You NEED a Browning High Wall in 45-70........You NEED a Browning High Wall in 45-70........You NEED a Browning High Wall in 45-70........

 

+1 IN1894SS. I have a Winchester 1885 High Wall 125th Anniversary in 45-70. Made in Japan by Miroku and an absolutely excellent specimen. Shoots 2 moa at 100 yards with the semi buckhorn sights and 500 grain moly-coated Westcastings. Has adjustable trigger, deep, rich blueing, and good timber. Gee, I need to stop talking and post a pic :biggrin:

At around 9lbs combined with the factory fitted Pachmayr Decelerator pad, she is much milder on the bench with heavy loads than my 1895GBL. The long throat and ability to digest maximum loads in the strong, falling block action makes these a fine platform for building up a long-range 45-70 with tang sights.

You won't be disappointed.

 

Right? That is pretty much what I was thinking. Just curious about triggers, etc.

 

You're asking a mighty broad question.

What are your goals in considering such a rifle? Hunting? Competition? Just a cool new toy?

I shoot them in silhouette and long range competition, black powder only.

They are not easy to strip, but seldom need it. They are not a tinkerer's rifle. No aftermarket triggers are available, but the trigger is easily tuned.

Paul

 

A cool toy that I can hunt with. No competition but I do derive satisfaction from hitting targets consistently. I enjoy playing with reloads but I am somewhat limited in my gun smith skills.

 

Wish I had the money!!!

Shiloh Sharps 45-70 NIB For Sale Metro Atlanta | Rifle and Shotgun Classifieds in Georgia | The Outdoors Trader

Tom

 

Wish I had the money!!!

Shiloh Sharps 45-70 NIB For Sale Metro Atlanta | Rifle and Shotgun Classifieds in Georgia | The Outdoors Trader

Tom

That is beautiful!

 

I like the Browning/Winchester 1885's. I prefer the C. Sharps and Shiloh single shots, but the Japanese made 1885's are very nice rifles. I've got one of the Hunter models in .45-70 and it's a real looker. I really haven't spent much time developing loads for it but it seems to prefer jacketed bullets rather than cast. I had the trigger worked on and it's now a nice 2.75 lbs. The BPCR models are nice due to the faster 1:18 twist, too heavy for a hunting rifle IMO, but better for target shooting.

Chris.

 

I have a Browning 45-70 High Wall . The trigger is very adjustable and it makes a great field gun. Listen to the vioces...They are never wrong about a gun purchase.

 

When reloading for it can you go to the Ruger #1 levels?

 

Thanks. I am pretty sure the Browning/Miroku is next on the list but I just paid 2 college tuitions last week and the Feds want their pound of flesh next month so I might sit tight for a few months.

 

You can according to the Hodgdon Powders web site. But with the crescent butt plate on the Traditional Hunter model hot loads are a bit painful. To be honest, when I had a Ruger #1 I found hot loads not very fun either. Until I added a decent recoil pad that is.

Chris.

 

Thanks - they certainly are not fin at top end Marlin levels - can't imagine adding more but was curious.

 

I load mine all the way up (Ruger 1 level) with 300gr. bullets - and you do indeed know when you touch one off! (Yeah; gotta love that steel plate)

 

Having owned and used various different single shots I believe the Sharps action is a bit cantankerous in action. After firing you must half-cock the hammer, lever open the action, reload, close the action and then go to full cock on the hammer. In long range speed shooting matches this can take 3 to 5 seconds. The rolling block action is faster and a high wall is even faster for reloads. A long, heavy, octagonal barrel (26" or longer) weighs a alot. My 30" Rolling Block weighs in at 12.4lbs; I don't want to take it afield without a mule to haul it. I had a 32-40 High Wall that weighed in over 9 lbs even with a slim profile 30" octagonal. You'll need shooting sticks or a rest of some type to adequately support such a heavy rifle.

I suggest the Ruger No.1. These can be had with shorter barrels and can handle the stoutest loads of 45-70. You can find them for well under $1000.

DD

 

Thanks Doc. I have a Ruger No. 1 in 375 H&H and like it a lot. Might have to pick up another in 45/70.

 

It is hard to go wrong with a Ruger #1, I love mine! If it important to you, the Rugers are made in America.
FM

 

Had a Browning High Wall in 45-70, I think it was called a B-78 back around 1980.

Shot it a couple times and it refused to fire again until the trigger was adjusted. seems the trigger group fit into a dovetail in the receiver and had some movement. The recoil from the 45-70 moved the stock and the trigger group enough to throw the trigger adjustment out. The thing had coil springs in lieu of the original leaf springs. Have to make your own tool to re assemble. It was a mess. Loved the cartridge but hated the gun and was glad to sell it. When Marlin introduced the 1895 Cowboy with a straight stock and an octagonal barrel I fell in love again and dusted off those old dies and bullet molds.

