1866 vs 1873 vs 1892

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leflingeur

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I got a question here & the reason for that question is: I would like to buy a lever action rifle in pistol caliber ( 45lc or 38spl-357mag) and dont know what action is smoother, easy to work and of course got the highest ''fun factor''. thanks for your comments & opinions.:)
 
The actions of the 66 and 73 are both toggle links, and should be smoother than a 92. But the 92 is a much stronger design, in case you decide down the road you want to load some hotter rounds to hunt with.
 
Killer Kanuck said:
The actions of the 66 and 73 are both toggle links, and should be smoother than a 92. But the 92 is a much stronger design, in case you decide down the road you want to load some hotter rounds to hunt with.
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+1

The 66's and 73's certainly have a 'cool' factor about them. Personally, I'd go for the 92 to get the stronger action for the reasons above.... ;)
 
+2

Totally agree. The 66 and 73s are nice to have, but if you plan on doing any amt of shooting, grab a 92. Sweet little guns, very smooth actions. Based on Browning's 1886 design, so go figure!

Matt
 
The '92 is strong enough to use higher pressure cartridges. The toggle link designs are pretty much limited to black powder pressures.
As I understand it, the '73 can be tinkered with, and made to be incredibly fast for cowboy action use, and there are specialty smiths for this.
I use a '92, and I hunt with it, so I'm biased. The '92 rocks!
 
Lever Actions

I've got a .44-40 Henry, a .44-40 '66 Carbine, a .44 mag Browning '92 and a .357 Marlin carbine my lady uses. I shoot .44 Spl. cases in the '92 and my lady shoots .38 Spl. in the Marlin.

In my hands, the Henry is not a good CAS main match rifle. I know some do well with theirs. I like it as a long range plinker. The '66 is a joy to handle and shoot. Looks right purdy in the bargain!
I'd hunt deer with either .44-40, but keep the shots 75 yards max. The round was never a power house. I was given a box of factory .44-40 SP jacketed rounds and that would be my ammo of choice.

I bought the '92 to match up with my Ruger Vaqueros in the same calibre. Love it! It's a mini-'86. I could only like it better if it was a short rifle.

Know lots of guys shooting Marlins in various calibres. They only get smoother with use. The only Marlins I've seen gibble up were the victims of 'action jobs'. Best to just shoot them and let them wear in.

You couldn't give me a '94 in a pistol calibre.

Makes sense to match up your carbine with the handguns you shoot, but I wouldn't let that be the only criteria. I don't own a .44-40 handgun - yet.
 
I've had experience with three model 92's so like johny I am biased. I have hunted with them and plinked and I would buy another in a heart beat. Like everyone else has stated the others are fine for casual use but for serious work go with a model 92.
 
Agreed :) A '92 is a great choice for pistol caliber rifles and carbines. Don't sell the marlins short either, as was noted they really do "shoot in". More rounds =smoother shooting. I suppose you could use this thinking for all action types though :)
 
What companies make the 92? The only one I know of is Puma. I am planning on a 44 Mag (over a 223 semi-automatic) lever gun. I am thinking of a Marlin Cowboy. The 454 Casull is intriguing but it is a bit rare and if I need more power then there is the king of the lever cartridges, the 45-70.
 
Winchester made the original of course, browning made a copy , rossi and uberti make copies, some of the higher end Ubertis are available through Cimarron arms. The Pumas are available from Frontier sports who is a sponsor in the banners above
 
I used to have the Win 94 in 357 and now have the puma 92 copy in 357. The 92 is smoother than the 94 IMHO and is more reliable with the shorter 38spl rounds. The puma 92 never has a hiccup with 357 or 38 spl. It will cough on about 1 swc 38spl round per tube full but I think that is to be expected as the OAL is really too short for it. With the Win 94 you would have to be very kind with the lever when cycling 38spl if you didn't want to jam it.
The trigger right out of the box on the puma 92 is S-W-E-E-T....and no stupid safeties, just the half #### :)
 
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The Browning b92 is one of the best "copies" out there, if not the best. Track one of those down and you won't be dissapointed... I miss mine.
 
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