Cibola Al Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 Fella at the Springerville gun show had an antique Winchester 1873 in 38-40 on his table. I didn’t end up buying it, but there was something special about the patina and feeling of holding a piece of history. I kinda want one now. I know some of you own and shoot these old rifles. I’d love to see some pictures of your guns and hear about your experiences with them. ~ Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cholla Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 Injun Ryder shoots an 1873 Musket on occasion. He doesn't need any cartridges because the barrel is long enough he can just tap the targets. The original black powder guns often didn't survive well. I have an 1886 Winchester that I am struggling to shoot because there is just a hint of rifling left. I recommend you bring a bore light and thoroughly inspect the bore before buying anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 Here it is: Manufactured 1891. 44-40 (as were all 1873 muskets). I also have the bayonet and have shot with it attached! It shoots well and has won a couple of long range (100 yards) side matches at major matches. (Unfortunately, I did not win them but a partner did following my instructions on how to use the ladder sight for 100 yards.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jailhouse Jim, SASS #13104 Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 While no longer my main match rifle, after a few repairs I used my '73, born in 1892, extensively for several years. It's in 38WCF and has a rough barrel but shoots straight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 This is my 73. It's a .32-20, and it started my love affair with that caliber. (Also have a 92 and a Lightning in it) Took it to the big annual match in Port Huron, Michigan a few years ago. As I was walking across the parking lot to the shooting bays, a fellow asked me, "Is that a real Winchester?" "Yep." "Wow. I've never even seen one before. Can I take a look at it?" "Go ahead." So, he picked up my rifle and was grinning as he shouldered it. Then he asked if he could cycle the action and I told him to go ahead. He couldn't move the lever. He checked to make sure the lever lock was not engaged, and when he saw that it was not, he looked at me kinda timid like and said, "I think it's broken..." "No it's not," I said, and I took back the rifle and opened the action. He was so used to slicked up, short stroked Uberties that he could not work the lever on an unmodified original Winchester. True story! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Sam, SASS #34718L Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 Here are a couple of oldies I shoot from time to time........ The '73 Carbine is a 2nd model 38WCF and about a 145 years old..... I pull it out once a year or so and shoot it in local matches. The Hopkins & Allen "Forehand" is 12ga it's about 120 years old.... I've shot it in around 4 CAS matches over the years. But the Most Fun I had with it was when I shot it in a Skeet Shoot using Black Powder.... As soon as I shot the first round an Official Ran down the hill and stopped me..... He asked what the Heck I was doing.... I explained the gun had been thoroughly checked out and the BP rounds were light loads at under 1000 fps After checking the gun, my ammo and with another official he just shook his head and said OK go for it! I didn't do worth a Crap... But I had FUN! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Angus McPherson Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 12 minutes ago, Silver Sam, SASS #34718L said: Here are a couple of oldies I shoot from time to time........ The '73 Carbine is a 2nd model 38WCF and about a 145 years old..... I pull it out once a year or so and shoot it in local matches. The Hopkins & Allen "Forehand" is 12ga it's about 120 years old.... I've shot it in around 4 CAS matches over the years. But the Most Fun I had with it was when I shot it in a Skeet Shoot using Black Powder.... As soon as I shot the first round an Official Ran down the hill and stopped me..... He asked what the Heck I was doing.... I explained the gun had been thoroughly checked out and the BP rounds were light loads at under 1000 fps After checking the gun, my ammo and with another official he just shook his head and said OK go for it! I didn't do worth a Crap... But I had FUN! When I first started shooting BP in a shotgun I took some of my loads out to a skeet range and shot a round to test them out. I did fine shooting singles, but shooting doubles was a bit rough. I couldn't see a durn thing after the first shot. You can't hit a pair if you can't see the second bird. It was darn fun, tho. Angus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 I have a 3rd model in 38WCF. Bore is really bad but it shoots good enough for SASS. Big and clunky. Like driving a log truck. But that's what they had back then. Look how massive compared to the Winchester 1892 and Marlin 1894. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Bullweed Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 I bought four original 1873s after the real estate bubble burst. Paid $750-$900 for shooter-grade guns, complete and functioning, up to 30% finish, no alterations. Three were is.38 WCF; one is a .32 WCF. I only shot BP or Trailboss in the.38s. I still have the .32 and shoot it 1 or 2 Saturday matches per year. I kept the.32 since I kept my best 1892 in .38 WCF. My reasoning was more steel around the .32 chamber and about 2/3 the powder charge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Bullweed Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 Just now, Tom Bullweed said: I bought four original 1873s after the real estate bubble burst. Paid $750-$900 for shooter-grade guns, complete and functioning, up to 30% finish, no alterations. Three were is.38 WCF; one is a .32 WCF. I only shot BP or Trailboss in the.38s. I still have the .32 and shoot it 1 or 2 Saturday matches per year. I kept the.32 since I kept my best 1892 in .38 WCF. My reasoning was more steel around the .32 chamber and about 2/3 the powder charge. photo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
