Henry Rifle Forums

Saw this interesting looking long-barreled Winchester with a tang sight at the LGS last week. Asked to see it, held it in my hands, cycled the action (falling block) read the barrel and found out it was a 45/70. I knew immediately that I was hooked - I just couldn't put it down and walk away. It's a limited edition Winchester model 1885 single-shot in 45/70 with a 28" barrel - I didn't even know that Winchester made a gun like this. As it turns out, this a modern version of Winchester's first rifle designed by John Browning - I guess they've been making them off and on since 1885...

Beautiful rifle!

Yeah, if it's stamped Winchester, that is a modern production 1885, made for Winchester/USRAC and, at times, Browning (same gun) by Miroku in Japan (should be stamped as such on the barrel) and the quality is superb. Check out my several posts on our several Low Wall rimfire versions, also made by Miroku, which are the same guns in the rimfire versions. With the higher wall on the receiver, yours would be referred to as a High Wall though Winchester never did use the High Wall and Low Wall terms. There have been a number of editions of these. Some even came with the tang sight.

Don't let that made in Japan thing throw you. These are considered superior to the Ruger No. 1 by virtue of their hanger bar to attach the fore arm (Ruger uses a funky angled bolt system that attaches to the barrel), fit and finish of parts, trigger, more consistent accuracy and so on. Another bonus is that ability to mount a tang sight, something you can't do with the Ruger, thanks to its non-traditional tang safety and no hammer. Most side-by-side comparisons have the Winchester coming out ahead. Having owned both, now, I totally agree. The Ruger is a great gun, but the Miroku is the better built gun and the better design.

Like the Ruger, the modern 1885 can handle as hot a 45-70 load as you are comfortable shooting. Those level three loads are brutal, though (all the more so with that crescent buttplate). Me, I'd stick with modern lever gun loads (level two) and be happy, unless, of course, you plan to hunt elephant.

My local shop has one of those on consignment for a ridiculous price and the owner absolutely refuses to budge on the price. If he ever does, well ... I really do need one of those. I'm jealous.

Congrats on an awesome 45-70.

North Country Gal wrote:Yeah, if it's stamped Winchester, that is a modern production 1885, made for Winchester/USRAC and, at times, Browning (same gun) by Miroku in Japan (should be stamped as such on the barrel) and the quality is superb. Check out my several posts on our several Low Wall rimfire versions, also made by Miroku, which are the same guns in the rimfire versions. With the higher wall on the receiver, yours would be referred to as a High Wall though Winchester never did use the High Wall and Low Wall terms. There have been a number of editions of these. Some ten came with the tang sight.

Don't let that made in Japan thing throw you. These are considered superior to the Ruger No. 1 by virtue of their hanger bar to attach the fore arm (Ruger uses a funky angled bolt system that attaches to the barrel), fit and finish of parts, trigger, more consistent accuracy and so on. Another bonus is that ability to mount a tang sight, something you can't do with the Ruger, thanks to its non-traditional tang safety and no hammer. Most side-by-side comparisons have the Winchester coming out ahead. Having owned both, now, I totally agree. The Ruger is a great gun, but the Miroku is the better built gun and the better design.

Like the Ruger, the modern 1885 can handle as hot a 45-70 load as you are comfortable shooting. Those level three loads are brutal, though (all the more so with that crescent buttplate). Me, I'd stick with modern lever gun loads (level two) and be happy, unless, of course, you plan to hunt elephant.

My local shop has one of those on consignment for a ridiculous price and the owner absolutely refuses to budge on the price. If he ever does, well ... I really do need one of those. I'm jealous.

Congrats on an awesome 45-70.

Thanks, NCG - I figured you would know about this rifle. I really like big recoil 45-70 "thumper" guns, but this one with the 28" barrel and no recoil pad will probably be shooting mostly cowboy action rounds. The elephants are still safe here in the southern Shenandoah Valley...

agree on all points .... specially, "Those level three loads are brutal" .... there are some mods that can be undertaken to reduce felt recoil, the most effective single thing I know of is to fire trap door or cowboy action Marlin 1895 loads .... that is certainly a nice rifle, congratulations indeed

That's a beautiful rifle.

Here is 1885 I rebarrel to a 40-60 Maynard using Krag brass . This was the 1st cartridge of the civil war and was used as a sniper round and still wins matches today .







I made this 400 gr bullet mold for this gun .

Those are nice rifles Tad and thats a cool pic on the tractor. Some swiss 2fg a 540 grain bullet and a vegie fiber wad will have you shootin like the old days. Al

TGR, being the confirmed single shot addict I am, I just drool every time I see some your single shot pics. I think maybe the single shot thing is catching, around, here.

A beautiful rifle! I can see why you couldn't walk away!

If the recoil thing becomes an issue, you can add one of those lace up leather slip on pads. Have heard of several people using them even on guns with crescent butt plates.

North Country Gal wrote:If the recoil thing becomes an issue, you can add one of those lace up leather slip on pads. Have heard of several people using them even on guns with crescent butt plates.

I used this PAST pad for years since a lot BP match wouldn't you use the leather butt plate attached to rifle . This rifle was a 69 cal Charlyville on top pic and the bottom pic was a 40 cal shooting 400 gr slug . This gel pad really works good and only 1/4" thick .

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/68023 ... bidextrous

I'm getting more into single shot rimfires as I don't care to shoot a 45-70. Great post and great replies.

Sir Henry wrote:I'm getting more into single shot rimfires as I don't care to shoot a 45-70. Great post and great replies.

We obviously are, too, though I do still enjoy shooting the big stuff, now and then, just for old time's sake and tradition, if nothing else. The 45-70 is such a grand old cartridge that I can't give it up, completely. But, yeah, we are steadily going more and more rimfire.

I've been bitten also, I have a Uberti version of the 1885 with a 32'' octagon bbl. I have only fired it on one outing (about 40 rounds) with the factory buckhorn sights. On your rifle is that a Marbles or Lyman tang sights ?

ssonb wrote:I've been bitten also, I have a Uberti version of the 1885 with a 32'' octagon bbl. I have only fired it on one outing (about 40 rounds) with the factory buckhorn sights. On your rifle is that a Marbles or Lyman tang sights ?

It's a Marbles. I also recently changed out the front bead sight with a Lyman Globe - gives a much better sight picture (for me anyway)....

A Uberti 32" 1885 with an octagon barrel must look awesome - a lot of steel in your hands when launching 45/70's downrange....

I have ordered a lyman #2 with the globe kit...BUT it seems to be out of stock right now, four weeks and counting.........................I know this sight is a shorter range(350 yards) than the Verneer or Solie but I kinda want to see if I can even see that far first.

Update... The order for my tang sights still have not come in, I called the retailer company and since the Italians take a whole month off in the summer there will be another few weeks before the sights are produced! I cancelled my order and called lee Shaver and What a relief to be able to talk with someone who actually knows what you need to outfit your rifle. Be here any day now.

I had one new in the box . It is a Lyman or Marble..... For Sale I got it for my 1873 Winc

Thanks Tx but they showed up yesterday right when Mr Shaver said they would.. now I just need to glue them on......Actually the sights that were recommended are his Economy Soule mid range and the proper front Lyman globe sight and inserts. Now I have the terrible chore of sighting them in, Its a lot of hard work but someone has to do it,( that's what I tell the wife)