Original Winchester 1873 Shooting Question

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ruffedgrouse1

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Hey guys I have an original Winchester 1873 in 44-40. I would like to shoot it and have a few boxes of the HSM cowboy action 44-40 loads. I am wondering if anyone has any experience using these in there pre smokeless powder Winchesters. I know they are light loads but are they safe in an 1873? Any insight would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
 

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If your 73 is in good repair smokeless factory loads of any stripe are safe. If you can find any. For most of the years Winchester sold the 1873 model users shot smokeless in them.
 
Those should be safe. Keep your cases in case you want to get into reloading in the future. Also 44-40 cases are hard to find at times so someone is always looking for them. Factory are expensive and are had to find so buy them when you see them. I reload for 44-40 so my price is cut way down and I always have ammunition.
 
Rod said:
My suggestion; before you do shoot your 1873, inspect both toggle assys. Check the inside where the toggles hinge for cracks. The female portion where the pin joins the two pieces together,. Look closely.
Click to expand...
This, after a thorough cleaning of all metal inside & out followed with lubing with a proper oil. The bore and chamber condition matters a bunch
as well. A shot out bore and pitted chamber is pretty common on these old buggers. Check the head space with Plast-iGuage using the fired case
from the rifle after taking your 1st shot to see that headspace be within specs.
 
Thank you everyone for the replies. I will take this all in to consideration before shooting. I think it’s best I take the side plates off and the internals before shooting.

Thank you
 
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