1873 winchester rifle?

jwharding

I'm thinking of buying a 1873 winchester .44 40 rifle 2nd generation. The gun is in great shape, not beat up at all but was used. The bore of the rifle is about as good as I've seen for a gun this old and the action is very tight, and no pitting at all.I wanted to post some pictures but having problems this morning for some reason, I'll try later. What my question is about firing this gun. Can you safely fire modern ammo in the rifle or should it be black powder only. Buy the way the rifle is priced at 1500.00 which I don't think is to bad considering the condition.
jw

charliemeyer007

If it was mine I'd be shooting cast bullets properly sized and lubed for the barrel loaded with black powder.

tsr1965

Because the 44 W.C.F., AKA 44-40, is a SAAMI recognized cartridge, it is loaded to pressures that will not break vintage firearms. There also companies like UltraMax, that make cowboy action ammo loaded to even yet, lower pressures, with lead bullets. I have several vintage Winchester's, and Colt's, and that is what I use in them.

Best

nmyers

It's more helpful to described a gun by percentage of original finish, plus alterations/mutilations/wear.

With a good bore, $1,500 would be a fair price for a rifle with zero original finish.

Neal

Bert H.

To echo what tsr1965 mentioned, any commercially loaded 44-40 ammo is safe to shoot in an original Winchester Model 1873. Winchester specifically makes a "Cowboy" load that shoots wonderfully in my 1889 vintage Model 1873. I personally do not shoot black powder in any of my old Winchesters. There are a lot of very good smokeless powders available that can perfectly match black powder pressures and velocities.

Hawk Carse

I would (DO!) shoot an old .44-40 with smokeless but with cast bullets. I feel they are easier on the old mild steel barrels. But if you are just going to buy a box of factory loads to say you fired Grandpa's Gun, you will not hurt it.