Browning/Winchester/Miroku 1895 questions

[LGW]

Looking to buy my first levergun soon. I am liking both the Winchester 1895 and 1886. From what I have been reading some of the modern 1886 Winchesters are plagued with light primer strikes due to the rebounding hammer design. From what I gather, the rebounding hammer and tang safety can be eliminated by a straightforward replacement with Browning parts. A few questions:

1. Does this "light primer strike" problem also effect some of the 1895 Winchesters.

2. Are Browning parts compatible and available for a fix on the 1895?

3. Did Browning ever make an 1895 in 405 Winchester?

Thanks for any help.

[flatnose]

Here ya go, 1895 info http://www.leverguns.com/articles/model_1895.htm
Not sure about light strikes with the 1895 and i don't remember reading about problems with them. I had several light strikes with my 1886 for the first 50 or 60 rounds... has not missed a beat since. Iput some oil down the firing pin hole and after a couple more light strikes never had another problem.

[86er]

The light strike problem is so easily remedied at home that you shouldn't worry about it. A little off a strut and remove a coil from the spring and it'll never happen again. Both are great rifles but they work entirely different. The 86 being tubed and the 95 wearing a magazine. Both great calibers too. Welcome to the forum!

[Don McDowell]

The light primer strike is largely an internet catastrophe that really isn't the common occurance we might be lead to believe. If it does happen , it's not hard to cure.
The Browning and Winchester 1895's are the same rifle from the same plant, just the Winchesters have the tang safety.
The first 405's made since the 1934 discontinuance of the 1895 was as far as I know the Winchester 95's in 270 that were not sold and laying in the warehouses and supply chain, brought back and rebarreled with 405 barrels.

[LGW]

Thanks all. I am glad to hear that this problem is rare. The prospect of modifying a new rifle to make it work properly is unappealing.

[muskeg13]

The light strike problem was not a hoax, and it affected both the 1895 and 1886 models manufactured by Miroku. I bought one of each in 2003, and had problems with both until I did the hammer strut fix. The problem was worse with the M1886, and I had to work on it a second time.

[Hobie]

I have Browning/Miroku guns, an 1895 (.30 US) and a 1886 SRC. Great guns. The 1895 is slick as snot in operation.

[Shasta]

I have a Browning 1895 in .30-40 Krag, and two tang safety Winchesters, a '95 in .405 and an '86 takedown in .45-70. The Browning of course runs like a top, and I have not had any problem with my '95 in .405. The '86 did suffer frequent light hammer strikes until I disabled the rebounding hammer strut. Now it works fine, I just ignore the safety feature and treat it like any other exposed hammer levergun.

SHASTA

[muskeg13]

The Miroku guns are VERY well made, despite the occasional ignition hiccups, which are easily and permanently fixed. All of the new rifles, both the 1886s and 1895s, were/are made in Japan on the same tooling by Miroku.

Ditto on the M1895's operation being smooth as ...silk. I often have to crack open the action to see if I chambered a round in my .405 and didn't short stroke it. Even in a heavy caliber, this rifle can be shot very fast with accuracy, faster than any bolt gun.

[Dave B]

I have a Winchester '86 Take Down purchased new in 2005. I've only shot less than 400 rounds of factory Winchester ammo, a few boxes of cowboy ammo, and about 40 handloads. I've never had a problem.

Dave B

[buckeyeshooter]

I never had a problem with light strikes with either gun. One word of caution--- if you get the 1895 carbine with the steel buttplate, it kicks like a mule. This is comes from a man who shoots a 50 alaskan in a marlin 1895 with no problem. That carbine is the hardest kicking gun I own and I shoot 50 alaskans, 50-110's, 458 WM, 470 Capstick and the like.


The 1895 is a 30-06 and the takedown deluxe 1886 is 45/70.

[smokenrust]

Yup, I was wondering if any of you fellows were to buy a model browning design 1895 today, which one would you pick and why...
New or old,
Browning or Winchester,
what barrel length,
what style,
and what caliber and why you would choose it that way.. specially in the caliber.

I have seen them listed in;
7.62×54mmR, .303 British, .30-03, .30 Army/30-40 Krag, .30-06, .35 Winchester, .38-72 Winchester, .40-72 Winchester and .405 Winchester
Thanks..

[Hobie]

I got the Browning 1895 in .30 US because I could use the 220 gr. bullets more cheaply than one can do that in the .303 version plus the prices was right, relatively speaking.

[Don McDowell]

I got my 405 in 01 or 02, and if I were to get another 95 I'ld go with the 30 US, to compliment the 405.