Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots winchester 1885?

I have always wondered how their accuracy is?

Depends on the barrel, mines a little pitted after 131 years.

You don't look a day over 120.

Before I bought mine I read a bunch of threads and the concensus was that they were very accurate. Can't say from experience all that much, my one and only 1885 is a Winchester/Miroku in .38-55 but it does very well with .375 jacketed bullets since it has a groove diameter of .3751". Best group so far is three shots into .243" but that's a fluke, most groups are a bit larger than that. But I haven't worked with jacketed much at all since this is for cast bullet shooting but so far it's doing okay, putting 5 shot groups of several loads into 2" (with my usual flyer). Most of those with both store bought and my own cast bullets put 4 shots into about 1.25 to 1.5" and then a 5th opens them up to 2". Still working on getting those dialed in...

Not wanting to turn this into a Ruger vs. Winchester 1885 argument but I'd always bought Ruger No. 1's and never even looked at the 1885 as a viable alternative. However after owning one and noting the quality of finish, polish, wood, trigger pull, etc. plus accuracy right out of the box, these days I'd choose an 1885 - especially since both sell at pretty much the same price point. I keep looking on gunbroker for another one, I see this year they're making them in 30-06.

I'm looking forward to wringing out mine in 6.5X55 with some handloads to see what it will do.

It should be "inherently accurate" right? If only I was....

I have only owned one replica 1885 Hi Wall, a Bo Clerke model in .22-250. It was really accurate and quite heavy. For several years it was my primary groundhog rifle until I sold it to a cousin and bought a Ruger No. 1 in .22-250.

My High Wall is in 7mm Remington Magnum. With the right ammunition it is a tack driver. I've hand loaded the 145 gr. and 160 gr. Speer Grand Slam and it is a .5 MOA shooter or better depending on how well I do that day. I've got some old Federal Premium 150 gr. BTSP that shoots just as well or better and chronographed it at 3150 fps out of the 28 inch tube. I'm down to the last box of that ammo.

To GrouseChaser, I've looked and looked and looked until I'm blue in the face for an 1885 in 6.5 X 55. They're as rare as hen's teeth.

I've got a newer production in .22 Hornet. With the right bullets to match the slow twist, it is very accurate.

I can't recall hearing any compaints, and have none with the two I have. I also like the very tight, well-made action of the Miroku versions and the often stunning wood on the older Brownings.

They are & have always been highly accurate......since 1878.

I've got one of the new model high walls with a 28" bbl in 6.5 CM. It's a hammer that will shoot sub .75" groups at 200 yards when I can do my part.

I looked for a long time for my 6.5X55 too, and had to pay handsomely once I found it!
Years ago I had one in .260 Rem. that I let go down the road for no good reason (late rent, as I recall). That one I made a little something on, for some strange reason.

If you're talking old ones, they were considered a premium arm, and always had the best barrels Winchester could muster.

The new Japanese rifles that have been made since the 70's by Miroku usually have excellent barrels, and usually shoot very well. The actions are nothing like the originals and are a bear to work on. Besides the imports, C Sharps and Ballard Arms make 1885 replicas, and are said to be very very good quality.

I'd love to see someone make a Low Wall in .30-30 - they've been made in .243 and .260 so should be safe, but so far I've asked both Ballard and C Sharps and neither will do a Low Wall .30-30. I reckon I'll have to build one.

You may recall that stunner of a .257 built by our local whiz, John Myer of Boyce, VA, on a Miroku. Octagon to round, wedding ring. Quite a piece. There were pics here a few years back. Took about 5 years, I think. I'd be content finding a nice .243 at a price commensurate with my station in life.

I had a superb 1885 Low Wall in 260 Remington. Had the most picturesque wood I have ever seen. I sold it to Blacktail53.

My Miroku 243 low wall is very accurate with almost any load.I run through it. I would like to have the trigger honed and set lower but I am afraid to change anything it shoots so well. I have a persistent itch to re-build a High Wall into a 257 Weatherby with a 28 inch barrel. So far the donor actions that I have seen are pricey. Are the imports as strong as the Miroku actions? Are any of them simpler or closer to the original design?

Don't know about the High Walls, but Brian Pearce has written that the only Eyetalian Sharps he trusts with smokeless are the Pedersolis. He looks into this stuff a good bit, being a fan of lever guns, single shots and single actions. You might try to contact him about it, but my guess would be "no" as to strength. Not sure about the design. Some of the nice American replicas are direct copies I think, but I've never seen them offered for modern rounds. The Mirokus have been all along.