Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots 2021 Winchester centerfire Low Walls

I happened to see these the other day:
1885 Low Wall Hunter High Grade https://www.winchesterguns.com/products/rifles/model-1885/model-1885-current-products/model-1885-low-wall-hunter-high-grade.html

These are 2021 Shot Show Specials available in 22 Hornet, 222 Rem, 223 Rem, 243 Win, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 6.5x55 Swede all with 24" barrels.

I could have fun with that rifle. I need to stay on top of the product announcement and roll out.

I'll get one in 6.5 Swede for sure as soon as I can find one. I didn't get in on the first run several years ago so I'm going to make sure I don't miss out on this one.

uh oh, now I have another pending budget item to save for..... I would like to get one in 6.5x55 too.....

I think I'll hold out for a .22 Hornet. Pappy348 has installed that ear worm in me! I have a Browning-Miroku Low Wall .223 that does it all for my mid-range .22 centerfire needs, and I don't need to replace it with a badge-engineered Winchester-Miroku. If I didn't already have it though....

Interesting that they included the .222 in the lineup. One would think in this day and age that a .222 is old hat (and they would be wrong).

As for 6.5x55, again if I didn't already have a dandy single shot in that chambering, a Ruger 1A, I would be camped outside Winchester's door waiting on one. Still might have to, at that!

Darned near anything Miroku sets their mind to is worthy of a serious rifleman's attention, IMO.

I'm very surprised the 22 Hornet has a twist rate of 1-16''.
222 has a 1-14'' ROT.
223 has a 1-12'' ROT.

Yet, the 6mm CM and above have 1-8" twists. Seems to be a little inconsistent in their barreling solutions.

Well, forget those then.

Those twists are fine for use with "traditional" bullets in those respective guns - bullets which earned them their reputations.

My Browning Low Wall .223 has a 1-12" twist and it is very accurate with 50-55 grain bullets - to the tune of 1/2MOA. I may be limiting myself by being denied the capability of shooting long sleek VLD bullets but I really don't care. Truth be told I shoot more Berger 40 grain HP's than anything else out of it anyway, as 3/8" groups at 100 are oh so satisfying!

1-16" has been used in Hornets since the very beginning and not found lacking for 45 grain and lighter bullets. If the need for shooting heavier/longer bullets is foreseen I'll reach for something else anyway.

I guess in this day and age of tacticool long range sniping/competition/hunting such old fashioned stubby bullets don't cut the mustard anymore, and more's the pity.

Well, you just never know. In the Spring 2018 edition of Rifle’s Varmint, Stan Trzoniec reported good, even excellent 3-shot groups from his Browning LW Hornet with several bullets 50gr and heavier. Unless he was accidentally blessed with a faster-twist barrel, perhaps there are exceptions to the common knowledge. No matter to me; I have piles of 30-45gr slugs on hand.

Your post caused me to look up what my Browning LH A-Bolt 22 Hornets are twisted and learned they have a 16" ROT also. I did not know that.

You're generally correct. I was thinking specifically of the .223. It's strange in this day and age for them to limit bullet options with a slow twist.

Those of us in my age group, still may be adverse to "Made in Japan". but in all honesty I've found the quality of the Browning-Miroku rifles to be excellent. I have Low Walls in .45 Colt Long, .22 K-Hornet, .243 Win. .260 Rem, and Win-Miroku rifles in .223 Rem and a .22 Hornet currently being bored to .32/20 WCF.

I have found the Browning marked guns to have much nicer wood than the Winchesters... But that being said, I might be tempted by a Creedmoor...

I do wish that they would make a run in .25/20 and .32/20... And even a .218 Bee... But I'm not holding my breath - GH

7lbs 8 oz ? I think my browning 22 hornet is much lighter?

I think a Hornet would be fun. First thing I'd do is get it to my smith and strip that polyurethane finish and high gloss blue off it. A good oil finished stock and a matt metal finish and then there's a nice gun.

I need that Swede. How do I order..

Agree with that.

I've taken a different approach. Instead of stripping the finish I have merely rubbed it out, then waxed it. Results in a much softer luster, and the wonderful waterproofing qualities of the finish isn't compromised. IMO, oil finishes are ok on guns that won't see much outdoor use - pretty to look at but abysmal in terms of preventing water fenestration.

That is a beautiful production rifle.

Yep. I've never looked to see if a .218 would clean up a Hornet chamber or not. When I saw the .22 Hornet in the lineup, my first thought was .. maybe a candidate for a rebore to .25-20. Got brass 'n' bullets, no gun, and a low wall .25-20 has been on my list for a very long time.

Tom

I'd buy a 32-20, like right now.

Jerry

The Hornet is longer than the Bee, so you could do it, but there would be too much "freebore" between the case mouth and leade to make it attractive to me.

Wish they would chamber it in .221 fireball. That would be a sweet little package.

.222 Remington is still very popular in many countries other than the US, partly because some of them ban civilian ownership of "military caliber" firearms. Even in those that don't, the "Triple Deuce" has stayed popular much longer than it has in the US.

Anyone have any idea when these will be available?

I wonder why such short barrels on those Shot Show Specials. 26" would still make a handy package, and 28" wouldn't be unreasonable IMO.

IIRC, Browning/Winchester produced 1885 High walls in most of the chamberings that are listed now. I don't think they sold all that well. They had 28" barrels. My buddy has a .22/250 and I have a .223 Rem... (That somehow morphed into a .225 Win.) I have other Low Walls in .223, .22 K-Hornet, .243. 260, and .45 Colt Long. And I'm currently have one in .22 Hornet rebored to .32/20. They make a very well balanced and handy rifles. Carry well, too... IMHO, 23"-24" barrels are about perfect. But then, I don't worship the gods of velocity. Whatever I get is what I get! If I need more, I likely have something larger... G.H.

