Shooting a 30" Winchester 1873 Relic in 44-40
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 มิ.ย. 2020
- Join us on the beautiful Cinnabar as we shoot a barn-found 30" Winchester 1873 in 44 WCF. This rifle was found about 80 years ago with dead bugs packed in the barrel and corroded beyond firing condition. It was forgotten about until 5 years ago when we dug it out of the back of the safe and cleaned it up, only to put it back away without firing it. In this episode, we'll take it out to shoot for the first time in a century.
This is my favorite Cinnabar video, only because I have this same rifle, 3rd model 1873 44-40 with 30" barrel
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder! It’s beautiful! Thank you for sharing this great video! 👍🏾😀❤️🇺🇸
Thanks Jeffry!
Simple fun, special moment after all the years, tradition. Beautiful view. Can’t thank you enough. Blessings to you and your family
Good shootin' there, Pardner!
I have a 73 made in 1890 and i hand load and a shoot it.
I also had it checked by a gunsmith.
Mine has a 24 round barrel and is a beautiful rifle a real treasure.
I have also a 92 hex barrel rifle in 38 40 made in 1901 and a 94 in 32 40 made in 1911 these rifles are all over a hundred years old and a joy to shoot.
I know where you are coming from when you say the feeling you have when you shoot these old guns .
Owning a gun like that is special.
Thanks for watching, Robert! Glad to hear about someone else shooting these old Winchesters.
You mean octagon barrel, right?
@@jeramyw yes Octagon
My 73 winchester looking at serial numbers was made in 1888 earlier thani first thought and who knows when it traveled to Australia where I live. Probably some old cowboy might have come out here looking for gold as we had a gold strike in the eighteen hundreds .
History is a wonderful thing.
how do get ammo I have a 32/40 cherry, my grandfather left me along with a 2.5 1912 shotgun in 20 gauge, 2.5 inch shells need ammo for that one two
Congratulations! The ‘73 Winchester is absolutely one of the most significant weapons ever designed. A friend has a magnificent, engraved one in 38-40 .
I love that 44 40 when i see it i new i had 2 get a old Winchester i payed 1400.00 but i love it have a nice day bro. 😊
If only Custer and his troop had these!
I love all you views I got a 30.30 with 29inch made in 1901 and did some cleaning change some parts tje old parts are good did some work on the crown some thumb work and fine paper and it is a shooter .
Once again nice job Mark. Really excited you got my rifle shooting. May I have it back? Haha.
We may have to try it out on sage rats!
Considering the condition you found the gun in, I don't think you did any harm in cleaning it up a bit. It looks and functions great so good job sir.
Thanks! It's a really enjoyable old rifle to shoot
Yeah it’s a Beaut!! Thanks for sharing
Fantastic Video,Congratulations on bringing this 73' Back to Life Cinnabar!
I enjoyed it as much as you did. My grandpa shot 400 deer in the span of two years in the late 1800s with a 44 Winchester pistol. Thank you so much
As cool as that is, it’s part of the reason I’m glad the states have a department to prevent excessive hunting. It’s made it harder than it should be for everyone now. If only they’d stop releasing wolves now…
Hopefully you can do a velocity test with a stock 44-40-200 load
Actually, I did a comparison of velocities in various length 44-40 rifles in our latest episode. I was only using cowboy action loads though. I'm overly cautious when it comes to shooting smokeless in the old black powder 73's.
@@thecinnabar8442 You should use a standard black powder load and chrono it
I had to give you a like for this one!!!
I have 1873 in 44-40 24 inch barrel 1800,s just got a new tube spring off ebay works good,I,ll be taking itto a gunsmth the summer to have it restored.
Good luck with the restoration. I'll be doing some episodes on gunsmithing and restoration later on, but I'm having too much fun shooting right now. :)
It was made to shoot. Shoot it. I'm sure the '73 greatly enjoyed the field trip back to the range. I know I did.
My two 1894's 30-30 made 1907. And 25-35 made 1905 almost 120 years old. 26" octagon barrels. Always were kept in great shape and oiled.petina beautiful. They have good power. 😊😊😊
Well done. Congratulations !
True statement at the 13:14 time stamp! thanks for sharing! I really enjoy your informative and entertaining videos!
Glad you like the channel, William! I enjoy shooting my newer "tools", but they darn sure don't compare to shooting the oldies. Thanks for watching!