Go for the Shiloh Sharps in 45-90. Ask for a bit more free bore than standard so you can have some real bullet length when you reload. Having shot both the Repro high wall and the Sharps the only thing you need to consider with the Sharps is the extra weight and cost. The extra weight is a help at the bench but not in the field. Consider a Marlin for hunting and the Sharps for target work.

 

Browning 1885 high wall is a sick gun....i wouldn't talk anyone out of getting such a wonderful rifle.

 

I have the Uberti 1885 in .45-70 & it is by far & away my favorite rifle. The only thing I dislike about it is that it's not a big fan of cast bullets. That said, it's almost boringly accurate with Remington 405s & Hornady 350s so it's not a big deal.

 

I'm late to this party, but will relate my 2 cents worth of experience.
45-70 disease is as infectious as 30-30 Marlinitus and cast bulllets.
Aside from being a delightfully versitile round, it's as easy to reload for as any straight wall pistol round, or .30-30.
comments on arms: All of mine have been bought used or horse traded for.... so they can be had relatively cheap.
Pedersoli Sharps: any one of the four I have will shoot along side any other of it's type, and the fit and finish is generally better than most these days, but perhaps not quite the museum quality of the Shiloh or C. Sharps. The extra effort required to bring the action to battery is part of the fun. One of the four needed a burr polished off the sear, and while I was at it I polished all internal mating surfaces. IT IS REALLY NICE NOW.
Pedersoli Rolling Block: Ditto notes from the Sharps
Ruger #1: The two I have (as well as the third in .416 Remington) are all excellent quality shooters, and I feel a little less finicky in this caliber than in lighter bores.
Browning 1885: What's not to like? Nostalgic, beautiful finish, beautiful craftsmanship throughout, and a great shooter. However, the nice looking crescent buttplate coupled with a lighter weight more comparable to the Ruger will limit your daily round count.
JM marked Marlin Cowboy: Wow.. what fun guns with vernier sight. Both shoot better than I can hold, on par with the Sharps out to silly ranges. The weight of the sharps gives it an edge far out , but for practical ranges accuracy is comparable with loads they like.
JM marked Marlin Guide Guns: Same comments as Cowboy, in microgroove as well as ballard rifled models, blued and stainless. Much more handy than the Cowboy models and more likely to be work guns,,,and they're fully up to it. First shot with my first one at 200 yards at a pig with a 400 grain cast bullet held 4" over the shoulder..... bang....SLAP.... flop. Impressive
Thompson Contender Pistol.. Amazing one hole accurate, but not for the feint of heart. Three shots and three weeks for finger recovery. The trigger gaurd beats you third finger to a numb pulp after three shots. However, you should not need more than one, right?
Thompson Encore Rifle: Sweet shooter, though the break over action is a nuisance when shooting at the bench.

Having said all the above, I usually grab a beater 336 30-30 and a handful of rounds loaded with cast slugs when I leave the house. Good ol' truck gun that just cannot miss. likie an old dog, it just loves to hunt.
Hope these humble comments help.

 

Any 1885 is a special rifle, Mine are all BPCR rifles ,custom original,custom Uberti,with a green mountain barrel and a Browning. All shoot better than I can. The Uberti is a 40/65 that will shoot MOA all the way to the Ram line, all are shot the way they were meant to with real Black Powder and cast Bullets

 

Browning 1885 in 45-70. Shotgun style butt with factory 1 inch pad, replacement Williams peep rear sight, Lyman 17A front sight globe, customized front sight blade insert. More accurate than I am capable of holding. Usual Browning fit and finish. Don't have a trigger pull gauge, but it is light (for me) and oily glass smooth. Rifle across your arm and 20 rounds on your belt makes an enjoyable afternoon stroll around the back 10 acres. Shenandoah

 

I have a Ruger #1 in 25-06 and an 1885 High Wall in .270. Both are great shooters. The Browning just sits in the safe. One of these days I'm gonna sell it I guess.

 

Can't have too many 1885 highwalls.

Uberti 45/70 with fancy sights.
Petersoli Sharps 45/70
Brownining 45/70

 

The only thing better is the real thing. Flat spring 45/70 and 22 low wall.

 

Those are SWEET! Thanks!

 

I have had a couple of 1885s in .45-70. I wish I still had the first. Regular issue, beautiful wood, moderate weight, and accurate. The second was the traditional model, longer barre, kicked like a mule, but it was accurate. Traded it in on a like new Shiloh Sharps .40-65. Rather have a .45-70, but a bird in hand....

I also have a Ruger No.1 S-C, a heavier C weight 26" barrel , a special run of not more t.han 250 units from a couple of years back.

Unless you have serious nostalgia issues, I would find a nice 45-70, 1885. They are regularly for sale, accurate, and are light enough to hunt with.

If you are smitten with tradition, skip the traditional hunter and order or find a Shiloh 1874. Problem is, Shiloh has introduced the more delicate 1877, and I don't think their manufacturing capacity can get you either model anytime soon.

Good luck,