I just emailed them. Response was October for “that particular model”. I don’t know if that is all these 1885s, or just the Swede I asked about.

That's pretty much the same thing they told me. 3rd or 4th quarter of this year. I've already got my local gun shop looking into how I can preorder one.

Does anyone know if these new Low Walls have an ejector, or just an extractor like the old Brownings? I have a 260 with the old 1:10 Twist and I would certainly be interested in a Swede or Creedmoor with a faster twist. And an ejector would be nice for hunting too.

Sadly I found out about the new Low Walls just after paying a premium for my Browning. Oh well.

The link isn’t working but I’ll have one of these in 6.5x55 if the prices aren’t insane.

It looks like Winchester changed the link; here is the new link:

[url=https://www.winchesterguns.com/products/rifles/model-1885/current/model-1885-low-wall-hunter-high-grade.html][/url]

The retail price is $1,719.99.

$1719.99....damn. Are the special runs like most other guns where they sell for less than the MSRP?

I’d be happy with the Swede, but I’d think Winchester would chamber some cool classic Winchester rounds as well. 30-30 or 30-40 would be pretty uber. Even resurrect the ol’ 35 Winchester!

I suspect (but do no know) that the .222s are included for 1) safe queen buyers who don't shoot, and 2) European customers who aren't allowed to own .223s.

One of the shooters here on 24 (I believe it was Hondo64) measured his Browning Low Wall .260 and reported that it was a 9 1/4 twist..... I haven’t measured mine, but I have shot the Hornady 140gr spire point out of it and it shot just fine. I’d give it a go if that’s your goal....

werent' they $1699 last time I checked?

It was $16xx for sure.

I saw one of the new low walls yesterday at a gun show in 22 long had a price tag of $1150.00 was a good looking rifle!

Called BPS to see about pre-ordering, they said they weren't in their system yet but would check and get back to me. Called the only other dealer listed on Winchesters page, turned out to be a nice find 80 miles away that I had never heard about, he said as of 2 weeks ago they couldn't make orders on them yet, but he'd call the sales rep on Monday and get back to me. Would much rather buy from them than BPS anyway.

Got my name on one from an independent shop. They said Winchester is saying the last quarter of 2021, but that knowing Winchester, don't be surprised when it is actually 2022.

BPS called me back, they can accept orders on them now as well.

Will the Low Wall handle full power 6,5x55 loads?

Seems counter intuitive to us who shoot original Low Walls, but evidently modern metallurgy triumphs. I have a Browning LW in .223 and it digests anything I shove into it. I wouldn't think of jacking things up with my 1910 vintage LW in .25-20 Single Shot. (Never mind too that brass is $2-3 a pop when you can find it.)

I just bought a Ruger #1 that is their case colored offering. It has very decent wood in it retail price IIRC was around $1800. I would buy a Low Wall over that in a heart beat if there like the ones Browning had. I had one in a 243 and after my gunsmith stripped the polyurethane finish off the stock and did an oil finish and reblued everything in a matt finish it was a sweet rig. I still regret letting that go but I do know where it is.

Bumping this old thread.

Just got the call. My Swede was delivered today. Gotta go pick it up next week sometime.

Please post pictures when pick it up.

Nice! Look forward to pics!

Around MSRP?

I believe $1500 was the price they told me over the phone, but it’s been 5 months….will post pics and details middle of next week. 80 mile drive and busy schedule. They only got one in so no picking wood. Didn’t make me pay a deposit when ordered and asked yesterday if I still wanted it. Said they’d have no trouble selling it if I passed on it.

Saw some other cartridges on gunbroker yesterday as well. Stock, crappy photos.

Elk country guns has a Swede in 6.5x55 for $1700

.22 hornet, .222, and .223 on gunbroker for $1900 buy it now, but penny auctions

closest huntington bank to my location

I found one in 222 today and couldn’t resist. $1575 out the door, they had a 223 also. I will let you know how it shoots later this week.

Picked my Swede up this morning. $1500+tax.





Sent home with dad to work up some loads. Hoping a 129 grain Hornady Interlock or 120 Ballistic Tip will work as that’s all the bullets I’ve came across and grabbed a few hundred. Leave in 2 weeks for Wyoming to use in antelope does or a muley buck. Hopefully.

Good luck with it, hope it shoots as good as it looks........that is actually nice enough to get me to start looking for one.....

Nice! I wish they'd do a .30-30 in one of these Low Walls....

Absolutely. I’ve kicked myself for years for not grabbing one from the first run.

The Miroku Low Walls have been made in .243 and ,260 Rem for a number of years, and the 6.5x55 is the same case head size, so I would think any reasonable load is fine for the action (with modern steel)

I still wish they make one in .30-30, with the exact same configuration. It's possible the .308 bore is a hair too big for that barrel contour. I tried to get both C Sharps and Ballard to make a Low Wall .30-30, and neither were interested.

In any case, I just grabbed a 6.5x55 off GB. The wood is not as nice as pictured above, but it's good.

Do these rifles come with Talley bases?

I'mnot certain what bases it comes with. The website doesn't say either, just says comes with bases.

The factory bases/ rings are Talley.

Beautiful wood on the swede cheesy, what's it actually weigh?

7# 2 ounces with the supplied Talley bases plus the steel Talley rings and Leupold 6x36 on it.

First blood.

As said above by others, bases from Winchester are Talleys. Does not come with rings though. Mine shown is mediums. Looks higher than I’d like, but shoots fine.

Congrats. That's a cool buck with a classy rifle!

Anyone know where I can find one in 6.5 X 55? I've got a local GS looking, but he hasn't been able to find one. Thanks