Uberti 1873

[Ninety Caliber]

Thinking about a '73 big bore. Looking for recommendations from current owners. Do you prefer .44 or .45? Will these rifles handle magnum loads?
Would appreciate any and all input.

[doctorggg]

I have one in 44/40 and 45 colt. I enjoy shooting them very much. As you know the mechanism in a '73 isn't very strong. I wouldn't hot rod either. The heaviest load I have fired is a case full of BP. I doubt if this helps you much in your decision.

[hightime]

I have a Henry 44-40 and a 1873 in 45 Colt. The 44-40 is real accurate the 45 is OK. I think I'd try a 44-40. Beautiful gun though.

[cowboy]

Howdy- have a '73 in .45 Colt, accuracy with with full power "standard" loads is good. I have NOT put any "Ruger (large frame) and Contender only" loads in it, ever. If you really need a magnum lever gun, they are out there- but the '73 isn't it.

[Four Fingers of Death]

I have a 24" Bbl Sporting rifle in 44/40. Lovely rifle and very accurate. If you are looking for hot loads, you are looking at the wrong rifle.

A Marlin or Rossi 92 can handle anything sensible and are cheaper to boot. I'd go Rossi if you like open sights (The Rossi would benefit from aftermarket sights, preferably a peep) and a Marlin 1894 if you fancy using a scope sight. I have all three and they are chalk and cheese. All good, all different.

[olafhardt]

Straight sided cartridges can give feeding problems in levers. This may be one reason the 45 long Coli wasn't offered in the originals. I had a little of this in a Rossi 357 and it was the cartridge not the rifle. I could have made it behave, but I am lazy and like the 39/30 better.

[Four Fingers of Death]

What Bill said!

[handyman25]

I have a uberti 73 in 45 LC and it works just fine. A 1873 model is a weak design and I would NOT run full power ruger type loads thru it. I shoot cowboy action and I have more than 10,000 rounds thru it and it still works as it should. These are lower power 45 LC loads. I also have a Rossi 92 in 45 LC and shoot full power ruger type loads thru it and no problems.

[35 Whelen]

I have an 1873 short rifle in .44 Special that I bought for CAS and it's a fine rifle. When I first started shooting it in CAS all I had was a 250 gr. SWC bullet mould so that's the bullet I used. Never, ever a single feeding problem. It's quite accurate too. What little I've fired it at 100 yds. has given me 2" groups. I haven't used super heavy loads yet, but I'm not afraid to. Folks who claim the Uberti's 1873's are weak seem to forget they're chambered in .357 (and now .44) Magnum both of which run pressures in the 36K range. If I had it to do over again I'd buy a Uberti 1873 carbine in .44 Magnum.
A few years ago Brian Pearce tested a 24" 1873 .44 Special and ran a 250 gr. SWC over 1500 fps. (Rifle Magazine #216)

Good luck with your choice.

35W