1885 Safari single shot rifle

[Forrest Halley]

In another thread I came across a gentleman who had an 1885 High Wall in .35 Whelan. This got me thinking about one in .375 H&H. Winchester apparently made one in very limited numbers. A search of the interwebs comes up sparse with everything sold and none for sale. Does anyone know anything more about them?

 

[CoElkHunter]

In another thread I came across a gentleman who had an 1885 High Wall in .35 Whelan. This got me thinking about one in .375 H&H. Winchester apparently made one in very limited numbers. A search of the interwebs comes up sparse with everything sold and none for sale. Does anyone know anything more about them?

I'm really not the one who should ask this, but I will, why would you be interested in one? Kind of interesting though?

 

[Forrest Halley]

I'm really not the one who should ask this, but I will, why would you be interested in one? Kind of interesting though?

28" barrel, auto cocking, left or right eject... interesting indeed.

 

[dougfinn]

Had one in .375 H&H a couple of years ago. Well built rifle with great fit and finish. Reasonably accurate but very muzzle heavy. Better suited for bench shooting.

 

[Forrest Halley]

Had one in .375 H&H a couple of years ago. Well built rifle with great fit and finish. Reasonably accurate but very muzzle heavy. Better suited for bench shooting.

What did you do with it? I'd like to shoot one in comparison with a Ruger #1.

 

[michael458]

1885 High Wall in .35 Whelan. This got me thinking about one in .375 H&H

Why in the world would you waste the metal on a 375?

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Why in the world would you waste the metal on a 375?

View attachment 419142

Nice lookers, but not as pretty as a No1

 

[michael458]

Nice lookers, but not as pretty as a No1

50 B&M Alaskan

500 MDM.............

50 B&M Super Short.........

51 Alaskan..........

35 Whelen.........

 

[Forrest Halley]

Why in the world would you waste the metal on a 375?

1. I said I was curious about this rifle in .375 H&H.
2. I do not meet the requirements for ownership of the B&M series.
3. They should've all been 16" barrels.

 

[michael458]

1. I said I was curious about this rifle in .375 H&H.
2. I do not meet the requirements for ownership of the B&M series.

Yep..... Even curious about 375 puts you in a really poor light...................

3. They should've all been 16" barrels.

Single shots are amazing pieces of machinery. Actions are short of course. A 20 inch 1885 is the same as a 16-17 inch bolt gun, WSM gun. 24 inch 1885 is the same length as a 20 inch WSM gun.....

 

[Forrest Halley]

Yep..... Even curious about 375 puts you in a really poor light...................

Single shots are amazing pieces of machinery. Actions are short of course. A 20 inch 1885 is the same as a 16-17 inch bolt gun, WSM gun. 24 inch 1885 is the same length as a 20 inch WSM gun.....

Yep I'm poorly lit alright. I have only a .458 Lott in my clinging to manhood. Three .375's which make the slope slippery indeed.
I'm saying that the 16" single shot is the shortest one can possibly go in the US without getting into tax stamps. If the B&M is so great out of a short barrel...why not make it as short as possible?

 

[michael458]

If the B&M is so great out of a short barrel...why not make it as short as possible?

Well, there is no "IF" to that concern. The reason I went with 20-24 inches with the 1885s is MOSTLY Aesthetic value. I despise the long stock mannlicher look. In the case of 458 and 416 1885s I also wanted to look at the barrel length to see what the gains were in comparison to 18-20 inch barrels. 50 B&M there is no gains at 20 inches over 18 inches, I have plenty of data on that. But as the bore gets smaller, you start to loose inside cubic inches to burn that powder, so 458 and 416 is not as efficient as .500 caliber, easy logic, and backed up with data. Simply less inside cubic inches. I would not desire longer than 24 inches with 1885 or Ruger #1. In fact, 20 inches most of the time is pretty good, but the forearms of the 1885s are longer than the Ruger #1, so 22-24 looks about right. I don't want a piece of stock right up to the muzzle, that is not appealing to me.

 

[michael458]

After careful measurements on this 1885 I requested a 21 inch barrel, since the forearm on this gun was rather long. This gun was built at the same time as the Ruger #1 in 50 B&M Alaskan, the shorter forearm of the Ruger allowed me to go with a 20 inch barrel to look proportional.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Why in the world would you waste the metal on a 375?

View attachment 419142

Nice looking rifles! But, with those straight stocks I can feel the recoil just looking at them.

 

[Forrest Halley]

I was just looking to experience the odd creation of Winchester.

 

[CM McKenzie]

Ballard Arms made a few safari style 1885s when they were in business. I believe this one was a .450-400. I was going to order one like this before they went under. Lately I have been thinking of having a 9.3x74 built on a C. Sharps Arms or Montana Vintage Arms 1885 action, but it would likely be along these lines. Long story short, I can understand where you are coming from with the .375.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

28" barrel, auto cocking, left or right eject... interesting indeed.

@Forrest Halley
You forgot mate and down right class plus the same length or shorter than a bolt gun even with a 28 inch barrel.
You could always get a hiwall and barrel it to 375.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Yep..... Even curious about 375 puts you in a really poor light...................

Single shots are amazing pieces of machinery. Actions are short of course. A 20 inch 1885 is the same as a 16-17 inch bolt gun, WSM gun. 24 inch 1885 is the same length as a 20 inch WSM gun.....

@michael458 Don't be so mean to young Forrest he can't help it if he hasn't got taste in calibers but he has nice tastes in the hiwall and a beautiful wife and son.
Just a pity I haven't educated him on the Whelen.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Yep I'm poorly lit alright. I have only a .458 Lott in my clinging to manhood. Three .375's which make the slope slippery indeed.
I'm saying that the 16" single shot is the shortest one can possibly go in the US without getting into tax stamps. If the B&M is so great out of a short barrel...why not make it as short as possible?

@Forrest Halley
That's when you look the best mate in poor light. You look even better in the dark with no light.
Ha ha ha ha ha
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I was just looking to experience the odd creation of Winchester.

@Forrest Halley
The 1885 low and Hiwalls aren't odd. The are a good example of superb simplicity, exceptional functionality and sheer beauty. A bit like the qualities of an @Von Gruff knife.
Bob