Winchester Miroku 1886 Disassembly and Reassembly

In this video I will disassemble and reassembly the Winchester Miroku 1886. Why is that important? Because if you are going to properly clean your Winchester Miroku 1886 you'll eventually need to take it apart. This is my longest video by far, but John Browning's design was made more complex by some of the modern updates to his classic design making it a bigger challenge to master the process. But if you are willing to proceed at your own risk, I hope this video will help you get started.

[@ladybuggunner]

Don't have a Winchester Miroku 1886 but it sure is a beauty. I really enjoyed your detailed "how-to". Especially like your home-made tips and tricks to help make a complicated process a little easier. Thanks!

[@TargetSuite]

Yes, it is one handsome rifle. And thank you for your encouragement. You know what "they" say . . . necessity is the mother of invention !

[@TargetSuite]

Gosh! Seems like every new video I post is a "learning opportunity". And this one is no exception. Things I learned . . . 1) settings on the camera matter. Seems like I had inadvertently changed a setting before my last video that made everything too "warm". So, I did some digging and found the culprit before recording this intro and outro. All the middle scenes were captured with a Samsung phone S8+ and Note 10+. 2) I am still struggling with getting the sound levels on my main camera and with good lighting. Thanks for bearing with me while I figure this out. And 3). Making instructional videos is tougher than I thought. After 15 uploads (hard to believe there are that many) I have begun to work out my nervousness and some of the kinks of video production, but it seems like there is still a tall mountain to climb. My guess is that the sense of "being behind the power curve" will never go away, and I guess that is a good thing. But it seems like I have barely begun to learn how to make instructional videos. Thanks for your patience. Finally, If your love for the Winchester/Miroku 1886 got you through this entire video and left you with enough energy to read my comment, I want to say a special thank you. It would be nice to have a ton of "subscribers" but it is more satisfying to me to provide helpful and entertaining content to a few who understand and appreciate my humor, as it is :-), and my knowledge, limited as it is :-), and appreciate it, rather than to have a million folks just blasting through on their KZbin journey. So again . . . Thanks! And I'll see you in the next video!

[@ladybuggunner]

Yes it IS hard making videos but you're doing great! You always have interesting and detailed information and it's always delivered in a natural and likeable way...with a little humor thrown in. I can see an engineering mind at work and always look forward to the tips and tools you come up with. Keep up the hard work and keep on learning and sharing.

[@torbenqvist7730]

I think your content and presentation is great. I'm enjoy the time I am spending with you - once a week....ussually on tuesdays.... :-)

[@TargetSuite]

Thanks!

[@MarcosCaminante]

I have watched this video 15 times. I would love to buy an 1886. I even have access to the Italian Pedersoli model that is beautiful. I want to buy it but my 1895s are so easy to maintain. How in the world did JMB dream up and Winchester PRODUCE that design. I have to have one just out of respect. Thanks George. This is a top three video favorite on KZbin.

[@TargetSuite]

JMB was an amazing mechanical engineer/designer. He definitely deserves a place on the podium along with the other greats.

[@earlmorrison7833]

Thank you so much. Was working on my Miroku and ran into some problems and found your detailed video. Problem solved !! Thanks again.

[@TargetSuite]

Great Earl. Glad it was a help!

[@rob16268]

Great job. Big thanks for thinking of others. My rifle burned in a house fire. Fort McMurray Canada wildfire of 2016. The rifle was Rusty and seized solid after 3 years of sitting after the fire. I finally got around to restoring it for wall hanger non-functioning purposes only. It's a fun little project. I am not at the reassembly stage yet but I will be. I will be returning back to your video then. Thank you

[@TargetSuite]

Thanks Rob. Sorry to hear about the fire. But I bet your finished product will be a great visual to hang in your new house!

[@TargetSuite]

Hi Rob. I did some reading on the 2016 Fort McMurray fire. Wow! Wiki says it is the costliest disaster in Canadian history.

[@mag318]

I have a Miroku/Browning 1886 SRC and have thought about disassembly so thank you for your really informative video. For me to accomplish reassembly like you just did I'd have to be in the NO SWEARING section of my gun room.

[@TargetSuite]

Mr. Browning's design certainly challenges the vocabulary😄

[@Leverguns50]

Good job, i’ve taken them apart many times, for me it was a struggle to put the hammer screw back in because you have to lined up so many different parts at once, i’m glad you did this video now I don’t have to.

[@TargetSuite]

The secret to getting the hammer screw back in (at least for me) was the string that keeps the trigger pulled. That keeps the sear from pushing up on the hammer. One less thing to worry about.

[@robertdunbar5854]

Great instructional video. Now going to tear down my miroku 86 for cleaning and lubrication. Thank you!

