Thinking about a 1873?

[LIMPINGJ]

Lately I have had the urge for a 1873. I see there are several configurations offered from a carbine to long barrel rifle with octagon and half octagon half round choices. Can any of you who have had the chance to handle and shoot some different configurations tell me your impressions of the balance and handling qualities? I know how a Win 94 carbine seems to balance just right when you carry it in your hand and is quick to shoulder for the shot. Which configuration of 1873 seems to handle that way?

[Cannoneer]

The 1873 Winchesters by Uberti are great rifles. I have a 20 inch Round Barrel Carbine that is fast and accurate. It is very handy and comes up quick and I've had that gun since 1982. I also have a Short Rifle w/ a 20 inch octagon barrel that I use in SASS Matches. I had a 30 inch Musket, but it was unweildy and front heavy. The two carbines are much easier to shoot and swing through as you pick off your targets. :cbpour:

[LIMPINGJ]

Thanks for your impressions of the 1873s. I would like to see what one of the 24" half octagon half round feels like. I think I will hold out till I get a chance to go to a big city that has a large shop that has some in stock so I can handle a few before I let go of the cash.

[HDS]

I definitely want one some day, 24" rifle with full octagon barrel and tang peep would be my preference.

[Matthew 25]

Bill, are the 44's the same as the 45's? I thought I read the 1873 design wasn't ideal for 44 pressures and Uberti made their 44s a little different. I could see myself getting the 1873 bug as well....I have too many bugs in the oven right now.

[HDS]

I read they didn't do anything different, just different heat treating of the steel. I wouldn't mind a .44mag version in the 24" octagon config, so I could have a rifle to shoot .44 special out of. That way I wouldn't need to acquire loading tools for another caliber.

[HDS]

As I understand it the new 44 magnum being presented as a 1873 is not the internals of a 1873 Winchester & it's toggle. It is similar to the Henry Big Boy action and copies the profile image of a '73 Winchester.

From what I read on levergunscommunity.com a few months ago they had gotten an answer from a Uberti rep who said what I said above with regards to the internal design. I am not sure if there's been any new developments on that or not.

Either way the old 1873 had no issues that I've ever heard of with the .44-40 and the modern repros certainly shouldn't.

[Rafe Covington]

I have 2 1873 Uberti rifles, 24 in barrels. Both are well made and accurate. Looking to buy another shortly. Good luck with your purchase.

Rafe

[TXGunNut]

Me too! Just got Mike V's book on Shooting Lever Guns of the Old West and he's pretty fond of his Cimmaron/Uberti 1873 Sporting Rifle in .44-40. Never given the 1873 a second thought, now it's on my "want" list.

[August]

I have four of them and they are all 20" octagon barrel gunz. The longer ones (24") offer no significant advantage and are difficult to deploy, move around, and carry (especially on horse).

The shorter ones are very fast. There is one model, called a brush popper that is very fast, 19" barrel, 1/2 octagon. Very fast and maneuverable. I've thought about getting one, but 15 years of "muscle memory" are invested in the 20". It's too late for me.

One counter-intuitive fact is that the carbine stocks have a longer length of pull than the crescent rifle stocks. Totally different feel.

The 20" deluxe border rifle (pistol grip) is the sweet spot and most desirable model by a long shot. In other words, it's the one you'll most often see in competition. It is also the most liquid should you ever decide to divest.

What ever you do, get the rifle in a WCF caliber. They were designed as a system with those cartridges (32-20, 38-40, 44-40). Of the three WCF calibers, Uberti got the 44-40 correct. The other two, not so much.

[August]

It's not as silky quick as a well tuned 1892 Winchester

Someone needs a better gunsmith.

[HDS]

That is indeed the opposite of everything I have ever heard with regards to that from CAS shooters and levergun people. The '73 action has always been considered the slicker, faster action, while the '92 action was considered the clunkier but sturdier one.

[Muddy Creek Sam]

I love my 73 clone in .357 Wish I could afford an original in 38-40.

Sam :D

[HDS]

Oh well sorry I mentioned it, I mostly have originals to compare by, & this was about 73's.

Don't be, it's your experience after all.

[9.3X62AL]

What ever you do, get the rifle in a WCF caliber. They were designed as a system with those cartridges (32-20, 38-40, 44-40). Of the three WCF calibers, Uberti got the 44-40 correct. The other two, not so much.

August, could you elaborate a bit on how Uberti's/Cimarron's rendition(s) of the 1873s in 32-20 WCF fall short? I have an original '73 in 44-40, a 19" carbine--and would like to get its look-alike in 32-20 one of these days. TIA!

[cajun shooter]

I have this version made by Uberti in 44-40 and it is a jewel to carry, shoot and have. It has the 1/2 and 1/2 barrel and not a finer gun has been made.
I don't know where Bill Weddle received the guns he handled but the original 73 is a very smooth and fast rifle to handle. Much more so than the 92. The difference is that the 92 which is nothing but a scaled down version of the 1886 is much stronger and will with stand the power of bigger and harder cartridges. Many of today's gun handlers and smiths will tell you that the current made 1873 by Uberti today is actually a better gun than the original because of today's metals. The toggle is still the weak point of the rifle.
You may want to change your mind on the model of 1873 you want after picking one up and walking a ways with it. The 73 has no ejector and in it's place is a large piece of solid brass that works like a elevator in bringing the cartridge up from the magazine and into the barrel after being driven forward by the bolt. Because of this design it adds to the weight of the 73 design. A 24 inch barrel rifle goes over 9 pounds and some ounces.
The Brush popper that I have is almost the same as handling a 92 SRC rifle. You may also want to consider the pistol grip stock as it adds to the overall appeal.
The Cowboy Shop makes the 73 into a long lasting accurate fast rifle.