C3D
.308 Win
I am feeling a strong urge to buy a Winchester 1866 or 1873 rifle, as in an antique one. Please talk me out of this.
Any hardcore cowboy gun experts here?
- Thread starter C3D
- Start date
Hochulsucks1234
.357 mag
Not an expert, but an enthusiast. Original 73s are easier to find and in a caliber you can still find. Original 66s are expensive and many are only found in .44 rimfire. Those old Winchesters are collector guns more or less.
If you want the originality and something you can shoot, I would go with a newer (Japanese) Winchester or Italian clone. I have a 73 in 45 colt and a 66 in 38 special. Both are fun cowboy guns and can match up with a decent wheel gun.
If you want the originality and something you can shoot, I would go with a newer (Japanese) Winchester or Italian clone. I have a 73 in 45 colt and a 66 in 38 special. Both are fun cowboy guns and can match up with a decent wheel gun.
Have to agree.
Shot Cowboy Action for a number of years.
Had 2 Uberti 73 clones in 45 Colt - one full length and another one with a short magazine tube and a half hexagonal barrel. Replaced the short magazine with one that gave 10 rounds.
Both were well made and accurate.
Another of my long list of "guns I never should have sold".
Attachments
Hochulsucks1234
.357 mag
I have the case hardened full octagon version in first picture. My carbine 45 is a Henry.
Uninformed and Compliant
.450/400 Nitro Ex
Don't do it.
Seriously, don't do it. Do not get an antique 66 or 73, because you'll worry about putting 20 to 60k rounds through it and might not shoot it as often for that reason.
Instead, get a nice modern Winchester / Miroku that you can shoot without worry. Aside from the firing pin extension, it'll be the same rifle with better metal if you'll be using smokeless powder. Uberti makes a nice one also, but some of the guts are a little "more" different than the Miroku licensed one. OTOH the Uberti has more hop-ups available, if you'll be into that sort of thing.
If it's just going to hang on a wall, though, then absolutely get the antique. But then don't expect to put 100k rounds through it.
ArmedCorgi
.475 A&M Magnum
No. Definitely do it. There is nothing like having the real McCoy.
I hsve the replica '66 and '76 and need to get a '73 replica. I use mine for CAS, too. I had to do the loading gate fix on the '66.
I however have a weakness for really old 1903's. I just purchased collector grade 1903 Springfield--- 1905/06 with virtually brand new, marked "05" bbl, converted to '05/06 from 30-03, by 1907 at SA. Original 30-03 caliber "03's, are very expensive, and hard to find.
Also a collector grade, 1913 Rock lsland '03, 8-13 that was a NRA marked and sold by the Army to the NRA in 1916. Provenance was found by a major collector of this rifle, John Beard, being 1 of the last 1000 sold to the NRA in 1916.
both appear to be excellent condition. Early gun has less than .05 muzzle wear and 1913 has 1.0 muzzle wear.
Buy what you want to buy....you can always sell later................we are the caretakers.
I however have a weakness for really old 1903's. I just purchased collector grade 1903 Springfield--- 1905/06 with virtually brand new, marked "05" bbl, converted to '05/06 from 30-03, by 1907 at SA. Original 30-03 caliber "03's, are very expensive, and hard to find.
Also a collector grade, 1913 Rock lsland '03, 8-13 that was a NRA marked and sold by the Army to the NRA in 1916. Provenance was found by a major collector of this rifle, John Beard, being 1 of the last 1000 sold to the NRA in 1916.
both appear to be excellent condition. Early gun has less than .05 muzzle wear and 1913 has 1.0 muzzle wear.
Buy what you want to buy....you can always sell later................we are the caretakers.