1886 Winchester

[RustyJr]

I have been considering getting a big bore rifle and was thinking of an 1886 Winchester (24" round barrel with a half magzimagazine tube). My question is would I be better off with a Winchester or one of the Pedersoli 86/71s. I would probably put a receiver sight on it and maybe a scout style scope mount.


Thanks,
RustyJr

[jmiller]

I have been considering getting a big bore rifle and was thinking of an 1886 Winchester (24" round barrel with a half magzimagazine tube). My question is would I be better off with a Winchester or one of the Pedersoli 86/71s. I would probably put a receiver sight on it and maybe a scout style scope mount.


Thanks,
RustyJr

Rusty, I'll share my experiences with you on the Pedersoli 86/71. I bought one and it would not cycle or feed. No ammo, factory or reload, would come out of the mag tube more than 50% of the time and when it did, it NEVER would lift on the carrier. I've never seen any gun with as rough a finish on all internal parts as this one. The mag tube was off center in the receiver and nothing lined up. I contacted the seller, Cabela's, and they offered me a full refund or another gun at no out of pocket expense to me. I opted for a replacement gun. It was as bad, or worse, as the first one. It would not work. I took the gun apart and examined the inside. It was as rough as the first and the parts were mismatched as well. I really wanted this gun so I decided to contact Turnbull to see if they could correct it at my expense. They told me they had found the same problems on a couple they had gotten in to try to use due to the dwindling supply of Winchesters. They advised me to get my money back. I also found out that the company knew of the defects and had a rework process going on in Italy trying to correct the guns before they were boxed and shipped. On top of that, the single warranty repair center in the U.S. was not even in the same state the gunsmith lived in. If the gun were sent in for repair under warranty it might sit for weeks or months before it was returned if it could even be fixed. I returned it to Cabela's and got my money back. I found a NIB Win 1886 and bought it. It functioned perfectly and shot fantastic. Wanting something "more" , I took it to Turnbulls and had it CC and the safety removed. I also had the original type hammer with a half cock notch put on the gun. The only minor drawback with the Miroku/Winchester 45-70s is the non existent throat due to it being made to original 45-70 specs. I had Turnbull lengthen the throat so I could shoot all weight bullets and today the gun will print an honest 1-1.5" five shot group at 100yds pretty consistently. I wouldn't walk away from the Pedersoli, I'd run. Now it might sound like I'm bashing Pedersoli....well, I guess I am a little but.....I've owned three of their 1874 Sharps guns and they all shot great and worked great. I think they should have done a little more quality control on the lever guns.

[Les Staley]

Rusty jr, if you can find a Browning, buy it! They're built just like John Moses Browning and God designed them. I killed my first deer in 1961 with a 1886 in 45-90 that my grandpa inherited from his brother. Had a soft spot for them ever since..my wife bought me a Browning SRC 45-70 one year for our anniversary..great little rifle!! Les

[7.62 Precision]

Browning if you can find it, but if you want the Extra Lightweight, it will need to be a Winchester/Miroku. In that case, replace the hammer with a Browning hammer and have the tang welded, or cover the tang with a tang sight base.

Otherwise, maybe talk to the guys at Cimarron - they can be good sometimes at making sure you get a decent Italian rifle.

[.45colt]

Rusty, I have a 86/71 bought from Cabelas in Dundee Mi. it has been problem free. I was able to pick it from several they had in stock. Cabelas is not the only importer, Taylors, Cimarron, and Cherries Fine Guns in North Carolina offer them as well. just My .02.

[RIHMFIRE]

why not an original....or one of the turnball 86s?

[Rusty]

I'm trying to convince him to look at a Ruger #1.

[Pete44ru]

.

If you want a new rifle, IMHO it's hard to beat a Winchester/Miroku.

The fit, finish & workmanship is head/shoulders above even what Winchester produced in New Haven (excepting Winchester Custom Shop rifles).

Yes. it will have a tang safety, which you can ignore.

It may/may not need the lower fork of the mainspring strut shortened for positive ignition (both mine didn't).

I installed a Marbles tang peep sight on one of mine, which covered the safety - and it stayed in place for 5 deer seasons, held only by the (longer than issue) tang screw.

.

[jhrosier]

I have a Win/Miroku 86 EL and I am more than pleased with it.
I have not had a problem with light strikes or misfires so I have not messed with the hammer.
I would be pleased if the barrel was throated deeper (or throated at all) and I may eventually rent a throating reamer to remedy that.

Fit, finish, and accuracy are top shelf.

Jack

[AJMD429]

If you want 'functionality' vs. 'authenticity', and want a levergun that will 'do it all' (maybe combined with a 32-20), consider the Bighorn Armory in 500 S&W. It is a modern-materials, modern-cartridge, levergun based on the 1886 design.

I ordered one in March and so far it is the bestest, favoritest, firearm in my stable...



Link to post - viewtopic.php?f=1&t=59895

[plowboy 45]

If you want 'functionality' vs. 'authenticity', and want a levergun that will 'do it all' (maybe combined with a 32-20), consider the Bighorn Armory in 500 S&W. It is a modern-materials, modern-cartridge, levergun based on the 1886 design.

I ordered one in March and so far it is the bestest, favoritest, firearm in my stable...



Link to post - viewtopic.php?f=1&t=59895

Show out

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

I think the Turnbull Mfg. Co. Model 1886 is the way to go.
They know the 86 better than any of the current makers. But, they are a bit pricey.
However, if you want the half mag or lightweight get the Win Miroku and have it converted to traditional fire control. As for the misfiring problem, I know some here have had good luck but I've had several come to me that just didn't always fire. The conversion takes care of the problem.



Beside the 1/4 cock hammer they also get a full length firing pin. The Miroku version is an inertia type. Even with the hammer fully down it won't reach the primer. It has to be hit hard enough to slam it forward. That's why the rebounding setup has such a heavy hammer spring and you feel the heavy spring every time you work the action.

[buckeyeshooter]

Another recommendation for a Turnbull 86. Mine is a 36 inch barrel, shotgun butt, case finish and chambered in 50-110.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm16 ... 2bf6d5.jpg

[wolfdog]

RJ, not a 1886, but a big bore and not to far from you. Looks like a decent deal.
https://floridaguntrader.com/index.php?a=2&b=447790

[Griff]

I'm trying to convince him to look at a Ruger #1.

Why, Can't he have one of yours? My son's always tellin' me that I need a new 1873... so he can have my "hand-me-down."