[@TargetSuite]

Good luck, and be careful with that screwdriver!

[@robertdunbar5854]

@@TargetSuite All went very well. Used the "Clothes pin " method took alittle patience but she clean an lubed now. The screw heads were my biggest fear. I bought Foster screwdrivers long ago to try an not ever bugger a screw, and so far so good. The string on the trigger trick was also very helpful. Thanks again !

[@TargetSuite]

That's great Robert! I'm really glad it was helpful. It's getting close to time for me to open up mine. I'll probably have to go back and watch this video myself.😄

[@TXRattler1]

Great Video !! I just ordered a Winchester Deluxe 1886 Color Case Hardened in 45-70. I am a little concerned now after watching the video. I’m a real stickler for keeping all my guns cleaned and lubricated. This is by far going to be the most complicated. Your video is going to help a LOT !! Thank You, I had no idea what I was getting into but it ought to be fun learning.

[@TargetSuite]

Wow Mike! That is a beautiful rifle. My suggestion would be to set aside a few hours for your first try. And then go through the process start to finish three or four times before you put that beauty away. That's what I did, but I think it was more like 10 times to work out all the kinks for the video. Still, it is one of the greatest and most beautiful rifle designs ever. So it's worth the trouble.

[@YTBEN1045]

I am amazed with this John Browning design with a compicated mechanism and lots of moving parts which is usually a recipe for malfunctions and short longevity but is actually a very strong and reliable design.

[@TargetSuite]

Exactly. I spent most of my career designing mechanical systems. It was always a challenge to get all the moving parts to work reliably and I was using a state of the art professional (and expensive) CAD software package. To accomplish what John Browning did with pencil and paper, and NO 3D printer, boggles the mind.

[@YTBEN1045]

@@TargetSuite a genius indeed!

[@TargetSuite]

Hahaha! Just an ordinary guy . . . with good video editing software 😆

[@judsonhemperley3376]

Outstanding effort ! I would end up at my gunsmith's door with the bag full of parts and my tail between my legs, LOL, great job, many thanks .

[@TargetSuite]

You are welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@johngallagher2313]

I used to have a Model 71 and always wanted an 1886. That is a painstaking chore to reassemble. Makes me rethink that somewhat. No wonder John Browning simplified the Model 92.Those things are made like a watch. I suppose that is what makes them such great rifles is the meticulous details built into them. Good video.

[@TargetSuite]

Thanks John ! ! !

[@torbenqvist7730]

Thank you very much. Enjoyed it all. This video will give me the currage to disassemble and reassemble my own Winchester 1886 Miroku. You present problems and solutions in a very good way. Thumb way up X 2 from me :) I have modified the "rebounding hammer" as well. But I did it because it caused weak primer strikes. After I removed about 8 milimeters the problems seased to exist. I now have very positive primer strikes and no rebounding hammer at all. Good trade :) Thank you again. Very good instructions. By the way....... I guess that all the pumpkins was sold out. :-) Cheers

[@TargetSuite]

Thanks for your encouragement! It makes the effort worthwhile. Let me know if you run into problems that I didn't address in the video.

[@TargetSuite]

Hah! I missed your pumpkin comment. I picked up 14 pumpkins on Saturday and planned to go to the farm to film an intro an outro for this video around those pumpkins. It was going to be exciting. But then I realized this video was going to be too long by itself so, if the pumpkins don't rot, you'll get to see them all lined up and filled with a mystery semi-liquid substance and shot with the 45-70 next week. Not sure if I will use a Leverevolution expanding bullet or hard cast 405 grain handload. Either way, I hope to capture some exciting video as well as some penetration data. It should be fun. And speaking of lining up things, I have applied with the biggest international "world record" company so establish a world record shooting things lined up. I can't share details now, and I haven't received approval yet from London. Regardless, I will post a video in December with either a official or unofficial claim of "shooting" the most um, the most, uh, I'm sorry, you'll just have to wait :-). But I hope to use the 1886. Stay tuned!

[@bkm4925]

@@TargetSuite How about soda bottles with various colored water in them? Hmmm. Or pennies?

[@TargetSuite]

Interesting thought . . . pennies

[@jeffpittman8725]

Have my eyes on a 1929 Model 94 32 Special. Daunting task and it explains why so many dirty rifles are for sale. Great video!

[@TargetSuite]

Haha! Yes. Fortunately, the model 94 and 1892 aren't nearly as difficult.

[@christalbott1852]

Wow. I watceh this video and your video on the 1892. I knew Browning made some improvements with the 1892 but after seeing both disassembly/re-assembly videos they look like two totally different designs. I’m going to have to think twice before I take my Miroku 1886 apart.

[@TargetSuite]

It is a challenging design. Thanks for your comment.

