Winchester 1886 - Looking for Advice / Information

[torontogungal]

I too have an 1886 (Miruko). Very fine rifle indeed. Fit and finish is excellent. I shot a box through it to sight it in and carried it (once) while hunting. It's pretty much a safe queen now as I found it too long and heavy compared to Marlins and Brownings (BLR). For hunting purposes IMHO, go with a big bore Marlin as they cycle nice, shoulder great, strong and easy to disassemble and clean. Next option would be a Browning BLR. Again, shoulder really nice, accurate and easy to carry. Wouldn't try taking it apart though!

I have had great success with my Marlin 45-70 and 444 though I really like carrying my Browning BLR (450 Marlin).

Good luck!!

The miroku 1886 extra light has a 22" bbl and is a couple of pounds lighter than the standard 1886.
They are hard to find.
The cycling is slick and the quality is excellent if you don't mind the lawyers junk.

 

[John Y Cannuck]

A cracked stock is just a reason to negotiate price.
Having handled the early Miroku rifles, I was impressed, and I own an original 1886.

 

[Northern Amateur]

I have no issue at all with rebounding hammers, cross bolt safety or tang safety's. Don't really understand what all the fuss is about. I have rifles with and without the safety's and hunted with them. No problems to report here. The safety on the 1886 moves like butter with a positive click and its position is very easy to get to.
To each their own I suppose.

 

[Devlin]

A cracked stock is just a reason to negotiate price.
Having handled the early Miroku rifles, I was impressed, and I own an original 1886.

I was thinking the same thing last night after getting home and may go back to see what we can dicker it down to. Not sure what a replacement stock would run or where to source one from though...off to do some googling on that.