^^ or 73

[Charlie Bowdre]

Hi Gang ,
Not to start a Range War ...but....I am looking a getting a new rifle . Either a Yellowboy or Win.73 in short rifle  and due to matching with my RM Navy Con ..am looking at  38/357.

Would appreciate any positive or negative comments on either.
And again ...no hitting below the belt...


As a note I don't shoot a bucket full of Snake Bites every month ...heavy useage on either one would only be 200 rounds per month ...if that..
Tks munchly

Dutchy

[Silver Creek Slim]

I don't own either but I like the looks of a 73 better.

Slim

[Charlie Bowdre]

the Yellowboy is a bit 'showey'

[Dr. Bob]

My 3 running buddies [KVC] are divided evenly between 66's & 73's.   Two 73's & one 66 in 45 Clot and one 66 in 44-40.  All of us are shooting a compressed load of BP and none of us have any trouble!  The 66's are a bit less expensive.  I like my 73 a whole bunch.  If I get another rifle, I will probably get a Henry!  Sooooooooooooo many style points!   You can't go wrong with either.

Others mileage may vary.

[Major E A Sterner]

I have both, The 73 is a lot easier to take apart for cleaning. Other than that, They are both great rifles, Pick the one that calls out to you.

[Sod Buster]

Why chose?  I've got one of each....both in .44-40.

[Camille Eonich]

What Major said about cleaning.  Also the '66 is a tad heavier and doesn't have the lever safety.  See if you can find one of each to shoot and go with what feels best to you.

[Forty Rod]

Why chose?  I've got one of each....both in .44-40.

Me too (and others) but prefer the '73.  I can't even tell you why.  I just do.

[Abilene]

The yellowboy doesn't come in .38 / .357, just .38, if that makes a difference to you.  The shine on the yellowboy will fade if you let it (shooting BP will speed it up considerably, give it a nice patina).  Or, keep it shiny if you like.  I have '66 and '73, love both.

[Charlie Bowdre]

Thanks for all the replies. 38 cal for the YB was what I meant . Checking with the suppliers north of the Medicine Line looks like I can't get a YB right now anyway .
Gives me something to think on anyway ,
Thanks again.

Dutchy

[Camille Eonich]

http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/2,281.html

[August]

Howdy:

Started this game with a '92 that was fun to shoot and dependable for about two years.  I didn't shoot but once per month and didn't have much interest in going fast.  Just liked the people in SASS and have always taken any excuse to smell burning gunpowder.  Somewhere near the end of that two years, I started getting some awful stovepipe jambs.  I was going faster, but the rifle could not keep up.

I got a Marlin '94 and things improved greatly.  No more regrets for about three more years.  I'd pinch my trigger finger now and again, but the Marlin was easy to work on and the price was sure digestible.  Sometime near the end of the second year, I started getting feeding problems.  I was going faster, but the rifle couldn't keep up.  I did a lot of smoothing, spring changing, slicking up, and general lubricating and sometimes the rifle would work, but increasingly it got to where I couldn't count on it to keep up.  I still didn't have much interest in getting faster as a shooter, but speed comes with practice like it or not.

Finally, one day, I said out-loud to myself at a match: "How come everyone else has a rifle that works, and I'm stuck with this cursed thunderstick" -- or, something like that.  Next day, went to the big toy store and found a '73 Taylor's Short Rifle on the wall and did some horse trading.  Ahhhhhhhh, relief.....   The rifle was very stiff, but responded well to disassembly, polishing, generous lubrication (amazing how dry these things are from the factory), and tension adjustment on the three springs that bear on the lever.  Result, a very nice rifle that worked every time.

Somewhere in there, I decided I wanted to improve (go fast).  I noticed that other guys, and gals, often had five, six, or even seven shell casings in the air when firing their '66s and '73s during a stage.  I was going fast if I could get two up at once, and it took a whole lot of commotion to even do that.  I realized a short stroke had to be acquired.  Did so -- along with some fancier springs and lots of discussion, reading, and advice from gunsmiths. 

Finally, a rifle that could out-run me.  It's been almost three years, and I still haven't caught up with that rifle.  I'm sure it could go much, much faster than I am able to operate it.  In fact, I now have three of 'em and two are done by top level, professional 'smiths.

So, the moral of the story:  If you're gonna shoot CAS for any length of time, and suspect you will want to get good at the game, then you can save a lot of time and money by getting a toggle link rifle now.  Either a '66 or a '73.  I find the trigger safety instills a lot of confidence.  It allows me to be sloppy and not end up with blown primers, split cases, dropped hammer, and jacked out rounds.  One of my '73s doesn't have a safety, and when I get tired, all sorts of gremlins start popping up.

So, get a '73 and live happily ever after.

[Charlie Bowdre]

Thanks for the reply.

Due to the problem getting a 66 from dealers (no stock at this time ) up here North of the Medicine Line ...I am pretty well planning on going with the 73. From what I read and observe , I would have been happy with either.

Thanks all
Dutchy

[Ransom Gaer]

Dutchy,

You probably would be happy with either.  They are both excellent rifles.  I have heard one has more dropin the butt stock than the other.  Another difference between the two.  Don't ask me which has more, I don't know.  And this is more of a preference thing than anything else.  The 1866 and the Henry are also a little different here with the Henry having just a tad more drop.  Shooting I can't really tell the difference.

I got my 1866 before I got my 1860 Henry partially for the same reason.  I could get the 1866 at the time I was ready to buy something and I couldn't get the Henry.

Ransom Gaer