Browning 1885 High Wall, In 45-70 Government

Browning was the designer of the 1885 and as Winchester, Pedersoli, Miroku Corp., and many other made copies.

Therefore, Browning is not enough information to identify the maker.
 
sail32 said:
Browning was the designer of the 1885 and as Winchester, Pedersoli, Miroku Corp., and many other made copies.

Therefore, Browning is not enough information to identify the maker.
Click to expand...

Looking at the OP's pics, I have this exact same rifle, as also the title that he chose states, a Browning BPCR 1885 in 45-70.


If you are in further doubt sail32, I'm sure you could PM the OP for further information if you require more accurate details.

Fell free to share your results with us here.
 
As with anything like this, contact Browning Tech Support directly (phone or email) and seek their input.
Shooting suitable smokeless powders is less the issue to using jacketed bullets.
My guess would be that Tech Support will provide reload data to your email and likely advise shooting hard cast rather than jacketed.
Keep us posted, interesting thread.
 
dthunter said:
I noticed that most shooters are resting the barrels directly onto the front shooting bags. In my experience, resting a barrel on a sand bag disturbs the consistency and grouping of the rifle. I personally will rest the foreshock on a sand bag to isolate and dampen any vibrations during the firing sequence.

What are your thoughts on this?
Click to expand...

I have shot mine resting the forearm on bags, cross-sticks and also tried resting the barrel on same without noticing any change in group or accuracy.
They are a beautiful shooter and I must say that having had mine since new, I have never considered using jacketed bullets or smokeless powder..... not saying that you can't, I just haven't.
Their barrel are specifically made to provide superb accuracy with cast / black powder loads and in that respect they are outstanding,
i have many thousands of BP loads through mine and it is as accurate as the day I took it out of the box and I shoot any cast bullet from 330 gr. to 600 gr., however in mine the accuracy champs are about 530 to 550 gr.
The rifling is Ballard style being more deeply cut than standard 45-70 rifle to better work with a cast load, but I think you should be ok shooting a jacketed load...... all you can do is try.
 
If I were to scope my Browning BPCR I'd use either an MVA B5 which is a copy of the original Winchester scope, or I would use the Dan Zimmerman 8x Unertl. Both are excellent, and legal for use in BPCR/BPTR competition. You could also go with an MVA Malcolm scope, bu I like those more on a Sharps personally.

Chris.
 
dthunter said:
I noticed that most shooters are resting the barrels directly onto the front shooting bags. In my experience, resting a barrel on a sand bag disturbs the consistency and grouping of the rifle. I personally will rest the foreshock on a sand bag to isolate and dampen any vibrations during the firing sequence.

What are your thoughts on this?
Click to expand...

You can determine the nodes, or dead spots by holding the rifle by the buttstock vertically(thumb and forefinger) and lightly tap the barrel along its length with a plastic hammer. The node will give a dead sound, elsewhere a kind of tuning fork sound. On my BPCR one node is close to the front sight and that is what I used when prone using cross-sticks. Below is a pic of me at the Quigley this year. I was using a new load and didn't have time for a through testing so played it safe and rested on the forearm. That's my buddies BPCR on the ground to the right.
Uploaded at Snapagogo.com
 
guninhand said:
You can determine the nodes, or dead spots by holding the rifle by the buttstock vertically(thumb and forefinger) and lightly tap the barrel along its length with a plastic hammer. The node will give a dead sound, elsewhere a kind of tuning fork sound. On my BPCR one node is close to the front sight and that is what I used when prone using cross-sticks. Below is a pic of me at the Quigley this year. I was using a new load and didn't have time for a through testing so played it safe and rested on the forearm. That's my buddies BPCR on the ground to the right.
Uploaded at Snapagogo.com
Click to expand...

Just curious because I own the same make of rifle. Are you shooting at 100 or 200 yards in this picture??
 
dthunter said:
Hi guys! I recently managed to find one of these wonderful Browning 1885 High wall in 45-70 Government!

I know the barrel is stamped "Blackpowder Recommended", but can I shoot factory smokeless safely through this rifle? I have seen articles that say that these high walls can be loaded to much high pressures than the traditional trap door loads.

My plan is to primarily shoot 405's and 500 grain cast boolets (Wheel weight alloy, or 40:1) around 1200-1400 fps range, so I can use black powder for this I know.

Would there be any issues in shooting Smokeless powders such as Varget, Imr 3031, H4198, etc. with conventional jacketed bullets?

I got to clean that bore and get her all cleaned up before I shoot it!

I do not want to damage this rifle in the least, and I want to preserve its condition.

Your thoughts would be hugely appreciated!
Click to expand...

I use 33.5 gr of WC735, a milk carton wad, 1.3 cc of corn meal, a milk carton wad and a 500 gr Lee pointed projectile and am very saticfied with the results FPS 1350
 
Brutus said:
Wonder if anyone has had positive results in thier Browning BPCR 45-70, with the 500 RN Government mould by Lyman??

curious here....
Click to expand...

100_23451.jpg
 
Very nice shooting! Thanks very much for ther info Rob. I'll have to check the etching on this mold when I get home.

This is what I love about CGN. The wealth of shared information from experienced and contributing members.

Cheers

Edit: Good show Abman!!
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom