Browning 1885

[Warhawk]

I just made a deal to buy a Browning 1885 in 45-70. I’ve had two Sharps 45-70s, at different times. Had to sell both when money was tight. I’ve been looking for another one and ran across this gorgeous Browning for far less than any Sharps I’ve found, much less a Shiloh.

270162
270163

I’ve shot a Browning single shot years ago, I think it was a B-78, but I’m not sure. Anyone have any experience with these?

[M-Tecs]

texasmac is a member. Just search his name for lots of info on the Browning 1885's

http://www.texas-mac.com/Articles.html

[Warhawk]

texasmac is a member. Just search his name for lots of info on the Browning 1885's

http://www.texas-mac.com/Articles.html

Thanks, you must have been reading my mind. Although this gun isn’t the BPCR version, I’m hopeful I can get it to shoot well with the 45-70 bullets I have in a black powder equivalent load. I may mount a scope on it to work up a load, then I plan to add a vernier sight and see how well these old eyes can see.

[NSB]

Does your Browning 1885 have a metal tang? I’ve only seen metal tangs on Browning BPCR’s. Winchester’s have the metal tang but I’m not sure Browning’s do. Oddly, they’re made by the same company, Miroku. They are very well made guns. The reason I mention the tang is that for a vernier sight you’ll need to to mount the sight...unless you drill into the wood.

[Martin Luber]

I drilled the wood and put an insert in. I was doing bpcs shooting to 500 with it.

Good stuff!

[Warhawk]

I don’t have the Browning yet. I just made the deal to buy it today.

The range at my club goes to 400 yards, and I doubt I’ll ever shoot it any farther. But you never know, I may get a chance to go back to Raton one day.

[kaiser]

I have a 1885 Browning that is same as in the picture - no metal tang. I have a buddy that has the "Traditional" model (BPCR version) with the metal tang and curved metal butt plate. Both are in 45/70, and I've shot both. His is a beautiful rifle with gorgeous wood, but mine is far more comfortable to shoot. The 1885 is a very strong action that will take Ruger No. 1 "Modern Rifle" loads! It has a 28" BBL that can ring out extra velocity, like your "Sharps", without having to up the charge (and recoil) of the Ruger. Mine weighs 8.3 pounds without a scope, which it is already drilled and tapped. I have a 4X Leupold mounted by a two piece Redfield made steel mount and rings.

I had a Williams aperture sight initially mounted, but wanted to see how accurate it could be - it improved dramatically. Although weighing (now) about a pound more with the scope, it is even more pleasant to shoot and the bug size holes made on paper are easy to see. While you can run velocity way beyond "antique" and "replicate" arms levels, it's the most fun at the entry level. It's like almost having a .458 Magnum without the "belt" (pun intended); don't need all that power, but it is nice to have in reserve if ever needed. BTW, the action, unlike your former Sharps, cocks the hammer when you lower the lever! There is a device that looks like a large screw that can be turned with a screw driver to trap the cartridge from being ejected, or deflect it left or right. I'm betting you will enjoy your Browning, of which I totally agree - Miroku makes some very fine products, whether rifle or shotgun. Congratulations!

[smithnframe]

Thanks, you must have been reading my mind. Although this gun isn’t the BPCR version, I’m hopeful I can get it to shoot well with the 45-70 bullets I have in a black powder equivalent load. I may mount a scope on it to work up a load, then I plan to add a vernier sight and see how well these old eyes can see.
Exactly what is a blackpowder equivalent load? Can't beat the "Holy Black" in the 45/70!

[MOA]

Warhawk, I think you will love it. I shoot that caliber in my Marlin XLR and the 1885. Sweet handling the Browning is. Sweet shooting too. Mine just loves everything in lead I feed it from 400 to 500 grain. Congrats. Here's my two babies.

https://i.postimg.cc/5y58h0CJ/20190801-091039.jpg (https://postimg.cc/BP68DJp7)

https://i.postimg.cc/14hn4Yv0/20180818-175738.jpg (https://postimg.cc/1VB5jMh4)

[Martin Luber]

300s are very comfortable to use as well, l don't recall the load but it might be unique

[MOA]

Yes Martin, unique in the 45/70 is a fun load.

