farscott
Member
Unlike my usual plan to research first and then buy, I fell in lust with a rifle at my local dealer on Saturday afternoon and I took it home with me on Monday evening as an early Christmas gift from my wife. (Oh, yes, she is very good to me.) In the mean time, I tried to do my research, but I could not find too much on the subject. So here I am asking for help.
For some time, I have admired the falling block action, and I have gotten the chance to mess with a few, including a Ruger #1 in .30-06 and a Dakota in .270 Winchester. While I was aware of the 1885 action and know of the two basic variants (High Wall and Low Wall), that is the extent of my knowledge about the action other than it is a John Moses Browning design.
The rifle that I took home is a Browning 1885 Low Wall in .243 Winchester wearing a dusty (need to work on that tonight) Leupold 3-9X Vari-X II Compact scope in Leupold rings on a Browning-marked base. The rifle has been afield as it has some stock dings, but the wood is gorgeous. The action itself looks good (as much I can tell), and the tapered octagon barrel is close to 95%. I found one ding near the muzzle, but it appears superficial as it is well away from the crown.
Since this is a modern rifle, I am assuming the action is not pure 1885. The rifle did not come with a manual, and I have not yet found one on Browning's web site. Any hints on takedown?
How about value? My wife paid $1250 for the rifle and scope.
I also need to work up a load for it as I have never loaded .243 Winchester. I think this one is going to be my deer rifle.
For some time, I have admired the falling block action, and I have gotten the chance to mess with a few, including a Ruger #1 in .30-06 and a Dakota in .270 Winchester. While I was aware of the 1885 action and know of the two basic variants (High Wall and Low Wall), that is the extent of my knowledge about the action other than it is a John Moses Browning design.
The rifle that I took home is a Browning 1885 Low Wall in .243 Winchester wearing a dusty (need to work on that tonight) Leupold 3-9X Vari-X II Compact scope in Leupold rings on a Browning-marked base. The rifle has been afield as it has some stock dings, but the wood is gorgeous. The action itself looks good (as much I can tell), and the tapered octagon barrel is close to 95%. I found one ding near the muzzle, but it appears superficial as it is well away from the crown.
Since this is a modern rifle, I am assuming the action is not pure 1885. The rifle did not come with a manual, and I have not yet found one on Browning's web site. Any hints on takedown?
How about value? My wife paid $1250 for the rifle and scope.
I also need to work up a load for it as I have never loaded .243 Winchester. I think this one is going to be my deer rifle.
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