1873 Winchester rifle the gun that won the West

[Mojaveman]

Ok, so lately I've been doing some reading about the history of the Old West and got a case of the wants for a Winchester '73 carbine in .44-40.

I realize these lever action reproduction firearms come in a few different calibers but for history and nostalgia I want to stick with the .44 WCF. For purchase I will consider a Winchester or an Italian.

Did some reading on the ballistics and was a little disillusioned about this firearm being labeled the gun that won the West. Looks like it's basically good for about 150 yards and after that it's dropping like a stone.

Still might buy one. Anybody else like them? Any comments?

[kris smith]

[highpower]

Unless you are planning to use one to fight a war, what difference does it make at this late date?

As for wanting a '73 in .44WCF, I totally agree with you, it is the caliber that they were made for. I wanted a 1873 to go with my Colt Frontier Six-Shooter (that's what Colt called their single actions in .44-40) for many years but somehow one always eluded me until last year when I was able to find one for a reasonable price.

Mine was made in 1888 so was around when the west was being won, which I find to be pretty cool.

Pictured with a full box of .44 cartridges made around the same time the rifle was:

[pitfighter]

Awesome rifle and ammo, High-power, great stuff!

[eaglemike]

If you don't want an original, the Miroku line can be pretty nice. There's other replicas, of course. Good luck!

[GeeBee49]

Uberti's website lists the 1873 in rifle and carbine in a few different models. They are in .357 Mag, .45 Colt and .44-40 and start at around $1300.

https://www.uberti-usa.com/1873-rifle-and-carbine

[GeeBee49]

I forgot to add that while browsing I saw several original Winchesters mostly from the late 1800s. The prices ranged from $1900 to $5000 obviously based on condition.

[highpower]

I forgot to add that while browsing I saw several original Winchesters mostly from the late 1800s. The prices ranged from $1900 to $5000 obviously based on condition.

They can be had for less if you are patient enough, I paid $1200 for the one I bought. It has a decent bore and functions properly.

Funny story; I drove across the US a couple of times stopping along the way at gun stores and pawn shops in rural areas looking for a decent early Winchester. All I could find was AR's and late model hunting rifles.

When I got back from a trip last year, I found the rifle I picked up in a LGS about 20 miles from my home. At the same time they had a super nice Marlin 1893, made in 1900 in .38-55 sitting below it on the wall. It was so nice I bought both of them.




Just a couple of weeks ago they had another '73 Winchester that had been carefully refinished and chambered in .44WCF, for $1300. I passed on it only because I was looking for something else and I figured that I already had "my" 1873.

[GeeBee49]

Patience is definitely a requirement when you're looking for specific guns.
I bought my Winchester Model 94 in 1998 and my other lever actions were bought recently. If I came across a vintage Winchester that was well used but well cared for I would spend up to $2000 for it without hesitating.

[THBailey]

Damn High Power- Seems like you have at least one of everything and two of most things!! I do enjoy your posts and the depth of your knowledge, please keep up the good work.

[TRAP55]

Damn High Power- Seems like you have at least one of everything and two of most things!! I do enjoy your posts and the depth of your knowledge, please keep up the good work.

I'll second that.
My 1883 .44/40 SRC has BTDT.
Came to me completely non functional. Had been in a muzzle down scabbard, hung from the front of the saddle. That wranglers horse had a bad cribbing habit, so when he didn't have a fence rail to chew on, he chewed on the butt stock, and completely chewed off the trapdoor butt plate!
Found a complete butt stock off another one made the same year (total luck!), and added a repro cleaning rod set.
First thing I learned about a 44/40 1873, when shouldered, it ejects empties up,back, and over your head. A loaded round ejected, will catch you right about dead center of the forehead, and leave a mark.

[200Apples]

Ok, so lately I've been doing some reading about the history of the Old West and got a case of the wants for a Winchester 1873 carbine in .44-40.

I realize these lever action reproduction firearms come in a few different calibers but for history and nostalgia I want to stick with the .44 WCF. For purchase I will consider a Winchester or an Italian.

Did some reading on the ballistics and was a little disillusioned about this firearm being labeled the gun that won the West. Looks like it's basically good for about 150 yards and after that it's dropping like a stone.

Still might buy one. Anybody else like them? Any comments?

Hello! Mojaveman. I have owned a .30WCF Win 1894 made in 1922, but I couldn't hit anything with it so I sold it back to my dealer and rolled it over into my first single-action revolver years ago.

Today I own a brace of Marlin, a Rossi and a nice Browning/Miroku/Winchester 1892 in 44 Magnum...

Point being that I've learned that I don't always wish to shoot Magnum loads which imho are for a little more distance... and in the great scheme of things that's what pointy-bullet centerfires are for.

My '92 in .44 has a metal buttplate, so I started loading Magnum brass with a 205-grain lead round-nose flat-point that is moly-powdercoated over so many grains Titegroup for 1100 fps from the 20" carbine...

This mimics one of the four or five states of tune for the .44-40 when it was offered in abundance, and makes a great plinkin' round that's still a somewhat serious close-quarters load.


I still do not own a Win 1873 but when I do acquire one it'll more than likely be in .45 Colt (since the rest of my armory is chambered in everything else but). I have a 3-screw Blackhawk convertible in .45 Colt/.45 Auto

[GeeBee49]

The current Winchester Model 1873 comes in a few styles that I like but the MSRP is a little over $1600 which would probably be $1450 to $1500. I could get another Henry right now for just under $1000 and buy a Taylor's/Uberti Smoke Wagon single action revolver with the money I save (I may need to add $50 to $100).
Then I looked at the Winchester Model 1892 Carbine with the 20" barrel and an MSRP of $1109. That would be a store price of about the same as a Henry. It's a nice looking lever action and appears to be very similar to my Model 94. It comes in 357 magnum, 44 magnum, 44-40 and 45 Colt.

[Wyatt Burp]

Delete

[ACfixer]

The 1873 with an octagon barrel is a real chunk of steel. Do it OP, you won't regret it, but I would try to get one without that hideous tang safety on some of the newer Miroku guns.

I have an 1892 in .44-40, it's a 100 yard gun... after that it becomes difficult and after 150 it gets downright comical. Great fun to shoot.