largo casey #19191 Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 I have 3 myself.2 44/40 & 1 32/20.Also have a Spencer carbine. Largo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailrider #896 Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 I had an original '73 in .44-40, but the groove diameter was .429 and with bullets that big, it wouldn't chamber the loaded cartridges. When I bought it, I discovered the toggles had cracks in them. This was back in '70. Val Forgett of Navy Arms was kind enough to send me a newly manufactured pair, which I fitted to the action. Probably would have been good enough for SASS shooting, but I switched to a Navy Arms Henry, which, as I aged became too muzzle-heavy for my back, and I went to the lighter Rossi '92's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Bill Burt Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 On 10/3/2022 at 3:12 PM, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said: This is my 73. It's a .32-20, and it started my love affair with that caliber. (Also have a 92 and a Lightning in it) Took it to the big annual match in Port Huron, Michigan a few years ago. As I was walking across the parking lot to the shooting bays, a fellow asked me, "Is that a real Winchester?" "Yep." "Wow. I've never even seen one before. Can I take a look at it?" "Go ahead." So, he picked up my rifle and was grinning as he shouldered it. Then he asked if he could cycle the action and I told him to go ahead. He couldn't move the lever. He checked to make sure the lever lock was not engaged, and when he saw that it was not, he looked at me kinda timid like and said, "I think it's broken..." "No it's not," I said, and I took back the rifle and opened the action. He was so used to slicked up, short stroked Uberties that he could not work the lever on an unmodified original Winchester. True story! Original Winchesters were so poorly sprung that grown men were unable to operate the levers? I’m surprised they were able to sell any! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Driftwood Johnson, SASS #38283 Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 Howdy Winchester 38-40 Model 1873. Shipped in 1887. Obviously , the magazine was replaced with a new one at some point. The same rifle with a 38-40 Colt Bisley that shipped in 1909. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655 Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 On 10/4/2022 at 10:50 AM, Trailrider #896 said: I had an original '73 in .44-40, but the groove diameter was .429 and with bullets that big, it wouldn't chamber the loaded cartridges. When I bought it, I discovered the toggles had cracks in them. This was back in '70. Val Forgett of Navy Arms was kind enough to send me a newly manufactured pair, which I fitted to the action. Probably would have been good enough for SASS shooting, but I switched to a Navy Arms Henry, which, as I aged became too muzzle-heavy for my back, and I went to the lighter Rossi '92's. I would try .427 soft desperado bullets from cowboybullets.com. My circa 1995 rossi 92 is overbored .434-.435 would key hole at 25 yards .430 desperado upset and shot round holes at one hundred. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Rich Posted October 8, 2022 Share Posted October 8, 2022 I have an original 1881 in 38-40 and have used it in a couple of matches. Bore is pretty rough but it shoots fine. I had to straighten a couple things out but it was pretty simple. Several parts from the newer replicas will fit although some parts require a little reworking. kR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hampton Bogs Posted October 9, 2022 Share Posted October 9, 2022 I have an original 1886 that was made in 1888. When I got it it was rough. Mag tube was bent, bore was gone, pitted and rusted, missing screws, wouldn’t cycle etc. it was in 38-56wcf which is really a bad caliber in such a big rifle. But since the 38-56 is 45-70 necked down to .38 all the internals are the same. So I had it bored out to a 45-70 bore. Now the bore is brand new and immaculate with still the original barrel. I sent it to cinnabar gun works to have the magtube replaced and other things fixed I couldn’t do myself. Mike, the guy who owns the cinnbar covered it on his YouTube channel and he is a winchester specialist and current vp of the winchester collectors association. Now it shoot amazing. The buck horn at the highest setting lets me shoot out to 200 yards and everything is in the black on a military/competition target. I’ll only shoot blackpowder handloads through. May try and get it to a lever gun match at some point. Here is Mike’s video on the repairs. He shoots it at the end also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hampton Bogs Posted October 9, 2022 Share Posted October 9, 2022 Oops, I read originals I didn’t think 1873s only. Well his channel has some great info on shooting original 1873’s. He even has a video of him shooting a 30inch 73 with a full tube of 44-40 to see how much it’ll hold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Rich Posted October 9, 2022 Share Posted October 9, 2022 6 hours ago, Hampton Bogs said: I have an original 1886 that was made in 1888. When I got it it was rough. Mag tube was bent, bore was gone, pitted and rusted, missing screws, wouldn’t cycle etc. it was in 38-56wcf which is really a bad caliber in such a big rifle. But since the 38-56 is 45-70 necked down to .38 all the internals are the same. So I had it bored out to a 45-70 bore. Now the bore is brand new and immaculate with still the original barrel. I sent it to cinnabar gun works to have the magtube replaced and other things fixed I couldn’t do myself. Mike, the guy who owns the cinnbar covered it on his YouTube channel and he is a winchester specialist and current vp of the winchester collectors association. Now it shoot amazing. The buck horn at the highest setting lets me shoot out to 200 yards and everything is in the black on a military/competition target. I’ll only shoot blackpowder handloads through. May try and get it to a lever gun match at some point. Here is Mike’s video on the repairs. He shoots it at the end also. I have an 86 in 38-56. Very accurate rifle with BP or smokiless. A great caliber in my opinion. I would like to find one in a highwall. kR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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