My leather guy, Dennis Yoder Custom Leather of Hamburg, Pa.,

http://www.yodercustomleather.com/

recommends Lexol. I've been using it for more than 10 years on my CAS leather. Works well.

The toggle link lock up system of the 1873 (as well as the Henry, model 1866 and model 1876) is inherently a weak design, and therefore not suitable for heavier loads. So theses guns are less 'usable,' as Hobie says, for the shooter. That said, originals and Uberti reproductiion of the 1873 have wid...

Perry mentions the RCBS 45-300 FN bullet, and it's a good one. However, it's a gas check design. If you prefer a plain base bullet, I'd suggest the RCBS 45-325 FN-U. It weighs 340 grains with my 20-1 alloy, and it shoots very well in my three Miroku 86 .45-70's -- two Brownings and a Winchester.

Thanks, Mike. I thought there might some differences in the hole sizes and spacing. I've heard good things about Treebone. Not long ago they moved to Cimarron, New Mexico, just a few miles from where I plan to make my new home -- when I sell my darn house.

Hey, Mike,

The bite may not be quite so bad. I believe they quote Canadian prices and then do the conversion at the time your card is charged. I admit, though, that I'm not certain of this.

Mike D., You're surely welcome! That's a worthy project you've undertaken. I've often thought of converting my Browning 86 rifle to a pg configuration. I'm not certain that the Miroku/Winchester pg tang will be compatible with the Browning. If I could overcome my sloth, I'd take both my guns apart s...

Mike,

I just phoned Western and ordered a part for the mod. 53. They have it, and it wil be on its way to me tomorrow.

Correction: I've bought both Browning and Winchester parts for Miroku-produced guns from this company. In fact I need a part for the model 53 and I'll be giving them a call this week.

Mike,

Try these guys. I've bought Browning parts from them some time ago. They're located in Alberta, Canada.

http://www.westerngunparts.com/

I have fired approximately 2400 full power BP loads at NRA BPCR silhouettes so far this year. This has been through participation in 20 approved matches (several of them 2-day shoots.) With record shots, sighters and practice the day before the shoot, I fire a minimum of 100 rounds, usually more. So...

Mike,

Do you have a line on the parts and on the pg stock for the conversion?

Also, you might try freezing that bolt assembly. This might provide enough shrinkage to allow the cross pin to be drifted out.

I should have addressed my responses to Old Bear as well. My apologies.

Mike D., I found my diagrams of the Browning 86 and the 71 along with the 53, 65 and B-92. They all have the trigger return spring. Also, all but the B-92 have an inertia firing pin (as do the Miroku Winchesters.) To quote from the Browning manual, "The Browning Model 71 has an inertia style fi...

Mike D.

Too bad that pin won't budge. Before you take drastic measures, I'll check to see if I have an exploded drawing of the Browning just to confirm there is a spring in there. I know for sure there's one in the Winchester version.

It's been some time since I had my Browning 86's apart, and I may be mixing them up with my Miroku Winchester 86. But about 6 or 7 years ago the Winchester began to misfire. After investihating the situation, I discovered that the firing pin return spring had collapsed (why I can't imagine), and the...

My SASS alias because I own some property on the headwaters of the Cimarron River in northern New Mexico and plan to live there soon. And once upon a time I had red hair.

Sounds like a good mod., Scott. But with the vernier sights on both my 86 and 85 Brownings, the comb is high enough to cause interference with a cleaning rod, especially because both sights wear Hadleys.

I agree with Hobie re: correct length .38-55 Starline brass. I bought 250 cases about 6 weeks ago. I'm loading them for two original early-1920's 94 Winchesters, and I'm pleased more than expected. The fact that the bullets are now seated closer to the rifling has improved accuracy in both these rif...

kimwcook, Generally, the Hadley eye piece is a target proposition. But most of them have a larger aperture that can be used for hunting. If not, one of the aperture that's much too small can be drilled or reamed to a larger one. For hunting the large aperture on a Marble's sight without a smaller ey...

kimwcook, I use a leather sight sack from MVA whenever I'm not actually using the gun. Also, MVA's Hadley eye cup has an 'O' ring set just inside the perimeter of the cup, and this helps prevent stock nicks. When cleaning the gun, I pad the point if the comb with a shop rag before folding the sight ...

Eric M,

I shoot 5.6 grains of Hodgdon's Tite Group under a 200 grain bullet for CAS. For NRA Cowboy lever action silhouettes my load is 5.8 grains TG under a 250 grainer.

Shiloh's standard rate of twist in the .45-70 should be 1 turn in 18". This may stabilize the lighter bullets if they're not driven fast. I like 25 grains of SR-4759 under both the 405 and 325 grain bullets. For 500 grainers, 20 to 23 grains. But, black is best.

I made it!

Cimarron Red