[Warhawk]

Thanks, I've been a 45-70 shooter for at least 30 years. One of the rifles I've owned the longest is a 1975 Vintage Marlin 1895. It's VERY accurate with my handloads, but I haven't found the secret of getting this one to shoot cast bullets well. I've had two Sharps and a Browning 1886 in 45-70, all of those shot cast bullets well. Oh, I had a Ruger #1 Sporter too, briefly. Something about the #1 made it have brutal recoil. Loads that were comfortable in the Marlin would beat you black and blue in the Ruger. I didn't keep it.

[EDG]

I have owned several of them. I bought the first one about 1987.
I also own 2 of the 1885 BPCRs.
I put a William Fool proof on the first one with a Lyman 17 series front site. The Williams site mounts on the top of the receiver using the rear scope mounting holes.
The action is very strong and I use SR4759 with all bullet weights with a powder charge that duplicates black powder velocities. The standard 1885 is too light for top smokeless loads. The recoil is excessive if you use a slow burning powder with a heavy bullet at 1800 fps or more.
These rifles all have the short lead (short angle from the case mouth to the rifling) of the standard SAAMI chamber. Accuracy is very good but I always used bullets that are sized to .459 or they are shot as cast up to .462.


I just made a deal to buy a Browning 1885 in 45-70. I’ve had two Sharps 45-70s, at different times. Had to sell both when money was tight. I’ve been looking for another one and ran across this gorgeous Browning for far less than any Sharps I’ve found, much less a Shiloh.

270162
270163

I’ve shot a Browning single shot years ago, I think it was a B-78, but I’m not sure. Anyone have any experience with these?

[marlinman93]

Exactly what is a blackpowder equivalent load? Can't beat the "Holy Black" in the 45/70!

Pretty obvious what it is. It's a load of smokeless powder that equals BP velocities, and pressure, but without BP being used. And yes people do shoot smokeless in these guns too.

[MOA]

Thanks, I've been a 45-70 shooter for at least 30 years. One of the rifles I've owned the longest is a 1975 Vintage Marlin 1895. It's VERY accurate with my handloads, but I haven't found the secret of getting this one to shoot cast bullets well. I've had two Sharps and a Browning 1886 in 45-70, all of those shot cast bullets well. Oh, I had a Ruger #1 Sporter too, briefly. Something about the #1 made it have brutal recoil. Loads that were comfortable in the Marlin would beat you black and blue in the Ruger. I didn't keep it.

Yes, I will concur that Ruger could have done a better job on their stock design to reduce the brutality of the large bore heavy hitters. I've a 9.3x74 and a 450/400 that I'm going to see about a mercury recoil tamer in the butt stock.

[smithnframe]

Pretty obvious what it is. It's a load of smokeless powder that equals BP velocities, and pressure, but without BP being used. And yes people do shoot smokeless in these guns too.
Nothing is more accurate in the 45/70 than properly assembled blackpowder round.......PERIOD!

[smithnframe]

Pretty obvious what it is. It's a load of smokeless powder that equals BP velocities, and pressure, but without BP being used. And yes people do shoot smokeless in these guns too.

The people who are afraid of blackpowder.

[EDG]

How many smokeless loads have you ever tried?


Nothing is more accurate in the 45/70 than properly assembled blackpowder round.......PERIOD!

[Warhawk]

MOA ... what scope mounts are you running on your 1885?

[MOA]

Pretty sure there Browning.

[lotech]

I have three of the Browning 1885s: a .32-40, a .38-55, and a .405. I've had two Shiloh Sharps .45-70s, still have one I bought thirty years ago. I much prefer the 1885 and it's design over the Shiloh Sharps, but they're both excellent guns.

