Uberti lever action 1873 in 44 mag

[stef76]

Hi fellas, anyone know what the bores slug at for these and general quality? Looking at options for a good low powered cast bullet shooter, also some jacketed bullet use around 1200fps( which should be okay in a modern 1873, not intending to push it hard). I started another thread on a Browning 92 a friend is looking to sell and considered pro's and cons of each. Another option was a new Rossi 1892. About half the price of either, but rossi quality.

[Randy Bohannon]

If I was after a 44 Mag. In a lever gun the 1873 action would be my last choices I would want a platform that would get me the best performance of a given cartridge. The 1873 is the least capable of doing that without stretching and loosening parts. 44-40 WCF will do what you want with aplomb other wise the 92 or 94 is a much better platform for 44 Mag.Most modern .44 Mag are in the .430”-.431” area +- .001” same for 44-40 WCF.

[G W Wade]

Had a pair of Rossi 92's. Neat little guns, repeat little guns. 20in rd barrel and about 6 lbs. Mine were the no BS safety version. Only fault (?) is they are bullet shape and OAL sensetive. GW

[Nobade]

I'm with Randy. A '73 should be 44-40, it's what they're made for and original 44-40 black powder ballistics had a 200gr bullet at 1325 fps out of a rifle. That's no slouch.

[dverna]

I am partial to 1873’s and Marlin 1894’s. Had a Rossi and a modern 1892 and they seem clunky to me. Both were sold.

But the Marlin in .44 Mag has had accuracy issues. I wound up selling mine.

If, like you said, you do not intend to push it hard, the 1873 will be a slicker gun. The annoying issue with the 1873 is having brass ejected upwards. Saw a well endowed lady get one down her blouse.... My fiancé loves to shoot the Marlin in .357.

[Thundermaker]

If I was after a 44 Mag. In a lever gun the 1873 action would be my last choices I would want a platform that would get me the best performance of a given cartridge. The 1873 is the least capable of doing that without stretching and loosening parts. 44-40 WCF will do what you want with aplomb other wise the 92 or 94 is a much better platform for 44 Mag.Most modern .44 Mag are in the .430”-.431” area +- .001” same for 44-40 WCF.

You might want to look at some of the smokeless rifle loads for .44-40.

I will say, if I was going 44mag, I would go with a 92 action. I like having the option of buying ammo off the shelf without having to worry about whether or not it will stress my gun.

Having had both a Rossi and a Miroku (Browning), I'd go for the Browning. The extra cost is well worth it.

[Randy Bohannon]

Those hot 44-40 WCF rifle loads will beat up a 1873 as well, just takes a bit longer. I have found nothing that shoots better than B/P in my Win/Miroku 1873 44-40 WCF’s I have no need to go with smokeless .


QUOTE]You might want to look at some of the smokeless rifle loads for .44-40. [/QUOTE]

[Thundermaker]

Those hot 44-40 WCF rifle loads will beat up a 1873 as well, just takes a bit longer. I have found nothing that shoots better than B/P in my Win/Miroku 1873 44-40 WCF’s I have no need to go with smokeless .


QUOTE]You might want to look at some of the smokeless rifle loads for .44-40.

[/QUOTE]

Yes. I was talking about that in reference to getting the full potential out of a given cartridge.

[indian joe]

Hi fellas, anyone know what the bores slug at for these and general quality? Looking at options for a good low powered cast bullet shooter, also some jacketed bullet use around 1200fps( which should be okay in a modern 1873, not intending to push it hard). I started another thread on a Browning 92 a friend is looking to sell and considered pro's and cons of each. Another option was a new Rossi 1892. About half the price of either, but rossi quality.

I would buy a Rossi anytime - so long as I could see it and handle it before they got my money - we hear of quality issues - the few I have seen (owned one) have been good firearms - the fact they sell one in 454 casull speaks loud about metallurgy.

[indian joe]

I am partial to 1873’s and Marlin 1894’s. Had a Rossi and a modern 1892 and they seem clunky to me. Both were sold.

But the Marlin in .44 Mag has had accuracy issues. I wound up selling mine.

If, like you said, you do not intend to push it hard, the 1873 will be a slicker gun. The annoying issue with the 1873 is having brass ejected upwards. Saw a well endowed lady get one down her blouse....

If that was last shot in a string - woulda been interesting to watch - lady needs a bigger hat (brim) - stops em trickling down yr shirt.

No question the toggle gun is a slicker piece though a well worn 92 can be pretty nice - I have an 86 and a 76 (repros) and the contrast is even more so (both been worked over to tidy em up)

[Thundermaker]

The 73 is slicker, but with a 92, you can pick up any box of ammo that says ".44 magnum" on it and run it without having to worry about the gun. That alone is enough to put me in the 92 camp.

[indian joe]

The 73 is slicker, but with a 92, you can pick up any box of ammo that says ".44 magnum" on it and run it without having to worry about the gun. That alone is enough to put me in the 92 camp.

yup !

been suspicious of Uberti chambering 44mag in the 73 since I first read of it
dont affect me anyways
I have a couple 44/40s'
can do anything you want with the old round in a new 92
superiority of the 44mag over 44/40 is a figment of peoples imagination - (ya get 2 or 3 grains less powder space for starters)

[stef76]

I dont feel the need to use one at full power but to some its just another factory ammo pig gun. Be interested to know if there is a lot of warranty action occurring out there. Has anyone heard of any?

[Thundermaker]

I dont feel the need to use one at full power but to some its just another factory ammo pig gun. Be interested to know if there is a lot of warranty action occurring out there. Has anyone heard of any?

I haven't seen mention of warranty work on .44mag, but, then, I haven't encountered anyone who shoots one. Most get them in 45lc and shoot cowboy loads. Some use .357s. I encounter the odd .44-40. I didn't even know they made them in .44 mag.

If all you'll ever shoot is your own loads, it should be fine. I just like having options.

[T-Bird]

Why not get one in 44 mag and load it with 200gr boolits at 1200 fps? If you wanted, you could shoot the occasional 44mag load if you felt the need. It would probably stand up well to that approach.

[W.R.Buchanan]

If I was you I'd wait for a new Marlin/Ruger 1894 in .44 Magnum. They will have 1:20 twist barrels and accuracy will be excellent, and the guns will also be excellent as many improvements have been made to the basic design.. I am waiting for an 1894 CB Short Rifle in .44 Magnum.

Randy

[T-Bird]

^^^
Or do that

[Remmy4477]

Uberti, Probably .431-.432, The last uberti 73 I had was in 45 colt with a very oversized barrel. The accuracy was on par with a cap gun! Sold it for a marlin 1894S in 44 mag, a much more enjoyable rifle now that I can hit what I'm shooting at.

[sharps4590]

The slug from my Uberti '73 in 44-40 is in my 44-40 die box. I'll measure it later today and post the diameter.

Compared to what Remmy said I must have gotten lucky. At 50 yards, open sights, benched, my '73 Uberti in 44-40 will clover leaf all day long at 50 yards but, as most of us know, they're all different.

Edit: I apologize I didn't get back sooner, I forgot. I just checked my slug and it's .428

[35 Whelen]

An 1873 Uberti in .44 Magnum would've been proofed at almost 53,000 psi as per C.I.P. requirements. Folks can speculate all they want and tell us how they "feel" about the action in question, but no commercial standard pressure .44 Magnum load is going to do any damage to one of these '73's.

35W