bedbugbilly
03-10-2019, 05:44 PM
As age creeps up, I've decided to "thin the herd" and cut down and consolidate when I get back to MI for the summer. I don't hunt anymore and seem to shoot less. My plans - get rid of two 30-30 lever guns - a Winchester Ranger and a vintage Marlin 336SC waffle top as well as a H & R 357 Handi. In place of them, I'm looking at a 38 spl or 38/357 lever gun. Regardless of which one, it will just be a fun plinking gun for killing cans, water jugs and a few of those terrible tasting "clay pigeons". The new 38 or 38/357 will give me the fun of a lever gun as well as the inexpensive rounds to reload in 38 special with cast boolits - which is what I will be shooting. The whole goal will be to cut down on the number of guns I have as well as reloading stuff and of course the containers of brass that I seem to accumulate in a variety of calibers - some of which I no longer have guns for. Ha!
Yep - a few different brands of what I'm looking for but not being a "lever gun expert" - I have some questions.
Right now - I've got my "want" pretty much narrowed down to either a Uberti Winchester 1866 yellow boy carbine in 38 or the Uberti Winchester 1873 38/357 carbine.
Other than the obvious - brass frame versus steel frame and caliber, 38 versus 38/357 - is there any reason for selecting one over the other (1866 versus 1873)? Mechanical/functional wise?
From my limited knowledge of lever gun actions, I know that both the 66 and the 73 are "toggle actions" - but the originals seemed to work for many years as well as many of the Uberti repros being used in CAS, etc. so I'm guessing that the toggle action is not going to turn out to be a PITA? (If kept properly lubed and not abused). Your thoughts?
Either model would seem to be a good "partner" to either my Uberti 1851 R & M Conversion 38 special or my Uberti Bisley 38/357.
I'm not going to be shooting competition - giving it hard use or abuse - just something with an "Old West" flavor to it to take out and run some rounds through once in a while.
Anything I should look out for? I'm thinking that unless I run across one at a great price (used), I'll probably buy a new one. If I understand correctly, the early made ones (repros. - Uberti, Stoeger, etc.) are different on the inside than the ones currently made and parts aren't available anymore. (for early made ones?).
I know a lot of guys "slick 'em up" whether it be for CAS or just shooting - I don[t know how much "slicking" I would do but before using a new one, I think I would clean the shavings and crud out of the works for sure.
I'm also curious about the 66 and 73 - curious because I load both 38 Colt Short and 38 Colt Long - will these cartridges function in either the 66 or 73 - just curious to see if anyone has tried them to see if they will.
The only other make I'm looking at is perhaps one of the Rossi 38/357 lever guns. Less money than the Uberti is certainly, but from videos I've watched - they are good shooting little lever guns. I looked on the Rossi site but all I found listed were rifles in 45 Colt - smile I reload that cartridge - I would rather have a lever gun in 38 or 38/357. Is Rossi still making them in 38/357? If so - what is the general price range of them in the blued carbine version?
Any input/advice greatly appreciated.
Jim
Yep - a few different brands of what I'm looking for but not being a "lever gun expert" - I have some questions.
Right now - I've got my "want" pretty much narrowed down to either a Uberti Winchester 1866 yellow boy carbine in 38 or the Uberti Winchester 1873 38/357 carbine.
Other than the obvious - brass frame versus steel frame and caliber, 38 versus 38/357 - is there any reason for selecting one over the other (1866 versus 1873)? Mechanical/functional wise?
From my limited knowledge of lever gun actions, I know that both the 66 and the 73 are "toggle actions" - but the originals seemed to work for many years as well as many of the Uberti repros being used in CAS, etc. so I'm guessing that the toggle action is not going to turn out to be a PITA? (If kept properly lubed and not abused). Your thoughts?
Either model would seem to be a good "partner" to either my Uberti 1851 R & M Conversion 38 special or my Uberti Bisley 38/357.
I'm not going to be shooting competition - giving it hard use or abuse - just something with an "Old West" flavor to it to take out and run some rounds through once in a while.
Anything I should look out for? I'm thinking that unless I run across one at a great price (used), I'll probably buy a new one. If I understand correctly, the early made ones (repros. - Uberti, Stoeger, etc.) are different on the inside than the ones currently made and parts aren't available anymore. (for early made ones?).
I know a lot of guys "slick 'em up" whether it be for CAS or just shooting - I don[t know how much "slicking" I would do but before using a new one, I think I would clean the shavings and crud out of the works for sure.
I'm also curious about the 66 and 73 - curious because I load both 38 Colt Short and 38 Colt Long - will these cartridges function in either the 66 or 73 - just curious to see if anyone has tried them to see if they will.
The only other make I'm looking at is perhaps one of the Rossi 38/357 lever guns. Less money than the Uberti is certainly, but from videos I've watched - they are good shooting little lever guns. I looked on the Rossi site but all I found listed were rifles in 45 Colt - smile I reload that cartridge - I would rather have a lever gun in 38 or 38/357. Is Rossi still making them in 38/357? If so - what is the general price range of them in the blued carbine version?
Any input/advice greatly appreciated.
Jim