Pedersoli 1886 clone

[6MT]

I just got one of my dream rifles. This one is a modern clone of the classic Winchester model 1886 lever in 45-70. I have been on a wait list for the Miroku Winchester 1886 for over two years. When I found out that there is no production date in the foreseeable future from Winchester, I decided to take the plunge on a Taylor’s & Company (read:hotrodded) Pedersoli 1886.



Thanks to Clay at Prophet River….he had two of these! So I proceeded to head out to Lloydminster for their gun show a week or so ago. With the plan to choose one of these two that Clay had.

When I got it home, I cleaned it up, lubed, and treated the wood. It has the colour case hardened finish. Words just can’t do this justice. Neither can my pictures…you really need to see this in person. The wood is incredible too.







This has the 26” round 1:18” barrel. The magazine holds 8 of the big torpedo rounds. And you can chamber one as well to give you 9 rounds on board.



Continued on the next pane….

[6MT]

So I immediately went about rolling up some rounds to try it out. I thought that using the same load as my old Marlin 1895 bear bust’n shorty would suffice. With Campro 350gr flat nose bullets over 49gr of IMR4198 with CCI BR2 primers.









So out I went on Thursday (yes, I took the day off work) to try it out.

First impressions were pretty good. The first ten shots were point of aim at 100m. The sights are dead-on! Banging away on all the steel, especially the small 8” gong was sure fun! The loading gate is nothing like my Rossi .44mag. The Pedersoli is smooth like butter! Loading is a pleasure with this.



I decided to move over and try it out at longer range. I was popp’n away at 200m with regularity. Sad but true, but this might just be more accurate then my single shot Sharps 1874. But then again, it’s probably me and getting used to the sights on the Sharps. But this 1886 is a whole lot of fun! Yes it’s heavy. What do you expect with that action, the heavy wood, and that 26” barrel? But once you get the hang of it…you can’t have more fun with your clothes on.



I shot a 103 rounds from the 1886 and... another 50 from my single shot Sharps. That’s a whole lot of 45-70 in one outing. And my shoulder was pretty sore on Friday. I am so glad I took the plunge on this. I had to hide it from my Wife (successfully, I might add), and I really had other things financially that I needed to look after. But I don’t regret it.

[Trochu]

Originally Posted by 6MT

And my shoulder was pretty sore on Friday.

I'm not sure why with that soft looking recoil pad!

Glad you enjoyed it, looks like a nice gun.

[58thecat]

That’s a beauty rifle ya got there.
Put the smack down on something come fall!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[cody j]

That’s a great looking rifle!!

[waldedw]

Sweet rifle, and I can imagine 153 rounds out of a 45-70 in an afternoon would bring a tear to a glass eye.

[6MT]

Thanks for the kind words! It is a really fun gun.

[Mavrick]

Good for you, I have the Miroku 1886. I bought it about a year before Wholesale Sports went down.

It’s a fun gun to shoot, only thing I hate on mine is the rebound hammer,
I’m old school and wish it had the half cock.

I read on the internet that there was a fix for it so I called a few gun smith’s, but none seemed to interested in looking at it.

Enjoy the new gun it’s a good looking piece, but sleep with one eye open for a while, just in case your lady finds out.

[1886]

I read the new browning hammer and sear will fit into the Winchester rifle. Supposed to give you half cock and no rebound hammer. Google it and check it out.

[brass410]

thats a nice thunder stick ya got there !!! hubba hubba

[6MT]

Originally Posted by Mavrick

Good for you, I have the Miroku 1886. I bought it about a year before Wholesale Sports went down.

It’s a fun gun to shoot, only thing I hate on mine is the rebound hammer,
I’m old school and wish it had the half cock.

I read on the internet that there was a fix for it so I called a few gun smith’s, but none seemed to interested in looking at it.

Enjoy the new gun it’s a good looking piece, but sleep with one eye open for a while, just in case your lady finds out.

The rebound hammer, safety, and main spring are the lawyer’ing things about the Mikoru 1886 I don’t like. Being on a wait list for as long as I was, it didn’t occur to me that there may have been other options. The Pedersoli doesn’t have that sillly hammer or a safety. But it also doesn’t have a half cock either, which is disappointing.

But the smoothness of the action and loading gate, as well as the fit and finish far outweigh that disappointment. That wood is also beautiful, as well as the case hardened finish. And the accuracy is just the icing on the cake.

I am pleased. The guys in the USA CAS forum seem to think I made a really good choice. So far, it’s been a fun piece of kit.

[fps plus]

Nice rifle. I have a original win 1886 with steel crescent butt and damn it hurts . I think the steel butt plate was designed by someone’s angry wife!

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by 6MT

Thanks for the kind words! It is a really fun gun.

Now go ice your shoulder
No pain no gain they say.....

[Armorman]

Nice. And kudos to you for sneaking it in without wifey knowing! That's the hardest part....lol.

[hogie]

Very nice. I went with the 86/71 version in 45-70. The version I have can have the bolt mounted peep sight that can be installed. It's a reproduction of the original model 71 peep sight. Shoots good, I was surprised how good the trigger was. Wood grain very similar to yours as well.

[Battle Rat]

Originally Posted by fps plus

Nice rifle. I have a original win 1886 with steel crescent butt and damn it hurts . I think the steel butt plate was designed by someone’s angry wife!

I have an original one also.
The steel butt plate keeps the snowflakes from wanting to borrow your rifle, LOL.

[6MT]

My mistake…the Pedersoli does have a half cock. Cleaning it today, I noticed. I guess I didn’t notice because I was just using the bolt with the lever action to cock the hammer.

An old dog can learn new things.

[marxman]

Doesnt the miroku also have half cock? The rebound puts it in half cock or you can put it there if i remember right on my 30 30

[6MT]

Originally Posted by marxman

Doesnt the miroku also have half cock? The rebound puts it in half cock or you can put it there if i remember right on my 30 30

I don’t know on the 1886 Miroku. But my 1873 Miroku did have the half cock. It was an older model, before the tang safety.

[Cement Bench]

it is always nice to fulfill the dreams

[Mavrick]

My Miroku 1873 has the half cock, and rebound hammer.

My Miroku 1886 has a rebound hammer, but no half cock.

I bought the 73 after the 86 so there must have been a change up? I’m still looking through the internet to find the answer to the change.

Just curious more than anything.

[marxman]

Originally Posted by Mavrick

My Miroku 1873 has the half cock, and rebound hammer.

My Miroku 1886 has a rebound hammer, but no half cock.

I bought the 73 after the 86 so there must have been a change up? I’m still looking through the internet to find the answer to the change.

Just curious more than anything.

How can you have a rebound hammer with no half cock? What would it be rebounding to? Try pushing your hammer back to fully fired after it has rebounded. I dont have my miroku winchester 94 any more. My miroku 73 has no safety or rebound just half cock.

[marxman]

Nice rifle 6mt

[1886]

So I dug out my miroku 1886 in 45-90 to check the half cock on the hammer. It does have a half cock on the hammer. It rebounds and catches on the half cock position.