winchester 73 musket

[gotzguns]

just found out that uberti has a 73 musket in 44/40 . any one have any exsperance with one. any problems? am thinking of ordering one. thanks for any info. gotzguns

[DJ]

In my opinion, the main plus is style points.  And, if there's ever a bayonet stage, I'm ready, having procured and fitted an original bayonet just in case.  In my experience, however, it does not point nearly as quickly as a shorter, lighter lever gun.  So if speed is your main concern, this probably is not your gun.  Also, the sights are on the tiny side--well suited for longer range work (keeping in mind that you're shooting a pistol caliber, however) but not the best for quick, close-in shooting.  Also, the rear sight is windage adustable by pushing with your fingers.  It can be easily bumped out of adjustment, so you need to check it each time you stage your musket.  The barrel on my reproduction is pretty heavy--much heavier than an original--but I don't mind the extra weight, and I think it tends to keep the barrel cooler and less susceptible to BP fouling.  If you shoot BP (and you should) you will need a lot of grease on your bullets to keep the fouling soft for the full barrel length.  Also, the gun is pretty long and can be unwieldy in stages with restricted shooting positions, such as shooting out of windows, between bars of the jail, that kind of thing.  If you have to stage it in a scabbard, like on a 55-gallon drum "horseback" stage, you may need to put a piece of carpet on the ground to keep the muzzle from digging into the dirt.

In sum, it's heavy, unwieldy, and not the best sights for CAS.  But did I mention style points?  I really like mine.

[DJ]

I should mention the one problem I have had (and have since heard that someone else also had)--the magazine tube is held in by friction, and the inletting on the handguard is very generous.  You really need to keep the barrel band screws tight, or the tube will slide forward and cause feeding problems.  I solved this by a pretty sloppy job of glass bedding the handguard.  However, the glass bedding is all hidden by the handguard, so nobody else knew it was sloppy until I just told you.  The same result could also probably be accomplished by a judicious application of tape around the magazine tube.  Just something to increase the friction a little.

[gotzguns]

thank you for your input. thats what i was looking for. im not a competitor in cas. i just like to shoot all type of guns( i have over 200 now) and have been interested in western firearms for the last few years. do any of you know if the 44/40 round were loaded with wads and grease cookies? thanks for your help. gotzguns

[Injun Ryder]

Been shooting a '73 Musket in 44-40 regularly for a couple of years and have had the same experience that DJ mentioned. The sight does get knocked off center, my magazine tube has come loose and it is wieldy in tight situations and scabbards (I've actually hit window frames after checking to see if I have enough clearance - that is bad). However, I love to use this rifle and the style points are worth it!

I was under the impression that Uberti discontinued the Muskets a few years ago. If you do find a distributor, I am interested in finding a '66 musket and would dearly love to obtain a bayonet. (I've tried VTI but have been told they are no longer available.)

[Grapeshot]

I've got one in .45 Colt.  Yes the rear sight is looser than I like, and I have to keep an eye on it throughout the match.  I've had trouble with the magazine tube as well.  Ended up epoxying the tube to the receiverand had to replace the follower with a redesigned brass one to keep the gun feeding rounds to the elevator because it would get hung up on the receiver when the magazine tube began to pull loose from the frame.

But it sure is cool to shoot and those style points are right up there with using a Spencer or M1887 Lever Shotgun.

[Grapeshot]

Uberti used to make a socket bayonet for the 1873 Musket as well as for the 1866 Musket.  Had a shooter at West Shore a few years back modify an original .45/70 Bayonet to use on his 1866 Musket.