I know most of you single shooters are probably more on the Sharps BP and Shiloh side. And while I like that I have seen that the black is less for me.

So I have been looking at some 1885 HighWall rifles that I can shoot 45-70 in as I already have 45-70s and loading set ups.

The Winchesters I have seen are the newer built ones - not the original Winchester rifles. These are Browning built and seems to be quality rifles although I have read that the trigger, or at least the disassembly, is difficult. I have also read that possibly these don't like the extra long cast boolits as they have a shorter throat. I don't see that as too much of an issue.

I see that C Sharps also builds a 1885. The total rifle is probably $1000 more that a Winchester labeled one. You get nicer wood, and some options, and I would hope a better barrel, but I don't know that to be true.

What is you guys experience and inputs with the Winchester or the C Sharps?

Is there any practical or functional differences between the two?

I will just be using it for shooting, plinking, and maybe a bear hunt, or if I ever decide to join a buddy on a bison shoot I will have the gun for it. I would originally stay with the barrel open sights, but I will leave the scope option open as my eyes aren't getting any younger.

Thank you for your inputs.

No experince with the Sharps, but I have a Winchester 1885 sporter in 45-70. It is a newer version made by Miroku. It has a 24" barrel which makes for a very short overall package on an 1885 action... very handy on foot or in a stand.

I know it will sound cliche, but it is actually the most accurate rifle I own. Using H335 and the 405gr Remington FP's, it will literally cut 5 shot, 3/4" cloverleafs at 100yds.

And the H335 makes a rather impressive fireball at the indoor range!

I have a 2-7x35 Vortex mounted on it. Not the most traditional look, but the smaller size of the 2-7x still gives it a balanced look... (and my eyes aren't young either).

I think either the japan browning BPCR with a trigger fix or the c-sharps with sst would be very compeditive in bpcr with correct sights. the older c-sharps came with a badger barrel as did the browning. For hunting I would not care to lug around a 12# gun.

The C Sharps is pretty much a faithful copy of the original 1885 Winchester single shot. It will have a lot of drop in the stock due to the design geometry. The original rifle was naturally designed only for iron sights so the comb will be too low for a scope without a lace on cheek rest.

I have experience with a number of the Browning Miroku rifles. As you have read the action is not a causal thing to take down. However there should be little reason to disassemble one.

The triggers can be tuned up by Lee Shaver.

Most of my experience is with the BPCR version of these rifles. They have excellent excellent barrels and sights.

I have also shot the standard weight rifles alot. With jacketed bullets they are about as accurate as smaller caliber rifles. With cast bullets they can be accurate but the accuracy depends a lot on the quality of the cast bullets.

Finally the Browning Miroku modern design has straighter geometery resulting in a stock that better for use with a scope.

I have the first type of the Browning 1885 , Miroku/Badger .I cut it to 22" .Disassembly is not hard except driving out pin is. Putting back together requires a trick.A bit of engraving ,matt finish ,scoped for hunting.Trigger was fine .300 factory - less than 1" Premium bullets better as standard are to soft for under 100 yds.This is a sporter the only available then and with scope is 8.5 lbs .Just right. For some reason deer don't travel far when hit !

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Thank you very much guys for all the informative replies.

I am going for the Winchester.

My dad, my wife, and my son all shoot C. Sharps High-walls for BPCR competition. All I can say is that all three guns shoot outstandingly, and the C. Sharps folks are a pleasure to deal with. The Brownings that were built as BPCR rifles have Badger barrels and also shoot very well. I don't know anything about the newer Winchester/Miroku guns as far as accuracy. If you favor an authentic finish, the C. Sharps has it, whereas the Brownings have a more modern finish. The Browning has a standard trigger and the C. Sharps can be ordered with a single-set trigger. Uberti and Pedersoli also make high-walls, and their guns generally shoot very well also.

I am not doing any competitions, but I do appreciate all the inputs.

The one Winchester I saw did have the color case hardened receiver. I may have to at least call C Sharps about their stock dimensions because as SR said above I would prefer, and probably shoot better too, with the more modern straight stock.

The set trigger can be nice though as well as some personalized set up. Made in USA never hurt either.

I have Sharps replicas with DST and I loathe them. However original Winchester highwalls could be purchased with a close coupled DST that I think would be really nice. A single set would be even better.

quote:

Originally posted by TexKD:
I am not doing any competitions, but I do appreciate all the inputs.

The one Winchester I saw did have the color case hardened receiver. I may have to at least call C Sharps about their stock dimensions because as SR said above I would prefer, and probably shoot better too, with the more modern straight stock.

The set trigger can be nice though as well as some personalized set up. Made in USA never hurt either.

I just went and looked at the C Sharps site and they do indeed have the single set trigger as an option. Thank you SR. I will have to give them a call. But I was trying to not have to spend the extra $1K for it vs the Winchester lol.

The LOP on my c-sharps is a little long at 14 1/8" but reaching for the trigger seems to make me a little better shot on the rail animals. The exterior finish is very good and action is very smooth although the inside parts are not as well finished as an original. My japchester that I shoot in competition needs the action blown out with compressed air about ever 100 rounds or I have trigger problems. It appears that browning BPCR rifles have gone up in price recently making the c-sharps look like a bargain to me.

Yes the Browning or Winchester BPCRs are indeed more costly.

I priced up the Shiloh with some wood upgrades and the single set trigger on their site at about $2300. The Winchester Sporter is about 1300 or so.

Of course I would probably be shooting mostly smokeless in mine. Blasphemy lol .

Yep, I have seen the sporter with 28" barrel for as little as $1100 . I don't know who makes the barrels.

If you will never shoot competition with it you might consider a browning b-78 or you could shoot scope with it. Don't know if Lee Shaver will work on the trigger but it would make a heck of a good hunting gun in 45-70 and is as close to a highwall as any japchester.