A beautiful rifle in a beautiful background. Can’t get too much better when you are by yourself
Beautiful ranch and an awesome Winchester Sir! I enjoy your videos very much ,Thank You!
Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoy them.
That's awesome.
I have a 1860 Original Colt Army Cap & Ball .
And it's one of my favorite guns too shoot .
Love it !
Sounds like an awesome revolver! I think it's great that you shoot it.
Never underestimate a old rifle and a good gunsmith with a love of tinkering around the shop! Beautiful rifle and see a piece of history coming back to work! God bless you and thank you for the opportunity to see a little history myself!
Thanks Jerry! This was my favorite episode to make. I just loved getting that old rifle shooting again. Thanks for watching.
Stunning rifle
Excellent resurrection of a beautiful Winchester. Great rifle and expert gunsmith!
Really satisfying to take something this neglected and bring life back to it. Really appreciate the approach and philosophy of restoration Cinnabar brings to the viewer!
It is wonderful to see the old rifles shoot. A lot of these rifles are very effective. I have a couple of old project guns and see your videos makes me want to get going on them. I like how you bring them back to functionality with out overly restoring them. Thank you
Thanks Ken. Good luck with those projects.
Ha ha I was thinking "how many rounds that rifle holds) it was one of those guns you could load on Friday and shoot until Sunday without reloading again. You answered that question alright.
Yea, it doesn't take long to go through a box of ammo!
Load on Sunday and shoot all week. 😊
God that is a great looking rifle. Good Lord.
Always love your videos brother thanks for the content sir!
My pleasure! Thanks for watching!
That is one beautiful rifle. I am totally in love with that incredible countryside. I would love to live there, unreal.
Thanks Charlie. We love it here!
What a lovely old rifle and a beautiful area! Really enjoyed your sharing it.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching!
Great video of a great Winchester '73. Now you got me motivate to have my '73 checked out and fire some black power 44-40's through it. Mine is a third model with a 24 inch round barrel, which was pretty much the base model rifle. Mine also has custom order numbers stamped on the tang and stock. The only thing that might have been custom ordered that I can see, is the flat top rear sight. Just a beautiful rifle you have and taken care of, especially with the 30 inch barrel. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Thanks Karl! Enjoy shooting that 73.
I just picked up a 3rd model 38-40 , getting my components together to reload and shoot it, found a die on Ebay for over $70. after buying it went to a local gun store that had them for $35 . oh well
It looks beautiful to me. I’d be honored to own it. Thanks for cleaning it up and enjoying it.
Thanks Sonny! I'm right proud to own it
Great video! It’s a beautiful gun now. I have that Mike Venturino book, too. All of them. My takedown 1892 .44-40 has a pistol grip with cap, round barrel, and special sights. Strangely, the frame dates to 1904 but the gun was shipped in1911. Guess that pistol grip frame sat in a bin for a few years, maybe forgotten for a while.
Thanks Johnny! That sounds like a great '92. I love pistol grip Winchesters. Some of those Winchesters with unusual configurations did sit in the warehouse for a long time before being shipped. We have a set trigger 1876 with an extra heavy barrel that sat for eight years before shipping.
30 inches may have been the military musket length and with black powder many wanted the longer barrel.
Really a beauty. Mine is 1876 in .45-60. Love it
Thanks Christopher! I love the 1876's. I shoot one in the first episode I posted on the different Winchester models and I'm repairing a heavy barreled 1876 in a series I'm working on right now. I plan to be able to shoot it in the next episode. They're both 45-60's. Thanks for watching!
Nice shooting! Love your videos. I need to come visit. Would love to see the ranch again.
Thanks Trevor! Keep an eye out for more. I'm trying to make about one per week this summer.
Beautiful rifle!!
really nice place, the wheel of time seems that is has forgotten to turn further.
It is so peaceful there and the Winch is woken up again, the beauty of the old west is still alive......
Watching this clip helps to forget all the covid junk, thanks and greetings from Germany to you and your family.....
Thank you Matthias!
It was made of good steel back then.
I'm wondering if that 30 inch barrel adds to the effective range. If I'm right, that rifle can reach out a long ways depending on the powder.
A friend insists her uncle had one, he hand loaded the bullets with the sharp point tips and only put two in the gun. One in chamber, one in the magazine tube. According to her, he could reach out to smack cans on a fence as far out as another uncle with a 30-06. That sounds like he was close to blowing his up but it didn't year after year it brought home venison and kept the foxes away from the chickens.
