Miroku 1892 - 44 Mag

[MSD MIke]

Just a quick review for anyone who is interested. I recently picked up a Miroku Winchester 1892 Carbine in 44 Mag and wanted to share my experience.

Pro's
Bore - Mirror smooth, shoots lead with no leading at all.

Trigger - Its just fine despite the rumors about the rebounding hammer ruining the trigger pull. I have not measured mine but it is a bit lighter than my 80's vintage model 94. Way lighter than my 80's vintage Marlin 336. No noticeable creep.

Action - Smooth and easy to operate.

Sights - Buckhorns, not great for super precision but can cans and milk jugs full of water are in danger every time. I'm not a hunter but I would have no reserves for short range deer, hog and bear hunting if I was.

Fit and finish - Superb

Feeding - I have not tried SWC but 240 GR JHP and any other roundish shape feeds fine, 44 special included despite it saying 44 Mag only on the barrel.

Wood - A touch plain but attractive and fit very well.

Cons
Stock - Is a little short for ape sized guys like me.

Throat - The throat is a touch short with my molds the part of the bullet ahead of the crimp groove hits the rifling. I just seat them a bit shorter and crimp the case into the lead in front of the crimp groove. Problem solved. I will shop for a mold that works without having to fudge AOL.

Cost - This is a tentative con. I was ok with the cost considering the overall quality.

Made in Japan - Not an issue for me but I included it because I know some have a problem with this.

Tang safety and Rebounding hammer - Again, not an issue for me but some traditionalists can't deal with it so I included it under "Cons".

Recoil - Its a thumper with full powered ammo and steel butt plate. Lighter cast loads are a pleasure. Might look into some kind of cool leather thingy to extend the stock and soften recoil a bit.

Overall - I am totally happy

If anyone is considering one and has questions I'll try to answer them for you.

Thanks
Mike

[Hickok]

My brother has a Miroku/Browning Winchester 1886 in 45/70, outstanding quality and workmanship.

[Randy Bohannon]

I have a Browning/Miroku 92 in 45 Colt, my only Con would be the tang safety. It shoot's lights out with fat boolits. I put a Skinner barrel peep sight on a 50's Win. 32 Special and despite everything being not being crystal clear, it shoot the best groups I have ever shot with that rifle,most likely will add one to the BACO/Miroku.

[marlin39a]

I have a Miroku 1892, 32/20. 20" octagon. 1 of a 1000 made for Davidsons in 2002. I don't mind the tang safety, never use it. I did install a Marbles Tang Sight. The fit, function, and finish, are perfect.

[Tatume]

I would have to list the curved butt plate as a negative, to the extent that I won't buy one. There is a model with a shotgun butt plate, but it is the 125th Anniversary Sporter, and at $1750 costs more than I would want to pay. I'm glad you like yours, but curved butt plates tear me up.

[Jeff Michel]

I have a Miroku/Winchester in .45 Colt. It shoots and handles a treat, likes fat bullets but not long ones.

[nagantguy]

My best friend has the same riflemas the OP; loves it and it is very nicely fit and finished! Shoots well with jwords and shoots great with ....you guessed it; short fat cast boolits!

[ndnchf]

I have a Miroku 1892, 32/20. 20" octagon. 1 of a 1000 made for Davidsons in 2002. I don't mind the tang safety, never use it. I did install a Marbles Tang Sight. The fit, function, and finish, are perfect.

The tang safety doesn't interfere with the tang sight? Please show a photo. Thanks.

[Kevinakaq]

I have a Miroku 1873 in 44-40 and plan to purchase the Win 1866 Deluxe soon soon as I can find a 45 colt in stock. The quality of the Miroku’s are exceptional and I have nothing but accolades for their craftmanship. Wish my union employees felt similiarly, but I digress. Both of the aforementioned do not feature the dreaded tang safety. Why one model requires it for safety reasons and another does not is beyond my logic. Have nothing but admiration for the Japanese made rifles, except for the tang safety on certain models (1886, 1892, 1894). I have been eyeballing an 1892 in 45 colt for a coons age and continually vacillate over the Miroku because of the tang safety vs the Cimarron and Navy without. And the simple fact that I prefer my Winchester designs to be Winchester made regardless of the geography - no practical reason for the sentiment included. If Simpson’s LTD would list an original at an earthly price my dilimna would be solved. Have a newer Rossi 92 in 45 colt but hate its safety as well and have plans to sell. Again, can’t claim a practical reason other than it is there and wasn’t originally! Love my earlier Rossi in 44 mag that was manufactured prior to the consultation of lawyers.

Darn Tang safety on the Winchester 1892 gets in the way every time when I go to seal the deal.

I have rambled for far longer than anticipated, but the op struck a chord...

[marlin39a]

The tang safety doesn't interfere with the tang sight? Please show a photo. Thanks.

Marbles makes it to mount behind the Tang safety.

[marlin39a]

Just took this picture:
221911

[CamoWhamo]

I have 2 in 44-40 and they are my favorite rifle.

I put Skinner barrel mounted peeps and front blade sights on mine and find they really help.

I solve the length of pull issue with a leather butt cover from Richochet Roy on ebay. He makes one with a 3/4" extension.

[HawkCreek]

I have 5 Miroku/Winchesters, they are indeed top notch guns. The rebound hammers and tang safeties don't bother me and have never given me trouble. My only complaint is my 92 in .45 Colt has a large chamber that can be hard on brass after a few reloadings (but one can "neck size" the brass and it seems to las just fine and still fits in every other chamber I've tried). Ya, they are spendy but they are worth every penny. Just the other day I saw the newest '73 "Deluxe Sporting"... 24" barrel, case colored, shotgun butt plate, etc... I think I see another purchase in my future!

