Winchester 1873 44-40

[Lethemgo]

So I've had this setting in my safe for a few years now but it's time to get her up and running. First I'll need to buy some brass dies and bullet mold. I have a couple 44 mag molds and maybe i can size down but need to slug the bore first.
One of my biggest questions to you guys is should I repair the missing chunck of wood that are missing. At that point I'm looking at stripping and re-staining the wood. Medal has a great patina on it but want to get it shooting. I haven't shot 44 wcf before but thinking its not to powerful of a round so possibly leave the chips and crackes be.

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[Outpost75]

If you plan to shoot it, I would repair the chips and cracks first. If possible I would use period-appropriate materials for the repairs, carefully fitting splices of closely matching OLD, close-grained wood and using a casein glue. The techniques used in restoration of quality antique furniture and musical instruments are the same.

When you get ready to load for your 1873, a treasure trove of useful information resides here:

https://curtisshawk21.wixsite.com/44centerfire/other-44-wcf-bullet-molds

[bob208]

being a collector I would leave it alone. saddle ring carbines are few and far between. I use the rcbs 200 gr mold in my .44-40's sized .429. in my 73 rifle 92 carbine 66 uberti repro. and my Dakoda pistol.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
If you have not opened the side plates and looked at the toggle linkage do yourself and your carbine a big favor and do so.
You do want to look for cracks chipped parts... At worse you get a good opportunity to get those moving parts well greased.

Next I would latch on to some 3F and load up 10 rounds with a 200 grain slug of soft lead and find out the accuracy potential of this carbine.
Remember this was made to shoot BP so why not start there. With all our 1873 Winchesters BP has proved to be the best accuracy loads. We can come close with some smokeless loads but have never beat 3F loads.
Mike in LLama Land

[Rattlesnake Charlie]

That crack at the tang will continue unless you do a little bedding up where the stock contacts the action. You can keep it low and down out of sight. Gotta get the recoil from turning that tang into a splitting wedge. If you get too much in there you can sand it off.

[Savvy Jack]

Greetings
With all our 1873 Winchesters BP has proved to be the best accuracy loads. We can come close with some smokeless loads but have never beat 3F loads.
Mike in LLama Land

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Uberti Winchester 73' with Malcom scope
https://curtisshawk21.wixsite.com/44centerfire/post/replicating-doc-pardee-s-110-yard-4-groups

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Uberti Winchester 73' with Malcom scope

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John Kort, Marlin 1894...shots 1-30



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Shots 31-40
https://curtisshawk21.wixsite.com/44centerfire/single-post/2014/12/20/My-44-40-Black-Powder-Journey

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Original 300 meter shots with a Henry. John Korts hits with Henry velocity 44-40s
https://curtisshawk21.wixsite.com/44centerfire

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Doc Pardee's 1875 44-40, 110 yards

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John Kort's 200 yard shots


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbxvlQUkQfU


DO NOT USE THIS LOAD IN THE OLD WINCHESTER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4exkGBF_yq0

[Speedo66]

There are often original stocks for that gun on Ebay, might want to take a look there.

[Lethemgo]

Now looking a stock I'm not sure it is original to the gun. Looks like someone atvsome point may have made it. Still has lots of file marks and it is really rough. Did a good job shaping it but never completed the job from what i see. Color doesn't match forend either. So now I'm at the point of fixing it or finding a new one. May just go with a set of new ones. I'd like to keep it original but think its already gone from that place.

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[Rimfire]

Stock could very well be replaced as it has a rifle style butt plate.

[Lethemgo]

Got it out to start cleaning and checking all parts. Now notice it has a front sight I may need to replace. Looking for your guys knowledge on this one. Gun show this weekend so I can dig around in a couple of guys I know boxes of parts.

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[Outpost75]

Common period front sight replacement was to slot the existing base and pin in a new front sight blade filed to shape from a penny or dime. Or just take a flat piece of iron, heat and beat to thickness, drill and pin that in, file to zero and heat blue with oil.

[bob208]

I have used old brass keys to make front sight blades. after seeing the lower tang I wood replace the wood also. had to do that on a 94 someone carved their name in. you couls also order a carbine with a rifle but plate.

[south.net]

Also try www.homesteadparts.com for parts. Excellent site, not just for Winchesters.

[Kev18]

Also try www.homesteadparts.com for parts. Excellent site, not just for Winchesters.

Ordered there a few times. really nice parts. Most of them are original unless indicated otherwise.

[Kev18]

[QUOTE=Savvy Jack;4711427]247018
Uberti Winchester 73' with Malcom scope

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Uberti Winchester 73' with Malcom scope

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I always wanted a scope for my '86 but they all require holes drilled. I want dovetail mounts!

[Savvy Jack]

[QUOTE=Savvy Jack;4711427]247018
Uberti Winchester 73' with Malcom scope

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Uberti Winchester 73' with Malcom scope

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I always wanted a scope for my '86 but they all require holes drilled. I want dovetail mounts!

These are dovetail mounts. Takes some work to get them tight but once there, so far they have stayed!!!!!


Story here:
https://curtisshawk21.wixsite.com/44centerfire/post/scoped-winchester-1873

[Hootmix]

I'm always comparing my targets to Savvy Jacks,, the only difference I can see is Savvy's are 4- times farther away and twice as small ,,, other wise ,,,, " close ".
coffee's ready ,, Hootmix.

[Savvy Jack]

I'm always comparing my targets to Savvy Jacks,, the only difference I can see is Savvy's are 4- times farther away and twice as small ,,, other wise ,,,, " close ".
coffee's ready ,, Hootmix.

LOL, That's why I use a scope!!!!!

[Kev18]

[QUOTE=Savvy Jack;4712645][QUOTE=Kev18;4712641]

These are dovetail mounts. Takes some work to get them tight but once there, so far they have stayed!!!!!

It looks like the back mount is bolted into the receiver, right? I want one that's in my rear sight dovetail and in my front. That way nothing would get damaged. I can only dream of that seems like. And the back end of the scope would need to be pretty long so I can look down the thing.

[Savvy Jack]

[QUOTE=Savvy Jack;4712645][QUOTE=Kev18;4712641]

These are dovetail mounts. Takes some work to get them tight but once there, so far they have stayed!!!!!

It looks like the back mount is bolted into the receiver, right? I want one that's in my rear sight dovetail and in my front. That way nothing would get damaged. I can only dream of that seems like. And the back end of the scope would need to be pretty long so I can look down the thing.

No, it slides on the dust cover rail and is held in place with a set screw. I would never "damage" my firearms on purpose! I see now I failed to show that aft mount in my photos, I will try to update that when I get a chance.

[Savvy Jack]

I did find this photo on the web!

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[Kev18]

I did find this photo on the web!

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If I could only find mounts for my 1886... I dont have a dust cover rail. Damn... Rear sight dovetail would work fine.

[Savvy Jack]

If I could only find mounts for my 1886... I dont have a dust cover rail. Damn... Rear sight dovetail would work fine.

You did say 86 but for some reason it entered my brain as 76!!!

[Kev18]

You did say 86 but for some reason it entered my brain as 76!!!

Its fine, I just love the look of those old scopes! I just got a vernier sight anyways. Tried it out this weekend. Not Bad, still need to sight it in properly rested.