1873 winchester

[BigEyeBob]

I was recently given this rifle in exchange for my time refurbishing six English gun cases . Manufacture date was 1898 , its in what I would describe as excellent condition .It has been sitting in a private collection for over sixty years and unfired during that time .Being a shooter and not so much of a collector of wall hangers I plan to shoot it occasionally with cast bullets from Alee 200gn mould .

[ajjohns]

Wow, you got a dandy! Yes, by all means shoot it.

[Speedo66]

Round barrel wasn't standard, how long is it? Caliber? I guess you put in a lot of valuable time.

[BigEyeBob]

24 " Barrel ,44/40 cal ,has factory engraving on the barrel .All the engraving is engraved not stamped like the 92 I have which came from the same collection .
My time is valuable .

[ajjohns]

From everything I've ever read, round barrel was standard. I think you're time was well spent.

[Mossy Oak]

Very nice and yes shoot it!

[Texas by God]

Beautiful. I would hunt with it. Best, Thomas.

[TNsailorman]

A 73 in .44-40, , man I am green with envy.

[flint45]

Very nice I would shoot it for sure.with black powder soft lead not to hard I get good results with air cooled ww home made bp lube and fffg.

[BigEyeBob]

Can't get black powder ,tried in the past ,lgs wont order it .Traiboss & Red Dot I have a good supply of .

[smokeywolf]

Is the loading gate in the white or plated? If it's all original and looks as good up close as it does in the pics, it's beyond excellent. "Mint" comes to mind. You would be well served to contact the Cody Museum in Wyoming and get it "lettered".

Won't own a gun that I won't shoot. Definitely shoot it. IMR 4198 and SR 5744 will both work.

Congrats on a great acquisition.

[BigEyeBob]

Loading gate is plated I think ,has a bit of a stain on it .I havent inspected it closely so Im not too sure .
Was entertaing the idea of getting the Cody documentation .Should do the 92 44/ 40 at the same time, condition of the 92 is almost as nice .Both rifles came from the same collection ,both unfired for more than 50 years as far as I know .Both barrels internally were spotless with no sign of being shot or any pitting or rust when I ran patches through them .Bit of solvent on a patch run through them and the bores are mirror bright ,patch came out a bit grungy but it was more likely 50 year old oil.

[Speedo66]

Wonderful that someone took well enough care of them to have flawless barrels from the BP days. My 1889 '73 in .38-40 shots well enough but has a 24" octagonal barrel with rifling that looks like someone regularly used battery acid followed by Draino to clean it.

They apparently had relatively soft steel barrels and I've seen several recommendations that jacketed bullets not be used if you're going to shoot them.

[BigEyeBob]

Wonderful that someone took well enough care of them to have flawless barrels from the BP days. My 1889 '73 in .38-40 shots well enough but has a 24" octagonal barrel with rifling that looks like someone regularly used battery acid followed by Draino to clean it.

They apparently had relatively soft steel barrels and I've seen several recommendations that jacketed bullets not be used if you're going to shoot them.

I noted that the barrel on the 73 is much thicker in the wall than the 92 which was manufactured in 1910 ,maybe for the reason you have pointed out.Cast boolits for this one .I have used Winchester factory jwords in the 92 seems to be fairly accurate ,off hand shooting .I will shoot them ocassionally but not frequently .
The person who previously owned the rifle was meticulous in his ways , he had some exquisite firearms ,quite a few English double rifles and shotguns by famous makers.Three of his double rifles reside in my safe also .
I look at it this way ,he was the caretaker of these rifles until he passed ,I am the care taker at present ,when I pass my Son will take on the job ,hopefully the line will continue to his children and so on .

[smokeywolf]

BigEyeBob, although I don't favor jacketed ammo for any of the old Winchesters. Your model '92 very likely has a "nickel steel" barrel which will handle smokeless pressures and the added wear of jacketed projectiles fairly well.

[clum553946]

Mine does well with the Noe 200 gr mold made for the 44-40

[BigEyeBob]

I bought the 6 cavity Lee mould for the 200gn to give them a try .