Oops, I goofed. Her uncle had a 30-30 with 30 inch barrel. He joked it was a 30-30-30.
I just saw your video on the Winchester 44-40. My wife has a Winchester 1873 in 32 caliber. I was told it is a modified model because the serial number ends in A. It was brought out to Oregon in the late 190's or early 1900. I have not shot it but have a few old rounds that I will not shoot. There is some corrosion in the barrol but it looks as good as the one you had on the video.
I would suggest having it checked by a gunsmith who's experienced with older guns if you or your wife decide to shoot it. It's very likely that it's still safe to shoot or could be with little work.
Nicely done again Mark! Great video. I try to shoot the old time rifles too as they come along. Those with decent or better bores still perform very well. Sure is great to see your special order 30" barrel still doing what it was designed for. I will look forward to your next video.
Thanks Titan!
This scenery is amazing.
Thanks Peter!
That was super cool
Thanks Jeremy! That was the most fun episode I've done.
@@thecinnabar8442 Do you have an email address where I can send you some pictures I have a question regarding 53 Winchester you can email me at eaglepowers7@iCloud.com
@@Leverguns50 Its: CinnabarGunworks@gmail.com I'd be happy to answer your questions.
Good vid.
Thanks Mason. Glad you liked it!
That is a great rifle. It truly must be a joy to conserve and shoot something that has been in the family for that long. I just subscribed :)
Thanks Jim! Glad you liked it.
Awesome video, awesome rifle, thank you for sharing and God Bless You and Your Family my brother..
Thanks Thomas! I love that old rifle.
What is the capacity on a 30in full length magazine tube 1873 winchester? Edit i see 17! Wow
We load it on Sunday and shoot all week!😉
Do you think its posible to stop a bear with a 44-40 or 45 colt
Nice rifle btw The lever action (The old ones😁)are just such a great line of firearms way cooler than modern guns👍
I think it's possible, but I would feel undergunned with either of those calibers. Bears can be pretty tough to kill, even with a high-powered hunting rifle.
@@thecinnabar8442 thanks man
You didn't mention what ammo you are using. Not much smoke, so I doubt that it is Black Powder in those brass cases.
Good catch! These were real mild smokeless "cowboy action" type loads. I wanted to take it real easy on the rifle the first time. Black powder would have probably made a better show.
I was thinking by the look as the tray and the sound of the shots, it looks like the HSM Cowboy Load Bullets.
Sure was heartwarming to see the Ol' Rifle up and operating again.
Thank you Sir
Dad had a long one in nickle finish I still have. Reloading dies on the way, LOL. :-)
That's great! Enjoy shooting that old girl.
Actually it holds 18 if you lever it back and put another round in the chain in the magazine you got 17 in the magazine one of the chamber so it holds 18 all together and four of a 44-40 caliber and that Winchester 73
Great insight Bowie! Thanks for sharing.😂😂😂
@@thecinnabar8442 very welcome sir I'm going to see about finding me one from cimarron replicas with a 30-in barrel chambered in 45 Long Colt with a vernier pop-up ladder site with a 30-in barrel from a sharps rifle rear sight so I can hit a Target between 400 to 500 to 600 yd out and that rifle that you've got is big enough to drop a black bear or a grizzly wherever you're at that's pretty country you need a good rifle like that to shoot a long distance
Bowie, I can tell you from experience that a 30" 1873 is a particularly fun gun to shoot. Keep in mind that 45 Colt and 44-40 are pretty mild cartridges and will have a lot of drop at the longer ranges. Fortunately, you can use much more powerful loads in the modern reproductions because of the superior strength of the modern metals used in their manufacture compared to the old original Winchesters designed for black powder cartridges. Hope you get that Cimarron and have blast with it! Thanks for watching.
So, Frank
For a original Winchester 1873,
made before 01.12.1899,
which will be shooting Couboy Action Loads from Magtech or mild reloads
I beter go for 24 inch bore,
or maybe even carabine as next purchase?
I saw a great 30 inch bore 1873,
Looks great and I was thinking that it must be very precise,
But the drop combined with mild loads ...
Beter go for shorter bore?
Right?
Thanks
I’m so glad you loaded up a full magazine. I was very curious how much a magazine tube that long would hold. Must’ve felt a good bit heavier also.
Yea, she's a little nose heavy with a full magazine. Thanks for watching!
Where do you find such wonderful toys?
Love those old Winchester if only it could talk the stories it would tell a real piece of histoty
Oh, how I'd love to hear the stories this one could tell! Thanks for watching Kristine!
