Winchester 1873

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kevinasch

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Hi. Well yesterday I went to town to pick up my Winchester 1873. I thought I would jot down a few notes on it. This 1873 is a Winchester, made by Miroku, in Japan.
First of all they seem to be hard to come by. I ordered it in January of 2015, it arrived yesterday.

We took it to the range today with a few other lever guns: a model 94 in 32wcf (made in 1911), a model 94 in 30-30 (mid 70's), a model 9422m in 22 magnum, a marlin of some type in 30-30 (looks like the Winchester 94), a ranch hand in 357/38 spcl, plus the 1873 in 357/38spl.

The 9422m has the smoothest action by far. The 1873 came in a close second. The action is nice. It cycles well. One just has to make sure they push it all the way forward to eject the last shell correctly. No need to treat it like a baby, it is a Winchester after all. We just stuck with 357. They cycled well. American Eagle is what we were using. Had one spent casing get tangled, but that was because I did not cycle it all the way.

Accuracy straight out of the box was good. The gun looks great. Well built. I was surprised to find that you could feel a bit of kick from the 357's. Nothing like the 30-30's or 32spl of course. But it was there.

For the first three shots I thought the trigger was hard to find compared to the 94. It was just in my mind. After three shots my finger found the trigger no problem. I should look closely, but I think the trigger curl may be different than the 94.

Yes, I think I like it. Well worth the wait.

Kevin
 
I've had mine for probably close too a year now. My favorite rifle for sure. Kind of wish I got the blued version but the case colored one is nice too. Only thing it needs is a tang sight and I'll be good to go
 
I've had mine nearly a year and very nice right out of the box and there's a lot of nice modifications you can do to it too e.g. for CAS. I got the deluxe case colored one in 357/38 sp too and like it very much! Would prefer if it was an octagon but shouldn't get greedy
 
Epp's got in a bunch of the Winchesters. I compared it side by side to the Uberti special sporting rifle (I think that was the official title). I felt the Uberti was the nicer of the 2 so I picked it up and love it. Mine is in 45 colt for cowboy shooting. The gun is gorgeous and I think the quality is at the same level as the Win. The Win lever felt a little sloppy, and for the kind of price you're paying the wood could be nicer. The wood is grade A walnut with color case hardening and the pistol grip sealed the deal for me. And the price was approx. the same with the Uberti just a bit more. I prefer my Marlin's over the Winchesters because of the pistol grip in any case.

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Rod said:
I've heard the new version of 1873 is a fine rifle and 38 spec. ammo so much easier and less expensive than 44-40. . Once you have enough brass, in 44-40, it's not much different price wise.

Here's mine:



Hickok 45 with a Uberti 1873

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SPl9FvSrck

Jimmy Stewart Winchester 73

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D5_0cMzFVw
Click to expand...

I was doing a bit of research on the 73 the other day and came across a video on youtube on the trick shooting performed in the above movie. Herb Parsons did all the trick shooting for the movie using his own personal Model 71 deluxe .348. It was a coll video showing bits of the movie and stills of Herb in action.
 
I stayed away from 44-40 because I reload and it's a bottle neck cartridge and you need to lube (and clean) the cases. With 45 colt you can use carbide dies which makes reloading a whole lot faster
 
I went for the Uberti as well over the Miroku. The Miroku I saw did not have case colouring and I liked the wood
a lot better on the Uberti.

I am very excited by these reproductions becoming available and more types of the late 19th century models being
made is great.

Now if only someone could do some repro Merwin Hulbert revolvers......... :)
 
I was thinking about a uberti too but I didn't care for the glossy finish they use, much prefer the oil finish. Plus there's something to be said about having a new 73 with Winchester on the barrel. For me anyway.
 
I shot a deer with my 76 carbine in 45/60 a couple of years ago and plan on taking my 73 out this year (keeping my shots out to about 50 yards or so,which isn t hard as most of the shooting here is close up anyway.
 
I like this thread! I'm glad others share my enthusiasm for the new 1873's. I'm very pleased that I found mine too....
 
Every now and then I see an original offered for sale. I would be afraid to shoot one in case I damage it. That is why I like the remakes. Now I can shoot mine all I want without worrying about damaging a piece of history.

I still have not figured out whether I like it more than my trusty 94.

Kevin
 
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