03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM Licensee IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS FOR MODEL 1885 SINGLE SHOT, HIGH AND LOW WALL CENTERFIRE RIFLES As one of the Classic Traditions models you can expect the same quality and satisfaction as with the original, historic Model 1885 introduced by Winchester in 1885. And, as with the original, you’ll appreciate its elegant design, strong action and smooth functioning.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM Important instructions for Winchester Model 1885 SINGLE SHOT, HIGH AND LOW WALL CENTERFIRE RIFLES Customer Service Department 275 Winchester Avenue Morgan, Utah 84050-9333 Phone: 1-800-945-5237 If you have any questions or comments regarding your new firearm, please feel free to write or call us. Use the space below to record information about your new firearm.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire Contents 7/17/03 11:16 AM Page Gun Safety Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 General Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Terminology and Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Serial Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Ammunition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Initial Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Operation of the Hammer . .
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM GUN SAFETY WARNINGS IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THESE OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS BE THOROUGHLY STUDIED BEFORE USING THIS FIREARM TO ASSURE PROPER AND SAFE GUN HANDLING. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS OR FAILURE TO OBEY ANY SAFETY WARNING MAY RESULT IN INJURY TO YOURSELF OR OTHERS, OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO YOUR GUN. As a gun owner, you accept a set of demanding responsibilities. How seriously you take these responsibilities can be the difference between life and death.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM pressure and possible serious personal injury. 4. Incorrectly reloaded ammunition can cause serious personal injury and damage to the firearm due to excessive pressure. Reload only after proper instruction and in strict compliance with instruction and data contained in current reloading manuals. 5. Never point a gun at anything you do not intend to shoot. Always keep it pointed in a safe direction in case of accidental discharge. 6.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM 14. Never alter any parts of your gun. Any alterations or adjustments that may become necessary to the operating mechanism should be performed by a qualified gunsmith. 15. Hunting from elevated surfaces such as tree stands is dangerous. Doing so may increase the risk of handling any firearm. Always make certain that the stand being used is safe, sturdy and stable. Always make certain your firearm is unloaded when it is being taken up and down from the stand.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM the Model 1885 design. After reading the warnings in the front of this manual, Figure 1 is a good place to start to become familiar with your rifle. Cycling the lever downward opens the breech and drops the hammer out of the way. This leaves easy access to the chamber area for inserting a round. When the lever is returned upward the breech closes and the hammer moves upward again — but now the hammer is in the cocked position.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM Page 6 FIGURE 1 MODEL 1885, FEATURES After more than 70 years, the Winchester Model 1885 is back. It is a careful reproduction of one of the original configurations. A superb rifle with the fit and finish that you expect in a Winchester.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 Traditional open sights easily adjustable for elevation and drift adjustable for windage A special internal hanger system allows the forearm to be free floating so it will not affect accuracy The hammer actually drops down, out of the way, when the lever is cycled forward.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM FIGURE 2A Breech Block Ejector (below the chamber) Hammer Buttstock Receiver Finger Lever Trigger Buttplate AMMUNITION Your Winchester Model 1885 is designed to shoot modern factory cartridges only. The caliber of your new Model 1885 is inscribed on the top of the barrel in front of the receiver. Use only ammunition for which your Model 1885 is chambered –– as indicated on the barrel –– to prevent excessive pressure and possible serious injury.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire Rear Sight 7/17/03 Barrel 11:16 AM Front Sight Muzzle Forearm F I G U R E 2B Chamber opening Rear scope mount holes Hammer Top tang Breech block DISCHARGING FIREARMS IN POORLY VENTILATED AREAS, CLEANING FIREARMS OR HANDLING AMMUNITION MAY RESULT IN EXPOSURE TO LEAD AND OTHER SUBSTANCES KNOWN TO CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS, REPRODUCTIVE HARM AND OTHER SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY. HAVE ADEQUATE VENTILATION AT ALL TIMES. WASH HANDS THOROUGHLY AFTER EXPOSURE.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM F I G U R E 2C Lever in downward position (underside view) Trigger Lever Trigger Adjustment screw Bottom of breech block INITIAL CLEANING Before the first firing, clean the anti-rust compound from the inside of the barrel and receiver with a clean rag and light gun oil. Lightly oil the action along the sides of the breech block and at the pivot points on the lever. Only a small film of oil will ever be necessary.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM OPERATION OF THE HAMMER Like most lever action rifles with exposed hammers, the Winchester Model 1885 does not have a separate manual safety. The exposed hammer is an excellent indicator of the status of the rifle. The hammer has three positions: full cock, half cock, and dropped or fired. FULL COCK POSITION — The hammer is all the way to the rear (Figure 4). At this point, any pull or tug on the trigger will force the hammer to fall, firing the rifle.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM from the thumb while the rifle is being cocked (Figure 5). The half cock hammer position should be used for handling and storage — any time that the rifle is not actually being fired. It is important to note that the Model 1885 has an inertia sear which prevents the hammer from going to the dropped position unless the trigger is pulled with the hammer in the fully cocked position.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM the firing pin so that your thumb can act as a cushion against accidental hammer fall, and at the same time, ease the hammer into the half cock notch. A little practice with an empty rifle will enable a person to become adept at using the thumb in this manner. To lower the hammer to half cock: 1. Pull the hammer slightly rearward with your thumb still controlling the hammer. 2.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM When shooting at ranges, and at many other times, the action should be open unless shooting is imminent. GENERAL OPERATING PROCEDURES With a cartridge in the chamber, and the hammer at full cock, the rifle will fire a single round when the trigger is squeezed. The lever is then rotated downward, extracting or ejecting, (depending on model) the fired cartridge. An unfired cartridge may now be placed in the chamber.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM FIGURE 8 Insert a cartridge into the chamber Be sure to push the cartridge fully in habit of pushing the cartridge all the way into the chamber. Now close the lever. This locks the action and leaves the hammer in the full cock, ready-to-fire position.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM FIGURE 9 Shell deflector Deflector in “deflect to right” position F I G U R E 10 Deflector in “catch” position (retains cartridge) adjustable for different deflections depending on your needs. With a screw driver, rotate the deflector to one of the click-stop positions. The deflector may be positioned in a diagonal position to the left or right, deflecting the shell to the left or right respectively, and clearing the stock.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM erative. Should this happen, merely back off the adjustment until the mechanism is again operative. WARNING: NEVER TAMPER WITH THE TRIGGER PULL ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM IN ORDER TO ALTER THE MINIMUM SETTING OF THIS OR ANY OTHER FIREARM'S TRIGGER PULL. NEVER ATTEMPT IN ANY WAY TO MODIFY OR ALTER SEAR ENGAGEMENT OR ANY OTHER TRIGGER ASSEMBLY COMPONENT. IN THE CASE OF A MISFIRE Only rarely will modern factory ammunition experience a misfire.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM Carefully inspect the extracted cartridge. If the primer is indented, the cartridge should be disposed of in a manner that would prevent accidental injury to you or others. If there is no indentation, your gun has malfunctioned and should be serviced by a qualified gunsmith. If the gun is under warranty, it must be serviced by a Winchester Firearms Authorized Repair Center (ARC), which you can locate on our website at www.winchesterguns.com.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM 1. Firmly position your thumb on the hammer and draw the hammer back to the full cock position (Figure 12). YOUR RIFLE IS NOW READY TO FIRE. 2. Firmly shoulder your gun, take aim and when on target pull the trigger smoothly, without jerking. TO LOAD ANOTHER ROUND FOR THE NEXT SHOT — 1. Swing the finger lever fully down, extracting or ejecting the fired cartridge case from the chamber on the ejector models. As it is ejected, it will strike the shell deflector.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM F I G U R E 13 Lift up on the notch holder and move the elevator forward or rearward with your fingers found on current Model 1885 rifles. BEFORE MAKING ANY SIGHT ADJUSTMENTS, MAKE SURE YOUR RIFLE IS FULLY UNLOADED AND THE ACTION IS OPEN.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM F I G U R E 14 Tap carefully (Do not mar the barrel or sight) dovetailed in the barrel. To adjust for windage, gently move the rear sight to the right or left by tapping at the dovetail using a wood or fiber dowel or hammer that will not mar the sight (Figure 14). If you tap to the right your gun will shoot more to the right. Moving the rear sight to the left is just as easily done. Note how much you adjust the sight as you sight-in your Model 1885.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM F I G U R E 15 Height adjustment knob Windage knob All sight adjustments — of course — are a matter of trial and error. Remember, it is usually necessary to reset your sights when you change type or even brand of ammunition. Front and rear sight dovetails should be snug. SIGHT PICTURE — The correct sight picture for the sights on your Model 1885 is with the front bead resting in the U-shaped notch in the sight blade.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM F I G U R E 16 Correct sight picture Target's bull's-eye Bead Notch REAR TANG PEEP SIGHT ADJUSTMENT — Certain models of the 1885 have a rear-tang peep sight. This sight is highly accurate and adjustable for windage and elevation. Simply raise the sight into position. Turn the knurled knob on the height adjustment clockwise to raise the sight, or shoot higher (Figure 13). Turn counterclockwise to lower the sight or to shoot lower.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM reliably over a longer period of time if it is properly maintained and kept clean. BEFORE PERFORMING ANY CLEANING PROCEDURES, ALWAYS MAKE CERTAIN THERE IS NO CARTRIDGE IN THE CHAMBER. ALWAYS OPEN THE ACTION WHEN CLEANING AND MAINTAINING YOUR MODEL1885. You should clean your Model 1885 after every day of shooting and more often if it becomes excessively dirty. A minimum cleaning includes wiping down the action and oiling key parts.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM Insert the rod and patch into the barrel at the breech end and run it back and forth several times. If cleaning is performed from the muzzle end, always use a crown protector. Be careful not to strike the crown of the muzzle with the handle end of the rod. Damage to this area can affect the accuracy of the rifle. 2. Inspect the chamber and bore for brass, copper and powder fouling. A normal amount of powder residue can be expected and is not serious.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM 6. INSPECT THE BARREL AND CHAMBER. TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT NO PATCHES HAVE BEEN INADVERTENTLY LEFT IN THEM. REMOVE ANY THAT REMAIN. 7. Wipe all wood surfaces. 8. When transporting only, store your Model 1885 in a quality protective case to prevent scratches and dents. Store in a dry place to prevent corrosion. Store away from children. MAKE SURE YOUR GUN IS UNLOADED AND ALWAYS STORE AMMUNITION SEPARATELY.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM Arnold, MO. A list of Authorized Service Centers was included with your new firearm. If you need a new listing, call us. We can help you determine the best place to service your firearm. In order to avoid delays it is important to never send your gun directly to our facility without direct authorization from one of our service specialists. This avoids possible delays in obtaining service.
You Are Responsible For Firearms Safety As a gun owner, you accept a set of demanding responsibilities. How seriously you take these responsibilities can mean the difference between life and death. Failure to follow any of these instructions can cause extensive damage to your gun and/or possible serious injury or death to yourself and others. There is no excuse for careless or abusive handling of any firearm. At all times handle any firearm with intense respect for its power and potential danger.
6. BEWARE OF BARREL OBSTRUCTIONS, for the safety of both your gun and yourself. Mud, snow, and an infinite variety of other obstructions may inadvertently lodge in a barrel bore. It takes only one small obstruction to cause dangerously increased pressures that can ruin (swell or rupture) the finest rifle barrels. BEFORE CHECKING FOR A BARREL OBSTRUCTION, BE CERTAIN NO LIVE ROUND IS IN THE CHAMBER AND THAT THE MAGAZINE IS REMOVED AND FEED MECHANISMS ARE COMPLETELY EMPTY.
11. BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND BACKSTOP. Particularly during low light periods. Know the range of your ammunition. Never shoot at water or hard object. 12. ALWAYS UNLOAD YOUR RIFLE'S CHAMBER BEFORE CROSSING A FENCE, CLIMBING A TREE, JUMPING A DITCH OR NEGOTIATING OTHER OBSTACLES. Refer to "Unloading The Rifle" for instructions on the unloading of your rifle. Never place your loaded rifle on or against a fence, tree, car or other similar object. 13. WEAR EYE AND EAR PROTECTION WHEN SHOOTING.
20. READ AND HEED ALL WARNINGS in this instruction book, on ammunition boxes and with all accessories that you install on your firearm. It is your responsibility to secure the most up-to-date information on the safe handling procedures of your Browning gun. Browning assumes no liability for incidents which occur when unsafe or improper gun accessories or ammunition combinations are used. 21. PERIODIC MAINTENANCE -- AVOID UNAUTHORIZED SERVICING.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM WINCHESTERGUNS.COM U.S. Repeating Arms Company offers an information resource for you on the world wide web. • List of authorized repair centers. • Customer service information. • Answers to many technical and historical questions. • Links to helpful sites. • Visit www.winchesterguns.
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire NOTES 29 7/17/03 11:16 AM Page 29
03-101_WFA_1885 Centerfire 7/17/03 11:16 AM Licensee 275 Winchester Avenue Morgan, UT, USA 84050-9333 www.winchesterguns.
