Shot my Uberti Winchester 73, 44-40 today

Bryan Austin · January 02, 2012, 04:12:24 PM

It was a windy day but I went to the range again. This time I took along my Winchester 73. I shot 25, 50 and 75 yard targets. No cleaning between shots.

All cartridges loaded with 35gr Swiss FF

25 and 50 yard targets shot in the following order

Stomach- Fairshake's cast 43-210B .429
Left- 43-215C .429
Right- NOE-200 .430

single 427098-.427

One single 50 yard shot noted with pink mark was my last Lyman 427098.

75 yard target - first three hits, second and third sets never hit target.

Open iron sights, no peep site...plus my bad eye sight.

25 yard target
1. 3/4 group
2. 7/8 group
3. 7/8 group

50 yard target
1. I'll call it 1 1/4 with a flyer but could be 3'
2. 1 7/8
3. 5/8 with a flyer but could be 3'

75 yard target
1. 1 7/8
2. no hits
3. no hits

Lefty Dude · January 02, 2012, 05:36:48 PM

Jack;

What does your bore groove slug out at ? I am just curious.

My Uberti Cimarron 73/44-40 carbine Slugs .428". I just bought a Navy Arms 73/44-40 Carbine ant it is one tight sucker. This piece was made some time in the early 1980's. It is .4255", it shoots .427's" very well.

Lucky, I just happen to have a very old set of RCBS 44-40 dies that I re-size with. They were made to size the case's for .426"-.427" jacketed bullets.

Bryan Austin · January 02, 2012, 06:21:51 PM

Quote from: Lefty Dude on January 02, 2012, 05:36:48 PM
Jack;

What does your bore groove slug out at ? I am just curious.

My Uberti Cimarron 73/44-40 carbine Slugs .428". I just bought a Navy Arms 73/44-40 Carbine ant it is one tight sucker. This piece was made some time in the early 1980's. It is .4255", it shoots .427's" very well.

Lucky, I just happen to have a very old set of RCBS 44-40 dies that I re-size with. They were made to size the case's for .426"-.427" jacketed bullets.

I have slugged all my firearms several times and they are all consistent at 429 with the exception of my 1889 Marlin that slugs at .4295 - .430 This last time I slugged them (rifles only so far) I kept the slug and an index card in a zip-loc bag noting such. When I cast more NOE-200 (drop at .432) I will slug them again.

This past reload I did this:

Basically I use the RCBS Cowboy de-capping/resizing die on a Lee single stage press. I fill the case using the Lee perfect powder measure. Tap settle the powder (35gr Swiss FF in this case) Then expand the mouth with the Lee powder through expanding die followed by the RCBS bullet seating die WITH a roll crimp on the NOE-200 and the 43-215C. I use the Lyman 310 hand tool to seat the bullets on the 427098 and the 43-210B THEN roll crimp with the RCBS cowboy seating die. The problem with the 098 and 43-210B (in regards to a roll crimp) is that the case wants to catch the forward driving band and buckle the mouth. On the 43-210B the forward driving band measures 429 and the rear 4285. I could open the mouth a little more maybe but would rather not right now.

Bryan Austin · January 02, 2012, 06:27:54 PM

I forgot to add;

The AOL follows

210B - 1.590
215C - 1.583
098 - 1.592
NOE - 1.580

All Winchester brass this time.

I shot everything up so I will confirm next time.

w44wcf · January 03, 2012, 08:16:11 AM

Howdy Jack,
Thank you for the range report. At 75 yards it appears that the reason there were no hits with the 43-215C and NOE is because they hit a bit lower than the 43-210B (429098) on the other targets and thus went slightly below the 75 yard bull......

w44wcf

Bryan Austin · January 03, 2012, 04:12:40 PM

Quote from: w44wcf on January 03, 2012, 08:16:11 AM
Howdy Jack,
Thank you for the range report. At 75 yards it appears that the reason there were no hits with the 43-215C and NOE is because they hit a bit lower than the 43-210B (429098) on the other targets and thus went slightly below the 75 yard bull......

w44wcf

Thanks w44wcf. Next visit to the range I will start there where I left off.

At 75 yards I was still using the bottom of the buckhorn sight. My first three shots will be the same as I did before then correct the aim. I would like to get an inexpensive 4x scope for my Marlin...any suggestions? I'd like to set it up then get a tang sight. I can not see the notch in the bottom of the buckhorn sight on the Marlin....the Winchester is great!

Bryan Austin · January 03, 2012, 05:14:00 PM

Quote from: w44wcf on January 03, 2012, 08:16:11 AM
Howdy Jack,
Thank you for the range report. At 75 yards it appears that the reason there were no hits with the 43-215C and NOE is because they hit a bit lower than the 43-210B (429098) on the other targets and thus went slightly below the 75 yard bull......

w44wcf

Oh, actually my first shots hit high or I was inadvertently aiming high. The first shots were at the center of the stomach. This can be seen with the arrow pointing to the place I was aiming. (yellow markers)

Bryan Austin · January 08, 2012, 03:07:23 PM

Shot my Uberti Winchester 73 again today at 100 yards (not 75) Four loads Four sets. I used my daughter's target cause it was big enough to see off target hits with binoculars. I need a scope!!!!!!!!

Swiss FF
35gr in solid head Winchester Brass
40gr in solid balloon head cases (Western and WRA)

1. RED 210B Winchester Brass (yellow dot didn't show up too good)
2. Orange NOE-200 Winchester Brass
3. Green 210B Western Brass (5" Group)
4. Pink 210B WRA Brass

After groups one and two I adjusted the rear sight up onto the second notch. Aim point was the neck (could see it better at 75 yards) There was a horizontal piece of rebar indicated by the dotted line. Yellow dot actually hit rebar and hit upwards were indicated.

Also hit 200 yard gong three out of six shots

Bryan Austin · January 09, 2012, 09:45:39 PM

Well I was wrong, it is 100 yards, not 75!

Fairshake · January 11, 2012, 08:29:14 AM

Jack, My bullet the 43-210B was designed to crimp over the top of the top driving band which is .05 The bands are .08, .07 and .05
The bullets that I sent you were sized on my Star at .4285 You will not have to damage any mouth case by having it to fit this bullet before seating. My 73 requires that the OAL be 1.56 to 1.58 Any longer and they will not feed.
If you load to this length it will put the case mouth past the top band. I then use a Redding Profile roll crimp die to hold the bullet
Later Fairshake

Bryan Austin · January 11, 2012, 04:49:50 PM

Quote from: Fairshake on January 11, 2012, 08:29:14 AM
Jack, My bullet the 43-210B was designed to crimp over the top of the top driving band which is .05 The bands are .08, .07 and .05
The bullets that I sent you were sized on my Star at .4285 You will not have to damage any mouth case by having it to fit this bullet before seating. My 73 requires that the OAL be 1.56 to 1.58 Any longer and they will not feed.
If you load to this length it will put the case mouth past the top band. I then use a Redding Profile roll crimp die to hold the bullet
Later Fairshake

I am really glad you told me that. I was wondering!!