Winchester 1886 - Looking for Advice / Information

Devlin

Devlin

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Evening Gang,

I've recently been bitten by the lever gun bug and am just learning about all things in this vast new world of old school cool rifles. I've come across a recent production (don't know specific year) Winchester 1886 but it is a Miroku produced gun with a tang safety chambered in .45-70

The gun is in great shape and what I'm told is that it was bought by a guy who just buys them and flip flops on his decision and trades them back in, most unfired. This one is in what I would call very good to excellent shape, bordering on new in box. If it has been shot it wasn't very much. There are no safe kisses, dings or dents etc on it...the shop is asking $1295 plus taxes which feels high to me but I wanted to get opinions here from those that know these guns better.

Any insight on what to look out for with these or what else I should consider is appreciated, though I am quite taken with this gun at the moment.
 
Feelings aren't really a thing a guy types 'bout.
Whut yer mentioning is a think'n thang.
Taxes?
Witch province?
Price seems 'bout norm, but when 12% added to it makes it b'unch more.
Then 'gin $$ is only a wunch hert.
Whut me pense anyways.
Buy it and beeee happy.
 
$1295 for a Miroku '86 is well below retail. If the gun speaks to you, and you can afford it, it would not be a bad purchase. They are very nice lever guns.
 
Thanks for the insights gents and to be blessed with a Kamlooky reply make it even better! I am quite tempted, gonna go fondle some more on Monday when they are open again.
 
1886 Japan

They are well made strong actions. you can load them right up to .450 Marlin speeds with no problems if you are a reloader. I used to own one and they are almost to nice to take out hunting.
 
Devlin said:
Evening Gang,

I've recently been bitten by the lever gun bug and am just learning about all things in this vast new world of old school cool rifles. I've come across a recent production (don't know specific year) Winchester 1886 but it is a Miroku produced gun with a tang safety chambered in .45-70

The gun is in great shape and what I'm told is that it was bought by a guy who just buys them and flip flops on his decision and trades them back in, most unfired. This one is in what I would call very good to excellent shape, bordering on new in box. If it has been shot it wasn't very much. There are no safe kisses, dings or dents etc on it...the shop is asking $1295 plus taxes which feels high to me but I wanted to get opinions here from those that know these guns better.

Any insight on what to look out for with these or what else I should consider is appreciated, though I am quite taken with this gun at the moment.
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My brother owned a 1886 extra light made by miroku.
He offered it to me for $1000 last fall.
I found it to be too heavy in recoil and weight.
The action was very slick despite the lawyers tang safety and rebounding hammer.
I fired it with the 430 grain hsm 45 70 ammo and I could feel myself being lifted off the ground after squeezing off the round while my bro grinned.
I said thanks bro but no thanks.
He sold it to a guy at the club for $1200.
He had a very high opinion of the workmanship and function of the gun but admitted later on that he also found it a bit sassy in regards to kick.
 
The Miroku manufactured line of Winchester lever guns is perhaps the finest built levers today and even compared to the oldies they shine. The fit, finish and overall quality exceeds the last 50 years of Winchester made products by a mile. The price is not bad and if you think you may like it, then by all means take it home with pride as you will be purchasing a very high quality rifle.
I have approx. 80 original Win leverguns and a few Mirokus, You will not be disappointed.
 
torontogungal said:
He had a very high opinion of the workmanship and function of the gun but admitted later on that he also found it a bit sassy in regards to kick.
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That's not the gun's fault. Likely it was the load/bullet combo you were using. 45-70 can be loaded from pussycat to high octane and everything in between.

On my .45-70 Marlin 1895, I have a pachmayer decelerator installed, it helped immensely.
 
c-fbmi said:
The Miroku manufactured line of Winchester lever guns is perhaps the finest built levers today and even compared to the oldies they shine. The fit, finish and overall quality exceeds the last 50 years of Winchester made products by a mile. The price is not bad and if you think you may like it, then by all means take it home with pride as you will be purchasing a very high quality rifle.
I have approx. 80 original Win leverguns and a few Mirokus, You will not be disappointed.
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Sage advice here.

The modern Miroku is perhaps BETTER fit and finished than a vintage Winchester, and definitely the steel and heat treatment will be superior modern computer controlled processes, not in the old days where guys coked and fired the billets "by eye".

I've had several Miroku products - buy with confidence and rest assured you are buying the best rifle a mass-production factory can spit out in the Winchester pattern. You'd have to buy a hand-fitted custom lever to do better than one of these.
 
I purchased a "new, on the rack" 86 this past spring (mine is 45-90, also unfired as of yet but that will change next week if the forecast is correct ), it was almost year old stock and the price was $1280 (non-negotiable I found out too). The new " U.S.dollar adjusted" price is considerably more so I think price point of your gun is not out of line. New stock (if you can find any, altho I hear the SHOT SHOW special orders are starting to come thru) I think will be in the $1675-1850 without taxes added yet.
 
Thanks everyone I think I'm going to go for it and pick this one up, will be popping up this week to have another fondle and put some cash down to secure it.
 
Claven2 said:
That's not the gun's fault. Likely it was the load/bullet combo you were using. 45-70 can be loaded from pussycat to high octane and everything in between.

On my .45-70 Marlin 1895, I have a pachmayer decelerator installed, it helped immensely.
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No, it's not the guns fault.
The hsm 45 70 ammo would very much belong in the 'high octane' category.
It pushes those 430 grain hard cast lead alloy death pills out the 22 inch spout approx 1750 fps according to my bros chrony.
The gun almost set me down on my bony keister.
 
y2k said:
The Browning 1886`s from 20-25 years ago were very well made.
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+1 - wish I'd kept the couple I've owned over the years.

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NAA.
 
Well went and took a second closer look at it today, going to pass on this one as we discovered a crack in the stock and I had thought it was an octagan barrel. The hunt for the right one continues.
 
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!!
 
Claven2 said:
$1295 for a Miroku '86 is well below retail. If the gun speaks to you, and you can afford it, it would not be a bad purchase. They are very nice lever guns.
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Just what I was thinking. Hell, a JM stamped Marlin 1895CB will set you back about $1150 and it still won't be an '86.
 
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