I've begun examining the new-to-me rifles

[Naphtali]

I picked up my Browning M71 and USRA/Winchester M1886 rifles. I'm embarrassed to report that I was in such lust earlier that I did not examine either rifle thoroughly.

I noticed two things, one is a design detail, one quality control.
1. The Browning M71 is significantly smoother to operate while being "tighter" in every respect. Both rifles are significantly smoother, more effortless to operate than my example Marlin stainless steel M1895 .45-70.

2. The M1886's bolt face is a M71, not a M1886. This surprised me as it pleased me. The extractor-firing pin hole relationship is the safer M71 design.
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3. Is the finish on "High Grade" versions a silver nitrate? Regardless what it is, how is it applied to the base metal? Is the finish strictly decorative? If it has some mechanical benefit -- wear resistance, corrosion resistance, other -- please explain with as much detail as you are able.

[Pete44ru]

1) Both rifles came out of the same factory, and are the same basic design - so I would say Browning paid more for their consignment, or had a higher level of fit/finish written into their contract.

2) I had no clue there was a difference, as I've never had a M-71.

3) The HiGrade finish(s) are strictly decorative - just like the "engraving" and "gold inlays" (which are really plating). The other two things one gets with a HiGrade is much nicer wood and a better polish/blue job.

[Griff]

[Ysabel Kid]

+1! Talked about teasing us!!!

[Bullet Bob]

I hear you about the smoothness thing. Part of it, I think, are the changes made to add the tang safety.

I have a couple of Browning lever actions, and one Winchester/Miroku ExtraLight. I've been thinking about the EL a lot lately, and have decided to either have the parts changed to remove the safety, as I have read that several people on this forum have had done, or sell it. I'm not one who gets too upset about the changes required for a gunmaker to stay in business, but I just think the EL could be made a lot smoother with the changes. I think if I had a gunsmith within driving distance that I trusted to perform the work needed instead of mailing the gun somewhere, I would already have had it done.

[Naphtali]

Regarding photographs, I think we're in deep dutch. I have a flatbed scanner but no film OR digital camera. Of course, I could pirate graphics that show what I have, but that's not kosher.
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Some more information, about some of which I'm not happy.

1. The Browning M71 has a smaller, shorter finger lever. This is significant because operating the lever with gloves on becomes more problematic than with the USRA/Winchester M1886. I have small hands, and unless I have my hand in position and within the finger lever, I have difficulty getting into the lever. The difference in tang-grip shapes precludes a swapping of an M1886 lever for a M71. Where I live in Montana this lever difference becomes important.

2. As I mentioned in #1, grip-tang is different. Excluding the lever thing, this is a push. Perhaps the M1886's semipistol grip is more graceful, but choice will be a personal one.

3. M71's buttstock is straighter (less drop at comb and heel) with "shotgun" butt plate. The M1886 incorporates a traditional offhand nineteenth-century buttstock and butt plate. I strongly prefer the M71's.

4. M71's foreend is more esthetically pleasing, having a sculpted taper from breech to muzzle. The M1886's foreend is untapered and slab-like. While appearance strongly favors the M71's foreend, I lose control of the foreend when shooting because of the taper.

5. Only the M71 is drilled & tapped for receiver-mounted aperture sights. This is a push for me because I will be obtaining receiver-mounted aperture sights that affix atop the receivers rather than on the side. In both cases, gunsmith installation is required.