[Kevinakaq]

I have 5 Miroku/Winchesters, they are indeed top notch guns. The rebound hammers and tang safeties don't bother me and have never given me trouble. My only complaint is my 92 in .45 Colt has a large chamber that can be hard on brass after a few reloadings (but one can "neck size" the brass and it seems to las just fine and still fits in every other chamber I've tried). Ya, they are spendy but they are worth every penny. Just the other day I saw the newest '73 "Deluxe Sporting"... 24" barrel, case colored, shotgun butt plate, etc... I think I see another purchase in my future!

Now you have me concerned that the 1866 Win Deluxe in 45colt I am considering has a large chamber...hmmm. Gave my Uberti 1866 to my brother for xmas hence my shopping spree.

[HawkCreek]

Now you have me concerned that the 1866 Win Deluxe in 45colt I am considering has a large chamber...hmmm. Gave my Uberti 1866 to my brother for xmas hence my shopping spree.

I've only have experience with my own '92 chamber but I've read where others have had this problem with Miroku .45 Colt chambers (though I was looking at other '92 owners no other models at the time). It's enough to bug you at first but it's not actually an issue IMO. They are still within SAAMI spec. and if you don't fully resize your brass it's life isn't really shortened. If you look close at your brass it looks a little wonky but it functions just fine and as I said it still fits in all my other .45 Colt chambers (including a tight cylinder for a Freedom Arms revolver).

[Bridger]

I've only have experience with my own '92 chamber but I've read where others have had this problem with Miroku .45 Colt chambers (though I was looking at other '92 owners no other models at the time). It's enough to bug you at first but it's not actually an issue IMO. They are still within SAAMI spec. and if you don't fully resize your brass it's life isn't really shortened. If you look close at your brass it looks a little wonky but it functions just fine and as I said it still fits in all my other .45 Colt chambers (including a tight cylinder for a Freedom Arms revolver).

I can't imagine wanting a chamber any tighter that a Freedom Arms revolver.

[ndnchf]

That tang sight looks good. Thanks for the photo.

[CamoWhamo]

FYI, the Marbles tang sights are designed to fit the rifles which are drilled and tapped for it.
It uses 2 screws.
One screw replaces the Tang Screw which is a 5mm metric screw with fine threads. The other drilled and tapped hole is very small and close to the tang screw due to limited area behind the safety.

Not all of the current Miroku/Winchester 92's are Drilled and Tapped. My Saddle Ring Carbines are not, but the short rifles are.

[HawkCreek]

My Miroku '92 (16" barrel, SRC, large loop) was not drilled for a tang sight.


A follow up to my comment about large .45 Colt chambers. The swollen brass does indeed fit a FA .45 Colt chamber but it is tight and must be pressed (thumb pressure nothing more) into the chamber the last 1/2". They will NOT fit into my FA .454 chambers. They do drop right into any Ruger .45 chamber that I've tried though. Hope the clarification helps.

[MSD MIke]

As a follow up, I first mentioned I haven't tried 44 Special in this gun. Got out this past weekend and ran some 44 Special with 245 grain LRNFP ammo and it fed and functioned perfectly. I'm not sure why the barrel reads "44 Magnum Only"

Thanks

[FergusonTO35]

Japan turns out some great firearms. I have nothing but praise for my Howa 1500 and Browning BLR.

[HawkCreek]

Here are some picture of the .45 Colt fired in Winchester/Miroku chambers. Distance was 25 yards off hand with my 16" trapper length '92. I was firing factory American Eagle 225 grain JSP, recovered bullets weighed from 215-218 grains.
The second picture is as good as I can get, trying to show the soot marks on the cases. Case on the far right was fired through an old model Vaquero. As you can see the soot goes further back on the Miroku fired brass. I wasn't thinking or I'd have tried to take a picture of the case bulge while I was out.

https://i.imgur.com/qmRuGxC.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/LSnqR7j.jpg

[alamogunr]

I need to get mine out. I bought it thru a friend at work. He had a friend that couldn't get it to shoot. He sold it to me for $300 and included a bag of reloaded cartridges. I shot about 4 rounds thru it and couldn't hit a paper plate at less than 50 yards. Went back home and looked down the barrel. No rifling. Started in with Ed's Red and Chore Boy wrapped around an old brush. Took about an hour and lots of strokes to clean the lead out. It was unreal how much lead was in that barrel.

Immediately started pulling bullets from the loaded ammo that came with the gun. Melted the bullets down and used the powder on the lawn since I couldn't ID it. Ended up with approx. 400 pcs of brass. In the meantime my interest drifted somewhere else. I need to get it out and slug the barrel and see if I can work up a load. I've got several molds including some old Lee GB 6 cavity molds. I've got grandsons that would love this thing.

I have to agree with those who admire Browning/Miroku rifles. I've got a Browning Model 71 .348 and a Model 95 in .30-40 Krag. Both joined the herd after I saw the workmanship on the 92.

[Kevinakaq]

Here are some picture of the .45 Colt fired in Winchester/Miroku chambers. Distance was 25 yards off hand with my 16" trapper length '92. I was firing factory American Eagle 225 grain JSP, recovered bullets weighed from 215-218 grains.
The second picture is as good as I can get, trying to show the soot marks on the cases. Case on the far right was fired through an old model Vaquero. As you can see the soot goes further back on the Miroku fired brass. I wasn't thinking or I'd have tried to take a picture of the case bulge while I was out.


Thank you sir for those pictures. Soot definitely is more pronounced in the 1892... I am still waiting for the 45 colt to show up in stock in Winchester 1866 Deluxe. They brought out 44-40 and 38 spl but I passed on those.