I have decided that since I'm getting back into lever actions, I want a 1873.

I have searched, and searched, and searched.

And have come down to these three finalists. Everything I have read about these three rifles say that they are all very good. The only complaint I see is about the Winchester is the MADE IN JAPAN stamped on the barrel.

I'm not looking for a investment or to hand down to anyone(never married), this rifle is for me in my final years. So the name isn't important.

I'll use it primary for range shooting, perhaps too hunt also. I just want a rifle that I don't have to repair and tinker with, just something that is rock solid. I expect to shoot about a thousand rounds a year through it.

And be reliable in shooting .38Spl as well.

So, for those who own these or have experience with them, tell me what you know!

Uberti 1873 Short Rifle .357 Mag 20" OCT around $1000


Cimarron 1873 Short .357 Mag 20" OCT around $1200


Winchester 73 Sporting 357MAG Rifle, 24" OCT around $1400

Howdy Pard.  I have both, but in 45LC.  The Uberti/Cimarron guns are very nice and closer to the original 1873 internally and external dimensions.  However the two 183 Winchesters (Miroku) I have are, in my opinion, worth the extra money.  The barrels are superior and are extremely accurate.  The toggle link internals are a bit different on the Miroku and seem just a tad bit more robust.  I have several 1886 Winchesters made in Japan by Miroku and they are also extremely well made.  The wood on the Miroku's is much better than the Uberti/Cimarrons however Cimarron does a better job with locating the markings.  If I was only shooting CASS I would go with the Uberti/Cimarron, since the are easy to slick up and get to run really fast.  Honestly you won't go wrong getting with either one.   If you load your own ammo you will find that you can get some crazy accurate loads developed for those 1873s.

Edit: I also put about 500 rds through my Uberti/Ciimarrons a year, and have had one for over 10 yrs, all of them have had zero mechanical failures.  Of all the different type of rifles I have, the lever guns are the most fun to shoot and always draw a crowd at the range from the Black Rifle guys, especially when I break out the 1886 in 45-70 or I score hits on steel at 400 rds with a tang sighted 1873 in 45LC.  After all, the Winchester was the original Cowboy Assault Rifle!  I'm not very tech savvy and don't have a way to post pictures through this forum to share.


Good luck!  PM if you have any direct questions.

While you're looking at Cimarrons (re:  coach gun thread) take a look at their 1873.

Cimarrons are Ubertis, Piettas, etc. but depending on who you listen to/believe, they get an extra level or two of QC.

The Cowboy Action guys shoot hell out of both.

I've owned an Uberti and currently own a Winchester/Miroku and the Winchester is a nicer gun, IMO.

Uberti

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Winchester/Miroku

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I ran across a Winchester/Miroku 1873 Limited. It's a 16" .357 (both things I like) and I knew instantly that I'd be heating up the credit card to get it.

I've had a couple of Uberti leverguns too, they are fine but really don't compare to the Winchester.

Last time I checked, CDNN had quite a few Winchesters listed.

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Of course all you guys would like the more expensive Winchester!

Thanks for the info and advice guys!

Just to be sure you know this, the Uberti you have listed and the Cimarron are virtually the same gun.  Cimarron is an importer, they don't make anything.  Uberti makes this 1873 for them, as they do for Taylor's and maybe others.  I've seen Uberti 1873s imported by Stoeger too.

Winchester, unless the others were a massive bargain

Yep, someone mentioned that. But thanks for being clear on it.

You can get a fairly nice original pre-1899 1873 rifle in 38-40 or 44-40 for what you would pay for a Uberti - $1,200-$1,400.

Saddle ring carbine if you're lucky.

You'll pay more for the cowboy ammo, though.

The Taylor's 1873, 20" octagon barrel, color case-hardened frame, checkered walnut pistol grip furniture is what blows my skirt up.  Proportions just seem perfect.  The 1873 has too much frame for a round barrel IMO, and the pistol grip just looks "right."  The 24" barrel is too long, the trapper too short, so the 20" is Goldilocks.

$1400 here:  Taylors 1873 Special Sporting Rifle



Here's a "scratch and dent" that needs some love on the stock for $1100.  Taylors 1873 scratch & dent

I'd do the second one all day long and just take the time to clean up the stock.  Or run the hell out of it as-is and just add to the character.  Beautiful little rifle.

 What 556 just said!  I would also lean toward the Miroku, they are made really well.  I have a 1895 Miroku whinchester in 30-40 Krag and I place every year in my club's lever action rifle shoot using 220gr cast bullets over some Reloader 7.  It is kinda fun beating out all the other shooters who buy those expensive rubber tipped bullets.

I've got 2 Ubertis, a 1866 Yellowboy carbine and a 1873 Special Sporting Rifle; both in 45 Colt and they are both great.  Smooth actions and well put together.  No, they aren't Winchesters but they are both great guns.  Used with std power (14,000psi ammo) both cycle very smoothly as long as you use the right bullet shape.  Elmer Keith style large metplat bullets don't feed well in leverguns because of the shoulder hanging up on the chamber but rd nose or rd nose flat point do great.  As I handload, I've also found that plated bullets feed slick as snot as well.  They both are stock as neither needed slicking up to shoot well.  The only mod I made was adding a tang sight to my 24" rifle.  I don't do CASS but rather just shoot them for fun and after some 2k+ rds through each, both are holding up very well.





