New Wood for my Browning 1886

[Gabriel Law]

I bought a brand new Browning 1886 45-70 rifle this spring, and after firing only 24 rounds out of it, decided I could not live with the stock.  The length of pull on the factory rifle is too short for me, and the comb too low to get a cheek contact that would give me any modicum of accuracy...felt like my face was floating somewhere over the comb.  So I bought a nice piece of walnut from our local gunsmith at our annual Gun Show, and whittled myself a new stock.  While I was at it, I decided I might as well chequer it too.  So here's how it ended up.  Oh, the steel chequered butt plate is from an original Winchester 1897 shotgun - kind of appropriate I thought.  Wood finish is Circa 1850 Tung Oil.






The rifle now has a great voluptuous feel to it, the chequering is most effective, and it shoulders so much better.  I shot it today for the first time since the re-stock, and enjoyed it a whole bunch more.  Now to work on some tight shooting loads...

[Coal Creek Griff]

Wow! That looks great!

CC Griff

[Crow Choker]

Mighty fine work! Mighty fine work!

[Coffinmaker]

THAT ..... IS ..... ABSOLUTELY ..... OUTSTANDING!!  Just FREAKING GORGEOUS!!!

Coffinmaker

Oh ... and ... WOW 

[Pettifogger]

That is NICE work.

[Major 2]

Mercy....what was nice rifle is now an heirloom ....fine job

[Kent Shootwell]

Dandy stick of wood put to good use, looks good!

[Gabriel Law]

My thanks for the nice feedback, lads.  But it feels even better than it looks.  What a make-over!!

[Good Troy]

Mighty fine craftsmanship, Gabriel!

[PJ Hardtack]

Gabriel will surprised to see me back on the forum after a lengthy absence.

You don't really get a feel for what he can do with wood and steel until you see his shop and him in action. The man is an artist. He's my 'go to' man when something goes off the rails and has never failed to put it right. Nothing is too hard or too complicated for him.

Several guns of mine would be off the road or just 'parts' guns were it not for his efforts.

I think I've got him convinced that good shooting can be done with a 45-70 using loads that are not sub-.458 Winchester in potential.

[Gabriel Law]

PJ:  you are very kind with your support.  I derive a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction from my work, if fact, likely the single most important part of my being. 
I am still working on 45-70 loads in and around the sub 1800 fps range.  But this new stock on the Browning really tames the heavier loads.  And if I can tip over targets including moose with lighter recoiling ammo, I am all for it.  The reloading work continues...

[PJ Hardtack]

The only two moose I've shot to date fell to BP-equivalent smokeless loads consisting of 36 grs Varget and my cast Lyman 420 gr RNFP bullets.
One shot each - moose down. Heart shots will do that to a critter.

[Scattered Thumbs]

Outstanding!

[Gabriel Law]

PJ:  can you suggest the velocity of that load?

Thanks ST for the kind word!

[PJ Hardtack]

It's in the realm of 1200 fps. Like I said - BP equivalent. I got the recipe from a gun magazine. I don't own a chrono. As long as I get the accuracy I want and the game/steel drops, I'm happy.

My first BP equivalent load used 36 grs of 3031 with 420 gr bullets, then I tried Varget and stuck with it.

I tried Paul Matthews recommended loads one time (once is the operative word!) and that was enough. If I wanted a .458 Win mag I would have bought one.

I can also recommend 28 grs of 5744 under 420 gr bullets or 350 gr for a load suitable for Ruger carbines and Trapdoor carbines. Accurate and they don' kick the snot out of you.

[Gabriel Law]

Thank you PJ...will load some up and let you know what I find.