17remhunter
Well-Known Member
Whats the difference between the Browning 78 and the 1885? Are these single shots more accurate, out of the box, than the # 1's
Browning 78
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Hairtrigger
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I have several Ruger NO.1s and a few 1885 Win and Brownings. One B78. They all are more accurate without improvements than the Ruger
The browning 78 has a very complex trigger system compared to the 1885. Nice, accurate rifles, but the trigger is the weak point. Had one that wouldn't go off if there was pressure on the breech face, like if bullets were seated out too far into the lands.
17remhunter
Well-Known Member
money crunch. Sounds like a woman issue
Hairtrigger
Well-Known Member
I have an older B78 in 270 with an octagon barrel. It had a useable factory trigger for hunting, just under #4
Playtimefun
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Good day folks.. was looking for some other B78 info (good gunsmith to rebarrel one of my B78s) and stumbled upon this. The B78 and 1885 are based on the same action. Ironically to me, people say that the 1885 are the "nicer" finished guns with more options such as half octagon and half round barrel option. The B78 was either a round barrel (bull or sporter) or octagon. In my lowly opinion... the B78 is far superior in the looks department. Way nicer wood. (As CCA said above... B78 has montecarlo stock and pistol grip while 1885 has a straight grip) Nicer curves. Rich blueing. I have yet to see an 1885 that has wood as nice as a B78.
Apparently the triggers are the same... but I have not played with them. There are aparently a few minor differences between the two in terms of the actions but they are there. You definitely cannot take parts from one to use on the other.
I do know that every gunsmith swears at these triggers because you have to fully take them apart (and there's 2 main springs) and then put it back together to do barrel headspacing or trigger adjustments.
Bought my first B78 in 243 that was pretty beat up. I intended to get it re-barreled to 300 Wby but took the gun pheasant hunting (for coyotes lol) and I shot something like 11 coyotes in 2 days. But one of them was also my longest shot on a game animal. Coyote at a touch over 750 yards. So I just couldn't bring myself to re-barrel it. Then picked up another in 22-250 but its nice for varmints. Then... a 25-06. Guy bought it to go deer hunting with friends... sighted it in and then went hunting but didnt even see a deer or maybe did and missed... dont know. Said I dont like hunting. Cleaned the gun and it sat in a closet for over 35 years. I got it with the original box of shells and the 6 empties. The grandson told me... its just too beautiful to take out and I am afraid I would scratch it. Not a scratch... mark... on it. As nice as the day it left the factory. Have to dig it out for some pics.
Apparently the triggers are the same... but I have not played with them. There are aparently a few minor differences between the two in terms of the actions but they are there. You definitely cannot take parts from one to use on the other.
I do know that every gunsmith swears at these triggers because you have to fully take them apart (and there's 2 main springs) and then put it back together to do barrel headspacing or trigger adjustments.
Bought my first B78 in 243 that was pretty beat up. I intended to get it re-barreled to 300 Wby but took the gun pheasant hunting (for coyotes lol) and I shot something like 11 coyotes in 2 days. But one of them was also my longest shot on a game animal. Coyote at a touch over 750 yards. So I just couldn't bring myself to re-barrel it. Then picked up another in 22-250 but its nice for varmints. Then... a 25-06. Guy bought it to go deer hunting with friends... sighted it in and then went hunting but didnt even see a deer or maybe did and missed... dont know. Said I dont like hunting. Cleaned the gun and it sat in a closet for over 35 years. I got it with the original box of shells and the 6 empties. The grandson told me... its just too beautiful to take out and I am afraid I would scratch it. Not a scratch... mark... on it. As nice as the day it left the factory. Have to dig it out for some pics.
Last edited:
dogz
Well-Known Member
This...
I've been watching Gunbroker for a B78 in 25-06 but haven't found one in as good a shape as I want nor at a good deal…..missed one in 30-06 this past weekend…..it was in great shape but the price went to high for what I wanted to pay!
