Browning 1885 45/70 Rocky Mt Elk Foundation Commemorative

[John E Davies]

I stumbled across this rifle at Cabelas and brought it home. This is my first High Wall and my first Browning. I have to say that the workmanship is stunning. This is a Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation 45/70, 10th Anniversary Commemorative from 1994, one of 400. It has a 28 inch octagonal barrel, has never been fired, and the only blemish I have found is a small "safe ding" at the base of the stock on the right side. I've seen a number of different Browning Commemoratives on the Internet, but none of those engravings appeal to me as much as this design.

I added a Leupold VX-1 2-7x36 scope since the standard buckhorn rear sight is as useful to these older eyes as slugs are to to a gardener..... Browning has recently resumed building this rifle as a B78, maybe I will now be able to pick up some better looking Browning bases and rings. I must say I am disappointed in the marginal finish of the Leupold bases.

A couple of HI RES pics (large size):

http://www.spokanister.net/images_web/Guns/Browning_1885/Browning 1885 RMEF-10th-03a.jpg

http://www.spokanister.net/images_web/Guns/Browning_1885/Browning 1885 RMEF-10th-04a.jpg

I do plan to shoot the rifle, but I will limit it to range use with light Cowboy loads. I'll post some better, artsy pics from outside when the weather moderates

John Davies
Spokane WA

 

[Cape Cod Terry]

:D Wow!
I am not generally a fan of most commemorative special editions, especially the stuff you see every month on page 2 of American Rifleman. That is a beauty of a tastefully done engraving job with just stunning wood. If it was mine I'd be afraid to shoot it, but I'd love to have the second shot!l
Cape Cod Terry

 

[Daveboone]

I have the 1885 in 45-70, blued. I have a Leupold VX111 in 1.5x5 on it. It is my favorite rifle, but yours is prettier. Alot! I have the same bases as you, and as mine is the plain Jane, I am content with them. Other than being a bit drab, they are a darn fine base.

 

[Capn27]

That is a beautiful piece of art. When Browning wants to do so, they can sure do it right! I'd be proud to have that one in my safe, but I'd want to shoot it so baaad!

 

[SAJohn]

John, I would also shoot it. I recommend that you get a slip on recoil pad. That metal plate redefines the meaning of shoulder pain when shooting .45-70's.

John

 

[John E Davies]

John, I would also shoot it. I recommend that you get a slip on recoil pad. That metal plate redefines the meaning of shoulder pain when shooting .45-70's.

John

I may end up with a rubber pad just to prevent the steel butt plate from getting scratched up, but I already have a leather strap-on shoulder pad that I use with my light weight Marlin 1895 STP 45/70 - it kicks pretty hard with full power loads.

The Browning will get only low power stuff - 12 grains of Trail Boss and a 405 gr lead bullet at about 1000 fps. Since the rifle is about 10 pounds with the scope, I doubt it will kick much.

Thanks for all the kind comments. When I walked into the Cabelas Gun Library in Post Falls, ID, the rifle was sitting on the display table in the middle of the room. My jaw hit the floor when I saw it.

John Davies
Spokane WA

 

[Rumrunner]

They did do a fantastic job on that. Not overdone like so many commemoratives are. I wouldn't have been able to leave that one in the store either.

 

[singleshot]

I have an original b78 in 45-70 that sporting the octagon barrel and steel buttplate. As you previously noted, the weight of the rifle more than compensates for any brutality of the caliber. I sighted mine in with the Remington load (off the shelf) and proceeded to do the final tweaking with the LeverEvolution Hornady rounds. I found both loads more than pleasant to shoot.

One problem I noted that you will also find with the scope. There is VERY little room between the ocular bell and the hammer. The design makes it impossible to afix a hammer extension and thumbing the hammer back in gloves is a major safety issue.

I've did most of my deer hunting last year with mine and for safety sake, kept the gun unloaded until I was ready to shoot a deer.

Beautiful rifle btw, I'd be proud to own that one also...


oh, you can still find original B78 mounts if you keep your eye's open... Mine match the finish really well and having the Browning name on the mounts just helps the overall asthetics (IMO).

 

[flyinfred]

Beautiful! Just beautiful. It just screams to shoot it! Wish it were mine and I normally don't like Brownings!
Did I say it is beautiful?

 

[Pinecone]

John, That's a real beaut! The Winchester High Wall has always been my all time favorite single shot. I have always wanted to put my hands on one of John Browning's "original" High Wall's (to look at and examine)made at his shop in Utah before he sold the gun to Winchester. There were around 600 made. Unfortunately, I'm still waiting for that to occur! A great purchase for you!......................Dick :wink:

 

[John E Davies]

One problem I noted that you will also find with the scope. There is VERY little room between the ocular bell and the hammer. The design makes it impossible to afix a hammer extension and thumbing the hammer back in gloves is a major safety issue.

