Any one have any experience with Ultra-HI by Miroku Japan

[Jenrick]

Was browsing Armslist looking for a deal on a black powder rifle (still a toss up between a flint and percussion), and ran into several listings for rifles manufactured by Ultra-HI. I've never heard the name mentioned, and have no clue about their quality. They are well priced, and have a decent appearance from what I can see in the pictures. Does anyone have any first hand experience with them?

-Jenrick

 

[TomADC]

I have three shotguns made by Miroku, they are high quality the O/U are marked Charles Daly and have had at least 10,000 rounds thru them shot a ton of skeet. Zero problem, the other is a Browning Model 12 grade 5 in 28 gauge beautiful shotgun. Miroku also made the Browning Cintori (sp)
I'd wouldn't be afraid to buy anything made by them

 

[Jaymo]

My flintlock is a .50 caliber Dixie Gunworks Tennessee Mountain Rifle, made by Miroku. I love it. Miroku makes nice guns. The fact that Browning selected them to make their Japanese made shotguns speaks volumes for their quality.

ETA: I have a friend who keeps trying to talk me into selling my flintlock to him, and I keep telling him he's SOL. I'm not getting rid of that one. It has a much better double set trigger than my TC Renegade, and my Renegade's no slouch. Plus, it's just a very nice, well made gun-as is expected of Miroku.
I would not be afraid to buy any Miroku made gun.

 

[Jenrick]

Thanks guy, going to go ahead and get it then. Now flint lock or percussion.....

-Jenrick

 

[arcticap]

The Ultra Hi .45 Kentucky had an undersize bore and slow twist 4 groove rifling.


1. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=264672&highlight=ultra

2. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=406186&highlight=ultra

 

[shunka]

Regarding Miroku and Ultra-Hi rifles, I can only say "It Depends"

I recalled Warnings regarding old Ultra-Hi smoothbore barrels:

There was a time when a problematic series of flintlock ML were sold by Ultra-hi which were 1/2 round- 1/2 octagon barrels.

Apparently there were some imported that had a 2 piece *barrel*, and some of these had internal "ledges". (yes the stock was a two-piece stock as well).

The concept of 1/2 round-1/2 octagonal must have been conveyed conversationally, because the resulting barrel was literally a bored octagon piece screwed onto a smaller diameter bored round piece.

These are usually flinters, almost always marked Ultra-Hi and/or Miroku.

the 'trade rifle/musket" in question looks like this:
http://www.gunauction.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=10224467

This is not to say that ALL the Miroku / Hi-Point musket have a 2 piece barrel, but such a significant number existed that they were banned from many rondy's or competitions in the early 70's after some problems occurred.

from :
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=13316.15


Dphariss
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Re: Broke my ramrod off in barrel while cleaning/STUCK
« Reply #26 on: November 29, 2010, 11:45:34 PM »
Quote from: bob miller on November 29, 2010, 10:27:11 PM
I believe Miroku made the barrels used in the Dixie gunworks guns.

They also made the 2 piece threaded together "1/2 octagonal" smoothbore barrels for "ultra-hi".
The one that was split for photos by the old Buckskin Report had a bore that was .010" out of line
at the joint. The reason it was looked into was that people were hanging up patches in the barrels
due to the mis-alignment of the bore.

So when I see "made in Japan" and "stuck patch" its the first thing that comes to mind.
But since this is stuck at the breech its not likley stuck at some joint in the bore farther up.
If its rusted that bad its junk in any case.
------------------------------------------------------
and another link:
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?fid/16/tid/239798/

informationally, yhs
shunka

 

[Curator]

Sight unseen, I'd pass. I have seen and fixed several Ultra High Jap replicas and they weren't very high quality. Personally I am not a fan of a welded in breech plug and their locks just plain suck. They were made as replicas to shoot blanks in my opinion by people who had no clue. Remember when "Made in Japan" meant junk? Well, here you are.

 

[Jenrick]

Hmm, okay good to know some counter opinions. Time to do some pondering.

-Jenrick

 

[shunka]

Some Miroku stuff is good some are not
It Depends ™ -
there are some high-end guns out there, one just needs to know one's stuff.

When it comes to buying used ML firelocks I generally like to do it in person so I can examine in detail. This has allowed me to pass on "good buys" that had crappy/broken locks, barrels rotted from the interior, etc. It also allowed me to pick up an Uberti 1861 for $75 because of certain "issues" that I new I could repair easily.

I frequently see used "low end" .45 cal "longrifles" on the used rack in the local toy store marked "Ultra-Hi", "Sears", CVA, Jukar, etc. - they are nearly identical 2-piece mystery-wood stocks, with inexpensive generic brass fittings, a questionable caplock, and a nearly identical ~ 32-34" barrel.

This I can relate: if the trigger and lock work reliably and safely, these can be great entry level guns if the price is right. The early CVA's of this genre were well known to be "that ugly crappy rifle that won the trailwalk match" or some other "pick-up" match.

If there is anything at all wrong with them, especially barrel corrosion, I would pass them by as repairs could cost more than the gun.

yhs
shunka

 

[CraigC]

Have zero experience with their blackpowder rifles but their leverguns are first rate. Better than anything produced domestically in 100yrs.

Remember when "Made in Japan" meant junk?

Propaganda.

 

[Jaymo]

Well, I would pass on that smoothbore just because it's ugly. The 2 piece barrel, bore misalignment issue can be fixed.
Even when "made in japan" meant junk, Miroku made good rifles, shotguns, and revolvers.
The DGW Miroku Tennessee Mountain Rifles are very well made. The fact that Ralph Walker was impressed with it is more than enough for me.

 

[BCCL]

My first BP rifle was 45 caliber Kentucky rifle by Miroku and it was a very good gun.

 

[shunka]

Greetings My Dear Jaymo -

Just curious, might I ask how you would repair a misaligned 2 piece barrel?

yhs
shunka

 

[Jenrick]

Here are some pics that I got sent:







The barrel is obviously round all the way from breech to muzzle. The wood is nothing special, but otherwise it looks decent. The price certainly seems right at the moment. Thoughts?

-Jenrick

 

[arcticap]

It looks like a very nice, clean Zouave rifle that would be a lot of fun to shoot.
My concern would be how smooth is the lock and the trigger pull and how well are the sights regulated.
A lot of the Italian Zouave rifles shoot high and need to have their front sight replaced to shoot to point of aim.