1876 Winchester Rifle - Chaparral

[diomedesbc]

I'm so tempted to pickup one of the Chaparral rifles on sale at Marstar. I have been trying to search as much as I can on the forums and the internet to find out what I can. My only worry is that if I get tired of it am I going to be stuck with it since the factory has closed.

I sure am interested in the 19th century development of rifles and pistols now. Never really looked into it before and can't stop watching videos on youtube and reading about it. Especially the Colt and Remington blackpowder revolvers. The Le Matt sure was interesting. Keep being reminded how frustrating it is that you can't fire them at the outdoor range like the rest of my firearms......

 

[polaris]

they say with Chaparral it is hit or miss.
Mine is a very nice, well finished rifle, and it is accurate on top of it.
Maybe I just got lucky

 

[JTF#]

I got my RCMP model and it is top notch too. its well worth the money. marstar also has a warrenty on there guns. they will fix them or replace them if they can.

 

[polaris]

I disassembled mine, and I can't see what could brake.
It seems to be built quite solidly, and beside the toggle system (which is very sturdy), there are no moving parts.

 

[diomedesbc]

Are these calibers 40/60, 45/60, 45/75, 50/95 WCF all equally hard/expensive to find ammo for or reload? I am unfamiliar with these calibers.

 

[NorthCoastBigBore]

Not an 1876, but I bought a Chapparral 9422 a couple of years ago. It was real cheap (from Marstar) because it had "cosmetic defects" - mainly wood-metal fit (nothing you'd see if you weren't holding it); and the wood finish wasn't great. Mechanically, I have put many boxes through it, with no failures whatsoever. Accuracy is excellent, hits everything I look at. I oiled & rubbed the stock & forend and now it looks pretty decent.

It sounds from other testimonials that they started out bottom-of-the-barrel type but had stepped up their efforts over recent years.

Good luck, I was eyeing up some of their other winchester models at Marstar as well.

 

[Claven2]

I think that's an 1873 pictured, should be a pistol calibre.

 

[Sharps '63]

Check out the CasCity forum where there is a column dedicated to the '76. Lots of info on reloading, etc.

The 45-75 is popular with Canadians because of the NWMP connection, but 45-60 is the way to go for ease of cutting down 45-70 brass. Kicks less in the bargain. You pays you money and takes you choice .....

 

[Kevan]

I got my RCMP model and it is top notch too. its well worth the money. marstar also has a warrenty on there guns. they will fix them or replace them if they can.

There is a real beauty on consignment at Prophet River... good price too... looks and feel like its hardly been used...

 

[polaris]

I think that's an 1873 pictured, should be a pistol calibre.

No, its a 1876 in 45-60.

BTW I think 45-60 is the easiest caliber to reload for.
Shells are made by shortening 45-70 brass by about 3mm, and bullets are available everywhere.

Marstar has a fantastic deal on these rifles, and exactly as they say, once they are gone they are gone.
Then you can always get a Uberti, but it's not near the same price at $1800.00 plus plus.

 

[JTF#]

I agree 45-60 is the way to go. I already located cases and molds and bullets. I will pick up some 45-70 cases and trim them once I get shooting more.

 

[GrantR]

I specifically wanted a NWMP-pattern Model 1876, so that is what I got, in the "correct" .45-75 chambering because I thought it would fall short of the mark in an "easier" cartridge chambering. I bought mine from the initial US distributor, long before they were available in Canada, and got one of the first few which Chaparral serial-numbered following the list of numbers of known NWMP originals published in Phillips & Klancher's "Arms & Accoutrements of the Mounted Police" - mine is "2750" (sixth lowest in their list of numbers.)

.45-75 brass can be a bit hard to come by - at first I got some re-formed .348 Winchester, but then "bit the bullet" and bought some Chaparral .45-75 brass when Marstar had it. It is nice to have cases actually head-stamped ".45-75 WCF" .... the "WRA CA" of course stands for "Winchester Repeating Arms - Chaparral Arms" -

I like my rifle .... haven't had any problems with it and it is very accurate.

 

[diomedesbc]

Thanks for the info. I prefer the other models over the NWMP model with the full wood stock but none of them are in 45-60. Reluctant to get something in a difficult caliber to reload for. Probably why they are still there for such a low price....