While at Media Day this year I took time to put some rounds down the rifle many have called “the gun that won the West”. Winchester has gone back into the history pages and revived one of their most iconic rifles – the Winchester Model 1873, sometimes simply referred to as the Model 73 Short Rifle).
The Model 1873 was not the first lever-action repeating rifle, but it was a culmination of improvements to the lever-action designs of Horace Smith, Daniel Wesson, and Benjamin Tyler Henry, who for a time was employed by Smith & Wesson. Interestingly enough one of their biggest investors at their start up was none other than Oliver Winchester.
Winchester eventually bought the insolvent company, and the first repeating rifle branded with the Winchester name was the Model 1866, chambered in rimfire .44 Henry. Later in the century John Moses Browning would lend his expertise to the Winchester rifle design team as well.
The Model 1873 incorporated the advances in cartridge technology, but never overcame a feeding problem that prevented its chambering in the military standard of the day, the .45 Colt. The Model 1873 was instead chambered in .44-40, and later in the .38-40 and .32-20 cartridges. Winchester could not have timed the production of these rifles any better. With the move to populate the American West in full effect, the Model 1873 became hugely popular and over 720,000 were produced.
The reproduction model is very similar in design to its original namesake. The rifle will have these trademark Winchester features:
- Top ejecting receiver design
- Traditional dust cover
- Traditionally curved buttstock capped with steel plate
- Straight grip
- Adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight
- Brass bead Marble Arms fixed front post sight (very thin however)
Although made with a hardwood stock, the Model 1873 was not overly burdensome to shoulder. Winchester is heavily marketing this rifle to the Cowboy Action shooters.
The big departure for the current Model 1873 is its offering in .357/.38 Spl. as opposed to the traditionally larger calibers. That is a minor trade-off of historical accuracy, considering the incredible performance of the .357 cartridge. Shooting the Model 1873 was a real joy, and I found the recoil to be nearly non-existent, making this a rifle that anyone could shoot with ease.
Here are the other specifications on the Model 1873:
- Chambered in .357/.38 Spl.
- Capacity – 9+1 (.357) and 10+1 (.38 Spl)
- Full length tubular magazine
- Overall length – 39”
- Barrel length – 20”
- Length of Pull – 13”
- Weight – 7.4 lbs. (unloaded)
- Standard Winchester top ejection
- Brass carrier block
- Firing pin/striker block added safety, but no pin or cross bolt safety
- Receiver tang drilled and tapped for optional sight
- Traditional adjustable rear sight with fixed post front sight (very thin though)
- MSRP $1299.99
The Winchester rep at Media Day advised that the Model 1873 will be on the market by this summer. Winchester has announced that this will not be a “full” production rifle, and the numbers will be limited. They recommend that if you really want one you contact your dealer and put in an order.
Surviving the Street: Guide to Concealed Carry of a Firearm
Essential information on concealed carry. This book has just the basics - not a lot of fluff to get bogged down in. Easy to read, Surviving the Street introduces the reader to the important information you need as an armed citizen.
The author presents frank information about self defense in a way that is easy to understand and use.
About Aaron
Aaron is a sergeant with a midwestern police department, where he serves as a trainer, supervisor and SWAT sniper. In addition to his broad tactical knowledge, Aaron is an experienced hunter using bow and both modern and blackpowder firearms.
I would prefer it in a carbine.
I like mine longer. Especially with the .357 Magnum – that cartridge really uses every inch.
Check out Richard’s post, Another Ross. It’s very interesting.
What does this rifle get you that another modern lever gun doesn’t? I can get a Marlin, Mossberg or even (gasp) Rossi for a fraction of the cost.
I have a Rossi/Puma in .454. It is a very, very nice gun. I’ve had some work done on it to reinforce parts of the gun just to be safe. I don’t use .454 a lot, but it’s there when I’m in the mountains of Montana and might need a good Buffalo Bore .454.
Hook I own a Marlin .30-30 and love it – and yes paid a fraction of the cost. Considering the “limited” production of this gun, I think the market will focus more on collectors and Cowboy Action enthusiasts who are all about making their gear as close to the real deal as possible.
One advantage with this lever gun is that it runs pistol ammunition. Some shooters who may not even pick one up because they don’t want the kick of a rifle, could still find this one pleasurable to shoot. Up until recently, the pistol ammunition aspect would also make shooting a little cheaper. We’ll see how that plays out in the next few months.
Well, another Ross, to be perfectly honest I can’t imagine a need for a .357 in a rifle or a carbine. Seems to me .44 Magnum or .45 Colt/.454 would be much more usable.
Ross,
I was looking at getting a lever gun in .44 Mag for my wife, but I got into a conversation with Grant Cunningham at the Show last week and he was pretty persuasive on how well the .357 performs in a rifle when compared to the .44 Mag. I forgot what range he was taking deer with it, but I want to say 80+ yards using 158 grain and heavier jacket bullets.
If you are interested, here are a couple of posts he wrote on the subject:
http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/16d400ee659fad5cda9214698c4fe728-909.html
http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/31ec38bdd3ca531a618f4419a4574d35-915.html
I’m not advocating one way or another. Until last week I would have 100% agreed with you. Now I am exploring the possibilities.
Best,
Richard
Thank you Richard, that was very nice of you to write and provide the links. I’ve never had a lever in .357. I have them in .44 magnum, .454/.45 Colt, and a wonderful Savage .308. I’ve often thought of a .357, but never seen one I like. You make a good point about the rifle over the carbine. I never thought of that because my carbines will do the job nicely. Of course, my Savage is not a carbine and it will flat out shoot some distance. I may try a .357 rifle some day, thanks to your thoughtful post here. That is, of course, if our communist administration doesn’t succeed in turning our gun laws over to the U.N. and strip us of our guns.
Whatever happened to the inexpensive Winchester lever guns sold a places like KMART. If I remember only 15 years ago they sold Winchester 30/30s for a little over $200.
wish I had bought one, or two
Me, too, Michael.
Richard, after I wrote you the previous post I remembered my son has an old Savage over/under .357/20 gauge. I’m going to do some experiments with that gun. We have a place in Montana where I can try out all these guns next summer and compare the .44 magnum to the .357. If I can find this site again I’ll let you know what happened. Stay tuned.
I shoot classic cowboy. Is there any chance that they will bring this out in .44-40.
Ron,
The only information that the Winchester rep told me at Media Day was the current offering in .38/.357. It is supposed to be a limited run, but I imagine if the popularity (orders) are good enough, and enough Cowboy Action shooters demand additional calibers, Winchester will respond.