Winchester 1885 low walls in 6.5 Swede

[mannyrock]

Hey Guys,
 
    I see that the Winchester 1885 low walls are now available in 6.5 Swede, with satin finish.   Anybody shoot one yet?  I've never shot a low wall before, but it seems as if this would be a good caliber for it.  Listed weight is about 7.5 pounds.   (Though I'll probably never be able to afford  one, I'd cut two to four inches off that 26 inch barrel.)
 
   Saami for the Swede is 55,000 psi I think, and some people  have questioned whether the low wall is strong enough.  But, I think that the .223 Remington has Saami psi higher than that (65,000 psi?) , and I've seen low walls in that caliber before.
 
    I was surprised to see that there is some issue as to the availability of a factory made scope mount.  I think the only one mentioned was a set of Warne bases, which lots of folks don't like.
 
   I'm suprised that mounts may be hard to find, inasmuch as low walls have been around for more than 125 years.
 
   So now we have both the Ruger 1A and the 1885 available in this caliber.   Any comparisons?
 
Mannyrock

[eastbank]

i have a browning in .260 rem and have had no problems with it and it came with browning bases and rings. i think weaver #11 and #29 will fit. eastbank.

[pastorp]

I too have a Browning low wall in 260 Remington. No problems here. The 260 operates at higher pressure than the swede factory loads. 

Regards,

[pastorp]

I have been thinking since I posted to this thread, I personally like the 1885 better than a #1 because I like a exposed hammer on a gun.
I actually own 2 browning 1885 in low wall configuration. A 243, & the 260. The 243 is very comfortable to shoot. For me the 260 is starting to approach uncomfortable in such a light gun. I know, they don't kick. But I've got lots of medical problems that say otherwise.
When your start talking psi & what cartridge will work in which action there is more to it than just psi. Case head size affects back thrust as well as taper. One reason the AI is so popular is it cuts down on back thrust.
But generally speaking there are lots of old swede rifles that won't take high pressure so that cartridge is loaded to lower pressure in factory loads. In a #1 you could get more out of the swede than a low wall. But to me I'll just take the modern swede cartridge. It's called the 260 Remington.

Regards,

[pastorp]

You know mannyrock, the more I think about it you should just pull the plug & buy a rifle in 30-30.
The swede factory ammo is expensive.
You don't like to reload.
The 30-30 just makes more sense for you. 

Regards,

[pastorp]

As a follow-up on this I'm not even sure a#1 would be a good fit for you. You have made several comments about finances and your not sure you can afford some rifles. 
I'm not really a handy rifle fan but I do own a couple. Generally speaking I do prefer a break barrel action SS over a falling block action. Especially if I want to scope it & use it to hunt with. Maybe a handy rifle in 30-30 is what you should be shopping for. 


Regards,

[mannyrock]

Pastorp,
 
    Thanks for your comments.  I appreciate the personal thoughts.
 
    Yes, I have been looking at all of this for more than a year, and haven't settled on anything yet.
 
    The .30-30 vs. Swede is an interesting conundrum I haven't yet solved.  What changed everthing is that Pri is now selling the Swede ammo for fairly cheap in a good bullet weight and at a higher velocity than one would expect.   As a performance round, it is much cheaper than say the .30-30 Leverevolution rounds.   If I got a Swede rifle, I guess I would do what my wife use to do.  Just bite the bullet and buy 20 boxes of factory ammo.  It would easily last me for 5 years.
 
   My very main concern is this:  I am way beyond the time when I want to buy a new rifle and have it turn out to be a "project", requiring lots more time, effort and money to get it to shoot well.   I also like genuine walnut.   So, these factors rule out a Handi for me, and the concern over getting a rifle that shoots great out of he box also makes me somewhat leary of the Ruger No. 1 (thought it is beautiful).  I could just see myself paying $1,000 for a Ruger No. 1, and then having to pay to install the forend hanger pressure screw, and then having to rebed the forestock, etc.
 
    A friend of mine has an 1885 Winchester, made in the 1890s, that he shoots cowboy loads in from the bench.  I think its a .38-40.  (Could be a .32-20).   Anyway, I asked why he doesn't get one to deer hunt with.  His answer is, that the gun is too darned heavy and too darned inconvenient to carry, so he would never use one in the field.
 
   There is a gunshop about 50 miles away from me, that has one of the Winchester 1885s in stock, in the Swede.  I guess I ought to drive down there, and handle the rifle.  That alone may rule out the 1885 for me.
 
     Thanks again for your continued advice.
 
Best Regards, Mannyrock
 
   
 
   
 
   

[eastbank]

to some the 1885 browning .260 rem. only haveing a extractor instead of a ejector may be a deal braker,  as the ruger has a ejector. i myself don,t mind the extractor in the .260 rem. browning. my other browning single shots have exjectors. i have seven or eight swedish 6.5x55 rifles,a 94 carbine, and several 96 long rifles and two FSR match rifles a CG63 and a CG80. i can not tell the difference between the two calibure with my reloads(i don,t load hot). both are easy to reload,the 260 has a better selection of brass to reload useing, 243,708 or 308. i have used all of them to reload and have had no trouble at all, however with the advent of good affordable 6.5x55 brass thats not that big of a deal. eastbank.

[AtlLaw]

I hate this thread!!!   
 
I bought a Browning 1885 Low Wall in 243 when they first came out.  I thought they were so beautiful I just had to have one.  The reason I got a 243 was that was the only so called "Deer" cartridge they came in at that time.   
 
I killed a fair number of deer with that rifle, but my opinion is that, for a deer cartridge, the 243 makes a fine coyote round!  So the rifle sits in the back of a safe; unused in years, my only 243...  I've got better coyote rifles.   
 
Many is the time I used to wish the rifle came in 260.  I love 6.5's!  Then they introduced it in that cartridge.  So I called Browning but they wouldn't re-barrel my rifle.  Now you tell me it comes in my all time favorite 6.5, the SWEDE!!     The gods are unmerciful in their temptations!!!
 
help... me... 

[pastorp]

No Richard the browning doesn't come in the swede. The Winchester 1885 does. 

Regards,

[mrbumps]

I just saw my first of the new Winchester Low Walls in 6.5 Swede and ended up bringing it home with me.  Beautiful fit and finish.  I like the satin finish wood and the octogon barrel.  BTW, the gun comes with Talley one piece base and rings.  The barrel is listed as 24", but that is if you measure all the way to the face of the falling block.  From action to end of barrel is actually 23".  Haven't weighed it, but sure does not feel like 7.5 lbs.  Won't get a chance to shoot for a while, but should be a fun rifle.  I also have a Numer 1 in the 6.5x55.  Great caliber.