I've been doing some filming this evening, adding to the tens of hours (perhaps 100) of video not yet edited into something interesting for Youtube. Incidentally, for anyone subscribed to my channel there, sorry it has been so long since I uploaded anything. Soon...I promise!
Anyway, I've a weakness for Miroku leverguns, and I finally succumbed to my curiosity about their 1866 versions. I fault the Miroku '66 owners who've been stingy with information for that, and I hope to save fellow Cascity members the $1,070 it took me to satisfy that curiosity. I WILL have a video about this soon, but I just couldn't wait to give my initial impressions here.
So I took delivery of one of these short rifles today in .44-40. Yes, .44-40. Evidently Winchester has no intention to make these in .45 Colt anytime soon, so I'm gonna have to start reloading for another caliber. Good thing I didn't sell my PRS Big Lube Mav Dutchman mold or my dies when I traded off my Uberti '66 in .44-40 that eventually made its way to Cholla Hill Tirador. BTY, how's it going, man? You still have that '66?
First, I filmed a "rest of the story" about my re-soldering the gusset onto my Uberti '66's loading ladle (the one that had failed in my "gunsmithing fail" video). And in the process, I sliced my thumb open on one of the sideplates (this never happens when you're just tinkering, only when you're filming). After I quit bleeding on everything and slapped some band-aids on, I intended to make a quick "first impressions" video about the Miroku '66. But I couldn't resist cracking it open and seeing what was inside, and I thought some of you might find this information interesting. I certainly have found NOTHING online about the innards of a Miroku '66 except that they copied Uberti's "improved" loading ladle by using the flimsy bent tab instead of a soldered rib.
One would have expected Miroku to use as many components from their 1873 rifles as possible in their 1866 version. And I suppose that barrels, screws, bolts and some other small parts may very well be identical to their 1873 counterparts on the Miroku line. However, I was very much suprised by how much Miroku's '66 rifle differs from their '73 model in areas one wouldn't expect.
So here's my written review:
Fit and finish were very nice externally--about on par with Uberti's imported by Cimmaron, except that the wood, being an oil finish instead of a polyurethane finish was more appealing to me. The action was smoother than an out-of-the-box Uberti, but not as smooth as my Miroku '73 had been out-of-the-box. Sideplate removal was a P.I.T.A. Neither side would budge, even when I inserted the sideplate retention screw backwards on the right sideplate and pulled with all my might. I actually had to stop and consult the manual eventually, which proved futile, as the manual has NO instruction for disassembly. Ultimately, pounding on the bottom of one sideplate with a plastic hammer, as if I was removing a dovetailed 1860 sideplate coaxed it off. I don't know exactly what that says about build quality other than that tolerances are tight?
I removed the toggles and was immediately struck by how little they resemble Miroku '73 toggles. In fact, they look identical to original Winchester toggles (no gaps between the two pieces). This was very encouraging. Furthermore, the toggles were a true lapped-in fit to the bolt and receiver, as evidenced by their very tight fit in their respective mortices and the high polish and absence of any blueing on each end of the toggles. I have no idea why Miroku changed their toggle design for the 1866 version, but it is a welcome change, indeed.
Miroku has endeavored to simplify the screw situation by making the lever screw, sideplate retention screw, and hammer screw completely identical. This makes good sense from an engineering standpoint, but it is unauthentic. And, since most screws are unique to each part on Uberti replicas, I wasn't being too careful initally about remembering which screw went where, until I noticed that many of the screws appeared to be identical. So I doubt each screw will be where it was originally installed whenever I reassemble this rifle.
The funky multiple-piece safety firing pin extension first utilized on Miroku '73 rifles is also present on the '66 rifle. I replaced my F.P.E on my '73 with one from Pioneer Gun works, and I'd planned to do the same with this rifle. However, for reasons unknown, Miroku has re-designed their firing pin extensions. Previously, on their '73 rifles, they utilized the abbreviated key that Uberti had also switched to as a firing pin extension retention. Oddly, Miroku has now adopted a pinned retention for their '66, exactly like the way Uberti USED to retain their firing pin extensions, which sometimes resulted in broken retention pins. So, no Pioneer Gun works replacement extensions unless/until they make a special run for the Miroku '66's. YOU CAN IGNORE THIS ENTIRE PARAGRAPH; I WAS MIS-REMEMBERING WHAT THE F.P.E. LOOKED LIKE ON MY MIROKU '73; IT WAS HRA IN THEIR 1850 HENRY REPLICA THAT COPIED UBERTI'S CURRENT F.P.E. RETENTION METHOD. THE MIROKU '66 F.P.E. IS IDENTICAL TO THEIR '73 F.P.E.
On Miroku '73's they add an extra stud and screw on the top rear of the receiver to communicate with the safety nub on their funky firing pin extension. I was curious about their '66's, because I could see no such screw on the top of the receivers of factory photos I'd seen. On their '66 version, Miroku presses a steel ring into the firing pin extension hole on the back of the receiver, and secures this with two screws hidden under the sideplate. This steel ring communicates with the safety stud on the firing pin extension. And, this actually promises to make the Miroku '66 more durable, as there is now a steel "bushing" for the firing pin extension to travel in.
The loading ladle, as reported by others, is as flimsy as the newer Uberti ladles, utilizing the simple bent tab. The JB Weld is curing on mine as I type this (I just don't feel like doing the whole "make a gusset and silver-solder it in place" routine this time).
Like on their 1873 rifles, Miroku abandoned the stirrup on the hammer for a simple roller bearing, just like the hammer/mainspring relationship on a SAA. However, Miroku added a strain screw to the hammer spring, which I was very happy to see. Initially, I thought the hammer tension, while much lighter than an out-of-the-box Uberti, would need a little improving by narrowing the hammer spring. Then I discovered that strain screw, and I was very happy, indeed. Just back that out a little, and the hammer spring weight is very, very nice.
The trigger spring needs no attention whatsoever; it is already lighter than I've been able to accomplish by hourglassing Uberti trigger springs.
This short rifle comes with a ladder sight that is arguably the best reproduction ladder sight I've ever seen on a replica. It is smooth and light to manipulate, but it is also very positive and stable.
All this rifle needs is a slight narrowing of the action springs to lighten them a little and some polishing here and there where innards touch each other, and it will have a very fine action, indeed.
I think its lever stoke length is identical to Miroku's 1873 rifle (I haven't actually compared the two yet in that regard, and the '66 is still disassembled on my workbench), so that probably disqualifies this from NCOWS. Too bad....
Uberti still gets the "authentically-constructed" nod. But Miroku definitely gets the build quality and out-of-the-box feel nod from me. My Uberti '66 is still my favorite right now, just because the action work I performed on it happened to turn out better than any toggle action I've ever worked on. Just lucky on that one.
Sorry there aren't any pictures. I WILL upload a video soon about this rifle, and I hope to have some range time in there as well. I saved up my vacation time at work and have taken off a big chunk over the holidays. So I'm hoping to finally edit and upload some footage for my Youtube channel. If I've any subscribers here, sorry it has taken so long for me to post any new material