Crescent 1886 butt plate

[Piedmont]

I would like some feedback from those of you with repro 1886s with the curved butt plates. More than a decade ago I fell into a Browning rifle high grade for little more than the standard grade. It was bought as a shooter, but over the years I have watched the value keep inching up and in the back of my mind I have the thought that I might shoot it, think it kicks too much because of that curved butt plate, and decide to get rid of it. It would be smarter to move it in unfired condition, but I really like the looks and history of an 1886. The problem is I have never fired one. Input, please.

[Bullshop]

I have an original 1886 with original steel crescent but re barreled to 50 caliber 2.1".
This is a hunting rifle for me. It works way good on moose!!! My working load is pushing a 510gn wfn to 1750 fps. Could get more if it were a replica (Browning) receiver but I compromise a bit with this one.
Input #1 Dont shoot it from a bench in a sitting position!!!
Stand up on your hind legs and it seems to be OK.
I also have an 1885 Browning hunter model with steel crescent butt chambered for the 45/120. See input #1!!!
I have learned to handle recoil and to some extent enjoy it. In this case its not the recoil that is the problem so much as it is the position of the shoulder while sitting and leaning slightly forward in relation to the top edge of the steel butt. For me at least it is not spread out over the entire surface of the butt but is pinpointed at the top edge of the steel and that locating itself right at the joint of my shoulder. MAN THAT HURTS!!!
Standing makes all the difference in the world.
Shoot it or send it here!!!
BIC/BS

[Le Loup Solitaire]

I have an original 86 in 45-70 with a curved buttplate. Even with moderate loads I make sure that the plate is in the right position...which is for me more over the armpit so that the lower part of the plate doesn't dig in. I made the mistake of not doing that only one time and never made the same error....ever again As previously stated, sitting and leaning forward into it is bad news, and prone you can forget about completely. Standing or sitting sideways on the ground or kneeling work better for me in handling the recoil. Bottom line is make sure that the buttplate is in the right place to start with. LLS

[missionary5155]

Greetings
I have a Winny 45-70 (jap) with that curved plate & the 26" hex barrel. Standing & shooting off cross sticks it is managable. I have no more desire to fire that rifle off a bench unless the load is under 300 grains & black powder. I weight a whole 157 pounds today so I am not a big feller. I generally shoot 300-325 grain no more than 1500 fps for fun. I have shot 485´s some off sticks and that is tolerable for 50 rounds WITH a slip on rubber shoulder saver during hot weather.
But for hunting in colder temp it would be NO problem as outer clothing soaks up whatever recoil there would be & you should not have to fire 20 rounds unless there is a whole heard coming at you.
I also have one of the light weight flat butte rifles. That is much more comfortable on the shoulder BUT really needs a tight hold to handle the heavier loads. But again off sticks or hunting is no problem.

[e15cap]

I bought a slip on leather butt pad and cut up pieces of card board to fill the space between the cresent and the flat part. Much more comfortable to shoot and not permanent.

[405]

I bought a slip on leather butt pad and cut up pieces of card board to fill the space between the cresent and the flat part. Much more comfortable to shoot and not permanent.

I do the same thing for the crescent butt plates on larger calibers. The lace up leather ones are very nice but also a little expensive- my Sharps have them. It's not too hard to make a leather pad with the shaped filler for the space- I've made a few like that for muzzleloaders and other guns. Another bonus of adding a leather pad is that it protects the metal butt plate- really handy for loading muzzleloaders and preserving original butts on old guns.

[freedom475]

The cresent buttplate is designed to be shot off your bisep...Not shoulder.

You may have to modify your stance a little, the buttplate goes between your shoulder and bisep..not in the pocket between your shoulder and chest.

I have a browning HG Centennial 1886. I thought about not shooting it for about 2 seconds... I didn't even make it home from the gun shop and I had shells in it and was shooting in the fields on my way home.. [smilie=s:

it gets shot a lot...it is great fun to shoot and the buttplate has never been a problem after the proper hold is learned... Don't worry; you will only screw up and shoulder it like a shotgun a couple times...LOL I carry a nice reminder scar from and old CVA 50cal hawken with a cresent.

