship and they do look great. This one is my dream in .357. Might bite the bullet this year. Do the flatnose bullets feed better in this model can anyone tell me.

 

[SLT223]

Back in the day I wanted the Original 1895 Winchester.

I knew with the Miroku I
wouldn't blow my face off, so I got it.

I have a Friend that always says "yea but their not
Winchesters" (he collects Winchesters). My reply
is always "Your damn right their not!, my 1895's are
built better than Winchester ever could!".

And that sums it up. No risk, fraction of the cost, and quality is 100+ percent of the the original. If you are into shooting vs collecting, or dont want to damage your colledtion, the Miroku guns are second to none. There's an interesting history on Miroku being contracted by Browning. Browning was still a family business when the grandson was diversifying the supply portfolio. Too much to type, but worth a google.

 

[Fishinfool]

I owned an original Deluxe Winchester model 71 (348 win.) Very nice rifle. When Browning introduced their Japanese made version, I bought one in the high grade.

The Browning version was just as well fit and finished, maybe better. The Winchester had a little slicker action, but it had a fair number of rounds thru it over the years.

After owning that Japanese made Browning, as well as a few others, and having handled quite a few others, I'd say Miroku makes one fine firearm, with quality higher than most out there these days.

Larry

 

[SLT223]

I owned an original Deluxe Winchester model 71 (348 win.) Very nice rifle. When Browning introduced their Japanese made version, I bought one in the high grade.

The Browning version was just as well fit and finished, maybe better. The Winchester had a little slicker action, but it had a fair number of rounds thru it over the years.

After owning that Japanese made Browning, as well as a few others, and having handled quite a few others, I'd say Miroku makes one fine firearm, with quality higher than most out there these days.

Larry

That rifle is absolutely gorgeous!

 

[Alpo]

Don't have any Winchester Mirokus, but got three late-20th-Century Browning Mirokus. A 53 in 32/20, an 1886 in 45/70 and an 1895 in 30 US.

 

[6518John]

Finally! Thanks Fishinfool and Alpo. This thead desperately needed pictures.

 

[Bullet Bob]

I've had three examples; an 1886 Extra Light, a Model 53, and the only one I have left (and my oldest) a model 92 .357 that Dale Storey's shop did a trigger job and mounted the Lyman sight on. It's one of my favorites out of too many firearms.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

In '73 & '92 model carbines and rifles, you must use flat nose bullets, The Cowboy market has put a lot of ammo on the market.

 

[jag312]

I have an original Model 1886, made in 1892. The action is smooth. Around 1987 I bought one of the Browning 1886 rifles. It is first quality, but just not quite as smooth as the original.

I have a couple of original Model 1892 rifles. The actions are smooth. A few years ago I bought one of the Winchester Deluxe take-down rifles. It is first quality, but just not quite as smooth as the original. Then a few months ago I bought another Winchester 1892 rifle. Again, it is first quality, but just not quite as smooth as the original.

That being said, I love my lever action rifles made by Miroku. I also have a new Browning T-Bolt rifle made by Miroku. I love that one, too. Now, even though the original Winchester Models 1886 and 1892 incredibly are smooth. the Marlin Model 1888 is even smoother. The Marlin 1888 was the last top eject rifle and only made for one year, the smoothness of the action has to be experienced to be believed.

 

[Wyo]

I have one of their 1886's in 45/70. I didn't care for the stock finish so I fixed that. The more I stared at that rebounding hammer, the more it bothered me so I fixed that too. I didn't want to spend the time and money to get rid of the tang safety and weld up the hole so it's still there. Even with all that I like the rifle. I had several of the Miroku/Brownings back in the day, and this is one is every bit as nicely fit and finished. I use a 300 gr. bullet in a load that duplicates the original 45/90 blackpowder round and it works great on deer and is a pretty fair elk killer too.

 

[Charlie Foxtrott]

I have a few of the Miroku Winchesters.

The workmanship in those rifles is second to none. You will never see me part with any of mine.

 

[Bullet Bob]

"I have a couple of original Model 1892 rifles. The actions are smooth. A few years ago I bought one of the Winchester Deluxe take-down rifles. It is first quality, but just not quite as smooth as the original. Then a few months ago I bought another Winchester 1892 rifle. Again, it is first quality, but just not quite as smooth as the original."
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Give those Miroku's about one hundred years of use as an equal basis for comparison, and get back to us.

I like the Browning/Miroku over-under and SxS shotguns quite a lot, but I'm also a big fan of their limited run of pumps, an action type as American as lever actions. Here's a model 42 & 12:

 

[Shark Bait]

I have two, an 1886 in 45-70 and an 1892 in 44 magnum. I'd love to find one in 357 magnum. The 1892 says 44 Magnum Only. I found that it will fire 44 Special, but it doesn't cycle them well.

1886:



1892: