Call me crazy, but I just can't leave well enough alone when it comes to new guns. I took one of my Miroku 1886 Extra Lightweight rifles and turned it into something different. The riciculous tang safety is gone, as is the redundant rebounding hammer. The Japanese markings were spun off and original turn of the century 1886 barrel and tang lettering rolled on. It now has a full length magazine, a PG lower tang and lever, along with a new stock off of a .45-90 TD that is currently offered.

The gun is now back together and as complete as it will remain for a while. Eventually, I will put a Model 71 Deluxe forend cap with sling attachment and a 71 sling swivel the buttstock.:D
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/old86/22073.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/old86/22071.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/old86/22072.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/old86/NewEL.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/old86/new86.jpg

Who filled in the safety slot for you?

I like to personalize, too. It's only a gun, but it's my gun!
Nice job!

Is there any way to tell it's not actually a Winchester?

Mike Hunter did the tang safety weld and lettering. I did the wood and other mods. The caliber markings were left as original Miroku, which tells you it ain't a Winchester, but the average person wouldn't know

Beautiful!
I want to say more, but that's all I can think of to say.

Wow, I didn't know you could do all that with a Winchester ELR. Very nice indeed!

I've been wanting a ELR but I always hated the half length magazine. How did you mod it into a full length magazine?

You have to cut a dovetail slot barrel at the same point as the original guns had. You can use a Browning 1886 SRC mag tube that is available from Midwest Gun Works. Also, the magazine retaining ring is a twist in type that won't require a pin like the standard Winchester 1886 had.

I have a stockpile of original '86 parts lying around, so make use of them when needed. Wait 'til you see my next project. It will be an EL in .40-82 that will be bored from one of my .33 barrels that has a rough bore. That one will also use an original frame, but the rest of the innards will be Miroku.