The first three runs of Miroku 1886 Winchester rifles (1998, 1999, and 2000) could develop an issue with light (almost non-existent in my case) primer strikes. This was discussed in an issue of Rifle or Handloader magazine, and Dave Scoville’s remedy was to remove the triple redundant safety all together, and never carry his rifle with a round in the chamber. A local Smith fixed my gun by removing one of the redundancies in my safety. That gun eventually got traded off. I now have the opportunity to perhaps buy one of these rifles again that is new in box, and for a very cheap price, but I am hesitant to do so because of the safety issue. Anyone have any experience with this, and may know if Winchester came up with a fix? I understand Subsequent runs of these rifles did not have this issue.

I'm sorry to tell you that I have the same problem, Matt, but glad to find some answer.

Until now I was wondering if I'd stretched the action with handloads or if the thin rims on Starline brass created headspace. I've only had two or three cartridges fail to fire but primer indent always looks a bit shallow.

I bought my .45-70 s/h but believe it is much younger than those you mention.

I wonder if we could get them to do a recall?

My advice is to pay more and get the older Browning/Miroku 1886 without the crappy safety. It's a far superior rifle. You get what you pay for.

Or how about a real vintage Winchester instead of some Jap knock-off?
After all "you get what you pay for" eh?

quote:

Originally posted by sambarman338:
I'm sorry to tell you that I have the same problem, Matt, but glad to find some answer.

Until now I was wondering if I'd stretched the action with handloads or if the thin rims on Starline brass created headspace. I've only had two or three cartridges fail to fire but primer indent always looks a bit shallow.

I bought my .45-70 s/h but believe it is much younger than those you mention.

I wonder if we could get them to do a recall?

I know that customers have complained about this before to USRAC, which was FN’s previous entity in charge of Winchester, and I imagine if this is common in the newer guns, they just don’t care.

While I don’t load to 40k psi, these guns can handle it, and Doug Turnbull has recommended (on AR) that the Miroku 1886 are the best for the hot rounds like his 475 and 50 Alaskan. The receivers are cut from 4135, and are certainly stronger than any original 86 or 71. The walls are slightly thicker as well. Their extra light isn’t really very light at all, but it is a much handier hunting rifle than the full size versions.

My 'Jap knock-off' was annointed by Winchester and is probably stronger than the originals. We've removed the safety and covered the hole with a tang sight but I need to fix the strike issue. Though they are a pain to get into, there must be something that can be done - and FN/Miroku should help.

PS: it has occurred to me that that crazy safety (which only prevented the dropping hammer achieving anything) meant much of the hammer had to be milled away.

Could the hammer's reduced mass explain the misfires?

Does your rifle have a flat spring or coil spring for the hammer? My Jap Brownings have flat springs with tension adjustment screws, just like the originals.

quote:

Originally posted by Bitterroot:
Does your rifle have a flat spring or coil spring for the hammer? My Jap Brownings have flat springs with tension adjustment screws, just like the originals.

You sure about that??

I can't tell from looking at mine but 'Target Suite' on YouTube shows a Miroku Winchester with a helical hammer spring.

quote:

Originally posted by sambarman338:
I can't tell from looking at mine but 'Target Suite' on YouTube shows a Miroku Winchester with a helical hammer spring.

All the Jap Browning/Winchester 86's have coil mainsprings. The trigger and carrier springs are flat. If he has one with flat mainspring it has been altered, or it is an uber rare specimen.

You're right, I'm wrong. I have my Browning 1895 apart and spread out on the bench and I must have had that on the brain. It has the flat trigger spring. Just spreading dis-information here

quote:

Originally posted by Bitterroot:
You're right, I'm wrong. I have my Browning 1895 apart and spread out on the bench and I must have had that on the brain. It has the flat trigger spring. Just spreading dis-information here

No worries. I WISH my early Brownings were flat main spring. The originals just feel better...

I found that Target Suite video really good, though the dude gave no info on our problem.

I don't suppose a washer could be put behind the spring to make it heavier?