Miroku Winchester 1873 in .357Mag: The usual question

[Leadshark]

Hi there!

I know this question has probably been done to death, but I have never seen a conclusive answer to it. Miroku (and Uberti) both make their 1873 Winchester in .357Mag. I have seen people claim that the toggle link is too weak to take it and that you should stick with .38 special. Other people have said that because of the better quality steel and reinforced toggle link, there should be no issue shooting normal factory load .357Mag.

I tend to agree with the latter, considering that it would be a very poor business decision for both Uberti and Miroku to build their rifle for a cartridge that would destroy parts of it very quickly or injure the shooter. And I don't really find much on the internet about people having issues with their rifle.

So my question is: Am I correct? Is loading your normal everyday factory .357Mag into the Miroku build 1873 no problem? Or will it quickly destroy the entire rifle? How will the toggle link hold up?

I thank you for your help and apologize for my poor english.

(I am not a cowboy action shooter so I personally would not use a kit on it.)

 

[Goosey]

It will not quickly destroy the rifle. Don't think anyone has done a real test to see what effect thousands of rounds of full-power .357 has.

 

[BRatigan]

I'm cranking them out all the time and it loves it. I also find that I don't have to load hot to get amazing accuracy out of it. Its a very enjoyable firearm to shoot.

 

[Steve S.]

There remains lots of wife’s tales, guessing and speculation on this forum. I agree with your business conclusion although business is never perfect - I would be comfortable with a ‘73 in .357. I have a Miroku ‘73 in .45 Colt that “seems” very strong and well made. I am not planning on going crazy with hot .45 Colt loads and in turn, I am not anticipating the action going to dust (at least in my lifetime). I would not put a bit of worry into that ‘73 caliber.

 

[tark]

A 5.56 round operates at around 60,000 PSI (possibly more, I don't have a chart in front of me). A 30-06 , about the same pressure. Guess which one has 10,000 pounds of bolt thrust, for a fraction of an instant, and which one has 6,000 pounds of thrust. Bingo! The 06 has more thrust pushing against the bolt, because there a a larger surface area for the pressures to push against.

A 357 Mag operates at 35,000 PSI. That pressure is pushing against a relative small surface area. Steels today are much better than the steels of 140 years ago. No company would sell a gun that was unsafe for the cartridge it was chambered for. Or one that would quickly (or even slowly ) wear out from the use of said cartridge. At least no company with the reputation of Uberti or Miroku would. And remember that that gun was proof tested and inspected afterward for any sign of damage. Both Japan and Italy have very strict proof laws. Further, you can probably rest assured that both companies, realizing that they were making an older design for a modern high pressure round, did extensive high round counts on a few test mules to see how well they held up.

I wouldn't worry in the least about shooting factory 357 ammo in the gun.

Poor English? Where? I don't see any.

And welcome to the forum It's the best one out there.

 

[Riomouse911]

They’ve made a boatload of them and no one I’ve heard of has had an issue with one.

Ride the edge with max loads all the time and you’ll probably loosen it up early, but that goes for any gun not just 1873’s.

I say go out and get yourself one! Then post pictures to show us what it looks like and how it shoots for you.

Stay safe.

 

[ColdSpring]

Mostly shoot powder puffs from mine, but would not hesitate to shoot a box of my near max reloads.
Have seen an example passed around the net as possible cases of damage from too many magnum loads, but not buying it since, as the story goes, the damage was noticed by a new owner who had purchased it used. Unknown history- mag loads, over pressure event, run over by a truck, dropped out of a tree stand???
The rest of the warnings I've read all go something like "My cousin has a friend who knows a gunsmith that said..."
Toggles, pins etc do sometimes wear out or get loose, but I've seen no hard evidence it's from magnum loads rather than many many thousands of action cycles.

 

[JohnB-40]

Mostly shoot powder puffs from mine, but would not hesitate to shoot a box of my near max reloa

Exactly my thoughts.......It is a rifle you will never sell

 

[wvfarrier]

There is a fella on levergunsforum who has run THOUSANDS of rounds of 45 colt +p+ thru several newer 1873 rifles with no noticeable issues. Ive got probably 1500 full power 357 mag loads thru my Uberti replica 73 and it still shoots like new. With modern metallurgy the toggle really isnt an issue

 

[cfullgraf]

My Miroku Winchester 1873 has only had full power loads through it without issue. But the number has not been alot to be honest.

They’ve made a boatload of them and no one I’ve heard of has had an issue with one.

Ride the edge with max loads all the time and you’ll probably loosen it up early, but that goes for any gun not just 1873’s.

I say go out and get yourself one! Then post pictures to show us what it looks like and how it shoots for you.

Stay safe.

I agree.

 

[Leadshark]

Thank you all so much for clearing this question up for me. I will now definitely buy one.