[mack1]

I dont have much to add. Have a 1886 win (jap) takedown, not to bad as long as rcbs 405 is Kept below 1500 fps and proper hold is used. It is great funn to ring a swinging target with and gives me more boolets to cast, doubel the fun.

[TCLouis]

I have an original and unfortunately the original butt stock is split at the wrist and so I shoot it very little and with low powered loads with that curved butt plate of the original but tstock.

I an fitting a new butt stock and slowly am taking out most of the crescent shape. I will likely limit it to lower loads with cast so felt recoil will be manageable. The final trick will be finding a steel or brass butt plate that fits what I finally end up with, right now for what little I shoot it, I have one made of sheet brass.

If anyone could send me a good clear photograph of a side view of the 86 (original) hammer I would greatly appreciate it ( removed from the gun of course).

[451whitworth]

i have two 1886 brownings, one coverted to 50-110wcf and the other 45/70. i never bought into the shoot it off your arm thing. the only bench shooting i've done is from my standing bench which i use for all bigger recoil firearms. i made a sandbag with sewn in baffles to keep the sand in place for cresent butts that kick hard. totally tames those sharp corners for any bench work i might have. colder weather negates the use of the bag because of the heavy clothes.

[Springfield]

Soft leather lace on buttstock covers for 22.00, seems cheap enough for me. Just put some foam in there to tame it as much as you see fit. www.whyteleatherworks.com My only Crescent is my '66 in 44-40 so kick wasn't really a problem, just wanted to stop the dinging of the brass buttplate.

[Bucks Owin]

The cresent buttplate is designed to be shot off your bisep...Not shoulder.

You may have to modify your stance a little, the buttplate goes between your shoulder and bisep..not in the pocket between your shoulder and chest.

I have a browning HG Centennial 1886. I thought about not shooting it for about 2 seconds... I didn't even make it home from the gun shop and I had shells in it and was shooting in the fields on my way home.. [smilie=s:

it gets shot a lot...it is great fun to shoot and the buttplate has never been a problem after the proper hold is learned... Don't worry; you will only screw up and shoulder it like a shotgun a couple times...LOL I carry a nice reminder scar from and old CVA 50cal hawken with a cresent. Good post! I figured out the "bicep technique" decades ago when doing a lot of load development with a .300 Win I had. Been doing my benchresting that way every since, regardless of buttplate style, makes it much easier for me to keep the "flinchitus" at bay when doing a lot of shooting with heavy kickers....Dennis ;) BTW, I once made a hurried shot with my old T/C Hawken .50, 120 grs of FFG, curved brass buttplate to the shoulder. Know whatcha mean Freedom 475!!!

[Just Duke]

Top one is a SOLID FRAME
Bottom two are TAKE DOWNS



http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/L7.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/L1.jpg


http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/L2.jpg


http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/L3.jpg



http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/L4.jpg

Here's the SAECO #018, 405 grain cast wheel weight samples.


http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/BP45-702.jpg



Winchester 1886 Taked Down 45-70.
Bullets sized to .459 and 28 grains of Hodgden 4198
Here is the SAECO 405 grainer at 30 yards shot resting on my elbows.


http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/LEVERACTIONSHOOTERS/DSC_0239.jpg

http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/LEVERACTIONSHOOTERS/DSC_0238.jpg


http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/006-7.jpg

[Just Duke]

Winchester 1886 45-70 Take Down with Marbles Tang Sights and White Bead Front Sight..
485 Grain WW lead Gas Checked NEI bullet size .459.
28 grains of Hodgden 4198. Down two grains from the original load of 30 grains
Winchester Primers
Rear sight was removed and replaced with a Marbles filler.


The 485 grainers are the ones in back.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/BP45-701.jpg


The target on the right is my first group shot a 30 yards resting on my elbows, standing off a bench.
The second target on the left was same position, after adjusting the Marbles tangs sights. Not bad for a half blind guy.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/005-8.jpg


http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/006OR.jpg



http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/006-7.jpg


.

[Just Duke]

Here's the solid frame with the MVA Vernier sight.


http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/MVA18862.jpg



http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/MVA18861.jpg


http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/MVA18863.jpg