Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Winchester 1885 availability?

I am afraid my Google Fuu is poor... I can't seem to find any Winchester Highwalls anywhere?
30-06 or 270win..

Not originals mind you.. but new made Win 1885.

Lots on G/broker.

Abunch on Guns International too.

I think Miruko does these in batch mode and certain calibers at a time. I would wait it out. On the other hand if it has to be a certain barrel and caliber the online suggestion maybe the best way.

I did a quick catalog check and I see the 30-06 Hunter with a one piece scope base included is listed for 2021. Nice, hi grade wood. Wait for it. Maybe a local FFL can get on a back order for you.

Now, I am a little confused. The catalog shows the 220 swift in bold and 12 more calibers in grey print. That might merit a phone call to see what is actually planned in the next 12 months.

I’ve been watching for these as well as I foolishly sold one several years ago to fund a move. Thought of buying one for an upcoming hunt but unable to find very much available. They seem to sold out everywhere I’ve looked but I keep checking g pretty regularly. Good luck on your search.

I see my error. The HiWall Hunter high grade has a list of calibers on the left. The 220 swift is in bold. I can click on 30-06 and then the specs change to reflect that choice. I think my wifi was slow when I tried that. I also got a high resolution image downloaded and I like the Tally one piece mount. Included with the rifle! Finally, they got that right.

I really am liking the LowWall with 24" barrel in 6.5 Sweed. I wonder if those will take the Talley base? While not a featherweight, at 7.5 pounds it is a full pound lighter than corresponding HiWall, And those numbers 7.5 and 8.5 pounds are without scope. With a fixed Leupold a LowWall could be held close to 8lbs.

Well, just dreaming. ...

There is a .270 wsm on gunbroker.

I have two currently, 300 WSM & 7mm WSM.

The Low Wall is a much better balanced rig.....imo.

Lighter, handier. All up, with scope and sling, it's about what a carry rifle should be.
If it doesn't come with the Talley base and rings (it should) I have a set I can turn loose of.

I go by what a single shot gunsmith in Saratoga NY told me many years ago: "Hiwalls are for targets, tree stands, and varmints, Lowalls for hunting where you have to stand up on your hind legs and walk to the shot." He was talking about original WINCHESTER Winchester '85s, but it goes double for Japanese and Italian "Winchesters" whose Lowalls are strong enough for serious big game cartridges--there were very few original Winchester Lowalls that could handle anything more powerful than "deep woods" deer cartridges, like the Win '73 rounds. Winchester didn't chamber Lowalls for even .25-35 WCF.

I've killed a number of whitetails and pigs with my .44-40 and .38-40 originals, and that 'smith was talking mainly about hunting in the jungles that they call "woods" in upstate NYS --short ranges, sometimes best measured in feet, not yards.

But a Miroku-made Lowall .243 or .260 or even .44 Magnum expands that deer/pig/black bear capability to the whole US.

Keep in mind that the Hiwall as a hunting rifle became popular back when there were more big dangerous animals to hunt out West, and most people hunted either off a horse or using a horse to carry the rifle between shots. And most of the population didn't fly a desk, a computer, or a pickup for work....more likely a shovel, pick,and diggin' bar!

My Low Wall .260 has accounted for two elk so far. It would have a bunch more but I started playing with my Kimber 84's....
There's a ton of difference in the carry and handling of the two versions. Every time I handle the Hi Wall's I'm amazed at how cumbersome they seem to me...

I love 'em but after a few miles they feel like you are carrying a steel fence post. Biggest critter I ever killed was a feral boar with a Hiwall .45-70. Then I had to pack his quarters (two loads) out about 4 miles down the canyon of the Little Sur River south of Monterey CA. But I was 18 then--60 years ago--and used to ranch work....

Now I'd have a hard time with just the rifle!

But when you throw down with that Hiwall 30" #3 barrel, it is STEADY. My Japanese .243 would do the same job, though, and I could carry it at least part way!