Miroku Winchester

[Mistered]

Handled an 1873 Miroku Winchester in a local LGS the other day. Fit and finish were very nice, very nice wood and very tight but smooth action. Came to my shoulder with the grace and elegance of a Stradivarius. Pull, drop an balance were perfect and probably the best buckhorn sight I have ever looked down. Do I want it ? yes! Will I buy it? Probably not - I can't get past the 'Made by the J. A. Pan Co.' on the barrel!

[tractortad]

Don't let the made in Japan thing hold you back - Miroku has been making guns for a very long time and they know how to make good ones. That Miroku 1873 Winchester you held is probably made better than anything Winchester has put together in over 50 years...

[Mistered]

Oh I am aware of miroku and their quality- previously owned one - a Browning BL 22. The odd part however was the bluing of the barrel on the 1873 - it looked more black than blue.

[RanchRoper]

I love their 1866. Would get one if I had the dough.

[tractortad]

Never really noticed that on our 1873, but now that you mentioned it, it does have really dark bluing on the barrel.

We've got a pair of BL-22's - they are fine little 22LR rifles - different than most due to the trigger that cycles with the short throw lever, but still mighty fine. Why did you give yours up?

[tractortad]

I love their 1866. Would get one if I had the dough.

X2 - they are just like yours except with a loading gate...

[Mistered]

If I recall the Bl 22 was too small for me - i am a tall ape armed type. And I believe I traded it away many years ago.

[tractortad]

If I recall the Bl 22 was too small for me - i am a tall ape armed type. And I believe I traded it away many years ago.

yea - they are very light compared to a Henry Octagon barrel or Marlin 39A - sometimes they are hard to keep steady on target because they are so light - like trying to hold a stick steady. The young ones like em, though - easy to shoot...

[Mistered]

or Marlin 39A

Of which I own!

[tractortad]

or Marlin 39A

Of which I own!

Probably the best 22LR rifle ever made....

[North Country Gal]

I'm all for buying American when I can, but if I have to go with made in Japan to get a rifle that is reliably good out of the box, gun after gun (we have NEVER had a problem with a Miroku made gun) with no issues, no defects, no mods needed, no interruptions in my shooting time, no calls or emails to customer service, I'll gladly pay the higher price tag. I'm so fed up with paying big bucks for some American brands and getting poor QC and new guns that won't even function, right out of the box. Right now, I'd even trust some Italian made guns more than some U.S. brand guns.

[RanchRoper]

I'm with you on that one. Open the box, give it a once over, and then off to the range. So far that has been my experience with the Henry Big Boy, and my 2 Ubertis. Those Winchesters are sure pretty rifles, regardless of the country of origin.

[BigAl52]

I have no issues with the J A P A N. Its the China thing for me. There in our food as well as everywhere else.