DDD, SASS 28309

It appears that Winchester has 4 different links available for their 73's I'm not real sure what the length difference is between them, I guess I could measure the ones I have which are stamped "with 2 stars and 4 stars" If I remember right the 4 stars were longer than the 2 but not much maybe .003" The lockup is perfect from Winchester. They could have just made the links that were a little sloppy and one size fits all.

I installed the SS kit in my 73 38/357 without a problem. I also installed the kit in my 45 Colt just to see if it would work and it did. I removed the 45 kit so I could play with 2 Winchesters one with and one without the kit. Bottom line, it may have a lot to do with who is installing what kit in what gun. My take on the kits is they are a little tight and that is a good thing, it allows me to fit the parts, not some sloppy dropin that feels almost warn out from the get go.

I have 2 Winchesters, one is short stroked and the other is not. There's not a great deal of difference in them. The Winchester comes from the factory with a very short stroke and is good to go right out of the box. Little to no machine marks on the rifle anywhere unlike the Uberti that is rough to say the least. The round barrels swing much better than the ones with the flats, something to do with wind resistance and a sail effect of the flat spots when being moved fast. Actually its more to do with how long the barrel is. PS: parts are not hard to get and the spec's are not changing. The short stroke kits are drying up mostly because Winchesters are short out of the box and a little shorter just ain't worth the bucks.

Because copper corrodes, so use them or loose them.

Winchester first, Winchester second and no third.

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I see a couple things here that could be addressed. First the parts availability, then the quality of the rifle. Uberti 1873 rifles have a great gunsmith following plus unlimited aftermarket parts. That begs the question why. Winchester does not have a gunsmith following nor does it have much in the way of aftermarket parts availability. Uberti factory parts are less than desirable as evidenced by the shear number of aftermarket parts. The fit and finish on these rifles is lacking as compared to most sporting rifles made today. Yet they have a following. Why? Because they have been around a long time and the gunsmiths like them. The base rifle can be used to build a fine cowboy competition rifle from all it takes is money. Winchester may not be as true to the original design as the Uberti but then everything can be improved upon. I haven't heard of any first hand complaints of Winchester parts shortage. The rifle is current production so why would there be a shortage, I do know the 38/357 is in short supply, could be because they are selling well. I having owned all of them and believe the Winchester is of much better quality both in fit, finish and materials used to produce the rifle. The coming years will sort out what people think of the rifles.

Anytime you are playing a game you are always looking for some sort of an advantage. Cowboy action rifles are all pretty good out of the box, not to say that everyone is but most are. However we all think the other guy has a better gun than we do thats the only reason their times are better than ours so off to the gunsmith we go. Mr Stevens made a video of himself shooting a box stock Winchester 73, very few shooters could beat his time with their "smooth as glass wonder gun". Before you deside, time yourself with your stock 73, load and cycle 10 dummy rounds thru your stock rifle, do it 100 times. Take a close look at the times from #1 to 100 and you will see some improvement. Now send it with a blank check to "billy makes them purr" for the treatment. When you finally get it back do the exercise again and study the results of both tests. So what do we really need? Maybe practice makes perfect is the way to go. But then how an I going to brag about my wonder gun?

Great, I do see the drop down menu now.

I talked to Joe earlier this week he has a few 38/357 kits no 45. They are not going to continue making the kits. I bought the last 45 kit they had.

Thanks, They are sold to Smoky

I don't have my pistols here so I can just go by what I was told. "They fit the new vaqueros. Send me $110 and your shipping info to; Abilene Al"

I received the grips today but had changed my mind and want wood so they are for sale. $110.00 delivered

Miroku makes whatever Winchester wants them to. The current Winchester line up looks like they have dropped all but the 357 version of the 73. I hope the catalog is wrong or I just can't figure it out. That said, I have a 357 and a 45 and really like both of them. Like was previously said the stroke is a lot shorter than the original and the workmanship is outstanding in both fit and finish. The walnut looks like walnut wood should, oil finished beauty. Both rifles are ready to go out of the box. The safety trigger lock spring is too heavy for my taste but easily fixed, the trigger is crisp and everything works smoothly. Definitely the 73 that others should be judged by. Pioneer makes a short stroke kit for the Winchester 73 that will make as short as SASS rules will allow. I have owned more than a few other manufacturers 73 and always spend money trying to make a Winchester out of them.

The difference between the 9000G and the GN is a different primer feed. I don't remember which one I have. I can dig it out and let you know.