What's better? Miroku or original Winchesters?

[muskeg13]

I only have a few examples of my own to compare, and I've made the essential modification to the hammer struts. Now, except for the metric screws, synthetic wood finish, and cheap buttplates, I believe my Miroku M1886 and M1895 are made as good or better than the original Winchesters, especially when it comes to strength, accuracy and parts fit. Comments?

[S.R.Custom]

When comparing recent production Winchesters to the Mirokus, the Jap gun is vastly superior in fit and finish.

[6pt-sika]

Nothing against anyones preference or what they like .

For my money OLD original Winchesters are the way to go !

[missionary5155]

Greetings
I have both and it is a shame the old ones are plagued with oversize throats = for Black Powder fouling. .463 throats call for some rather oversize boolits.
The 2 jap models I have are each blessed with tight .457 throats and barrels...
For the MONEY involved... you can buy 2 japs for the price of an origonal with as GOOD barrel...and most of the origonals I see for sale are going to be IFFY if they will shoot as well as a jap.
So if all I wanted was a hunting cal.45 I would get the jap. But an Origonal is nice to have.. sure beats any BONDS or Stocks...

[Tom-ADC]

I have a pair of B.C. Miroku O/U shotguns a 12 & 20 skeetguns I've put thousands of shells thru both of them and for quail the 20 is a game getter.. They also built the Browning Cintori (sp) O/U's quality gun maker.

[357maximum]

I have a small collection of toys by B.C Miroku..........everyone of em is a peach. Most of them were well used when I got them and they just keep on a tickin.

[Blackhawk Convertable]

I've got a Winchester/Miroku 92 in 44-40 that is fantastic. The only thing that I didn't like and had to fix, was the rebound hammer that Winchester added as a "safety feature" not found on the original. I chopped off the bottom leg of the hammer linkage and replaced the way to heavy hammer spring with a Ruger spring, and now is cycles sooooooooo nicely.

[pietro]

Besides the plus that Miroku's are brandy-new, there's something to be said for them being made from modern steel - IOW not steel from a technology, new 100 years ago, or 100-year-old steel.

.

[PatMarlin]

I bought myself an 1895 in 30 Gov '06 for my 50th birthday. It's circa 1924. Bore is mint and the action is like new. Period correct Redfield reciever. Hardly fired , but with a lot of handling and blue wear on the receiver outside. I just love old rifles and old wear. Be interested to see what the throat's like. Haven't fired it yet.

I would have no problem with one of the nice Japs, but I got this one for less than a Miroku so it was a no brainer.

[Freischütz]

For shooting, the current steel is better than the originals.

I have two Win M95 in 30/06 - both with serial Nr in the 400,000 range. Cases are good for several reloads if the pressures are below current factory levels. Current factory ammo produces incipient head separation rings.

I also have a Browning M95 in that caliber. Its fired cases are good for 4-5 firings with modern loads. They stretch like crazy but can be reloaded.

Too bad they forgot how to make a Schnabel on the current offerings.

[NickSS]

i own or have owned both original and Jap Winchesters, The originals even in mint condition will not shoot as well as the jap ones will. For investing buy and original they are money in the bank. For hunting and shooting buy the jap made one.

[PatMarlin]

I'm certainly not an expert on Winchesters or old rifles for that matter, but a friend of mine was trying to convince me that the barrel had been replaced on my 1895 simply because it had [LESS] bluing wear than the receiver.

I and the gentleman I bought it from disagree as the blue wear that's on the barrel matches the bluing wear inside the receiver, bolt slide, magazine and cartridge handling surfaces, not to mention all the correct stamping and markings on the barrel itself.

This rifle just plainly was handled more than it was fired. It has a few flaws from a collector's viewpoint, but it pleases me very much as is.

I hope to shoot it soon and start working up the best cast load I can for it.



http://www.patmarlins.com/1winney95.jpg




http://www.patmarlins.com/2winney95.jpg

[Marvin S]

I now only have one Jap 1886 pre garbage model and it is a fine gun same as the other Miroku levers I have had. I would say fitment is as good as or better than the old guns but it's just not the same. Too bad so many originals have rotten bores. That's where Redmon liners are a great item.
The Miroku double shot guns are fine peices also.

[Martin 1940 D28]

How can you compare originals to copies. When I was young & green, as many are here, all I had were originals, no copies were around until Val & Turner brought them to us. No doubt some copies are of good quality, but, please don't compare them to originals. Why would anyone copy an original Colt or Winchester, other than to make money from us dupes?
Martin

[Marvin S]

They copy them because the good ol USA ain't doin it any more.

[PatMarlin]

I think being able to get a quality knock off is better than not being able to experience one at all, of any firearm make. Them good old days are just gone. It's certainly not limited to guns neither.

Music, art, machines, tools, automobiles, and on and on. This is what American has come to. Heck- I just read where the Pentagon has bought Russian Heliocopters. Three initials come to mind that starts with a W and ends with an F... :rolleyes:

[Marine Sgt 2111]

I never thought that I would own a jap Winchester but heck now I own 2 1885's, a model 52B and a Browning pump 10 gauge for duck and goose hunting. I have to say the fit and finish are done quite well, the functioning is flawless and they all shoot very well. I use all of them as shooters and not as safe queens.

[mack1]

I have Miroku 1886 1895 and 1892 all are Win so to call them copys is not exactly correct. They are better than rossi's and the like I have owned and handled. I realize they are not orginals but at the price of the old ones it would be hard to hunt and carry them. I think the japs are better to carry and use the old ones are far better investments and collecters. Not to say I wouldent shoot them just would be more careful. My opinion.

[McLintock]

For a shooting gun, I'd go with the Miroku, and with the Miroku's I'd go with the earlier Brownings, with their non rebounding hammers and no tang safeties. Just me and my own preference.
McLintock

[Just Duke]

Here are a couple reposts.


Top one is a SOLID FRAME
Bottom two are TAKE DOWNS



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




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 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]

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/041.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.


Winchester 1886 45-70 Solid Frame with Marbles Tang Sights.
485 Grain WW lead Gas Checked NEI bullet size .459.
30 grains of Hodgden 4198.
Winchester Primers

SPECIAL THANKS TO JON K FOR ALL THE INFO AND COUNSELING! ;D






BEFORE:

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/50%20CALIBERFORUM/WINCHESTER1886DUKE2.jpg




AFTER:

Here is the Winchester 1886 after the new stocks and Lyman Globe sight were added. Rear sight was removed and replaced with a Marbles filler.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/151-1.jpg




http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/152OR.jpg



http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/152-2.jpg

[Just Duke]

Here are a few pics of the MVA sight after it arrived with the macro lens. The machine work is comparable to anything I've seen in the aerospace industry. The receiver will now need to be drilled for the front sight screw. The back sight base screw replaces the old tang screw.
www.montanavintagearms.com


http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/MVA1085.jpg



http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/MVA1084.jpg
This pic shows the windage adjustment knob. Unscrewing the eyepiece half a turn allows windage adjustment. Tightening locks the setting in place.









http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/MVA1083.jpg



http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/MVA1082.jpg

Here is one of two people that inspired me for this modification.
Jon_K and............
More info and link to Mike Venturino's Books and info HERE (http://50caliberforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=leveractionshootersociety&action=display&thread=1226)
A very big thanks to them too.


http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/LEVER%20ACTION%20SHOOTERS%20SOCIETY/MVA1081.jpg



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

[Tedly]

Looking for a cartridge guide and a lower tang for a 1886 Winchester .33WCF...Any thoughts?Your help is appreciated , seems like alot of 1886 Folks here...Thanks...Tedly