Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Browning B78 or Winchester 1885

I have been considering one or the other of these two single shot rifles. They appear to be clones, but have never been able to get them side by side. Wonder if some of you that have them might be able to supply some comments. Thanks in advance. Merry Christmas to all.

The major difference is in the butt stock. But even the 1885 has different butt stocks. So it really depends on what stock you like.

Al the B-78's I have seen have a RH Monte Carlo. So it makes them kind of worthless for a LH shooter(which I am). The crescent butt plate on the 1885 is a problem for some guys. They do not like the metal crescent. Then there is the shotgun style, which is the one I prefer. I believe it is referred to as the shotgun style. I have one and I like it very well.

The stock in the above picture is a modified stock on an 1885 in 45-70(but patterned after the shotgun style). It originally was a crescent. You can see that by the small piece of metal at the top of the wood in front of the butt palte. That is where the gunsmith cut the metal crescent plate, and he left that part so the bare wood would not show. I really like that stick, but it destroys the value for resale. But my 45-70 is not for sale.

And the stock in the bottom picture is a crescent butt plate on a Low Wall. But it is the same on the High Wall. You can compare them to the B-78 in the catalog. Or I am sure someone will chime in with a B-78 picture. Tom.

Thanks, I didn't know that. Appreciate the info.

I actually prefer the 1970's-era B78 to either an 1885 or the new-issue B78, since the early rifles were issued with very handy, sightless, 26" long TAPERED octagon barrels in all chamberings except .45-70, which had a 24" straight octagon bbl with iron sights.

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My Browning 1885 in .45-70 GOVT has the crescent butt plate which I think looks great with the octogon bbl. I like the way a crescent butt plate fits my shoulder.
This one was made in 1993.

I have a B-78 which I took in a trade at least 20 years ago so I know it's old. It's a .30-06 and I have never shot it. It's my next "project." I have no bases but I wrote Leupold and they sell them. It's an octagon barrel in it's in great shape.

I think the original pad has been replaced but the stock is original. Some guys have told me it has a replacement stock. The wood is absolutely gorgeous and it has a slight schnable fore end. The cheekrest is large also. It has a straight grip. Do you think this is a replacement stock? The photos don't really do it justice. It's also shown in my avatar.

Looks like you think it looks great still in the box too.
I could not do that if'n I was you. Unless maybe you have several to choose from, some to look at and some to shoot.

The other thing to consider is that Browning also used to make the 1885, and in the low-wall model it was a petite and handy little 6 1/2lb rifle.

Browning has never "made" anything. Their firearms have all been produced for them by FN, BC Miroku, Beretta, and the U.S.-based outfit who made the BDM and currently produce the Buckmark. The 1885 is produced by BC Miroku in Japan. Since Browning and Winchester/USRAC are now under the same umbrella, the 1885 series is currently imported and marketed under the Winchester brand. If you want the same rifle with better looking, albeit funkily styled wood, you buy the so-called B78.

No, I just posted a picture from the guy who I purchased the rifle from.

He said he had only shot a few rounds through it and boxed it back up.

I wish I had more of my "Jap" rifles so I could be choosier.

What I was really gettin at was the fact that I have a problem with ventilated recoil pads on a classic design rifle. (Like putting "spinners" on a Bentley)

Blowtorch153, That is one fine stick of walnut. How about some nice "gun-porno" shots in the sun?

double post....

Sorry, I should have said Browning marketed the 1885 low-wall.

But if you want to get really technical then you are incorrect in saying "Browning has never 'made' anything". Browning made their own model 1878 falling block single shots between 1878 and 1883, at which time John Browning began his relationship with Winchester.

The 1885 High Walls and Low Walls have both been marketed under the Winchester and Browning names.

And no, not even by your attempt to stretch the meaning of "manufacturing" has Browning ever manufactured squat. John Browning and his brothers ran a gun shop/gunsmithing outfit that made an occasional rifle to order. It was anything but a manufacturing concern by anyone's stretch of the imagination.

I guess we can agree to disagree. To me, and I suspect anyone else who puts any thought into it, manufacturing +100 rifles/year over 130 years ago is manufacturing (since they made ~600 Model 1878 rifles in less than 5 years).

But I didn't join this forum to agrue, so have it your way.

Well, please enlighten us all with the manufacturing facility the Brownings operated. What sort of production schedule did they maintain? What sort of shipment records can we search? I find your information quite FASCINATING and COMPELLING. I mean 600 rifles in less than 5 years, WOW! That must be some kind of record. That goes right up there with the Delorean in terms of sheer volume. What sort of supply chain do you suppose the Brownings had back then? Did they have a network of retailers placing orders on a regular basis? Please, don't be shy with your information.

When the Browning Arms that we all know, love, and loathe today was formed in 1927, how many principals from the Browning Brothers Gun Shop were involved in its day-to-day operations and product development? You're quite the fount of KNOWLEDGE and I'm just DYING to know how this all fits in with a small, now-defunct, nineteenth-century Mormon gun shop in Ogden, Utah.

I think my answer to the OP would be do you want an iron-sighted, traditional single shot? If so the "traditional hunter" models are a good bet, they feel good to me, and are well made, albeit made in Japan. Browning did sell some of these models, and they did have them with nice wood. In the past couple years, the same rifles, (with plain wood) have been sold under the Winchester brand - both the 28"traditional and a "short Traditional hunter" with 22" barrel. There is also an abortion called a Trapper model.

If you want a scoped high wall, the B78's, both old and new, are a better bet - and they usually have nice wood, then and now. The new ones have a 24" heavy round barrel, which I dislike.

The gems remain the old B78's. I have one in .25-06, and it is scary accurate.

No kidding !! I hate those things too.

Being a rightie, I've no problem with the b-78's, Winchesters or Brownings.
I've owned them in 22 hornet, 6mm rem, 270 WSM. 7mag, and 30-06.
All were fine shooters. I do like the oil finish better than the acryllic. Much easier to touch up oil finish, and where I hunt they do get scratched and dinged.
Here are a couple of cousins.
Browning, 30-06,
Winchester 270 WSM.
What's not to like?

GWB

Well aside from the fact that the 270 WSM is a stupid cartridge, made for people who believe short actions make any difference, embrace the "short stroking" myth and that it wont do anything a real 270 won't, they are nice rifles.

If you want class in a Highwall, you find a Cody WY (not MI) built Ballard Arms one, in a real single shot caliber, like this.







The Jap stuff is okay, own three 40-82, 30-06, 25-06 but comparing them to a Ballard Arms is like a pre war Super Grade
M 70 to a Holland & Holland stalking rifle.

Somebody wake up suckin' on a lemon?

Need to send you a copy of "How to Win friends and Influence People"

In fact I pop hogs with the 270 Win. quite often. I think everyone ought to own a couple.


rem 700 C grade, 270 Win. In fact if you do it right, quite often you can get a two'fer.


Sako AV Deluxe, 270 Win.


Winchester Model 70, 270 Win

Best
GWB