[@bkm4925]

How did you learn to do that? That is amazing. I had no idea that the innards of that rifle was so complex. Very informative.

[@TargetSuite]

Thanks BKM49. It is complicated and what's amazing is that it was designed before computers or calculators and prototyped in wood! Of course, 21'st century lawyer's demands just made the original design more complicated.

[@perarduaadastra873]

Mine has a trigger way way too heavy. I need to do a trigger job.

[@Gristle111]

We can hardly figure out how it all goes together. Just think of the genius of John Browning that designed this. One of many!!! Just amazing. Id say he designed it not to take apart. LOL.

[@TargetSuite]

Browning's ability to conceive in his head and translate to paper was second to none. And to have so many of his designs still in production over a hundred years later says it all. But yes, the 1886 is a beast to reassemble😄

[@Gristle111]

@@TargetSuite to think he did it all before google. I love my 1886 thanks for the vid. I went and reloaded some rounds just because I watched this.

[@auntiefiat9769]

Thanks for doing this video! As always, your presentation is very good!

[@TargetSuite]

Thanks much!

[@stephengunthorpe5497]

Hi, I live in Australia , we are on the back foot here so to speak, missed the initial run of Miroku made Browning 1886 and ended up with a Pedersoli. Gun would not feed and would not go bang too much head-space, it was pretty to look at but junk inside where it counts , got my money back , then I had to wait until Winchester brought the 1886 short rifle into Australia, only to find it had issues with the trigger too much creep, no half cock , so I removed the rebounding hammer feature, installed a Browning hammer and trigger made up a new mainspring /hammer strut and its good to go. Occasionally I get misfires ( 1 in 30 rounds) caused by the inertia firing pin, I overcame this by using softer L/R primers. Is there a fix for this problem, I really would like to go with an original type pin and overcome this built in problem, will a heavier mainspring work but I really would like to drop in a one piece pin as they were originally made. Thank You Vaughn Gunthorpe Plainland Australia

[@TargetSuite]

Wow Stephen. You've been through the ringer as they say. My guess is that your mainspring may be too weak. Other than that, I don't know.

[@richardbest6588]

This video really is excellent, thanks very much. I have a Pedersoli 1886 on order... I imagine they must be very similar to the Miroku, less the tang safety? Thanks again, for all your great videos, and regards from UK!

[@TargetSuite]

Thank you! I've heard great things about the Pedersoli, but have no experience. If you think about it, send me some pictures and a comment or two when you get it. Email is [e-mail].

[@JohnSmith-qj8tc]

Suggestion. To hold flat spring in place on the loading gate, place a small dab of gunsmith glue to hold the spring in place. Gunsmith glue is, grease. Nice video sir.

[@TargetSuite]

Great idea! I used that trick to hold a washer in place deep inside my tractor until I could get the PTO shaft reinstalled.

[@oasis6444]

Thanks. Very good video. You take time to really show the tricky parts with readable close ups. Very useful. I wonder if the 92 Miroku is as complex or not? It is supposed to be the same mechanism, but I am not sure. Thanks again, for me this is the only usable vid so far.

[@TargetSuite]

Your comment could not be more timely! I am working on the Miroku 1892 disassembly/reassembly video as I type this. That video should post tomorrow morning.

[@oasis6444]

Target Suite That’s really great. I’ll wait until you post your vid before I venture disassembly and reassembly my brand new Winchester Miroku 92 for cleaning. Thanks a lot in advance. 👍😃

[@TargetSuite]

Working on it now. It may be a late night but I usually post at 4:30am on Tuesdays😉

[@bmclemore8203]

I need to removethe barrel on my miroku 1886. Does it just screw into the receiver? Also, who would you recommend to refinish the barrel? Im also in Louisiana. Thank you for your videos!

[@TargetSuite]

Hi Rick. It does screw in. I visited Clark Custom Guns a couple of weeks ago. They are a first class, and historical outfit just a few miles east of Bossier City.

[@bmclemore8203]

@@TargetSuite thank you!

[@jfk19780]

have you ever tried polishing the trigger up to make it a little lighter ??? thinking about doing mine ..little on the heavy side

[@TargetSuite]

I haven't. And this one is pretty heavy as well.

[@garyrice6497]

Excellent job George, I wish I had your talent. Mine is almost the same version as yours (Browning) without the tang safety. Ill be your study watching the video probably another 20 times before tackling the job myself. I also noticed the modification of the lower hammer strut to eliminate the rebounding hammer. Im wondering if it affected your trigger and hammer pull at all? Again thank you very much, this has to be the most informative video Ive seen on the 1886.

