A couple of Browning Low Walls

[potatojudge]

I've been a long time fan of the single shot rifle- mostly the No 1, No 3, B78 High Wall, and these two Browning Low Walls. 

One is the "Traditional Hunter" model in 45 Colt. The rear sight was removed and replaced with a 3/8 dovetail to weaver adaptor by Skinner to mount the Burris FF3. I didn't want to drill and tap the gun or lose the handling of iron sights, but I found myself leaving this one at home because in low light shots were a no-go. It's not the prettiest, but it's non-permanent and functional. The gun has great wood and a nice half-round half-octagon barrel. 

The second I got from bushog (thanks again!) and started life as a 243 Win. I had it rebored to 338 Federal by JES which lightened the gun appreciably. It addresses the shortcomings of the Traditional Hunter- mainly it's optic-ready, has a full octagon barrel, and has much better trajectory. 

Both rifles are great to carry with their slim stocks, light weight, nice checkering, and excellent balance.

[bushog]

Yeah, that .243 was a sweetheart...once we got the right box! Hahahaha (not so funny actually)

Still think a .358 would have been cooler.....

I just bought another in .223. If it shoots as good as the .22 hornet low wall I have I'll be thrilled.

All of them I've had shot really well except the one I really wanted to. It was a .260 Rem and I might as well have been throwing rocks...

I kinda want to get another hornet and get it bored to .32 for a .32-20.

We'll see....

[potatojudge]

Jeez, yeah that was a mess but alls well that ends well! Lesson learned- just because the box is correct and the gun looks right, double check the caliber of the gun BEFORE accepting the transfer.

If it was in 358 I'd be loading powderpuff loads with pistol bullets and it'd be a plinker, plus I have a No 3 in 357 Max and it felt like there'd be too much overlap. The 338 won out for trajectory, FWIW. Maybe it's just me, because you don't seem to be a fan of the 338 Federal and neither was the TSA when I left three rounds of it in a side pocket of my overnight bag 

It's unfortunate about that 260. I looked for one of those and a 6.5 Swede, both of which you've sent down the road. Your Swede came too late, plus I prefer the Browning to the Winchester. 


BTW, way to stick with the HST avatar! I seem to remember him having a preference for Japanese bikes?

[bushog]

Actually that's a Bultaco Matador.....Spanish...and awesome....

Nothing wrong with the .338 Federal....nothin'....

I've been curious about one of the Winchester 1885s in 6.5 creedmoor with that 28" barrel.

If the twist is right you could sure get some extra velocity out of some high B.C. bullets...

[kings6]

I’ve never had one if the low walls but I do still have an early B78 in 7 mag left in the safe. In years past I also had octagon barrelled 30-06, 25-06, HB 22-250 and the rare HB 243. I’d love to get one of the long range 1885 guns but I have to get through this decades long single action “thing”!

[potatojudge]

The stocks on the B78 are especially nice for scoped guns. My pop used to hunt with a B78, octagon 30-06 until he gave it to my uncle last year. For three decades it was the nicest gun anyone in the family owned, and I was lucky enough to get a deer with it when I was 17.

Greg, in a High Wall you could really push the 6.5 CM, or the 6.5 Swede for that matter.

[magnumwheelman]

I'm a single shot rifle lover as well... mine are mostly custom Martinis & Rolling Blocks... I would love to add, & plan to eventually, a couple #1's & a high wall or two... I was always warned away from the low walls ( especially original custom rifles ) as the couldn't take high pressure rounds... .243 seems like a lot of pressure for a low wall... the Browning guns must be significantly stronger??? I was always told they were basically non magnum handgun round capable ( like the OP's 45 Colt ) .243 is quite a step over that... so are the Browning low walls safe for pretty much any of the "AR" class cartridges???

[sportster]

I have owned a B78 in 45-70, sold it to my brother. Kind of regret it but I still get visitation rights to it.

[potatojudge]

Dec 12, 2017 6:48:25 GMT -5 magnumwheelman said:

I'm a single shot rifle lover as well... mine are mostly custom Martinis & Rolling Blocks... I would love to add, & plan to eventually, a couple #1's & a high wall or two... I was always warned away from the low walls ( especially original custom rifles ) as the couldn't take high pressure rounds... .243 seems like a lot of pressure for a low wall... the Browning guns must be significantly stronger??? I was always told they were basically non magnum handgun round capable ( like the OP's 45 Colt ) .243 is quite a step over that... so are the Browning low walls safe for pretty much any of the "AR" class cartridges???

The Miroku made (modern Browning and Winchester) can safely fire 308 family cartridges as well as 6.5 Swede. I wouldn't hot-rod them in these actions, but factory levels are safe. 

Older Winchester guns are complicated as to which frames can handle what cartridges, and there's debate about what is and isn't safe. They're definitely not safe for the 308 class of cartridges. 

For the 243 to 338 Federal conversion it was pretty straightforward. The overall pressures and bolt thrust are the same, so it's just as safe. The extractor and most of the chamber are the same, and only the neck was reamed out and the bore recut. 

[rWt]

To me, single shot rifles such as these are like well designed SXS shotguns-simply elegant.

Thanks for awakening a too-long dormant interest.