Spring has sprung. Get out and shoot your Henry
1885 single shot steals the show - again.
- North Country Gal
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- Location: northern Wisconsin
1885 single shot steals the show - again.
We finally made it to the range, yesterday, after over a week of terrible shooting weather. Not surprisingly, given our urge to shoot, we took more guns than we should have. Took revolvers, semi-auto pistols, a couple excellent CZ rimfire bolt guns and just as we were heading out the door, decided to throw in one more with our Winchester/Miroku 1885 Low Wall Rimfire Hunter in 22 LR. And, why not? From experience, we both know that shooting a falling block single shot is a sure thing for making any shooting trip one to remember.
This Low Wall 22 LR is the pefect example of a gun that is greater than the sum of its features. We have more accurate 22s, but this 1885 is very accurate. It takes a real match grade rifle to beat it. We have 22 rifles with better triggers, true match grade triggers, in fact, but the trigger on this one, like all our 1885s is what I call a good hunting trigger, breaking with a clean and ever consistent three pounds of pull. We have 22 rifles with fancier wood, some even with engraving. And, of course, being a single shot, we have guns that shoot much faster. Oh, yeah, I felt a little outdated, what with two guys shooting ported AR style rifles on either side of us, yesterday.
Here you see why these are called falling block single shots
This one wears and excellent 3-9x Nikon Prostaff EFR
Was getting a bit fatigued after shooting 4 other guns, thee handguns and an excellent CZ 457 bolt gun, bit no way was I going home without shooting the 1885. We forgot our sandbags at home, so cobbled a rest together from what I could find at the range. No problem. This a hunting rifle, after all, not some fancy bench gun. Wasn't sure what ammo I had used to sight in the scope, so shot one for effect with the Eley ammo. Just a touch low at 50 yards, so went three clicks up on the elevation with the Nikon.
That's seven shots in the orange, by the way, not my usual 5, since I couldn't see any effect with two of them.
Again, this is a hunting rifle. They didn't label it a Low Wall Hunter for nothing, so time to shoot it without a rest. Once, again, no way to shoot from a standing position, so just went to my sitting offhand position, shooting with no support for the rifle, just some support for my butt.
3" bull, scope at 4x
I should add that I had to nag Bill to hand over the 1885, once he started shooting it, even though he had been shooting one of our scoped rimfire CZ bolt guns with a tuned trigger. He just couldn't stop shooting the Winchester. This Low Wall 1885 is just that kind of gun.
This Low Wall 22 LR is the pefect example of a gun that is greater than the sum of its features. We have more accurate 22s, but this 1885 is very accurate. It takes a real match grade rifle to beat it. We have 22 rifles with better triggers, true match grade triggers, in fact, but the trigger on this one, like all our 1885s is what I call a good hunting trigger, breaking with a clean and ever consistent three pounds of pull. We have 22 rifles with fancier wood, some even with engraving. And, of course, being a single shot, we have guns that shoot much faster. Oh, yeah, I felt a little outdated, what with two guys shooting ported AR style rifles on either side of us, yesterday.
Here you see why these are called falling block single shots
This one wears and excellent 3-9x Nikon Prostaff EFR
Was getting a bit fatigued after shooting 4 other guns, thee handguns and an excellent CZ 457 bolt gun, bit no way was I going home without shooting the 1885. We forgot our sandbags at home, so cobbled a rest together from what I could find at the range. No problem. This a hunting rifle, after all, not some fancy bench gun. Wasn't sure what ammo I had used to sight in the scope, so shot one for effect with the Eley ammo. Just a touch low at 50 yards, so went three clicks up on the elevation with the Nikon.
That's seven shots in the orange, by the way, not my usual 5, since I couldn't see any effect with two of them.
Again, this is a hunting rifle. They didn't label it a Low Wall Hunter for nothing, so time to shoot it without a rest. Once, again, no way to shoot from a standing position, so just went to my sitting offhand position, shooting with no support for the rifle, just some support for my butt.
