Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers Browning High grade 1886 carbine in .45-70

Just bought one of these NIB from a friend...it seems like a very classy, beautifully made rifle and I can't decide whether or not to shoot it, or just leave it unfired to look pretty. I bought it along with another lever action Browning, a B-92 in .44 mag. Do any of you own a Winchester or Browning 1886 Reproduction rifle or carbine in .45-70? What loads does yours like? Did you sight it in for 50 or 100 yards? Do you hunt with it? How heavy would the recoil be if I used 405 gr. factory or cowboy action loads? Thanks for any information...

Bought same two rifles earlier this summer, shot them both!Get over the NIB thing , shoot them and enjoy. Like I heard somewhere,the only one to lose money when you shoot these is your estate! I would never sell either of mine! I had some old PMC coated lead swc 240 gr loads. Got great 2" groups at 100yds with the 92. Handles great. Just began fooling with the SRC so I can't give you any advice on loads. I was told the sights are regulated for the heavier bullets. Neither kicked too badly, but I like to shoot my Model 71 all day long.

Try some 300-gr bullets, like the XTP, at 1,800 fps.
30-gr of 2400 will do it, but try some IMR-3031 (52) and H-322 (57 - 58.0)
Zero it at 100 yards. Mild recoil, super accurate, clobbers deer.

Thanks for the information. I saw the "ladder" sights on this rifle and I have never used these before; can anyone tell me how to adjust them? I haven't fired the rifle yet and for all I know, it shoots to point of aim now. But if it doesn't, it would be nice to know which way to adjust the sights to prevent just wasting expensive ammo. I phoned Browning but could not talk to a rep; they want to "service" the customer with a VRU system...had to leave my contact info , ask them to send a manual, etc. The voice on the automated tape said it would take 2 to 3 weeks...

If anyone does have any info as to how to adjust the ladder sights on the reproduction Browning 1886 carbine, I would certainly appreciate having that information...I didn't get a manual with the gun, and Browning's taped message says I won't get one from them for 2 or 3 weeks....

Once fired, the value of both will drop off. If thats' not an issue, the fire away.
Assuming that the Japanese sights follow the old Winchester pattern, standing leaf was regulated for 50 yrds. Flip up the elevator, and use the hash marks accordingly for 100,150, etc.
You will have to go through some ammo, factory or handloads, to discover POI with these sights.
Expect hotter loads, faster loads, to register uniquely compared to factory 405s.
Good luck.

Mild factory loads

From a Marlin 1895 with 22-inch barrel:
Remington factory 300-gr JHP is 1,900 fps
Federal JHP 300-gr is 1,700 fps.
Federal JHP Classic 300-gr is 1,850 fps.

Mak, Bigbear and Lee24: Thanks for the information. I have some Remington 405 gr. factory loads and hope to get out to fire the rifle this weekend. It's a beautiful gun. Is everyone agreed it should be sighted in at 100 yards vs. 50 or 75 yards?

Bigbear, in regard to the Model 71, I have an original Deluxe model, made in 1957 and it is at least a 97% gun, all original---quite a beauty. It shoots the 200 gr. factory load pretty well...

Sight it for 100. I can't think of a vital area the bullet would miss from muzzle to 100 unless yer shooting chipmunks.

For most hunting needs, sighting in at 100yrds. is fine. If you intend to shoot 300gr. loads, you can gain a little more reach, an sight in at 150.
Just make sure you know your poi with the standing leaf, cuz if the shootin is fast, you might not have time to use the elevator.
Good luck