Ruger Only 45 Colt in Browning / Miroku 1885?

[StanleyWhite]

I may have scored a Browning / Miroku 1885 Traditional Hunter in 45 Colt -- I am waiting for the seller to get back to work.

While I understand the falling block to be extremely strong, I feel the need to ask anyway:

Can a Browning / Miroku 1885 Traditional Hunter handle Ruger Only 45 Colt loads?

Thank you.

-Stan

[x101airborne]

I would call Browning and ask (provided they still have a customer service department).
I dont have enough experience with Browning's to answer your question, sadly.

[Encore64]

It sure can. A friend had his rechambered to 454 Casull. I'm not sure I'd go that far, but he's never had any problems with his.

They build those guns in the Short Magnums, so...

[StanleyWhite]

Jun 21, 2021 6:50:39 GMT -5 Encore64 said:

It sure can. A friend had his rechambered to 454 Casull. I'm not sure I'd go that far, but he's never had any problems with his.

They build those guns in the Short Magnums, so...

Thank you Encore64 !

The Low Wall version of the 1885, which is the one 45 Colt exists in, was also offered in 243 Winchester, which supposedly a 60,000 PSI round.

If I assume the 243 Winchester and the 45 Colt versions of the Low Wall use the same steel / heat treat etc, then I think the Ruger Only 45 Colt rounds will be okay.

-Stan

[potatojudge]

I have the same gun and never found a clear statement on Ruger only loads.

My only complaint is zero provisions for optics. Nice little gun otherwise.

[potatojudge]

Jun 21, 2021 6:50:39 GMT -5 Encore64 said:

It sure can. A friend had his rechambered to 454 Casull. I'm not sure I'd go that far, but he's never had any problems with his.

They build those guns in the Short Magnums, so...

They build the low wall in a WSM that’s not the 17WSM? Biggest I’ve seen are the 308/6.5 Swede family

[Encore64]

Jun 21, 2021 14:51:46 GMT -5 potatojudge said:

Jun 21, 2021 6:50:39 GMT -5 Encore64 said:

It sure can. A friend had his rechambered to 454 Casull. I'm not sure I'd go that far, but he's never had any problems with his.

They build those guns in the Short Magnums, so...

They build the low wall in a WSM that’s not the 17WSM? Biggest I’ve seen are the 308/6.5 Swede family

In the original post it didn't specify low wall or high wall.

Irregardless, if it'll hold 308ish pressure, Ruger Only 45 Colt loads will not be an issue.

[StanleyWhite]

Jun 21, 2021 15:05:06 GMT -5 Encore64 said:

Jun 21, 2021 14:51:46 GMT -5 potatojudge said:

They build the low wall in a WSM that’s not the 17WSM? Biggest I’ve seen are the 308/6.5 Swede family

In the original post it didn't specify low wall or high wall.

Irregardless, if it'll hold 308ish pressure, Ruger Only 45 Colt loads will not be an issue.

The 45 Colt version is a low wall.

-Stan

[45MAN]

BUMPING THIS THREAD TO ASK ABOUT D&T'ing FOR SCOPES, MOUNTS, etc.

[potatojudge]

For a while I had a Burris fast-fire in a mount that fit the rear dovetail. It worked fine but didn’t fill a need and looked meh so I went back to irons.

[ridgeline]

I have the more recent Winchester version of the Miroku-made 1885 in 243. I can't speak to the 45 Colt load issue, but regarding the mounting of optics on this rifle I found the following article to be very helpful. It is specific to the High Wall version, but applies to the Low Wall as well, which is what I have. It also has useful info on modifying the trigger and other issues.

www.diyhntr.com/firearms/71-model-1885-high-wall-base-ring-trigger

If you're not shooting long range then the Talley base that is specially made for this version of the 1885 is very solid and works well along with the Talley rings (just make sure you get the right base as they're different for High Wall and Low Wall). I didn't find the ring lapping to be necessary on mine.

www.talleymanufacturing.com/product/browning-1885/

If you need lots of MOA range for dialing up long distance shots then the Weaver #29 and #11 bases can be used along with Burris Signature Zee rings with their adjustable synthetic inserts to get more dialing range.

[potatojudge]

May 22, 2024 17:13:59 GMT -5 45MAN said:

BUMPING THIS THREAD TO ASK ABOUT D&T'ing FOR SCOPES, MOUNTS, etc.

I pulled my Traditional Hunter in 45 Colt and two other Browning low walls (260, 338 Federal) and the receiver and barrel contours appear the same. A good gunsmith should be able to drill and tap the 45 for factory bases. 

The Leupold VXIII 1.5-5 in a gloss finish would be excellent on the 45 version. 

The 45 barrel does transition to round profile, but the shank is octagon same as the others. 

[45MAN]

potatojudge: SO YOUR 260 AND 338 WERE FACTORY D&T'ed BUT THE 45 COLT IS NOT?

[potatojudge]

May 23, 2024 6:55:23 GMT -5 45MAN said:

potatojudge: SO YOUR 260 AND 338 WERE FACTORY D&T'ed BUT THE 45 COLT IS NOT?

Correct, with the caveat that the 338 was a 243 that JES rebored for me. 

The Traditional Hunter came in 357, 44 mag, and 45 Colt. The receiver has a tang that's D&T for a folding sight, iron sights, an octagon to round barrel, a matte bluing on the barrel, matte wood finish with a crescent butt plate, and cyanide case coloring on the receiver. 

The standard model came in 22 hornet, 223, 243, 260, 6.5x55 and have a receiver with no tang, no irons, gloss blue throughout, gloss wood finish with a plastic butt plate, and they were D&T for scope bases. The rear base attaches to the receiver, the front to the barrel, and they're pretty hefty pieces of steel. 

Prices of these have gone up considerably or I'd probably have one in 357 (which would be reamed to a Max) and a 44. 

My 45 Colt has seen some Ruger only loads but none of my Redhawk only loads. I don't need it to be a 454, but it's reassuring the strength is there. 

I've considered having my 45 D&T'd, but it would probably hurt the value and it's just a really nice, trim rifle for carrying unscoped. I have Contenders and a No 3 in 357 Max that fill the scoped pistol round role, so the temptation passes.

That said, do what makes the gun work best for you. The factory bases would look clean.