New with questions ?

[robferg]

I just joined and have a few questions about the 1876. I'm wanting to buy a 1876 and have been reading about all the reviews. The first questions is: what is CDNN? Also what caliber is best for a nonreloder for plinking and hunting nothing bigger than deer? Last question is: Does Uberti make the Cimarron,Taylor, and Chapparal ? THANKS

[Dirty Brass]

CDNN is a wholesaler that sells firearms and accessories.

As far as caliber, probably the 45/60 or 45/75, the former being lighter, would be best. These are the more popular ones. They also have 40/60 and 50/95 I believe.

There are a few dealers supplying loaded ammo for these calibers now, so reloading isn't necessary. Ammo is however, not cheap, at about $70.00 + a box. I uise both calibers for deer hunting, and both are very adequate at reasonable distances of 100 yards or so....

I believe Uberti makes the Cimarron and Taylors guns. Chapparal is someone else - not sure who. Someone will answer that I'm sure.

Whatever you decide on, I'm sure you'll love the 1876! 

[Shotgun Franklin]

I'm not a fan of the .45-60. It can only be loaded up so far. The .45-75 can be loaded lighter. Likely 40 pieces of .45-75 brass would last a lifetime of hunting.
BTW, reloading isn't that tough. Go to a gunshop and get some advice. For loading the .45-75 the dies will be one of your biggest expenses. You might pick up an old single stage press at a Flea Market, Pawn Shop or garage sale for a good price..

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Robferg
WELCOME
Now as far as calibers , well that is what ever you like . I like the 45-60 and have shot lots of rounds through my Chaparral BUT I will be the first to tell you that they had trouble at first . And as far as I know they aren't being produced now ? The Uberti's are the other choice and they will cost you more $$$$ but as far as I know they are fine rifles . I have done reviews on Taylor's and Cimarron's and they were both good rifles . Now are you wanting to shoot Black Powder or Smokeless ? Most people are always thinking that black is to much trouble and don't even give it a try . But it is fun and very accurate .  If you don't reload , some ammo companies offer a service to where they will reload you brass and ship it back to you , that being that you bought the ammo from them . Good luck on all your decisions and happy shooting .

[Joe Lansing]

    Forgetting nostalgia, the 45-60 is the most practical choice. Using smokeless powder, it will do anything the 45-75 can do, only cheaper. Brass is relatively easy to form by trimming 45-70 brass and perhaps thinning the rim, depending on the individual rifle (my rifle doesn't need rim thinning). The 45-60 and 45-75 can both use the same bullets. Remembering the inherent weaknesses of the '76, if you want more power, buy an '86 instead.

                                                                             J.L.

[ndnchf]

I can't argue with the logic of a .45-60 being the easiest to deal with.  If economy and ease of obtaining ammunition is a primary consideration, then the .45-60 is a good choice. 

But just to add persective, I'll say that economy and ease were not important in making my cartridge choice.  I'm not a wealthy man, but I figured if I was going to spend the $$ on an Uberti 1876, I should get it in the caliber my heart desires.  I chose the .50-95 and have no regrets.  Yes, dies and brass are a little pricey, but they are basically a one time purchase.  My rifle shoots better than I can hold.  I only shoot black powder and it is litteraly a BLAST to shoot.  Recoil is suprisingly mild due to the relatively light bullet and rifle weight.

If you must be constrained by economics and ease of loading issues, get what suits your needs.  But, if you can, wait a few more months, save a few more bucks and get the rifle and caliber that warms your heart.   You'll have no regrets.

Whatever way you go, an 1876 is something special that you will enjoy for many years

[Grizzly Adams]

Wecome to the fire, robferg!

The posse seems to have you off to a good start in terms of good info. 

I'll throw in my .02 centavos and say that I like the 45-60 best for general shooting and hunting critters like deer and black bear.   My recommendation on a rifle would be one made by Uberti, and imported by Cimarron Arms or Taylor's. 

[Shotgun Franklin]

I just don't see the point of going 'cheapest easiest'. If I wanted that I'd buy a Bolt-action .308.
Whatever gun or caliber you buy, if it's for hunting or occasional plinking, a couple of handfuls of brass and a set of dies and you're set for life. I hunt, on ocassion, with a Colt SAA. It wasn't the cheapest and it danged sure not the easiest but when I can show a photo of my deer and say that I took him with a SAA the guys hunting from a blind with a .300 Win Mag don't have much to say.
My point is that doing stuff the hard way, the way my Great Grandfather might have is the whole point of using an old-timey gun. I dove hunt with an old 311 SXS because it ain't as easy.

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Shotgun
I hunt with my 76 and have had a good time and have harvested deer with it .  I know where your coming from about doing things the easy way . I have  enjoyed Vintage Hunting for several years . I love to hunt with the ole lever guns and now I have went a step further and use black powder . This is a Fun way to relive a little History and see the obstacles our forefathers encountered .
Now getting back on track , there are 4 calibers of the 76 . We all have our own preference , Find yours and take it out and enjoy it   

[Joe Lansing]

    There is a big difference between "practical and economical" and "cheapest-easiest"" just as there is between "chalenging" and "pissing against the wind". I truly doubt if our ancestors would have ventured into the wild unknown with a weapon they would have too much difficulty feeding. We all walk in different moccasins.

