Winchester 1885 Cenrefire Rifle Instructions Manual

							Licensee
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.
IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS 
FORMODEL 1885
SINGLE SHOT, 
HIGH AND LOW WALL 
CENTERFIRE RIFLES275 Winchester Avenue
Morgan, UT, USA 84050-9333
Winchester trademarks licensed from Olin Corporation
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							Important instructions for Winchester Model 1885 SINGLE SHOT, HIGH AND LOW WALL 
CENTERFIRE RIFLESCustomer Service Department
275 Winchester Avenue
Morgan, Utah 84050-9333
Phone: 1-800-945-5237If 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.
Model______________________________________
Caliber _____________________________________
Serial Number  ______________________________
Purchased From  _____________________________
Date of Purchase _____________________________Winchester trademarks licensed from Olin CorporationPRINTED IN USA  • NEU06031/03101
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							1
Contents PageGun Safety Warnings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
General Description  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Terminology and Descriptions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Serial Number  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Ammunition  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Initial Cleaning  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Operation of the Hammer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
General Operating Procedures  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Shell Deflector  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Trigger  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
In the Case of a Misfire  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Firing Procedures  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Sight Adjustments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Hammer Extension  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Cleaning and Maintenance Suggestions . . . . . . . . 24
Parts, Service, Repair & Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Website Information  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
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							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. There is no excuse for careless or abusive
handling of any firearm. At all times handle your 
rifle and any other firearm with intense respect for 
its power and potential danger.PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL 
OF THE CAUTIONS, PROPER HANDLING 
PROCEDURES AND INSTRUCTIONS 
OUTLINED IN THIS BOOKLET BEFORE
USING YOUR NEW FIREARM.1. Do not carry a loaded gun with a live round in
the chamber while walking, running, climbing a tree,
crossing a fence or anywhere you might slip or fall,
drop the gun or otherwise bump or jar the gun. A gun
that is dropped, bumped, or jarred with a chambered
round might accidentally discharge even with the
safety on, causing serious injury to you or someone
else. When a round is chambered keep the safety on
until you are ready to shoot.
2. Do not rely on the safety (half cock position) to
prevent accidental discharge. Many safeties merely
block the trigger and prevent firing by pulling the
trigger. The safety may not prevent an accidental 
discharge due to dropping, jarring, or bumping a gun.
3. Use only ammunition for which the gun is cham-
bered as indicated on the barrel, to prevent excessive
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							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. Always check to ensure that the barrel is free of
obstructions before loading and using the gun. If you
experience light recoil or an off sound, open the
action, completely unload the rifle and check the
barrel for obstruction.
7. Before firing, clean any grease or oil out of the
barrel with a cleaning rod and patch. Grease or heavy
accumulation of oil can cause excessive pressure and
result in serious personal injury.
8. Keep barrel, chamber and action free of rust.
Rust in the barrel and chamber can cause excessive
pressures resulting in serious injury. A rusted, pitted
or eroded barrel should be replaced.
9. Use hearing protection to prevent ear damage
from repeated exposure to gunfire.
10. Always use proper shooting glasses to prevent
eye injury from flying particles.
11. Never carry a loaded gun in a motor vehicle or
carry one into a dwelling. Always carefully unload
the gun before entering a motor vehicle, a dwelling 
or an area such as a camp. Always point a gun in a
safe direction while loading or unloading to prevent 
serious injury in case of an accidental discharge.
Never load in the house or in your vehicle.
12. Never shoot at a hard, flat surface or at the 
surface of water to avoid a ricochet and possible 
serious personal injury to yourself or a bystander.
13. Store guns in a clean, dry place out of reach of
children and separated from stored ammunition.
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							14. Never alter any parts of your gun. Any alter-
ations 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. Always
make certain that your firearm is not dropped from
the stand or dropped while it is being taken up or
down from the stand.
16. 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.GENERAL
DESCRIPTION
With the introduction of the 1885, the world of 
single shots was given a welcome addition.
In 1885 competitive target shooting in America had
the stature professional golf has today. Huge matches
were held at places like Creedmore, New York.
Spectators would number in the thousands. The 1885
was uniquely suited to the long range accuracy 
shooting of the day. 
It didn’t take long for hunters to embrace the 1885
because of the challenge of hunting with a single shot
and the wide variety of hunting chamberings available.
Although other single shots had proceeded it, a new
standard was set. Over the years it has certainly
appeared that the original Winchester Single Shot 1885
could not be improved upon. It was very close to 
perfection when it was first made and remains so today.
Figure 1 covers the general features and benefits of
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							5
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.
After firing, the lever can be returned downward
which again lowers the breech block and the 
hammer, and at the same time extracts the cartridge. 
Black powder models of the Model 1885 are also
available. Specific instructions and specifications for
the black powder models will be included with those
particular rifles.
This manual covers the features of all new models of
the centerfire Model 1885 after 2002. If you should
have an older model of the centerfire Model 1885,
please call our Customer Service Dept. at 
1-800-945-5237.TERMINOLOGY AND
DESCRIPTIONS
Descriptions in this manual generally refer to the gun
in the horizontal position. That is, in the normal 
firing position. For example, the muzzle is forward or
front; the buttstock is rearward or rear; the trigger is
downward or underneath; the sights are upward or on
top. For general parts terminology refer to Figures 2A,
2B and 2C. Throughout this manual the “action”
refers to the mechanism which secures the cartridge
in the chamber.SERIAL
NUMBER
The serial number can be found on the lower right
side of the receiver toward the rear corner (Figure 3).
Record it in the space provided at the front of this
manual for future reference.
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							M
ODEL
1885, F
EATURES
FIGURE
1
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. The massive breech block design
is one reason the Model 1885 has
proven so accurateTraditional three-position
hammer: dropped, half cock
and full cock
Drilled and tapped for
scope mounts
(Available separately)
Cartridge ejector
system and shell
deflector
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							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. This makes loading
and unloading very convenient
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							AMMUNITIONYour 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. Winchester ammunition is always an excellent
choice for your new rifle, delivering unmatched 
performance and the dependability you want.MAKE SURE YOU USE ONLY THE EXACT
AMMUNITION/CALIBER AS LISTED ON THE
BARREL. 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 instructions
and data contained in current reloading manuals.
8
FIGURE
2A
ButtplateEjector (below the
chamber) 
Trigger  Buttstock
Receiver Hammer
Finger Lever
Breech Block
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