What does anyone think of...

[Forty Rod]

Nothin' wrong with th '86. 

I'm still lookin' for just the right Browning standard grade in .45-70. 

I know a guy whose got one of the fancy ones with that obsene photo etched hgh gloss phony finish.  He can't understand why I won't give over $500 for it.  I tried to explain I'd have to pay to have it totally refinished like the standard model. 

Thought he was gonna have a heart attack.

[TAkaho kid]

I also think the Spencer is cool and I'm waiting for mine to arrive - BUT, what about the 1886 Winchester in .45-90?

Hello Ed,

Thw Winchester 1886 in 45-90 or 50 Express is an awesome firearm. However it would not have made a good buffalo gun. With its slow rate of twist it's meant to be an Express Rifle, meaning a relativley light bullet (300 grain) traveling as fast as BP could push it. The idea was to increase velocity and flatten the trajectory. They do indeed have termendous punch out 100 -150 yards. However the light bullet simply did not give the penetration when compared to a 45-70 with a 450 to 500 grain slug in a fast twisat barrel.

Turnbull Restorations http://turnbullrestoration.com/index.html offers stunning 1886's in both 45-90 and 50 Express. In addition I noticed Republic Metallic http://www.republicmetallic.com/page15.html plans offer a 45-90 Express black powder cartridge. (I hope they offer 50 Express as well!) scroll down on the page the link takes you too.

Regardless that 50 Express is real tempting!

[Ed Clintwood]

Hi TK
I was looking at the Buffalo Arms 1886 takedown in 45-90.  Any thoughts anyone?

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[Ed Clintwood]

While we're at it,  What does anyone think of C. Sharps rifles?

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Frank Mayer (an original, old time buffalo runner) said in his book "Buffalo Harvest"  That Spencers were used for close range buff work, If I remember correctly.

[geo]

well, it's said you can kill most game with a .22 lr if you place the bullet right...sure. the 56-50 is a low pressure low velocity round. that's why the army eventually replaced it with first the 50/70 and then the 45/70. which round is still manufactured today? also, the army complained that the spencer encouraged the soldiers to fire off too much ammo. a complaint that existed into not so long ago when troops on the ground were carrying over 260 rounds for the m-16 in viet nam. field orders, if my history serves me right, were issued to limit the ammo carried by the troops.

but the gemmer is a fine looking rifle...

geo.

[Michigan Maverick]

There is an article of the Gemmer Spencer rifle in the current issue of Wild West magazine.Very interesting.

[gotzguns]

saw agimmer spencer at buffalo bill musuem. there are accounts fo spencers being used for buf hunting. but only until the more powerful 50/70 round begain to show up. im sure that a close range hit would bring down  a buf. if not right away after he bled for a wile.i've even heard that henrys were used to hunt buf. i don't know how well that worked but indians used the henry and the 66 for hunting.  gotzguns

[Pitspitr]

There's an article about the Gemmer Spencer in this issue of WILD WEST magazine