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B-78 octogan 22/250

Broz said:
Nice rifle Rich. I will always have a place in my heart for these type rifles. Especially ones so darn good looking. I had one of these once in 243, but I regret to say I never fired it.

Jeff
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when I first got my 38-55 I worked with Russ Combs, a well known black powder shooter. He bugged me to death to shoot BPMC with that rifle, but I resisted to the max! I get time this week I take a picture f it and post it. I'd love to have on in .308 N.M. or 6mm Remington
gary
 
Trickymissfit said:
not real familure with what the B-78 is, but looks like an 1885 to me. Am I right? If so it's similar to a Hi-Wall. They made a gazillion versions of the Hi-Wall and Lo-Wall, and also different barrels and even a half octagon barrel (seen a couple).

I have a Hi-Wall in 38-55 with the flip up tang sight and the octagon barrel. The wood is satin finished and very nice furnature grade wood. Yours looks like the normal gloss finish. But have never seen one in 22-250. I have seen a couple in 25-06 that looked identical to what you have.

Value wise, I looked at a gently used 45-70 a couple months ago that was very similar to what you have, and I passed on it when they wanted $1000 (I'd have gone $850). Was going to rebarrel in in 40-65 if I had bought it.

I also have a .223 Lo-Wall, and it's kinda like a scaled down Hi-Wall clone (maybe 3/4 the size). Otherwise nearly identical. This rifle has been it's own nightmare from the get go, and it never was actually the gun itself! Odered in new bases and rings from Leupold (I wanted matching gloss rings and bases), and when they came in I put them inside the safe forgeting I even owned the Lo-Wall for several years. I look in my safe one afternoon and see two or three odd rifles on the back row left hand corner! Drag them out for a look see and there is this beautifull Lo-Wall and a MK. V. WBY in 30-06. Plus a commerative 39a with gold inlay and an octagon barrel!! The WBY and the 39A still had the hang tags on them!. Well I gotta get out and shoot this Lo-Wall, and found the bases and rings for it in the safe as well. Bought a mid line scope for it, and set the rifle up in the vise to work on it. The bases looked really nice, but Leupold sent the wrong screws for it (too short). Called them up and the guy at Leupold said they were correct. I told him that it was funny as they didn't work on either the front base or the rear. So he sends me screws that are about a half inch too long, and are the old style. Call him back and he hung up on me! I can make these screws work OK, but never enjoyed cutting off little bitty screws. Out of frustration las spring I called Burris and told them what I was looking for and they had exactly one set in the wharehouse (no longer produced). They gave them to me to get rid of them!!!! So if you need a set of bases you better stat looking. But if you don't mind matte bases, I'm your friend.
gary
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Hi Gary..... it's similar to the 1885 and the B-78 is a low wall version. They quit making them around '87, I think, and are really nice rifles. To make them shoot, you need to shim the fore end a little off of the barrel and tighten the tang screw until it squeaks! I pillar bedded my other one and made a special long screwdriver that I could turn with my ratchet. This really made it shoot. If you want original parts. call Gary Chatam @ (903)928-2400. e-mail [email protected]. He use to work for Browning.......Rich
 
elkaholic said:
Hi Gary..... it's similar to the 1885 and the B-78 is a low wall version. They quit making them around '87, I think, and are really nice rifles. To make them shoot, you need to shim the fore end a little off of the barrel and tighten the tang screw until it squeaks! I pillar bedded my other one and made a special long screwdriver that I could turn with my ratchet. This really made it shoot. If you want original parts. call Gary Chatam @ (903)928-2400. e-mail [email protected]. He use to work for Browning.......Rich
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I found my Lo-Wall years back setting in a used gun rack at a sporting goods store. I looked at it, and could see that it was new and unfired, but also could see that at least one round had been chambers as there was just the slightest bit of brass on the extractor. The guys told me they had to put it on the used gun rack because they had sold it, and they guy came back and traded it for something else. I bought it for $665 and two boxes of Remington .223 ammo tossed into the package. On the way out the door a guy offered me $800 for the rifle.

I don't know how the fit and finish is on your rifle, but mine is about as good as it gets. I think my 1885 Hi-Wall might be slightly better in that catagory.
gary
 
Trickymissfit said:
I found my Lo-Wall years back setting in a used gun rack at a sporting goods store. I looked at it, and could see that it was new and unfired, but also could see that at least one round had been chambers as there was just the slightest bit of brass on the extractor. The guys told me they had to put it on the used gun rack because they had sold it, and they guy came back and traded it for something else. I bought it for $665 and two boxes of Remington .223 ammo tossed into the package. On the way out the door a guy offered me $800 for the rifle.

I don't know how the fit and finish is on your rifle, but mine is about as good as it gets. I think my 1885 Hi-Wall might be slightly better in that catagory.
gary
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Thanks Gary......sounds like you got a dandy...........Rich
 
elkaholic said:
Thanks Gary......sounds like you got a dandy...........Rich
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just to touch on the Hi-Wall / Lo-Wall game plan an instant. I just found out last night that Leupold has quit manufacturing bases for them, and I already knew Burris had. I'm setting on a set of Leupold bases without the correct screws, and a gunsmith offered me a hundred dollars for them last night! I told him I'd trade them to him for a set of Burris Signature rings, and be happy. He had a very, very gently used 25-06 Hi-wall on his rack with Leupold bases on it (looked unfired), and had a 22-250 looking for bases. (new) I might buy that 25-06 as he said he take $1100 for it.
gary
 
Trickymissfit said:
just to touch on the Hi-Wall / Lo-Wall game plan an instant. I just found out last night that Leupold has quit manufacturing bases for them, and I already knew Burris had. I'm setting on a set of Leupold bases without the correct screws, and a gunsmith offered me a hundred dollars for them last night! I told him I'd trade them to him for a set of Burris Signature rings, and be happy. He had a very, very gently used 25-06 Hi-wall on his rack with Leupold bases on it (looked unfired), and had a 22-250 looking for bases. (new) I might buy that 25-06 as he said he take $1100 for it.
gary
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If you need anything Browning, call Gary Chatam as I posted earlier....Rich
 
Len should start a new forum on here for single shot rifles (not bolt guns) like Ruger #1's and 1885's. I bet you'd be surprised as to how many of us would respond.
gary
 
earlier in the week I looked at a 25-06 Hi-Wall at a local gunshop. The rifle looked unfired, or else he did the absolute best cleaning job man has ever known! It had Leupold bases, but no rings and there were some marks where he twisted off the rings. Otherwise the rifle was as new. They wanted $1300 and it was not all that bad of a price. Then the owner came over and told me he'd take $1150 case for it! I've been pondering this thing all week long as a guy just can't have enough 1885's in his safe! I don't think it's ever had a round chambered in it as there was no sign of brass on the extractor, and the bore showed zero signs of ever being fired.
gary
 
This may make you sick but i trade a marlin 17hmr for one in 22-250 about a month ago. I had 250an in the marlin. Awesome gun and a pleasure to shoot.
 
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