1873 Rifle help

[Sheriff Dill]

Thoughts on a 1873 rifle. 
 

im looking at two different ones. 
 

1) 1873 Rifle Pistol Grip 20".357Mag The Deluxe Taylor Tuned not short stroked 

 

2) Cimarron 1873 Deluxe 357 Magnum Octagon Barrel 24”. Would be worked by cowboy gunsmith. Full race mode
 

Both are brand new. Which would you recommend?  Given price is right for either 

[watab kid]

id lean to #2 myself but i far prefer the straight stock , 

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

10 minutes ago, watab kid said:

id lean to #2 myself but i far prefer the straight stock , 

And love the 24" Rifle 

[watab kid]

12 minutes ago, Rooster Ron Wayne said:

And love the 24" Rifle 

i do as well , but we all have our preferences i guess , but OP did ask for our opinions right ? 

[Sheriff Dill]

32 minutes ago, watab kid said:

id lean to #2 myself but i far prefer the straight stock , 

What makes it the straight stock ?

8 minutes ago, watab kid said:

i do as well , but we all have our preferences i guess , but OP did ask for our opinions right ? 

I absolutely want other’s opinions. It is greatly appreciated to have the help and guidance of others as new as I am to this sport 

22 minutes ago, Rooster Ron Wayne said:

And love the 24" Rifle 

What are the benefits of the longer barrel ?

[Old Man Graybeard]

I seem to hit better with the longer barrel. My preference is the 24…because I haven’t found a 30. You have to be a bit more careful in some stage props with the longer barrel…and that is the main reason a lot of people opt for the shorter barrels. 

[Gateway Kid SASS# 70038 Life]

I have both and much prefer the 20” pistol grip for our game. My club uses permanent fronts (windows and doors) that a shorter barrel navigates better, I like the look of the pistol grip itself and the “deluxe” with its octagon barrel has enough weight to swing smoothly while not pushing through the next target like some longer, heavier barrels can. I have used the 24” barrel rifle as a longer range pistol caliber gun but haven’t felt uncomfortable using the 20” , especially at ranges under 100 yards. I am 6’0” @ 240 and while the longer barrel is more accurate at distance (both my WB 45’s are 24”) the 20” is quicker target to target at more normal CAS distance. 
YMMV 

Regards

    

Gateway Kid

[Tyrel Cody]

My favorite combo is a straight stock and a 18.5” half octagon barrel, with a Cowboys & Indians 5th gen short stroke. 
 

2nd choice would be a straight stock, 20” barrel, again with a C&I 5th gen.

 

of the two choices you provided I’d have to take #2, because I cannot operate a pistol grip rifle. No idea why not, just can’t. 
 

 

[El Sobrante Kid]

Since we are all built differently, and we all have different preferences... , if you have the option, I would shoulder and operate each of the rifles you mentioned to see which one fells better to you. You are likely to shoot better with a gun that feels better to you, rather than trying to learn to shoot a gun that someone else recommends. GL!

[J.S. Sooner, SASS #73526]

Which one feels better to you? 

 

Looking at Taylor's web site. Taylor tuned models are short stroked.  I have 2 Taylor Comanchero's, they are short stroked.  About the same a my Cody cut and weld short stroke rifles. 

 

I prefer the 20" over a 24" rifle for reasons stated above.  Plus you can always add a C&I short stroke package. 

[Sheriff Dill]

1 hour ago, watab kid said:

id lean to #2 myself but i far prefer the straight stock , 

Nvm I figured out the difference. Should have looked closer before responding. 

[Sheriff Dill]

2 minutes ago, J.S. Sooner, SASS #73526 said:

Which one feels better to you? 

 

Looking at Taylor's web site. Taylor tuned models are short stroked.  I have 2 Taylor Comanchero's, they are short stroked.  About the same a my Cody cut and weld short stroke rifles. 

 

I prefer the 20" over a 24" rifle for reasons stated above.  Plus you can always add a C&I short stroke package. 

The Taylor is off of Gun Broker and the seller says it’s not but not sure  if it’s truly the case. Option 2 is straight from the gunsmith here in New England 

[J.S. Sooner, SASS #73526]

6 minutes ago, Sheriff Dill said:

The Taylor is off of Gun Broker and the seller says it’s not but not sure  if it’s truly the case. Option 2 is straight from the gunsmith here in New England 

Sounds like you may be looking at a Jimmy Spurs rifle.  They are smooth, I handled one but never shot one.  I have a set of Ruger's, they are smooth. 

 

The 24" barrel can always be cut down later if you decide to. 

