I posted the following on several other BPCR talk forums and thought I'd give you guys and gals a try. For those of you seeing my request for the 1st time, I’ve spent almost 3 years researching Browning BPC rifles and gathering data as time and my regular job permits. I’m sure by now Browning, who has been very helpful, is tiring of my many questions. My ultimate goal is to have the material published. If it turns out a book does not make sense due to a lack of publisher interest or the cost to publish it myself, I plan on releasing the results to all Browning BPCR owners. There’s no need to disassemble anything to respond to the questions. Just pull out your rifles, jot down the data and send me a quick email. My email address is texasmac@ev1.net.

A few folks have been reluctant to provide serial numbers. If you share their concern I hereby give you my word of honor as a gentleman and a writer that the specific information you provide will be kept private and will not be disclosed to anyone. By the way, I’m only gathering information on the BPCR models, not the rest of Browning’s Model 1885 line. Following is the data I need:

.45-90 Creedmore: the questions are to determine the block of serial numbers issued and which rifles have the fixed front site.
- Full serial number
- Type of front site (windage-adjustable or fixed)

.40-65 & .45-70 models: the questions are mainly to establish when several changes to the rifles were implemented by Browning.
- Full serial number
- Shape of the muzzle crown – there are two shapes, a counter-bored square-bottomed (90º step-down) crown or a concave or dished design also referred to as a “cereal bowl” crown
- Butt plate screw spacing – the center-to-center hole spacing of the butt plate screws. The original stock and butt plate has a spacing of 3.2” (8.2 cm). The redesigned stock and butt plate has a spacing of 4.05” (10.3 cm).
- Extractor (original or redesigned) - If it’s not clear which extractor your rifle has it’s easy to determine by fully opening the action. As the action is opened both extractor designs move out of their resting slot below the breech rim and push the cartridge back out of the chamber. But, unless manually depressed, the old design (original) extractor normally does not fully rotate down and sometimes block the rim when inserting a new cartridge. It can be moved up and down a little with your finger when the action was fully open. The redesigned extractor, after pushing the cartridge out, continues to rotate down until it comes in contact with the top front edge of the breechblock. It may move up and down slightly but never enough to block the rim when inserting a new cartridge.

All rifles:
- I’d like to get comments from any shooters who have experienced a problem with the rear sight staff detent, and solution that may have been implemented.
- Finally, is there a barrel stamp on your rifle? In addition to the normal manufacturing and caliber information stamped on the barrels, some rifles have two block letters stamped on the left side of the barrel, just in front of the receiver and directly above the forearm wood. There’s no need to remove the forearm. It’s just above the corner of the forearm where it contacts the receiver. If your rifle is so stamped let me know what the letters are.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,
Wayne
aka: TexasMac
email: texasmac@sbcglobal.net

Hey Wayne,

Can't help you on the rifle questions but want to say welcome to the forum and good luck with your project.

I'm in Cedar Park.

Hey guys,

I been promising to complete my book (Browning Model 1885 Black Powder Cartridge Rifle) and offer it for sale for several years. Well, It's finally done and the presses are rolling. I've even set up a web site to provide all the details and take orders for the book and a few other related items. I think the hardbound 250 page book looks terrific and you will find a wealth of valuable information inside, but of course I'm biased.

As you know, all the modern Browning and Winchester Miroku manufactured 1885 high wall receivers are almost identical, the exceptions being the caliber, minor cosmetic differences and possibly an ejector rather than an extractor. What I'm leading up to here is, although the 1st section focuses on the Browning BPCRs, some of which is applicable to non-BPCR models, much of the larger Appendix also applies to the full line of Browning and Winchester M1885 High Walls, and to some extent even the Low Walls. For example there's a detailed description of the operation of the action and another extended chapter deals with disassembly and assembly. But rather than try to cover all the details here, check out my web site, which I've just set up primarily to advertise the book and take orders. It includes images of the front and back cover and the complete Table of Contents. The web site address is http://www.texas-mac.com. (http://www.texas-mac.com./)

I've just sold out the 1st batch of books printed. I can certainly take orders now but delivery to you will have to wait until I receive the books from the binder, which will be around 6/20. Thanks for your interest and spread the word to your friends with Browning and Winchester M1885 High-Walls and Low-Walls.

Best Regards,
Wayne

Nice looking cover! Sounds like a book full of good information. I'm considering ordering one.