Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers Feedback on the 90's era Winchester Miroku 1886 .45-70's

Does anyone have performance/quality feedback on the 90's era Winchester/Miroku 1886 reproductions? How did/do they compare to the Browning Miroku's or the current production Winchesters?

I've got a hankering for an 86 .45-70. Miroku over Italian personal preference. I realize pretty much all repro's after the Browning have a rebounding hammer and tang safety. I'd really love a Browning, but they are scarce and maybe getting out of my price range.

It's going to be a shooter not a safe queen. Thoughts?

Thanks.

Not a direct comparison, but I had a Browning/Miroku M71 in .348 Winchester.

If the quality of manufacture of this rifle is any indication of the 1886's quality level, it will be a very good gun. Action was smooth, wood was nicely figured and the wood/metal fit was great. The metal was well finished with a deep bluing. No tang safeties or rebounding hammers, just old-school half cock.

All in all, it was a well manufactured rifle. I kinda wished I hadn't been talked out of it, but dollars will do that.

Never bought a Browning miroku in an 86 but they were as nicely built as the m71 they produced. I just am amazed at the quality of the m71 everytime I pick it up. When I see 94 bringing 900 and up the 1200 I paid for the 71 seems inexpensive. Mb

I’d wait until you find a Browning.

As you probably know they came in two versions, a 22” barrel SRC and a 26” octagonal barrel rifle. Neither model is stocked ideally IMO. The SRC has a metal carbine buttplate and narrow comb and the longer rifle, a curved metal buttplate.

On my SRC I swapped out the buttstock for one off a (later model) Win extra light, which I think is an ideal buttstock for a hunting levergun. The buttstock still needed quite a bit of work to fit correctly.

Of the numerous “limited releases” of Miroku made Win 1886 rifles, I like the extra light model. Of course it still has the tang safety and rebounding hammer but there are a few smiths that can delete these features if you go down that route.

I am looking specically for a 26" octagon gun. It will mostly be a range rifle as I have two much handier levers to hunt with. Yes I'm not a fan of crescent buttplates either, and I would prefer a straight grip stock. Soon I may have to post a wtb in the classifieds.