So, it's really about what the OP wants and can afford.  I'm happy with my Ubertis as having the Winchester name on the barrel of a rifle produced in Japan doesn't mean anything to me and the Italian Winchester is good enough for my purposes while being priced affordably.  (I was surprised to pickup my 1873 NIB for only $1,100 delivered and my NIB 1866 for $900 delivered.)

A caution about the caliber. The toggle link action was designed for cartridges that produced around 14,000 psi max so their design is aimed at bolt thrusts below 2,500lbs.  A constant diet of full power 357mag ammo with a bolt thrust above 3,900 lbs will stress the toggle links and according to Steve of Steve's Guns (CASS gunsmith) will eventually stretch the receiver rendering the rifle unsafe.  BTW, I also have 2 Rossi M92s, a carbine and rifle in 357mag that I can shoot full power loads in without concern.

This is not meant as a criticism, just curious. I always remember being hearing the 1873 was one of the weaker lever designs compared to the 1894 /m94 style?

As noted above both of them are made by Uberti.  The differences come down to what the importer specifies in terms of tolerances, fit and finish.  It's common with a number of imported firearms sold under different banners.  


Yes, the toggle action design rifles are the weakest of the Winchester lever guns.  The 1873 was more than adequate for .44-40. .38-40, .32-20, etc, but it's not the best action for the modern .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum or a hot loaded .45 Colt.  The pin in the toggle link is the weak point and while the design is exceptionally slick and smooth, headspace tends to grow with a steady diet of .357 Magnum.  The smart move with an 1873 in .357 Magnum is to stay with either .38 Special loads, or reduces loads at .38 Special pressures in .357 Magnum brass.  The downside is that you give up the excellent performance potential of the .357 Mag in a 20" or 24" barrel. (It'll launch a 2125 gr bullet at around 2200 fps and a 158 gr bullet at around 1800 fps - giving up not a whole lot to a .30-30.

The Model 1886 was designed for rifle length cartridges, and that action was then downsized and shortened for pistol length cartridges to create the Model 92 Winchester.  The shorter receiver and bolt made for an incredibly strong action they stand up well to the .454 Casull, and it'll manage a steady diet of the ..357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .45 Colt loaded to 32,000 psi with zero problems.

The Model 94 was designed for the .30-30 when it was still a black powder round, but it managed smokeless pressures quite well and became an enduring classic.  But it's a longer action and uses a toggle link on the lever to manage the longer throw which prevents it from ever being as fast or smooth as the Model 92.   And, the longer receiver and single locking lug design both make it a weaker action than the Model 92.

Have you looked at the Rossi? I have 2, 38/357 and 3030. The 357 has had over 300 rounds and no issues. And at what they cost new....a great deal.

Or, ... maybe you can be patient and see what the Marlins in 10mm AUTO look like when they're finally out.

Where did you hear about this? The only thing Google turned up was the RPP conversion.

Get the Miroku and get it in 44-40! My 73' and my Miroku Citori make me wish the Japanese made more guns, they're just flawless in their fit and finish.

The Winchester (Miroku)1866 at CDNN is very tempting, it’s a 44-40

My Miroku 73 is a 44-40. It's an absolute pleasure to shoot and having this gun chambered in the original caliber is pretty cool. I just put an MVA tang sight on it.

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How’s the barrel on it?  I have a Browning 92 (Miroku) and the Bore is .431/.432 with a 1:38 twist. It’s not a great shooter.

I haven't slugged it, but the Winchester site says it's a 1:26 twist. I haven't shot it for accuracy as I haven't found an outdoor range near me yet.

I would like to set up my Win ‘73 with the same MVA sight. Do you mind sharing the part numbers you ordered?

Thanks.

It's the #130 Vernier tang sight with the Hadley standard 10-40 Sharps windage eyepiece.

I have shoot a few different 73s check out longhunter best gun slick and reliable.
http://www.longhunt.com/web/index.php?page=firearms

Thank you!

Buds has decent prices on some of the Miroku Winchester’s.

@Warhawk - do you have the specific part number to this rifle?

That's interesting.

I had not read anything good about the Marlins(Bad QC) but this might be something.

That Marlin Model 1895 Cowboy looks nice.

Question: Why would you want the 11 Degree Muzzle Crown for?

My mistake, it's only in 45-70.

Looks like it was a Davidson's special. Looks like they still have a bunch of them.
Item Number 534250137
UPC 048702008993

Link

I just acquired a yellowboy in 38 special and it is fun and cheap to shoot.

Buds has this on their website,
Taylors and Company 200F 1873 Lever 357, $994.
Taylors 1873 Rifle

I'm supposed to buy a Uberti 357 mag next week.

Miroku which makes Winchesters guns from time to time are GTG. I have not seen a bad Made in Japan Winchester or Browning, Miroku mades or has made Brownings also. I think you will enjoy the "Made in Japan" rifle more, but your mileage might vary.

IMHO

I just bought the win in OPs post. Incl the color case hardening versus blued.

Grabagun had the best price from everywhere I looked. No tax and $7.95 shipping.

If you don't count my Crosman 73, it my first lever action.