[koger]

I have the same rifle with iron sights and it does great. I shoot the Unique loads and they are very accurate, and kill deer well under 200yds, dont feel like beating myself up for no reason.

[ndnchf]

I have three of the Browning 1885s: a .32-40, a .38-55, and a .405. I've had two Shiloh Sharps .45-70s, still have one I bought thirty years ago. I much prefer the 1885 and it's design over the Shiloh Sharps, but they're both excellent guns.

Just curious, is that .32-40 a factory barrel? I've had an itch for one of those!

[lotech]

Just curious, is that .32-40 a factory barrel? I've had an itch for one of those!

Yes, CDNN had these as closeouts about ten years ago. It's a Traditional Hunter model, just like the .38-55 I bought more than twenty years ago; 28" octagon barrel and a tang sight.

[ndnchf]

Yes, CDNN had these as closeouts about ten years ago. It's a Traditional Hunter model, just like the .38-55 I bought more than twenty years ago; 28" octagon barrel and a tang sight.

Sweet! Too bad they don't still make them. I'd be all over it.

[beshears]

Black powder equivalent in 5744 . I found works well but Lyman Reloading book specs are much slower than what I got over chronograph. Had to backdown 4-5 grains. Was trying for 1300 FPS.

[txbirdman]

My son was wanting a Roger #1 a few years back and I asked him why he didn’t buy an 1885 instead. He didn’t even know what they were. Well, I found one for sale on another forum and he bought it from a guy who lived in Alaska. He killed hogs and white tails here in Texas for a couple of years and then got a chance to hunt South Africa. He killed everything from kudu to warthogs to zebra. He said there were some Guys with fancy rifles there in camp but they all wanted to check out his 1885 Browning 30/06.

[Warhawk]

I’m hoping mine gets here by Friday. This gun doesn’t have a tang, so mounting a tang sight isn’t going to be an easy proposition. I’m planning on a scope, to begin with anyway. It’ll let me see how accurate the rifle is, and work up accurate loads. Then I’ll have to decide about a tang sight.

[marlinman93]

Nothing is more accurate in the 45/70 than properly assembled blackpowder round.......PERIOD!

I'd agree. But I just don't see where there's not room for those who want to shoot smokeless also. Maybe if guys weren't so adamant about BP in single shots, then people might eventually work their way around to loading BP?

[marlinman93]

The people who are afraid of blackpowder.

You're funny. Some people just have different preferences, and nothing to do with being "afraid of blackpowder".

You sound like some kind of a fanatic.

[ndnchf]

There certainly is room for both BP and smokeless. I've been shooting BPCRs for over 40 years. I shot a lot of BP in that time. I've also used a fair bit of smokeless, just depends on the rifle and what I want to do. Sure you need to be cautious and use good sense.
But I shot both very successfully, and still do. To each his own - PERIOD!

[Warhawk]

Midway lists a Marbles tang sight that I think is for this model 1885.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1005871161?pid=118542

Has anyone tried on of these? I don’t like the idea of drilling into the wood, but maybe you don’t have to ???

[ndnchf]

I have one of those sights on a m1892 Winchester. It is servicable, but not the quality of the originals.

[tejano]

I’m hoping mine gets here by Friday. This gun doesn’t have a tang, so mounting a tang sight isn’t going to be an easy proposition. I’m planning on a scope, to begin with anyway. It’ll let me see how accurate the rifle is, and work up accurate loads. Then I’ll have to decide about a tang sight.

I still have two 1885's left--Browning BPCR 45/70 and Winchester Traditional Hunter 32/40. Shot the BPCR often when I first purchased it a long time ago, but not so much in recent years. The latter hasn't been shot much at all, but here lately I have been thinking of adding this scope to it: Leupold VX-Freedom Scout Rifle Scope 1.5-4X28mm Duplex Reticle Matte

It has longer eye relief than standard, but much less than a true scout scope or pistol scope.

