Looking to buy a new Winchester, but which one?

[Love Life]

I’m in the market for a lever gun right now. The only things I know for certain are that I want a Winchester, and I want it chambered in 45 Colt. I’d guess a budget of around $1,500.

Given those parameters, which would you get, and why?

[hylander]

I recently got the 1892 Short rifle in 45 Colt.
Love it, took it to the range again today.
It is light and handy, it will handle heavy loads if you want, but I shoot medium cast loads.
Loves 250gr. cast HP on top of 6.6gr. HP-38 or 8.0gr. Power Pistol.
First target is a single hole 3 shot group at 25yds.
Second target is 5 shot's under 1" @ 50yds.

Only cons:
Heavy trigger pull @ about #5.25
And the rear sight is hard for me to focus, will be getting a tang sight.

[marlin39a]

www.galleryofguns.com . Check out choices on new Winchester 45's. Miroku, but great quality within your price range.

[Love Life]

I recently got the 1892 Short rifle in 45 Colt.
Love it, took it to the range again today.
It is light and handy, it will handle heavy loads if you want, but I shoot medium cast loads.
Loves 250gr. cast HP on top of 6.6gr. HP-38 or 8.0gr. Power Pistol.
First target is a single hole 3 shot group at 25yds.
Second target is 5 shot's under 1" @ 50yds.

Only cons:
Heavy trigger pull @ about #5.25
And the rear sight is hard for me to focus, will be getting a tang sight.

Is that the 20 inch barrel? How’s it handle? How is the crescent butt plate under recoil? I plan to load 255 Gr bullets over 8-9 Gr of unique. Just standard loads.

Good shooting!!

[Randy Bohannon]

Win/Miroku 92 SRCI, can’t add to hylander’s experience as mine is similar. I paid under 1K for mine locally. I bought the 45 Colt to specifically shoot 300 grn. Boolits @1100 FPS. The crescent B/P doesn’t bother me when nested where it needs to be,very accurate .

[hylander]

Is that the 20 inch barrel? How’s it handle? How is the crescent butt plate under recoil? I plan to load 255 Gr bullets over 8-9 Gr of unique. Just standard loads.

Good shooting!!

Yes, 20" barrel
Handles great, light and easy to swing.
I love the crescent butt plate, very comfortable, not enough recoil to need anything more, and it looks great.
My 255gr. and 8.0 of Power Pistol is about the same as your Unique load, only Power Pistol meters better.
These rifles do like a fatter bullet, I am using .453 and .454 sized cast.

[Rick B]

Winchester has recently offered the 1873 Deluxe Sporting Rifle. Deluxe wood, shotgun butt with a checkered pistol grip and forend. Case hardened receiver. Barrel is half round half octagon 24” long. Tang is drilled for a sight. Currently offered in 45 Colt.
Rick

[big bore 99]

I have an older 1950's 1894 in 45 Colt. I like it just fine.

[Love Life]

All good information and I thank you for it! I saw the deluxe version, but I’m not sure a 24 inch barrel is what I want. I plan to hit a couple big gun shops in the next month or so to try to shoulder as many possible.

[Jedman]

Does it have to be made by Winchester or can it be a Winchester replica ?
With the budget you have in mind you may want to look at some of the replica M 1873 Winchesters. They can be had with nicer grades of wood and beautiful case coloring and polished blue in 45 Colt. The M 92 is a stronger action but the 1873 is smoother and most are just great looking rifles that are offered in short barrels, long barrels, octagon, round or half and half.
If your not after hot hunting loads and are going to shoot factory or factory spec 45 Colt ammo the M 1873 may be to your liking . There are many choices out there look at them all before you buy.

Jedman

[Love Life]

I’ve looked at the clones, and they are stunning. However, it has to be a Winchester. I know I’m paying a premium for a name, but I’ve always wanted a Winchester lever action rifle.

[Gunlaker]

I like the new 1892's built by Miroku. I've got a trapper takedown in .44 magnum and I like it. I wasn't looking for a short rifle, actually I wanted a 20" barreled one in .357 or .45 Colt but I was in the LGS when a fellow was trading it in. I bought it on impulse and I am happy with it, although I haven't shot it a bunch. It's at least as smooth and easy cycling as my older Marlin 1894 Cowboy in .45 Colt.

I've owned a bunch of Miroku built lever guns but sold off the 1894, and the 1886's. I just have this one now. It's a perfect little plinking rifle.

Chris.

[jstanfield103]

I have a new Winchester 1892 Short in 44 Mag. Shoots great and is definitely a keeper. I did remove the rebounding hammer. It gave me no trouble just did not like it on the rifle.

[osteodoc08]

If you want something light and quick to handle, an 1892 SRC or a 1873.

Nice shooting hylander

I've been eyeing the deluxe models with the half round/octagon barrel, but an 1886 in 45/90.