I just love your channel and what you do.
You really manage to share your passion, expertise, history and beauty of the landscape around you, in an enjoyable way. Thx.
Just a side question. When your reload your 73 on the bench, what’s in the background. A dried lake ?
Keep going.
Thanks so much for the compliments! That's a large, shallow alkali lake that usually fills up during the winter months and dries out in the summer.
Mark, I just found your channel a couple days ago. I've watched several of your videos and am really enjoying them. Really fun videos and your kind demeanor adds so much. You even helped inform my purchase of a .30-06 1895 carbine!
The scenery on your ranch is beautiful. If you dont mind me asking, how many acres is the ranch? Thank you.
Thank you very much! Glad I could help with the 95 carbine. You may have noticed that I'm kind of partial to 1895's.
It's kind of a cultural thing among Western ranchers that one doesn't ask the size of the ranch or how many cows they run. It's considered on par with asking a businessman how much money he has in the bank.😉 We do have plenty of room to roam (and shoot), though. Thanks so much for watching!
Yes sir, understood! Looking forward to more videos!
Excellent ! What loads did ya used ?
Excellent 👍. When I saw how close you were to that bullseye on that test shot I was like damn that was nice. Lol I was hoping that you would put a group on paper for us so that's what the accuracy was on it. I've always wondered with the 4440 if it gains any velocity with 30 inch barrel versus a 24? or if it's just a longer site radius is the only benefit. Thanks for sharing 👍
Thanks Brian! I was really just having a blast shooting a rifle that was a little more than a club before I was able to bring it back to life. Your comment about the effect of barrel length on velocity has me thinking about getting the chrony out and testing a variety of rifles and barrel lengths, all chambered in 44-40. Keep an eye out for that episode in the future. Thanks for a great idea!
@@thecinnabar8442 That sounds like a great video 👍. Can't wait. Thanks
WOW
This must be one of the most beautiful spots on the ranch. I can see why you call it God's country. And a really nice rifle too. I always enjoy seeing these old ones being used. Time for me to take out my old 1881 Westley Richards Deeley-Edge patent single shot again. I do have another question for you: Carl from In-range TV reckons the toggle-lock Winchesters (up to the 76) were by far the smoothest, but knowing how smooth my 1892 replica is, I can hardly believe it. Are they really that much smoother? Thanks again!
Of course, they can be slicked up to be very smooth, but I wouldn't consider them to be far smoother than the other actions.
@@thecinnabar8442 thanks for the reply!
Good video! When are you going to make those custom cartridges with your lathe? Thanks and stay healthy my friend.
I've been working on that project when I get the chance, but have been swamped lately. I hope to get back to it and have some finished this summer.
Great video I am a new subscriber with an 1887 vintage 1873 in 32-20 with the octagon barrel. I would love to shoot it but am unsure if its safe to shoot with modern ammunition. There are opinions all over the map on the web I wondered if you had any recommendations to share?
Your rifle was made to shoot black powder ammunition with lower peak pressures than modern smokeless loads. However, there are several companies producing "Cowboy Action" ammunition currently that are safe to shoot in black powder era rifles, as long as the rifle is in good mechanical condition. If you are unsure about the condition of your rifle, have it evaluated by a gunsmith. Good luck and enjoy shooting that old '73
Is there a correction for the "sacked-out" magazine spring? Can it be stretched to original free length and re-tempered?
I have had some luck just stretching a mag spring and making it work. Fortunately, most are reproduced and quite reasonably priced. I usually just replace them with a new spring.
Are you using a light smokeless load?
If so how do you go about considering what the limit is for a safe load for this era gun?
I was using light cowboy action loads, well under even black powder pressures. Bryan Austin has a website devoted to the 44-40 with terrific information on loads and pressures. I wish there was as much info available for the other calibers.
Awesome video, what ammo are you firing - factory smokeless ?
Yes, it was light factory "cowboy action" smokeless ammo
@@thecinnabar8442 Thanks for your reply, factory smokeless .44-40 ammo is very hard to come by in South Africa, I will have to reload my own light cowboy loads, using smokeless powder. I have been incredibly lucky to get hold of two original 1873 Winchesters and two boxes of factory ammo. Really looking forward to shooting them soon.
What type of propellant were you using in that 1873 44-40 30" barrel?
I was using some light smokeless "cowboy action" loads.
