Anyone scoped an 1885 lately? New High Wall inbound (6 Creedmoor) and I’m struggling with the realization that the scope market has been overtaken by giant 30mm matte “tactical” type scopes with knobs and dials sticking out of every point possible.
I own dozens of scopes of this nature but just can’t envision one on a rifle of this type. Has anyone gone this route? How is the look, feel, balance?

Had an 1885 Browning and am selling it. It’s sold pending funds. I had a gloss Leupold 1” tube 4-12X on it. I thought it looked and performed great. That scope is for sale in the classifieds here.
I have dozens of scopes but have not yet owned a 30mm.

I put a Talley one piece mount on a Low Wall and on my B78. I like it very much.

I just got one of these from Optics Planet and the base does not work at all. It was supposed to be for a Low Wall made by Miroku and the rear of the base comes nowhere close to coming down on the receiver. Plus the medium height rings I got just stick the scope (Redfield 3200) up way too high. The whole works is heading back for a refund. I may go back to the Leupold base or go with the rail made by Steve Earle that allows you to mount something like a Unertl or a Fecker.

I have the Talley one piece on another High Wall and it works perfectly, plan on going that route again. Mounts aren’t my issue however, my question is in regards to the optics, not mounts. What SCOPE are you guys running?

I have several High Walls and Low Walls and they all sport traditional target scopes. Unertl, Fecker, and Lyman Targetspots.

I'm running a S&B 2X10X42 Summit on mine Highwall

I have a highwall 1885 in 30/30 that came with a Unertl 12X. Has the 28” octagon barrel. If it can be done I’d rather have one of my favorite hunting scopes mounted, Leupold VX-III 2.5-8X.

I like this set up
https://www.buffaloarms.com/hiwall-40-70ss-28-oct-gun1187xx.html

My Low Wall Hornet has a 6x36 Leupold on it. Have a 6.5x55 Swede on order with the same (unfortunately in Matte thought) scope waiting on the shelf.

Over the years I've had numerous High Walls and B-78's follow me home.

I prefer variables, with magnifications at a max of 14X or now 15X and objectives of 50mm max, preferably 40mm to 44mm.

I've had good luck with Leupold, Zeiss and Swarovski (not pictured on the rifles below).

When possible I try to pair gloss scopes with bright blue metal finish and matte scopes with matte metal finishes.



Top: 270 Winchester, 2.5-8 x 36 gloss, duplex

Bottom: 30-06 Springfield, 3.5 -10 x 50 gloss, duplex










Browning High Wall, 45-70 antique metal finish, Zeiss Conquest, 3-9 x 40, Matte, Duplex






Browning B-78, 300 H&H, Leupold 3.5-10 x 50 gloss, duplex

Anywho, YMMV,

Ya!

GWB

Aesthetically, I really like the 2-7 Burris compact that came on a low wall I picked up a few months back.

Hope it functions well. It'll be a keeper.

My 85’s always wear Swarovski 3-10x 42’s in Talley one piece mounts

I have a B78 and an Browning 1885 with store bought scope bases, but I have a Uberti 1885 that I made the scope base from a solid block of Aluminum alloy.

Appreciate all the input, bottom line from what I'm seeing is the Hubble Telescope style scopes with turrets, knobs, dials etc., 30mm and 18 inches long have yet to become accepted on such rifles as of yet.

Depends on the end use. Were it mine I would leave the 12x Unertl on it, but then again in my possession it would expend 99.99% of its shots on paper. If the rifle is d/t'ed also for "modern" mounts why not have the best of both worlds? The Unertl for making tiny groups at the range and then swap the favorite hunting scope onto it when time comes to take it afield.

Always wanted one of these rifles. I think one of the reasons I havnt got one is the huge front scope base. Why so big? Never seen that one piece base. Thats an improvement.

Often necessary when the rear base is up on top of the receiver ring and the front base is 6 or 7 inches away out on the barrel.

I like the one piece base option. I have always wanted one of the Low Walls in .233 or .260 but hated the high block for the front

pacecars posted a link to a old American made Winchester, with an old style Lyman scope. I dont think anyone responded. The price is right and the gun looks great. Those bases are available for a barrel that is flat all the way out. The problem with the modern Miruko 1885 is there are a varity of tapers and profiles. I dont see any one answer that fits all. The Lyman will go very easy on some and nothin is easy or pretty on others.

FWIW, I like the modern setup on Cheesy's gun. Most of the the others shown are big for my taste and unnecessary for the game taken. Practical terms any scope shown will work. I am talking as a fashion statement.

Also Cheesy's scope will add the least extra weight.

Sweed and Hornet. Nice. Very nice!

Thought they’d make a good pair.

In that pic above, there is a little clearing right above the front sling swivel, just under 200 yards. Coyote came through there a few minutes after I snapped that pic, and the measly Hornet worked.

My 1885 is in 454 Casull. it wears a 1.5x5 Leupold VX-III. It just looks right on that rifle!

I like the Talley one piece base, mine wears Control bases and rings which are less blocky than the factory bases.
My low wall looks best with a smaller scope, nothing bigger than a 36mm objective and a straight tube may be even better, One thought is to avoid the huge Euro oculars as there is not much room for cocking with any bell bigger than a Zeiss, the Zeiss is iffy with low mounts.