[mongo40]

I've been wanting another 45-70 and I've always liked the 1885s, My father has one and it is a beautiful rifle. I"ve been looking at the Uberti Hi Walls also, they look really nice and I like the classic look plus the price doesn't seem to bad, been watching some on Gunbroker just trying to decide if I want to jump on one or not.
Chris

[marlinman93]

Midway lists a Marbles tang sight that I think is for this model 1885.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1005871161?pid=118542

Has anyone tried on of these? I don’t like the idea of drilling into the wood, but maybe you don’t have to ???

If you go to a tang sight, you need some sort of a base inletted into the wrist of the stock to mount it. You could simply screw it into the wood with wood screws, but that's not a great mounting solution. And you don't want to use a base designed for the 1885 High Wall or other long spaced bases. Better to use either Marlin 1.125" base, or Stevens 1.5" base spacing.
I've used brass stock about 1/2" wide, and 3/16"-1/4" thick inletted into the wrist, and installed with epoxy to keep it secured. D&T it first for the base hole spacing and put some tape just over the bottom of the holes to keep epoxy out of them when you bed it.

[EDG]

There are black powder shooters that appear to be afraid of smokeless powder since a careless handloader can spray shrapnel on the firing line.


The people who are afraid of blackpowder.

[Warhawk]

Pretty sure there Browning.

I ordered a set of Leupold mounts from Midway, and I have a few scopes to choose from. Most likely I’ll put a Vortex Viper 2-7x on it.

[Warhawk]

If you go to a tang sight, you need some sort of a base inletted into the wrist of the stock to mount it. You could simply screw it into the wood with wood screws, but that's not a great mounting solution. And you don't want to use a base designed for the 1885 High Wall or other long spaced bases. Better to use either Marlin 1.125" base, or Stevens 1.5" base spacing.
I've used brass stock about 1/2" wide, and 3/16"-1/4" thick inletted into the wrist, and installed with epoxy to keep it secured. D&T it first for the base hole spacing and put some tape just over the bottom of the holes to keep epoxy out of them when you bed it.

I really don’t want to start cutting the wood, if that’s the only way I’ll probably go with a scope instead.

[marlinman93]

I really don’t want to start cutting the wood, if that’s the only way I’ll probably go with a scope instead.

Unfortunately that's the drawback on this model. I understand not wanting to cut the wood too. I took my stock to a friend who has a better milling machine than I have. He simply used a end mill to mill the slot in the top of the wrist, which made a nice clean opening. Then I cut and filed the brass plate to fit the slot he milled perfectly. Made a very nice, clean installation, and better than me trying to inlet a slot with carving tools.

[MOA]

I ordered a set of Leupold mounts from Midway, and I have a few scopes to choose from. Most likely I’ll put a Vortex Viper 2-7x on it.

I'm looking around for a 1.5 x 5 I have in a box somewhere among all my moving boxes. Likely take me a month to find it. Ugh.

[Chill Wills]

I really don’t want to start cutting the wood, if that’s the only way I’ll probably go with a scope instead.

Browning welded the tang on these actions to create the BPCR model. That is why there is only one tang (on top). Real Winchesters of the era had top and bottom tangs and no through bolt.
If I had a tang-less rifle and did not intend to shoot it in any match type event, I would just scope it too. Why not? A low powdered variable is a good way to go and enjoy the rifle.
I think you have a good plan.
Have fun.

[Warhawk]

Picked up the Browning this evening, it’s a lot purdier in person than in the pics I posted. It was already dark by the time I got home, I’ll have to take some pics tomorrow.

[Warhawk]

https://i.imgur.com/URVtlJV.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/vES1xZN.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/7QqWGXE.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/qkk0naM.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/FLLdO1g.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/BRMRIoc.jpg