Hi Mark, I just found and bought a 1873 rifle in 38-40. It has a 24" octagonal barrel. No slop in receiver, and locks up well. Barrel has rifling and a brown chalky look inside it. Very quickly can you tell me the best way to clean it and with what solvents. I heard you say something about kroil.
I use Kroil on particularly difficult bores. If they're really bad, I'll plug the muzzle with a rubber plug and then fill the bore with a mix of 75% ATF and 25% Marvel Mystery oil and let it soak for a couple of days. Then it's a matter of cleaning with a bore brush and your favorite solvent. Good luck!
Thank you so much Mark for answering both of my question. You Rock!
My question is why would they make a barrel that long for a cartridge that small?
Black powder generally gets more benefit from longer barrels as the pressure curve is wider than most smokeless.
Just out of curiosity did that 73 come with the factory set trigger? It has a small screw in the trigger.
David, I wish it were a set trigger, but it just has a plain trigger. My poor camera work probably just made it look like a set trigger gun.🙂
Just came across your comment. Mine 73 has that feature. Any concerns with yours?
No! Mine works as intended.
@@drogers270 Thanks; Ive never moved mine as it's right on for feel and crispness!
Is the 30” barrel awkward to hold off hand and swing?
In my experience, the extra length and extra weight barrels are easier to hold steady on target. Of course, they don't swing as quickly as a carbine or trapper version, but in the wide open country I live in, that's not critical.
Mark, thanks for the terrific video. BTW, you live in a very ugly place...NOT, Wow, what a Beautiful Ranch with Amazing views my friend, Congrats! Were those smokeless or black powder rounds? I guess I should be able to tell by the amount of smoke coming out your barrel but, i'm not sure? Anyways, Thanks again for the time & effort you put into your videos. I shot my Sharps rifle today in 45-70, all black powder with my own cast bullet, and I got to end my day with a cold beverage and your video, what a Great day! Thanks again.
Thanks so much Jeff! I was shooting some light cowboy action smokeless loads in that episode. I think I had more fun shooting this episode than all the others. Glad you liked it.
I’m guessing that gun length isn’t common... even for a gun this old👍
24" is standard for a Winchester 1873. Barrels up to 36" were available on special order.
Under new Canadian gun laws this would be illegal as they only allow even lever guns with only 10 rounds. So a gun this old would be illegal in Canada as they consider it an assault rifle. I've seen several videos by lever gun owners in Canada who are facing this with vintage lever guns. That's insane totalitarian control. I would love 17+1 in a lever gun.
that was perfect
Thanks Keith! I really enjoyed making that episode. That old '73 is just a blast to shoot. Thanks so much for watching.
My father has a 1873 that he doesn’t know the caliber, the Winchester company guys can only tell me that it was made in 1881, or 91. It’s in fairly rough shape but otherwise seems functional. Is there any way to tell the caliber?
You could have a gunsmith so a cast of the chamber.
Do you plan on hunting with it? I feel like using it to put food on the table again when be amazing
Edit. I should have finished the video before asking lol good luck and let us know how the hunt goes!
I didn't get any rock chucks that day. They're back out again this spring, so I'll have to get that rifle and give it another try. Thanks for watching!
I was wondering how that hunt went. If only every owner documented stories about these old rifles, at least now their second lease on life has a story to go with them.
Did you get’em????
No, I think all the shooting spooked him. I'll have to sneak up on him another time. :)
Is this gun good or bed to Hunt with
For medium sized game at fairly close ranges, it would be fine. It'd also be a lot of fun. Here on the ranch, we rarely get to hunt at close range, so I wouldn't consider it a good choice for hunting our mule deer.
Why would it have 30" barrel. Is that common?
The standard length barrel for a Winchester 1873 was 24", but they could be special ordered with barrel lengths from 14" to 36" depending upon a customer's preference. 1873's with special length barrels are unusual, but not "rare". In my experience, it seems that 20" and 30" are the most common special length barrels I've encountered in 1873's. Thanks for watching Darrell!
20 in. carbine, 24 in. rifle , and the 30 in. musket were the common models, with as said the 24 being the most common , and special order in about any length , I just got a real nice 3rd model rifle in 38-40 , can't wait to shoot it
Still shoot mine
I bet this gun can hit something at 100 yards
Drool
"The rifle that won won the west" - Did you mean "the rifle that slaughtered defenseless native peace-loving indians?
HaHa! No, that's not what I meant at all. I say exactly what I mean. Nice troll attempt, by the way.
Damn, found out again....