45-70 in Browning? modern Lever action ?

[seasidehunter]

Did Browning ever produce a "modern" lever action in 45-70? The single shot 45-70s are beautiful. How do they shoot?

[kimwcook]

Yep, Browning made modern lever '86's in 45-70. From everything I've heard about them they're great guns. And, they don't have any silly safety other than the original safety notch on the hammer.

[Nate C.]

Browning (maybe Miroku?) made a modern production 1886 lever in .45-70. Not sure what years they were made.

[pulaski]

Seaside
Yes Browning made them . Don't see them very often in the basic model but plenty of the fancy ones .
Mine shoots as good as you can hold it . I run 350g Horn. FP with 49.6g IMR3031
Thanks , Steve

[oltimber]

Just bought one last week off gunbroker and am goin nuts waiting for it to get hear before i leave for elk huntin wed. lol

[seasidehunter]

What is the model number for them, year etc.

I would like to spend some time looking for one / searching for one, plus a couple of gun shows coming up.

thanks for any addl info.

[Ysabel Kid]

Yep, Browning made modern lever '86's in 45-70. From everything I've heard about them they're great guns. And, they don't have any silly safety other than the original safety notch on the hammer.

That describes mine to a "T"!

[Warhawk]

What is the model number for them, year etc.

I would like to spend some time looking for one / searching for one, plus a couple of gun shows coming up.

thanks for any addl info.

Browning 1886

[kimwcook]

Seasidehunter, look at gunsamerica.com, gunbroker.com, auctionarms.com, gunsinternational.com.........There are a ton of sights you can view them on. I've looked at some from all those sights the last couple of days.

[Nazgul]

I have both the 1886 in 45-70 and the Mod 71 in 348 from Browning. Absolutely the highest quality and value.

Don

[KirkD]

Browning made two different 1886's. The first one was came out roughly in 1986 and was in standard rifle configuration with a full octagon barrel. Serial number was stamped on the side of the receiver. The second one came out in the early 1990's and was a saddle ring carbine. Both were in .45-70 caliber. I owned the SRC and it was a beautiful gun. It was also lighter than the full rifle version. Both were actually manufactured for Browning by Miroku in Japan, with an excellent fit and finish. They are high quality guns. Later, Winchester had a few different 1886's made for them that were also made by Miroku. These had the tang safeties and rebounding hammers, unlike the Browning versions. I owned the 1886 Extra Light. It was also in .45-70.

[salvo]

Here is my Browning 1886 Saddle Ring Carbine, one of my favorite leverguns.
It was manufactured in 1992.

[Old Time Hunter]

Yes sir, they most certainly did!

[seasidehunter]

Thanks,

awesome pictures, and info.

I get bogged down searching, 1886 brings up lots of guns in diff models, and I know "Browning" designed the old Winchester 1886 too. Just gets confusing, that's why I'm on here trying to learn it up. Thanks

I would love to have one of those Brownings. Nothing against Marlin of course. I'd like to have a MArlin .444 too....

Thanks

[alnitak]

Browning made 7000 of the 1886 SRCs in 1992-1993 (I think). It is my favorite (modern) levergun. Fit and finish is top notch. They run about $1100 for the base model, and $2000 for the high grade. They are often on Gunbroker (a couple recently sold)...I think I even saw one on there now (it's NIB and at $1050, but has high grade wood, just not checkered -- good price).

** Update -- The one I saw referenced above is no longer there. The auction must have closed. But they do have these rifles and SRCs:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =142593518
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =142845669
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =142677421
http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displ ... 054984&oh=

Boy, talk about pretty!

[mikld]

http://www.cabelas.com/gun-inventory--- ... -owa.shtml

Cabelas has one for sale for about $3000.

[COSteve]

Deleted

[Paul Jenkins]

Gentlemen,
I bought one used but as new 3 yrs ago for $1200. Top dollar then. It is beautiful and shoots 3/4" grps at 100 yds all day long with a marbles tang and original front. It is also as strong as a RUGER. yOU CAN SHOOT THE StOUTEST LOADS THROUGH IT . If you can handle them . This is the only one I have experienced, but it is a Gem. Even a brain dead blind pig can find an acorn once in a while. Probably the finest rifle I have ever owned.

[Malamute]

I will second Pauls sentiments, I have 2 of the Browning 1886's, a carbine and a rifle. They are without a doubt the finest built and finished guns I have.


The rifle is 3rd down. I cut it to 22", added a Lyman No 56 receiver and sourdough front sights, sling, and cut the crescent off the butt.

[Nate C.]

That's a really nice picture! I have similar tastes in interior decor...unfortunately the wife doesn't share in my style

[Malamute]

That's a really nice picture! I have similar tastes in interior decor...unfortunately the wife doesn't share in my style

I wonder if that's why I'm single? There must be a few decent women around that like old guns, log cabins, wild country, and simple living,.....

[okotoks]

'86 +1,

Mine shoots way better than I can either hold or see! Much more accurate than my '95 Guides, very forgiving, and will shoot most any 45-70 load, BP, wimpy unique's, to super sonic Garret +P hammerheads. (shoots accurately 1100>2000 fps)

28-32 gr 5744, 300 gr cast will shoot through the same ragged hole, with no shoulder trauma.
47 gr 30-31 300 gr cast, shoot clovers at 50yds when I can do my part.

It is heavy enough not to buck as much as a Marlin with +P loads, but that's is its only liability as a hunting weapon. I had a "shot gun" leather butt stock made with a filler to get around the curved metal butt plate.

[Buck Elliott]

If the original question was about a MODERN levergun, a-la BLR, the answer has to be NO. (Thank goodness...)

[purdy]

I have two '86's (one Browning and one Winchester [USRA]) and neither will chamber loads with Hornady or Speer or Remington bullets. The loads are up to spec., OAL etc. but heavily engrave when forced into the chamber. Aparently these guns have no leade or free bore. Have any of you had this problem and how did you solve it? I think I will have to get someone to do some throat reaming on both guns so I can shoot them. Any suggestions?

[Leverluver]

If you actually take a look at the SAAMI specs for the 45-70, there is no leade called for. Pretty much all the reamer makers will also follow this direction. Rarely are the American rifle makers that anal about following that one aspect but virtually any 45-70 made outside the US (and Browning/USRACs were) fanatically follows it. It might be engrained in them from their own regulatory bureaus that set the policies, such as CIP. Thank goodness that not many follow the spec that calls for a 456 groove diameter or there would be more pressure problems than we see now. I do know of some Euro guns that come with .456 barels but they are rare.

In any case, yes the Miroku made 86s have essentially no throat and you have to choose your components accordingly. Either that or purchase/rent a throating reamer that will correct those characteristics.

[Mike D.]

Mine will shoot any factory loading, but balks at 350 FNs and only a few 400s will work. Hornady 350 RNs work beautifully and are my bullets of choice for Elk. My original .45-70 and .45-90 LW '86s will chamber anything, but noooo, not the Mirokus.

[Buck Elliott]

My '86 Win/Miroku fed all manner of factory loads, and was great with 405-gr. Oregon Trail LaserCast bullets, but would not chamber 440-gr. CPB GC bullet loads. The CPB slugs have a slightly longer, .458" diameter section, ahead of the case, and would get hung up in the lands. So, I throated it a smidge, and now it takes the heavier bullets perfectly.