I get a lot of press releases in my inbox. Most of them are a complete snooze fest โ some company breathlessly announcing a holster that now fits one more Glock model, like thatโs going to shake the industry to its core. If you want to see my eyes glaze over faster than a donut in a Krispy Kreme window, send me one of those. Most of those press releases go straight to digital purgatory, never to be opened.
But Cimarron? Thatโs a different story. Cimarron makes cowboy guns โ and cowboy guns always get my attention. So when I saw the words Cimarron 1887 Lever-Action Terminator pop up in my inbox, I perked up faster than a squirrel at a peanut festival. Cowboy guns and a tie-in to Terminator 2? Thatโs the kind of ridiculous fun I live for.
A Little Shotgun History Lesson
If youโve never heard of the Winchester 1887, thatโs okay โ unless youโre a movie buff or a lever-gun history nerd, you probably havenโt. But itโs a fascinating little slice of firearms evolution. Winchester built its name on lever-action rifles, so when shotguns became the next big thing, they figured, why not make a lever-action shotgun? Enter the 1887 โ the first successful repeating shotgun.
It could hold five shells in the magazine tube, plus one in the chamber โ a big deal back in the day when most shotguns were still single or double barrels. John Browning designed the 1887, but you can almost feel him gritting his teeth about it. Winchester insisted on a lever-action because that was their thing. Browning knew a pump-action would make more sense for a shotgun, but Winchester wasnโt about logic โ they were about branding.
Fast forward to 1991, and Arnold Schwarzenegger cements the 1887 in pop culture history by twirling a cut-down version of it in Terminator 2. And now, Cimarronโs bringing it back โ though thankfully, theirs has a full stock and a 20-inch barrel, instead of looking like something a biker gang would cook up after a few too many drinks.
Not Exactly a Clone โ And Thatโs Okay
The Cimarron 1887 isnโt a 100% faithful replica. The original Winchester 1887 was built for black powder shells โ 2 5/8-inch paper hulls packed with enough smoke to fog up your whole county. Cimarronโs version uses modern 2 ยพ-inch shells, which makes sense unless you want to relive the 1880s every time you pull the trigger.
Itโs made in China by BAM, the same folks who made those early 1887 clones that Century Arms used to import. Those older ones wereโฆ letโs just say โrough around the edges.โ The wood looked like it had been carved with a butter knife, and the metalwork had the fit and finish of a garden rake. Cimarronโs version, though? Much better. The wood is actually attractive, the blued finish looks good, and it feels solid.
Like the original, itโs a five-round tube-fed gun with a simple bead sight and top-loading design. And just like its 19th-century ancestor, itโs delightfully weird to operate.
The Charm of Clunky
The 1887 is awkward. Heavy, chunky, and downright clumsy compared to modern shotguns. Loading it feels like you need a third hand, and working that lever requires enthusiasm bordering on aggression. But all that clunkiness? Thatโs the charm. This gun has personality.
To load it, you ratchet the bolt back, which exposes both the chamber and the magazine tube. Then you cram shells into the tube โ awkwardly, because thereโs not a ton of room to work with. Topping it off isnโt exactly fast either โ this ainโt no side gate lever gun.
Firing it is where the fun starts. Itโs a top-eject gun, meaning it happily flings spent shells straight at your forehead if youโre not careful. Itโs also got a classic three-position hammer โ fully forward, half-cocked (your โsafetyโ), and fully cocked. Thereโs no manual safety, because this was built when men were men and liability lawyers didnโt exist.
Range Time Reality Check
I hit the range with 100 rounds of bargain-bin Federal birdshot and 100 rounds of Monarch buckshot from Academy. Right out of the gate, the Federal birdshot gave me trouble โ sticking in the chamber like gum under a movie theater seat. Every other shot, I had to yank the lever like I was trying to start a rusty lawn mower. Cheap ammo strikes again.
Swapping to the Monarch buckshot? Smooth sailing. It cycled like buttered lightning. Turns out the high brass and roll crimp work better in this old design than low brass and a folded crimp. Eventually, after a little back-and-forth with different ammo types, the gun smoothed out. By the last box of birdshot, it was running pretty well โ though I still had to work that lever like I meant it.
Moral of the story: this gun wants quality ammo and a firm hand. Baby it, and itโll jam up faster than the line at the DMV.
Shooting Impressions
Recoil? Oh, itโs got some. The 1887 predates recoil pads, and Cimarron stayed true to history there. I use a push-pull technique with shotguns, which helps, but if youโre used to gas-operated semi-autos that soak up recoil like a sponge, this thing will feel like a mule kick.
The bead sight sits right on the barrel โ no pedestal โ which gives you a less-than-ideal sight picture. At 15 yards, buckshot hit about 5 inches high. Slugs were surprisingly accurate once I compensated. Itโs all part of the old-school charm โ youโre not just aiming, youโre interpreting.
Patterns were decent, especially with Federal FliteControl. At 15 yards, I got a fist-sized pattern. With slugs, I could consistently hit an IPSC target at 50 yards โ not bad for a bead sight and 1880s ergonomics.
Final Verdict
This isnโt a gun for the recoil-shy or the tactically obsessed. Itโs a gun for people who appreciate history, love cowboy guns, and donโt mind a few quirks in exchange for style. Itโs fun. Itโs weird. Itโs unapologetically old-school. And for around $580 street price, itโs a lot of gun for the money.
Specs At a Glance
- Model: Cimarron 1887 Lever-Action Terminator
- Gauge: 12
- Barrel Length: 20 inches
- Capacity: 5+1
- Weight: 7.8 lbs
- Chamber: 2ยพ inches
- MSRP: $623
Final Ratings
- Accuracy: 4/5 (Hits high, but predictable)
- Reliability: 4/5 (Ammo picky, needs a break-in)
- Ergonomics: 3/5 (Clunky but charming)
- Fun Factor: 5/5 (Cowboy guns always win)
- Overall: 4/5 (A quirky, lovable shotgun with movie-star flair)
If you want practical, buy a pump. If you want to channel your inner Terminator while looking like you just stepped out of a spaghetti western, the Cimarron 1887 is your huckleberry.
