Scope mounting on Browning 1885

[stumpy]

Looking into buying a Browning 1885 but it is not drilled and tapped for a scope...I know any gunsmith can do the drilling and tapping but can anyone tell me if its a practical thing to do. By that I mean can the bases be located such that a scope will have  reasonable sight picture adjustment from front to rear?

Thanks in advance

[Graybeard]

Are you SURE it's not drilled and tapped for scope mounting? All I've seen have been. One set of holes on the frame and one set on the barrel. I've seen long ago Weaver bases listed for the HW but have never found them available but Leupold and I think Burris make the Redfield generic bases for both HW and LW Browning 1885 guns. Now if you had an original Winchester for sure those wouldn't be D&T and would require a gunsmith to deal with.

[RonF]

I bought my Browning 1885 with Weaver bases and it was drilled and tapped from the factory.  I had to shim the front one about .050" to get everything working, but there is plenty of eye relief and plenty of range in the windage and elevation adjustments.  I'm using a Weaver V24 on it and love it.  I wonder if the traditional hunters were drilled and tapped; maybe that's what we're talking about here?

RonF

[stumpy]

Thanks for the replies...yes it was already factory tapped for scope mounts..I had not seen the rifle first hand so I did not know when I asked.

Thanks again