New Winchester 1873 or 1892?

[Carl N. Brown]

What I have heard is the 1873 has a very tightly controlled feed and when used with the right ammo, function is perfect and smooth.

The 1892 (I have a Rossi LSI Puma in .357) is more compact but the feed control on any of the 1892's is not as perfect as the 1873. The action is stronger. Most sources I have read say the 1892 action is stronger than the longer Winchester/Browning 1894.

The sticking point (and selling point for the Win 1892 and Marlin 1894) is that if you have a Win M1892 or Msrlin M1894 in .38-40 and get a .44-40 round in the mag it won't feed but you can eject it. If you get a .44-40 stuck in a .38-40 M1873 you have to disassemble the gun.

My stepdad had a 1866 replica in 38 Spl and I regret snagging it. But the sale provided him and mom with money when they needed it.

 

[Tommygunn]

What I have heard is the 1873 has a very tightly controlled feed and when used with the right ammo, function is perfect and smooth.

The 1892 (I have a Rossi LSI Puma in .357) is more compact but the feed control on any of the 1892's is not as perfect as the 1873. The action is stronger. Most sources I have read say the 1892 action is stronger than the longer Winchester/Browning 1894.

The sticking point (and selling point for the Win 1892 and Marlin 1894) is that if you have a Win M1892 or Msrlin M1894 in .38-40 and get a .44-40 round in the mag it won't feed but you can eject it. If you get a .44-40 stuck in a .38-40 M1873 you have to disassemble the gun.

My stepdad had a 1866 replica in 38 Spl and I regret snagging it. But the sale provided him and mom with money when they needed it.

Disassembling the 1873 is easy; you simply remove a sideplate, the right side one, and the incorrect round can be easily removed.

 

[eastbank]

a few of my favorite lever actions. i have killed deer with many of them. eastbank.

 

[witchhunter]

Those are some nice old rifles, East. Those 92 button mags in the middle are sweet. I love the levers too. I took out an octagon 1894 in 25/35 that I have had for over 25 years this morning. Ringing the gong at 300 was easy peasy.

 

[Clark]

This 1873 was made in 1886.
Their idea of a 44-40 chamber back then was different.
Handloading is complicated.

This Win 92 was made 1907. The 44-40 chamber in it is different. It is easy to handload for.

 

[eastbank]

is the bullet too wide at .43185 or do you need a bullet that wide to get accurt shooting? i load .426-200gr for all my 44-40,s (73-53-92 and single shot)with unique powder. eastbank.

 

[Clark]

Yes, I needed a wide front, soft, heeled bullet. I got one from Western Bullet in Missoula.