1876 Winchester

[golfish]

Hey fellas, I've got a couple questions for those guys that have or do own one of these guns or a replica.

So I know the whole gun and especially the frame was beefed up to handle the larger 45/70. It's such a big difference in cartridges.

Is the action the exact same on both the 73 and 76 with just the 76 being much beefer?

How does the 76 hold up to a steady stream of 45/70 ?

[kendog4570]

I don't believe the 76 was ever offered in 45-70. All of the calibers it was chambered in are somewhat lower pressure and power than the 45-70, as well as shorter. The 1886 was less bulky and way stronger to handle the bigger rounds.
And yes, it is a bigger 73. Still a relatively weak toggle link action when compared to the 86 and 92.

[golfish]

I don't believe the 76 was ever offered in 45-70. All of the calibers it was chambered in are somewhat lower pressure and power than the 45-70, as well as shorter. The 1886 was less bulky and way stronger to handle the bigger rounds.
And yes, it is a bigger 73. Still a relatively weak toggle link action when compared to the 86 and 92.

I belive your right sir. I thought I read 45/70 last night but it looks like 40/60 WCF, . 45/60 WCF, or . 50/95 WCF...
I read 45/77 too but not sure. Lots of calibers I never heard of.

Thank you

[Wyatt Burp]

I don't believe the 76 was ever offered in 45-70. All of the calibers it was chambered in are somewhat lower pressure and power than the 45-70, as well as shorter. The 1886 was less bulky and way stronger to handle the bigger rounds.
And yes, it is a bigger 73. Still a relatively weak toggle link action when compared to the 86 and 92.

[Steve45-70]

This is one of the guns on my bucket list. I believe it was originally offered in 45-60 (which you can make cutting down 45-70's), 45-75 and 50/95. I really want the 45-75 but they are getting hard to find in the reproductions. Also pretty much need to make your own brass.

The action in not nearly as strong as the 86. I am guessing they would be fine as long as you keep them to black powder pressures. I also believe that the 45 calibers at least shot a 300 gr bullet as standard while the later 45-70's shot 405's and heavier standard.

[RandyD]

My grandfather acquired a Model 76 in 45-60 when he was a teenager in 1920. My brother now has the rifle. It is beefier than a Model 73, but the action is similar. I don't believe the rifle was made in 45-70. The 45-60 and 45-70 are not high-pressure rounds. We considered reloading some ammo and firing our rifle, but decided for safety reasons we should have the rifle inspected, which we never got around to doing.

[golfish]

My grandfather acquired a Model 76 in 45-60 when he was a teenager in 1920. My brother now has the rifle. It is beefier than a Model 73, but the action is similar. I don't believe the rifle was made in 45-70. The 45-60 and 45-70 are not high-pressure rounds. We considered reloading some ammo and firing our rifle, but decided for safety reasons we should have the rifle inspected, which we never got around to doing.

I was watching a movie the other day the the main actor was using one of these guns. Once I figured out what model it was I did a search. The first thing I read was that it was only made in 45/70 ( at least that's what I read) after that I had to start this thread because I couldn't believe it was made in that caliber.

Boy was I wrong, again....still, lots of good info here.

I can see why we don't see very many of them, they all blew up because they couldn't handle the 45/70

[Wyatt Burp]

I was watching a movie the other day the the main actor was using one of these guns. Once I figured out what model it was I did a search. The first thing I read was that it was only made in 45/70 ( at least that's what I read) after that I had to start this thread because I couldn't believe it was made in that caliber.

Boy was I wrong, again....still, lots of good info here.

I can see why we don't see very many of them, they all blew up because they couldn't handle the 45/70

[RandyD]

I was watching a movie the other day the the main actor was using one of these guns. Once I figured out what model it was I did a search. The first thing I read was that it was only made in 45/70 ( at least that's what I read) after that I had to start this thread because I couldn't believe it was made in that caliber.

Boy was I wrong, again....still, lots of good info here.

I can see why we don't see very many of them, they all blew up because they couldn't handle the 45/70

Was the movie you were watching, Tom Horn? In that movie, Steve McQueen used a Winchester 1876 and mentioned it being in 45-60.

When we were interested in shooting our 1876, I wished it had been in 45-70. Finding 45-60 brass, back when the internet did not exist, was next to impossible.

[golfish]

Guys, I'm gonna admit again that I was way off. The movie was Hombre and the gun was a 73. When I looked at the gun the frame looked so much bigger. Maybe it was the cut down mag tube. The barrel also looked larger. I thought no way that was a 73.

Sorry for my "old eyes" ... maybe I had the zoom up too much on the TV

[kendog4570]

Hombre. '73 with round barrel, button mag, crescent butt.
Frank Silvera stole the show.
"Hey, Hombre, don chu want thees nice soft woooman??"

[splithoof]

This thread reminded me that I have several old (really old) boxes of original .45-60 cartridges that once belonged to my grandfather. Not sure what he used them in, but we do have his Springfield Trapdoor carbine in .45-70; maybe they were acquired for use in that carbine?

[Steve45-70]

They would shoot in a 45-70. Be a little short but are the same diameter.

[golfish]

Guys, I'm gonna admit again that I was way off. The movie was Hombre and the gun was a 73. When I looked at the gun the frame looked so much bigger. Maybe it was the cut down mag tube. The barrel also looked larger. I thought no way that was a 73.

Sorry for my "old eyes" ... maybe I had the zoom up too much on the TV

I like it when Newman asks Boone "How are you planning on getting down that hill"

[TRAP55]

The 1876 was chambered in .40/60, .45/60, .45/75, and .50/95 Express.