[onelight]

I recently got the 1892 Short rifle in 45 Colt.
Love it, took it to the range again today.
It is light and handy, it will handle heavy loads if you want, but I shoot medium cast loads.
Loves 250gr. cast HP on top of 6.6gr. HP-38 or 8.0gr. Power Pistol.
First target is a single hole 3 shot group at 25yds.
Second target is 5 shot's under 1" @ 50yds.

Only cons:
Heavy trigger pull @ about #5.25
And the rear sight is hard for me to focus, will be getting a tang sight.

You are certainly dealing well with the trigger and sights.:drinks: I would be happy with those groups with a great trigger and sights.

[Love Life]

After more research, I believe an 1873 is what I want. The tang is set up for tang sights and unlike that option.

[jmort]

The Winchester is good to go out of the box. The 73 action cannot take heavy loads, but the action is sweet. Getting a tuned Urberti from Long Hunter would be about the same price and a nice choice as well. They are a bit backed up right now, but may have one in stock. Evil Roy would also be a great option and probably no waiting. Any way you go, you will be happy,

[1911aug]

I'm very happy with my Winchester 73 short rifle that my wife got me for Christmas. It is very smooth cycling the action and groups very well with my reloads.
I love the sound of the cartridge carrier when cycling.

[Love Life]

Do the 1873 rifles not come with sling swivels? Is that something you have to install?

[jmort]

No sling swivels and yes you install.
https://evilroy.com/product/1873-saddle-rifle-checkered-45-colt-18-octagon-barrel/

239765

[Randy Bohannon]

You will like the 'Deluxe' I just picked mine up from a gunsmith friend that did a action/trigger job, fire blued all of the screws and made dovetail blanks from the barrel sight.
First time out after gunsmith work, sighters are pasted settled in and took my best five shots @ 100 yd. in a long while with B/P. Adding a Hadley cup to the MVA sight made a huge difference. This has been one of the easiest rifles to get to shoot well. I t is dialed now to bang 10-10 200 yd. silhouette Rams.Don McDowell says I should get out to 300 yds. on a nice day.

[fn1889m]

Adding a Hadley cup to the MVA sight made a huge difference. This has been one of the easiest rifles to get to shoot well.

Is that a medium or short rear sight? What front sight? I have a 92 in .45LC and was thinking of a similar setup.

[onelight]

That is great shooing with a beautiful rifle !

[Riceguy]

Yes Randy I also want to know what make and Ht on the peep tang sight. I also just bought the deluxe like yours, but mine is in 45 Colt. Seems to shoot well. Bought mine from Buds Gun Shop. Couldn't beat his price. Plus free shipping. I will also check with a gunsmith about my trigger. You also said that that you removed the rear sight on the barrel, is that right? Did it interfere with the tang sight?

[Randy Bohannon]

The rear is the MVA #133 vernier, I have used the MVA #110-111’s front sights for everything for years with the #133 windage front sight being my most elaborate. I recently put a couple of the #115’s front sights on and like them better. They ea have their own method of securing the aperature and are not compatible with ea. other. Knowing what I know now I would skip the 111’s and their different configurations and just go to the #115-116 front sights on any rifle I wish to use their products on.
If your rifle has the tang safety,I am not aware of MVA providing a base for those rifles,I have the same rifle and would love to get a MVA base on it. The OP is absolutely correct in his choice with the tang factory drilled and tapped on the Win/Miroku 1873’s or the 1886’s.
MVA does not list the base for the Win/Miroku 1873,order the base for the Win/Miroku 1885 the tang hole spacing is the same.
Once you get the base you can use any of the MVA rear sights, I bought two of the smaller verniers for my Winchester’s with both having pistol grips,do note you will loose elevation with a P/G. They have a little over 2” of elevation,my sight settings are 96 @50 yds. 116@ 100 yds and 136 @ 200 yds. this is near max on the sight it might get to 250 yds. I also have a MVA L/R Soule and XL/R Soule I could mount and go the extra distance. I don't think that’s necessary for the 44-40 WCF. On the Hadley cups MVA offers,they offer two a Magnum and a regular. I have both and prefer the regular. the Magnums are big and only offer a few more openings than the regular cup. The big ones cover up your windage setting at 200 yds or less.
Yes the barrel sight will interfere with a tang sight and needs to be removed for ranges 100 yds. or less. The tightest dovetails I have ever encountered are all on Win/Miroku front sights,unbelievable tight. The Wyoming Sight Drifter tool is an amazing tool to get those super tight dovetails to move. This tool makes it a breeze, best $40.00 for a tool I have ever spent.
Also to note the price on the vernier sights include the base on the #130 verniers, this is confusing on the website as you have purchase the base separate with the Soule sights.

[Don McDowell]

Looks like you got that worn out ol club working good. :)