 

[Sheriff Dill]

4 minutes ago, J.S. Sooner, SASS #73526 said:

Sounds like you may be looking at a Jimmy Spurs rifle.  They are smooth, I handled one but never shot one.  I have a set of Ruger's, they are smooth. 

 

The 24" barrel can always be cut down later if you decide to. 

 

It’s from Gordon Leavitt in Maine. Jimmy was out of my price range. We do have a set of NMV from him and my son loves them 

[Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903]

I shot a Cody Conagher 20” deluxe pistol grip for years and a few years ago changed to an 18.5” half round pistol grip done by Reno Mustang and It is fantastic! Like Gateway Kid I shoot at a lot of places that use fronts with windows and door and a 24” would be way slower and heavier. We don’t need the extra barrel length for the distances we shoot.

 

Just my opinion!

 

Randy

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

The great majority of shooters use 18-20" rifles.  That should tell you something. Mine are 16", 18", two 19" and two 20".

 

For main match rifle you don't need the extra accuracy of a longer barrel. But a few like them longer and.you won't know till you heft a few different ones. Go to a match and ask to shoulder a few rifles.

 

Edit: in olden times you could get a barrel and mag tube shortened for $125.  It would be considerably higher now.

Edited March 16 by Abilene, SASS # 27489

[watab kid]

2 hours ago, Sheriff Dill said:

What makes it the straight stock ?

I absolutely want other’s opinions. It is greatly appreciated to have the help and guidance of others as new as I am to this sport 

What are the benefits of the longer barrel ?

doesnt have the pistol grip . both the grip and lever are straight 

[Sarge]

Personal preference.  Only you can tell what feels good in your hands.

[Sheriff Dill]

Just measured my sons rifle and it a 20” straight stock round barrel made by Winchester.  It feels pretty good with the stock but feels a little short. When holding it up. 

[I. M. Crossdraw, SASS# 8321]

I personally prefer the pistol grip 18 inch barrel half octagon/half round, why? because it looks cool and works for me.  Straight grip is ok too.  Handling, there is no difference personally.  I've handled both but prefer the coolness factor.🤠

 

As far as tuning, any of the well-known cowboy gunsmith will do fine.

 

My advice is to try out both style and you chose.  It's all a matter of personal preference.  

 

Good luck.

 

 

 

 

[Kid Rich]

Gordon is fine. His rifle should be fine.

kR

[Captain Bill Burt]

I would not choose a rifle with a barrel longer than 20 inches for our game. Currently we have four shooters in the family. Two are shooting 18 inch full octagon barrels and two are shooting 18 inch half round half octagon. All have 5th gen C&I short strokes and all of them are straight stocks, although the stock shape is related to preference more than a perceived competitive advantage. Gunsmiths are Lefty Wheeler, Reno Mustang and Fast Eddie.

[Doc Moses]

#1. The 20" is my favorite and tuned so you can run it awhile before you decide what if any gunsmithing you need.

[watab kid]

On 3/15/2025 at 8:12 PM, Sheriff Dill said:

Nvm I figured out the difference. Should have looked closer before responding. 

no problem , there is always a learning curve to everything , you will be right at home here in no time , we are very pro-new member here , we need this sport to continue for the future folks as we older ones phase out  - not that i plan to go away anytime soon but at 75 i know im closing on the end of my life rather that enjoying the middle of it as i was when i started , i wish i had started sooner - if id only known .......

 

the one thing that has been seen in this thread is that we all have our preferences , some of us arrive at them early , others go thru stages to get there , ive been at this 20 years and bought/sold/held and traded a lot of guns over the years - more than i want to think about , but ive settled on a set that work for me and make me happy - thats what its all about , keeping us shooting and enjoying what we are doing , i am and i do and ill continue till i cant , it wont be because i dont - id buy something different if thats what is needed to correct that , only thing i might change at this point is my shotgun , and im not looking to do that this year 

Edited March 17 by watab kid

[Rance - SASS # 54090]

I started with a straight stock.. 

I found to sight it in I had to place my jaw/chin area on the stock ..

on the Deluxe model I found I could plant my cheek like I had for years 

with long guns.. if that something that matters to ya.. check that out..

Myself I’d go with the Deluxe .. just sayin’..

Edited March 17 by Rance - SASS # 54090

[Frybread Fred]

My preference is for short barrel, straight stock.  Replace every internal you can, springs, lifter etc are pretty easy if you have any mechanical skill.  Short stroke you probably want to send to someone else.

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

Timing on short stroke kits "can" be tricky.  I've put in a couple C&I 3rd gen kits, and the instructions that tell how to bend the lifter arm were clear and I had no problem.  That's definitely a YMMV thing I think.

[Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655]

Put them in your hands shoulder and work action your body will know what it likes best.