3" bull, scope at 4x
I should add that I had to nag Bill to hand over the 1885, once he started shooting it, even though he had been shooting one of our scoped rimfire CZ bolt guns with a tuned trigger. He just couldn't stop shooting the Winchester. This Low Wall 1885 is just that kind of gun.
6 x
- markiver54
- Deputy Marshal
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Re: 1885 single shot steals the show - again.
WOW! Great shooting. Sounds, and looks like an excellent range outing. Thanks for sharing. It's always good to see these great looking and shooting firearms. You two are definitely up to demonstrating their capabilities!!
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I'm your Huckleberry
- Ojaileveraction
- Cowboy
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Re: 1885 single shot steals the show - again.
Thanks NCG,
Another great report. Winchester 1885 Low Wall is a Bucket List rifle for me.
I wanted one as a kid and want one in 17wsm now.
Tim
Another great report. Winchester 1885 Low Wall is a Bucket List rifle for me.
I wanted one as a kid and want one in 17wsm now.
Tim
Last edited by Ojaileveraction on Wed Oct 09, 2019 1:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Pax at Justitia
- RanchRoper
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Re: 1885 single shot steals the show - again.
Excellent. Itchy to get my '85 High Wall...
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1860 Colt SA Richards Conversion Revolver .45C
1860 Henry .45C
1885 High Wall .45C
1820-1840 Frontier Percussion .50
1790-1820 Frontier Flintlock .50
Ohkínohkomit - Shoot skillfully
1860 Henry .45C
1885 High Wall .45C
1820-1840 Frontier Percussion .50
1790-1820 Frontier Flintlock .50
Ohkínohkomit - Shoot skillfully
Re: 1885 single shot steals the show - again.
Sounds like an enjoyable day at the range. Excellant shooting results. Thanks for showing what a falling block looks like.
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UPDATES: OR passes 114, "one of strictest gun control measures in U.S." https://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic. ... 34#p213234
Re: 1885 single shot steals the show - again.
I think NCG did this on purpose to tease RR. Hes up there trapped in the house with a blizzard and nothing to do except dream about an 1885 Hi Wall in 45 Colt. Nice shooting to NCG
1 x
Don't worry about getting older and still doing stupid stuff. You'll do the stupid stuff as always, only much slower. Hold my beer and watch this.......
H001T .22LR
H001T .22LR MONUMENT VALLEY
H003T PUMP .22LR
BBS .41 MAG
SS .357
SIDE GATE 38-55
H001T .22LR
H001T .22LR MONUMENT VALLEY
H003T PUMP .22LR
BBS .41 MAG
SS .357
SIDE GATE 38-55
Re: 1885 single shot steals the show - again.
Really good report, and nice shooting. That's a rifle to envy, for all of us .
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- North Country Gal
- Firearms Advisor
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- Location: northern Wisconsin
Re: 1885 single shot steals the show - again.
Thanks, guys, and, yeah, kind of figured I'd get RR's attention with this post. Seriously, though, RR, I am really looking forward to see what you can do with your 1885 when it arrives. We all are. Hope it gets here, soon.
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- RanchRoper
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Re: 1885 single shot steals the show - again.
NCG: do you prefer pistol grip over straight stock? I ordered mine straight stock.
1 x
1860 Colt SA Richards Conversion Revolver .45C
1860 Henry .45C
1885 High Wall .45C
1820-1840 Frontier Percussion .50
1790-1820 Frontier Flintlock .50
Ohkínohkomit - Shoot skillfully
1860 Henry .45C
1885 High Wall .45C
1820-1840 Frontier Percussion .50
1790-1820 Frontier Flintlock .50
Ohkínohkomit - Shoot skillfully
- North Country Gal
- Firearms Advisor
- Posts: 6094
- Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:46 pm
- Location: northern Wisconsin
Re: 1885 single shot steals the show - again.
RR, I use that finger groove in the lever for the sake of carrying and handling, so really haven't noticed much difference between this one and our classic with its straight grip stock. I do prefer the straight for looks, though.
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