Uberti vs Cimarron vs Winchester lever rifle question.

[SunnySlopes]

I currently own 3 lever action rifles (unless you count falling block, as well). An old all steel 308 BLR, a Henry Golden Boy in 44 mag and a pre safety Winchester 94 30/30.

I'm now looking on Gunbroker at 1873 replicas in 45 Colt and 357 calibers.

For the Winchester brand, I'm limiting the search to Miroku manufacture. Are all Winchester lever rifles made there?

I also assumed the Winchester brand is better than Uberti or Cimarron, but all three brands are priced about the same when we're talking recent manufacture.

Are they all about the same?

Would one want to stick with Winchester for nostalgia's sake?

The purpose is just for plinking at the range. Not cowboy shoots or hunting or anything like that.

 

[CraigC]

All the Winchester levers of the last 10yrs or so since Winchester New Haven closed shop have been made in Japan. They are very fine rifles. That said, the Uberti guns give up very little to them. Some will repeat the myth that Cimarrons are better and that was true 30yrs ago but these days, all the importers are the same.

 

[SunnySlopes]

these days, all the importers are the same.

Six one; half dozen the other? They're all equal quality?

 

[Tommygunn]

I think all Uberti rifles are pretty equal from one distributer to the next. You'll find minor things ....My Ubertis from Dixie Gun Works usually have that engraved on top of the barrel. I have some Cimarron Ubertis that have Cimarron on the barrel.

The Uberti Winchesters come in different styles; rifle, short rifle, carbine, saddle ring carbine. Not every distributer may carry all styles.

Miroku is Japanese and makes excellent rifles. They also make Browning. I have Browning B-92, a Winchester 1892 clone they made in the mid 1980s. They make similar ones now for Winchester; I have an 1892 deluxe limited which is a take-down version with checkering in .32-20. I also have their 1873 Long rifle in .45 Colt and their 1866 rifle in .38 Special. The takedown has the rebounding hammer and tang safety some purists do not like. The other two have original type half cock hammers. All have what is called an "inertial firing mechanism," which is not so obvious on the 1892 since the bolt mechanism is so different. This gives the "firing pin extensions" on the 66 and 73 a separate firing pin that is spring loaded inside the extension, and a funky safety mechanism on top (I really do not entirely understand the exact function of this last device) which, again, some purists don't like. To me, it doesn't matter; if I did mind this I'd not have spent the $$$$ on these Mirokus.

Uberti does not have these inertial doohickeys. They retain the more original style mechanism, and they also work very well.

I'm really so tempted to say Mirokus are better than Uberti. So far as color case hardening I think it's true. My Uberti 1873 short rifle and the Miroku long rifle both feature color case hardened receivers and IMHO Mirokus is superior. But even the Uberti is OK. Mechanically they're very little different.

I have to say I'm proud to own both, and which ever you choose I'm sure you'll be a proud owner of whichever you choose as well.

 

[Hokkmike]

I currently own 3 lever action rifles (unless you count falling block, as well). An old all steel 308 BLR, a Henry Golden Boy in 44 mag and a pre safety Winchester 94 30/30.

I'm now looking on Gunbroker at 1873 replicas in 45 Colt and 357 calibers.

For the Winchester brand, I'm limiting the search to Miroku manufacture. Are all Winchester lever rifles made there?

I also assumed the Winchester brand is better than Uberti or Cimarron, but all three brands are priced about the same when we're talking recent manufacture.

Are they all about the same?

Would one want to stick with Winchester for nostalgia's sake?

The purpose is just for plinking at the range. Not cowboy shoots or hunting or anything like that.

The Uberti, Cimarron, and Taylors I have seen have been outstanding rifles. Not inferior by any means. The current Miroku Winchesters are also well made. As far as nostalgic value goes for the Winnys it only applies to me if they were made I the USA pre 64. But, I currently shoot a Matlin 1984 Cowboy in .45 Colt. It is the lightest and most portable fo the bunch and very shootable....

 

[NorthBorder]

I have a Winchester 73 and a Uberti 1866, both in 45LC. I have looked at a Uberti 73 and my Winchester and the wood to metal fitment was just a shade better on the Uberti. But that was just comparing 2 guns. Really the Winchester though is still very nice. Across the board the Italian replicas have a more reddish color to their walnut which is not as nice as the Winchester finish IMHO. Either way you go will be a good decision.

 

[blue32]

I would buy my Uberti saddle ring 73 again. Had Win still been making 92s in 32 I would have gone with the stronger action. Now... Uberti 94 vs Win 94? Thats a tough decision.

 

[herrwalther]

If price is the major driving force, I would search for an old Marlin before ever going after something imported. But that is me. And Marlins are great rifles for the money compared to Winchester.

 

[CraigC]

I've got a little bit of everything. Domestic Winchesters from 1901 onward, Marlins from the 1950's to present, Miroku Brownings and Winchesters, along with two Uberti rifles purchased before the new Winchester toggle-link guns. An 1873 Deluxe Sporting .38-40 from Dixie Gun Works and an 1866 Short Rifle .44Special from Cimarron. Without question or hesitation, I would buy them again. For me they satisfy an itch that would otherwise go unscratched. Especially the 1873.

 

[SunnySlopes]

before the new Winchester toggle-link guns

What is that? And, I'd also read that the recent manufacture Winchesters have a firing pin safety. Is that similar to my Series 80 1911s where the firing pin can't strike the primer unless the trigger is pulled?

 

[CraigC]

What is that?

The Winchester 1860/1866/1873/1876 leverguns.

 

[SunnySlopes]

The Winchester 1860/1866/1873/1876 leverguns.

And, what is a "toggle link?"

If you're talking about this:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/toggle-link-action-strength.805856/
....didn't they always have the toggle link? And isn't that why high pressure loads are dangerous?

Edited to add: I guess I initially misunderstood your statement.

"..two Uberti rifles purchased before the new Winchester toggle-link guns...."

You bought Uberti rifles before Uberti incorporated the toggle link design in the Uberti rifles.

I understand. I thought you were saying Winchester Firearms had incorporated a new design in their rifles.

 

[CraigC]

And, what is a "toggle link?"

The internal mechanism those models share.

 

[CraigC]

Good Lord. What I meant was that I bought my two Uberti's before the new Winchester 1866/1873 guns were made. The point being that today, I would still buy them.