                                                      J.L.

[Shotgun Franklin]

Did anything I post warrant my being insulted. I thought that I could speak my opinion without being slighted. I suppose I was wrong.

[Joe Lansing]

    I apologize for offending you. It was not my intention. I was just defending my position.

                                           J.L.

[Hobie]

Did anything I post warrant my being insulted. I thought that I could speak my opinion without being slighted. I suppose I was wrong.

You should not equate another's disagreement with your position with being slighted.  I can't see how you've been slighted.

I have a .45-75 Chaparrall SRC.  I got the .45-75 SRC because it floats my boat.  If a gun doesn't excite me, I don't get it.  This works as most every gun I have has provided some sort of enjoyment for quite a while.  So it appears that I agree with you as it wasn't the cheapest nor the easiest at the time I got it.  

However, some folks want to enjoy the old rifles and don't care so much about the cartridge.  In that "case" the .45-60 does provide certain advantages and is/was popular for just that reason.  It is indeed cheaper to feed which is important for those who use quantities of brass.  It is easier to get which is important to those who'd rather spend time at the range than in case forming or searching for brass.  One can hardly say there is anything wrong with that!  Besides, these are folks who have already taken a huge step by taking on a really esoteric firearm when there are easier cheaper options by the dozens available to them.  

[Buck Stinson]

In the past 40 years, I have shot hundreds if not thousands of rounds through various 1876 Winchesters in all calibers.   I load my ammo with original Winchester loading toolls and cast bullets with Winchester molds.  I've shot buffalo with the .45-60, .45-75 and the .50 Express.   I like all of the '76 calibers very much, but I guess if I had to choose a favorite, it would be the .45-75 because of it's fantastic ability as a hunting round.  I love the .50 Express guns I own and shoot them often, but the .45-75 is in my opinion, a better cartridge with better knock down power.  I will not attempt to shoot another buffalo with the .45-60.  Having said this, we all should understand that Winchester made this gun in four different calibers for a very good reason.  The .40-60 and .45-60 will work very well for small to medium size game out to 150 yards.  The .45-75 and the .50 Express were designed for big game animals like bear, elk and moose.  In the life span of the 1876 model, I don't think ease of loading ammo was much of a factor in the caliber a customer chose, especially from 1876 to 1880.  Those were hard dangerous times on the frontier and heavy calibers like the .45-75 and .50 Express were the calibers of choice out here (Montana) where the game animals were large and dangerous.  However, when we look at the factory records, we see that the .45-60 out produced the .45-75 by just over 4000 guns.   The .40-60 is third on the list with just under 10,000 guns being produced and the .50 Express is last, with just under 3,400 guns total.  As someone has already mentioned, if a frontiersman had 100 rounds of brass, it would probably be enough to last a lifetime, provided the user was prone to pick up his empties when ever he could.  Besides, powder, primers, lead and even factory loaded ammunition was readily available almost anywhere on the frontier.  Even the loneliest outpost had a general supply of fixed ammunition for the guns that were popular in that area.   Winchester made sure that their ammunition and other reloading components could be purchase nearly anywhere a person happened to ride his horse.   To answer the very first question asked by Rodferg, if I were in your position, I would probably choose the .45-60.  It's a fun caliber and it would be fine for dear size animals, at relatively close range.

Adios,
Buck

[Hobie]

Buck,

You should write a book about the .45-75 and/or the 1876. 

[.45colt]

 Buck, I have to second Hobie about the book.Please consider it. You have a treasure of experience with the '76 that few could ever hope to match. I have Paul Mathews "Fourty Years with the 45-70", and I have no doubt You could easily write a similar book about Your time with the '76. Thanks. Jim.

[Niederlander]

I know I picked the .45-60 because of less expensive brass.  I think it's going to work very well for me because I mostly shoot at steel targets at relatively close range.  A friend of mine bought a .45-75 because he shoots at steel targets at relatively long range, plus I think it was the only caliber he could get at the time.  I'm kind of a "brass junkie" (personal problem) and I always like to have three to five hundred rounds of brass (at least) for all my rifle calibers.  My friend wanted at least three hundred rounds for shooting matches, and he has about as much in the brass as he does in the rifle.  As far as hunting goes, I think any iron sighted rifle (for most people) should be limited to two hundred yards or less, and one hundred would be more realistic.  Before anyone flames me for that, ask yourself how many people can hit a nine inch circle nine of ten times at unknown distances from field positions and fairly indistinct targets with iron sights.  (Or a scope, for that matter!)  I'm always somewhat amused/dismayed when someone will tell me how their rifle will shoot one hole groups at one hundred yards, from the bench.  From a field position, they struggle to hit a four by eight sheet of plywood at the same distance!  The shooter is often much more of a limitation than the rifle or caliber.
     Buck, you really should think about writing down your '76 experience.  Another option would be to lend me your rifles and tools for ten or twenty years so I can take notes.  Then I'll consider writing it!