SNIP

oh, you can still find original B78 mounts if you keep your eye's open... Mine match the finish really well and having the Browning name on the mounts just helps the overall asthetics (IMO).

Yeah, I guess any design where the hammer drops down into a hole when the action is worked can't exactly function with a hammer extension ;) That is just one of the reasons I won't carry this rifle in the field. Maybe I need a Ruger No 1 for that - if I can find a killer deal on a stainless laminated version in 45./70. CDNN has them new for under $700 - but they are in .375 Ruger caliber.

I purposely picked a petite scope to make the hammer reasonably accessible.

I did see an expired gun ad for a set of B78 mounts in a battered original package. If I can't find another, I do think Browning will start to sell them again since the B78 is back..

Thanks for the comments so far everyone.

John Davies
Spokane WA.

 

[singleshot]

Here's my 1981 B78 with the original bases and the Weaver K4 Anniversary scope (steel tubed)..

 

[trophyoftexas]

No Safe Queen's at my house, shoot that sucker! I just found and traded for a RMEF 1885 in 7mm Rem. Mag in unfired condition which will change as soon as my scope gets here! In case you are interested, Leupold DOES make a set of these bases and rings in high gloss that would match the finish on your barrel perfectly. I wanted to use those in a low mount style but they don't make them in high gloss in a lower than medium height and, as you have pointed out, anything lower wouldn't allow you ANY room at all to cock the hammer. Nice guns that I personally like and don't consider them TOO nice to shoot.

 

[John E Davies]

NI just found and traded for a RMEF 1885 in 7mm Rem. Mag in unfired condition which will change as soon as my scope gets here! In case you are interested, Leupold DOES make a set of these bases and rings in high gloss that would match the finish on your barrel perfectly.

Thanks for the info about the glossy mounts. MidwayUSA has them listed for $26 but they are on back order..... Have you seen these in real life to verify the color/ polish? I thought that the ones I bought WERE hi-gloss, but they sure don't look it.... I would like to match that "bottomless" Browning blue.

Post some pics of your RMEF, and welcome to the forum.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[gatling]

I have a B78 in 30 06 with the octagonal barrel and a period Weaver. Love it.

 

[John E Davies]

I have a B78 in 30 06 with the octagonal barrel and a period Weaver. Love it.

That is indeed a lovely stock. These rifles are just so .... graceful.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[trophyoftexas]

NI just found and traded for a RMEF 1885 in 7mm Rem. Mag in unfired condition which will change as soon as my scope gets here! In case you are interested, Leupold DOES make a set of these bases and rings in high gloss that would match the finish on your barrel perfectly.

Thanks for the info about the glossy mounts. MidwayUSA has them listed for $26 but they are on back order..... Have you seen these in real life to verify the color/ polish? I thought that the ones I bought WERE hi-gloss, but they sure don't look it.... I would like to match that "bottomless" Browning blue.

Post some pics of your RMEF, and welcome to the forum.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

I'll let you know here as to the quality and depth of the gloss on the bases and rings, they were ordered for me this past weekend and don't expect them until next week one day. I'm a 45-70 guy myself and would have preferred that caliber in my 1885 but it was so nice and so reasonable that I just couldn't pass it up. I DO like 7mm Rem. Mag, too, but this guy just begs to be bored in a "period" caliber. Oh well, guess I can make do. I'll post a pic or two when I get the build complete.

 

[ndcowboy]

John,
That is quite a rifle. I would be heading out to shoot whitetails with it this fall if it was mine. Simply gorgeous.

 

[John E Davies]

John,
That is quite a rifle. I would be heading out to shoot whitetails with it this fall if it was mine. Simply gorgeous.

Thanks! I keep it is a silicone cloth sleeve and every time I uncover it I get a new thrill.

It has a heavy 28 inch barrel and is the LAST gun in my safe that I would pick to hunt in the woods or brush. My 16 inch Marlin 1895 STP lever gun in the same caliber would be dandy. The Browning would be fine in open country if you didn't mind the length and weight..... but I would be paranoid about dropping it or smacking the stock on a rock..... it really is too nice to take in the field.

BTW full sized hi res pics can be found here ... http://www.spokanister.net/images_web/Guns/Browning_1885/ ... the pics on Page One here are chopped off, unless you view them in a new window.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA