.38 special in a lever gun

[Pofoo]

According to Henry Rifle Co, round nose are ok. I even called to make sure that I read their owners manual correctly, and they confirmed that they feel that the recoil of a 38/357 is not hard enough to set off a primer in their magazine tube.

[tmh1]

I've got a couple of new manufacture (Miroku) Winchester '73's (16" Trapper and 20" Short Rifle) through which I only shoot 38 Special as I use them for Cowboy matches.

I broke both in using factory ammo - Geco 158gr LRN (round on right, in photo below), as that was all I had at the time. But then I started re-loading to keep up with match ammo demands (for both my wife and I), and I now exclusively shoot light loads using 105 gr Truncated flat point bullets loaded to a nominal OAL of 1.4575".

Both rifles have performed flawlessly with both of these ammo types.

Also, since we shoot 38 Special all the time in 357 Mag/38 SPL guns, I also bought a cool little tool called the SliX Scraper. Cleans out the chambers of both revolvers and long guns so that you will eventually be able to shoot .357 Mag if you want to. I got mine when I was ordering some bullets from Badman Bullets, since shipping was free anyway.



BTW: Great choice - You will love your new gun!

[Rizzo]

Gentlemen, I have ordered a Winchester 1873 in .357/.38.
Can you tell me what .38 ammo works well in lever guns? I like the cost of .38 vs .357...
Thanks in advance.

Buy a variety of ammo and shoot them.
You'll find which ammo is most accurate for your rifle.
Not all will perform the same.

Take notes and save the targets for future reference

Check your groupings at 50-75-100 yards and you'll see which ammo gives you the tightest grouping.
Then zero your rifle on that brand and use it from then on.
FWIW,I zero at 50 yards with my Henry Big Boy Steel 357/38 special.

If you then use another brand, you'll find that your zero is off and your accuracy will suffer, especially at longer distances.

It may sound like a tedious ordeal doing all of that but I find it enjoying doing all of that "data collecting" for my rifle.

[Magilla26]

From my JM Marlin 1894C, Remington 38 Specials work great. The 125 JHP +P is very accurate and a good HD load. I can easily lob the 158gr LRN Remington onto a paper plate at 200.

I also have a JM stamped 1894C. I have only shot jacketed bullets in both .357 and .38 spcl and both have functioned flawlessly. At the range last week I was shooting 140gr. XPB's in .357, and 125gr. Rem. Golden sabers in .38 spcl. at 50 yds. The 125grain bullets grouped 1 1/2" lower and 1/2" left. Both loads grouped around an inch. Like others have said, clean your chamber.

[bodger]

I've got a couple of new manufacture (Miroku) Winchester '73's (16" Trapper and 20" Short Rifle) through which I only shoot 38 Special as I use them for Cowboy matches.

I broke both in using factory ammo - Geco 158gr LRN (round on right, in photo below), as that was all I had at the time. But then I started re-loading to keep up with match ammo demands (for both my wife and I), and I now exclusively shoot light loads using 105 gr Truncated flat point bullets loaded to a nominal OAL of 1.4575".

Both rifles have performed flawlessly with both of these ammo types.

Also, since we shoot 38 Special all the time in 357 Mag/38 SPL guns, I also bought a cool little tool called the SliX Scraper. Cleans out the chambers of both revolvers and long guns so that you will eventually be able to shoot .357 Mag if you want to. I got mine when I was ordering some bullets from Badman Bullets, since shipping was free anyway.



BTW: Great choice - You will love your new gun!

Looks like a great little tool and a huge improvement over a brass brush. Especially when you're out shooting.

[Junkie]

You'll save money, and get better accuracy if you build reloads specificly meant for your rifle. And congrats on the purchase.

Any suggestions regarding brand/source?

According to Henry Rifle Co, round nose are ok. I even called to make sure that I read their owners manual correctly, and they confirmed that they feel that the recoil of a 38/357 is not hard enough to set off a primer in their magazine tube.

I'd never heard of people concerned about using round nose, only spitzer.

I ought to pick up a 357 lever gun at some point, but that won't be until after the end of the year (as I'm picking up guns I won't be able to in the future).

Online I don't see much of a price difference between 38 and 357 when it comes to plinking ammo. Then again, the 357 might not be any more powerful.

[tmh1]

Looks like a great little tool and a huge improvement over a brass brush. Especially when you're out shooting.

For revolvers yes, it is very convenient to carry when out shooting. You just put it in each of the cylinder's chambers and turn with a small screwdriver.

For long guns, however, you also need to use a cleaning rod in conjunction with the tool. You put the tool into the rifle's chamber, threaded part first. Then put the cleaning rod down the barrel and thread it onto the tool, and turn to clean.

[bodger]

For revolvers yes, it is very convenient to carry when out shooting. You just put it in each of the cylinder's chambers and turn with a small screwdriver.

For long guns, however, you also need to use a cleaning rod in conjunction with the tool. You put the tool into the rifle's chamber, threaded part first. Then put the cleaning rod down the barrel and thread it onto the tool, and turn to clean.

Ah, that makes sense now. I wondered what the threaded end was for.

[Bakerloo]

[QUOTE=golfish;18694397]
You going to post up some pix when you get it (please) I just bought my first Winchester, its a 94AE with a cross bolt safety. I want a 73, I'm a little jelly, okay, a lot jelly

Here ya go.

[Oceanbob]

Very good looking Rifle....!
Congrats..
Bob

[deckhandmike]

Nice 73. What does a gun like that go for?

[MyOdessa]

Nice 73. What does a gun like that go for?

Off the Gunbroker $1200-1300 with free shipping, + usual California fees. Here are mine 20" and 24"

[Bakerloo]

Nice 73. What does a gun like that go for?

$1044 from Kentucky Gun Company shipped to my FFL. They seem to be the least expensive online dealer.

[Bakerloo]

Off the Gunbroker $1200-1300 with free shipping, + usual California fees. Here are mine 20" and 24"

I like those!
You and Oceanbob are killing me with the pics.