Need advice on a 1873 Win. with Chapparral Import

[Ace Lungger]

I traded for a New in the box Chapparal 1873 Whinchester! Just had a chance last week to shoot it, I noticed that it didn't have a firing pin spring and that the fireing pin just floated. I called the number to Charter Arms and they no longer handle that rifle, but the lady that answered the phone ask a teck there, and he said they don't have a firing pin. Does anyone have a Chapparall 1873 Rifle, and if so, does it have a firing pin spring?
I would be geat full for any advice!
Thanks
ACE

[Curly Red Ryder]

Cappy M1873 has no firing pin spring just like the original M1873. Same for the 1876

[Coffinmaker]

Ace,

The Chaparral has no firing pin return spring but the firing "pin" doesn't just "float."  The firing pin is one piece all the way from the business end back to the hammer.  There is a "rocker," retained by the link pin thru the Breach Block that retracts the firing pin and retains the firing pin assembly in the Breach Block.

There is no current importer for Chaparral guns nor parts.  If it works, don't break it.

Coffinmaker

[Ace Lungger]

Thanks Pards for the info. Who could a person talk to, to find out the differences between the Chapparal Rifle is compared to the other Uberti's? Any help will be apprecated.
Thanks
ACE

[Icebox Bob]

The Chaparral guns are almost a direct copy of the originals.  Original parts diagrams should help. 

The innards of the Uberti versions have some of their refinements/improvements, so you will likely see differences depending on what parts you are working on.

[Ace Lungger]

Thanks Bob,
I will have to do some more research. I do want to shoot this gun, and I hope nothing breaks, but anything can happen!
Thanks again!
ACE

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Ace,

I just bought a Codymatic (Taylor's/UBerti) 1873 Reproduction 'Trapper' Pistol Grip Winchester 1873, and I think you have a fine  gun there...

I kind of did some homework before I bought my '1873", and here's what I found

1866/1873

**Pros:

Easiest to work on

Horizontal carrier makes it very amenable to different OAL ammo (i.e. I can shoot my Schofield ammo in my model 1873).

**Cons: does not like extremely strong (i.e. stronger than black powder)loads.


1892 On:

**Pros:

Can handle stronger loads; reportably a 'stronger action'

Cons:

More intricate construction; some say disassembly requires a gunsmith

Angled carrier makes them much more OAL sensitive

So it seems that one must make a choice between easy to repair/ kind to reloading or a rifle that is challenging to repair and will handle very standardized big loads.


Again, this is just IMHO from what I have read and heard: and I would relish a conversation on the topic .....

[Coffinmaker]

Ace,

Unfortunately, with the exception of the Firing Pin/Breachblock assembly, the Chaparral is a poor copy of an Uberti.  The Links, Lever, Lever Side Springs, Carrier Block, Carrier Block Arm, Main Spring, etc. are direct copies of Uberti parts, just very poorly done and poorly fit.  The steel is also very soft compared to Uberti guns.
The Breach Block/Firing Pin assembly is a copy of the original Winchester item(s) just not well done.
The guns came out of the box one of two ways.  The gun would work (1 in 10) but not work well, or the gun would not work.  Getting the guns to work was expensive.  99% of the time replacement parts were worse that the part we needed to replace.  Often, the expense of getting a new gun to run was half the cost of the gun if not more.
Again, there is no current US importer for new guns, nor an importer for parts.
The Chaparral guns were/are made in the same factory that use to be known as Armi San Marco, who went bust several years ago over poor quality.  When 90% of your product is bad, you have a problem.
Shoot it, if it works, just don't break it.

Coffinmaker