Browning 1886

[ronyama]

I'm new to big bore lever actions and recently came across a modern Browning 1886 with two tapped holes on the upper tang. Did these rifles come with a tang safety or did someone add a tang sight at some point? The hole spacing is about 1/2 inch. The action seems stiff and the shell lifter does not move upward unless the lever is dropped sharply.

[Griff]

No tang safety on the Browning 1886s, sounds like someone had a tang sight. Stiff could be just needs a thorough cleaning and lite lube, but ain't sure what you mean about the lifter? On Winchesters, the carrier rises at the forward end of the stroke.

[Pathfinder09]

Brownings did not have a tang safety, but the USRAC 1886's did. I agree with Griff. sounds like tang peep sight holes. They are used quite a bit on the 86's.

[Malamute]

Two holes on the tang a half inch apart? That doesnt sound right for the normal tang sights used on lever guns, there should be one hole just behind the hammer, and the rear tang sight mounting hole is the stock screw.


Do you mean on the side of the receiver towards the back?

[ronyama]

Thanks to all for the information. The tapped holes are in the tang and I will look to see what sights will fit. There are no holes on the side of the receiver for peep sights. I may just use plug screws to fill in the holes if I can find the right size. I did get a chance to fire it. I used a 350 grain Laser cast bullet with 34 grains of IMR4198. Nice rifle.

[Andrew]

Pictures? Not only to satisfy the need for lever-looking, but, it would help identify the holes.

[Griff]

Two holes on the tang a half inch apart? That doesnt sound right for the normal tang sights used on lever guns, there should be one hole just behind the hammer, and the rear tang sight mounting hole is the stock screw.

Yea, you know, someone not interested in aesthetics, just make what ya got, fit!

[2ndovc]

It'll smooth out the more you shoot it. Mine's well used and slicker than snot! Still have to make sure I hit that last little bump to get the cart. lifter up.

The minute I shot it I couldn't figure out why I hadn't bought one years ago!

jb

[Grizz]

Two holes on the tang a half inch apart? That doesnt sound right for the normal tang sights used on lever guns, there should be one hole just behind the hammer, and the rear tang sight mounting hole is the stock screw.

Yea, you know, someone not interested in aesthetics, just make what ya got, fit!

Ya Griff, but because of the stupid factory decision to put a postit note on the tang it's hard to get any tang sight to fit right and still have it look OK when the sight's off.

It's why I'm probably gonna go with a redfield. Except that now I'm thinking over that low profile skinner sight. It isn't the original bolt peep, but it's an original type of bolt peep. And the aftermath is less. And less is more. I think.

[Hobie]

Put a Williams FP on mine and it works. FP-71....

[dkmlever]

I agree with Hobie, I did on my 1886 and it came with much better open sites than the carbine Browning I looked at today, it just had little notches and a very small front blade.

[Ysabel Kid]

Welcome aboard!

[Naphtali]

I have Miroku-Win M1886 and Browning M71. The M71 has a Williams adjustable aperture sight affixed to the left-rear of receiver. I dislike the sight's mounting location.

For heavy recoiling rifles, will a tang-mounted sight be satisfactory -- that is, it won't recoil into my spectacles? Would there be sufficient clearance that cycling of breech bolt to the rear would not hit the sight's upright stem?

Is the XS receiver sight the only one that mounts atop the receiver on these rifles, with receivers requiring drilling & tapping?

[ronyama]

My first attempt at posting photos.

[Pathfinder09]

That looks like a tang peep sight holes. The Peep sight would be in the back two screws. The screw 1/2" toward the hammer is the stock screw. When you drill for the tang sight you use the stock screw toward the butt and drill one toward the hammer which is what it looks like you have. They just stuck a screw in it to make it look good.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[ronyama]

For some reason the previous owner drilled and tapped two holes rather than one. I'm looking at the Marbles and Lyman sites to see what sight would would fit the spacing. I'll probably make a few calls. I put plug screws in the holes just to cover them up. The open sights are too much of a challenge for my old eyes.

[2ndovc]

Looks like it's for a Marbles sight. I have one on My Marlin 95 that are less than an inch apart.

jb

[ronyama]

Thanks to all for the information. I've sent an e-mail to Marbles with the spacing of the holes from the upper tang screw and hopefully they have a sight that will fit.
Ron

[blackhawk44]

I believe that you are on the right track. They appear to match those on my Browning 1895 which wears a Marble tang sight.

[ronyama]

The Marble's phone system directed me to Brownells and the rep was very helpful in looking for a sight that would fit the existing holes. Nothing was found that would fit correctly for the 1886 so I will end up having to D/T another hole.

[CaptainFinn]

Dixie Gun Works used to have a tang sight with an extended (oval-like) front tang 'slot' for lack of a better term, allowing it to be used on guns with odd screw hole spacing. The front 'slot' was something like 3/8ths to 1/2 inch long, giving a little leeway when mounting it.

With two screw holes already tapped in the tang, I guess you have nothing to lose by tapping it again, since it's all gonna be covered up by the tang sight.

I think there's a 'modern' 1886-style sight for the tang-safety USRAC rifles/carbines that uses two screws in front of the tang safety. Maybe the previous owner bought one of these sights by mistake and installed it on your Browning.