[@TargetSuite]

Hi Gary. I ordered a new hammer strut but it didn't arrive in time for the video. I don't remember any change after I modified the original, but once I get the unmodified strut installed and can answer your question about trigger and hammer function, I will reply to your comment. But to be sure, I will keep the old, modified hammer strut installed for daily use.

[@carllove3705]

Wow what a detailed video. Thank you for posting this. Would this procedure be the exact same thing on a Winchester model 1892? Or would it be a little bit different?

[@TargetSuite]

It's similar but different, in a good way. I posted a video on that assembly as well. Here's the link kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqqpZ4uVfLCfgrc

[@dylanhayden8825]

Working up the courage to try this....

[@TargetSuite]

Hi Dylan. I would begin by mastering the steps. It will take a long morning (or more) but disassemble/reassemble each step until you master that. Just be careful and not let a tool slip and damage a screw or scratch that beautiful bluing.

[@wernerweibock4812]

Good Video and a perfect explanation. May i can ask you if you have ever done this on an Miroku 1892 too. I want to this with my Miroku 1892 but still have worry if i take it down. My fear is that i could not reassembly it. Maybe you have some expierence on the Miroku 1892. Doing this with my Rossi M92, i am fine but on the Miroku i have my concerns .

[@TargetSuite]

I have not worked on a Winchester Miroku 1892 yet, but if I could find one locally that I could "borrow" I would sure love to get to know it and make that video. Getting one of my own is on my "wish list". Maybe some day . . . What caliber is yours?

[@wernerweibock4812]

I have a .357. If you could do a video of a1892 i would welcome this, as there is no explanation out there. I could support you in doing a translation into German language in case of need, as I am living in Austria. There i am running the Austrian Shooting Channel on youtube. Maybe we can team up on a video for the 1892 by using skype or facetime etc. .... drop me an email with your contact details, email, mobile phone nr,. My emai is: [e-mail]

[@TargetSuite]

Hi Werner. Sounds great. My German is pretty rusty :-) Btw, I subbed your channel. Can't wait to spend a little time going through your content.

[@don20190]

Thank you so much for your videos. Especially this one. Wow. How does this new made 1886 compare in disassembly with the originals?

[@TargetSuite]

Thanks! The Miroku Winchesters are very similar to the originals. The tang safety and rebounding hammer are the biggest differences. If you can follow this video and still have a functioning rifle, an original would be a piece of cake. ;-)

[@jamesd6877]

Several years ago, I made the mistake of taking an original '86 apart that was manufactured in 1905. The biggest problem was that I was well into a bottle of whisky when the disassembly took place, and I was stone cold sober when it went together. What a nightmare. lol

[@TargetSuite]

And the real hangover came after getting it all back together, right?

[@fjhutch143]

When you put the Skinner sight on did you have to put a taller front sight as well? I'm going to make a work stand like you built there.

[@TargetSuite]

Yes. I have put a Skinner on three rifles and they all required a taller front sight. By the way, when I build my next version of the work stand, I am going to build it to work with more rifles. The base will have tapered "sockets" to accommodate at least two different rifle lengths and the risers will have tapered ends that will tap down into those sockets. Each riser will be rifle specific I share that with you because I watched your video on the powder drop station and can tell you are an engineer at heart. Thanks for the comment!

[@mikemeadows7312]

When reassembling the bolt and hand lever temporarily before sliding in place put a temperary pin in painted a bright color on the end and then punch out temporary pin out with the permanent pin.

[@TargetSuite]

Mike unless I am missing something, there is no way to tap out a temporary pin after assembling the 1886.

[@nowornever2504]

Hi - did you special order your rifle with a straight stock + octagon barrel?

[@TargetSuite]

I bought it used (It's a 2005 model). I was a limited offering from Miroku at the time, even says "Limited" on the barrel.I got lucky!

[@grin2u]

This is like taking your automatic wristwatch apart to clean it yourself, just don't do it! The rifle is made like a watch, very interesting looking at these old firearm designs.

[@TargetSuite]

And I think JMB could have been a watch maker extraordinaire!😄

[@aaronwilcox6417]

I really like my 1886 rifles. But if you start taking them apart one begins thinking, "why cant this be a Marlinn1895"? Browning sure complicated those leverguns with small intricate parts and the alignment of several parts at one time. Complicated. Still i like my 1886 and 71 rifles.

[@TargetSuite]

Haha! Yep. Deep cleaning the '86 is an afternoon project that might push into supper time.😄

[@andyfloyd1590]

i wonder how many rifles of this model were taken to gunsmith in a box of pieces

[@TargetSuite]

I was pretty surprised to find what the real problem was.

[@jeffryrichardson9105]

Wow I’m not taking mine apart!! 👍🏾😀❤️🇺🇸

[@TargetSuite]

Hahaha! I know. It's a daunting task.