Vintage Hunting with the 1873

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Howdy
Has anyone been out shooting lately ? Hope to get out and shoot a few rounds . My rifles are needing the dust blown out of them . After Turkey season is over plan on trying for coyotes and maybe a ground hog or two .

[w44wcf]

Rowdy,
I was finally able to go to the range on Tuesday. The weather was very nice for a change with temps in the 60's. Nary a cloud in sight.  

I was testing some factory 44-40 cartridges for accuracy and velocity (Magtech 225 gr and Winchester 200 gr jacketed) and will be adding the results to the original tests with the other factory cartridges evaluated late last year.   Both shot very well.

In addition, I tested some vintage .44-40 smokeless rounds containing DuPont No. 2 & Hazard No. 2 bulk smokeless and they were steady in their performance, turning in excellent groups and good velocities. Too bad that nothing like them is available today.

Finally, I tested some 240 gr. bullets with Swiss b.p. (Lyman 429667) and they shot / grouped well.

All in all....a very fuunnn day!

w44wcf   

[Rowdy Fulcher]

W44wcf
Sounds like you have been busy figuring out loading data . Sounds like the DuPont no2 is a hotter version of the Trail Boss . Wish we could find it now . I guess I really need to say that I wished they produced that powder now . 

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Howdy
Being a GOOD American today I went to shoot my 73 rifle . That's my fire works . I sat my chronograph up and tried a few loads over it . I shot a load of Triple 7 over it and they were what I call good velocities . They averaged 1320 fps , now to put them on paper and see what happens . I also tried a load using h4227 and not to bad they averaged 1250 fps . I tried a few loads with Trail Boss and they were at 1000 fps , fun to plink with but not a hunting round . Now is the perfect time to work with your weapon , be ready for opening day of season . Remember one shot one kill .

[Mean Bob Mean]

I bought some standard pressure loads with 200 grain speer hollowpoints.  Anyone used those for deer hunting?

I am planning on using 255 lead over a stout BP load for hogs.

[dusty texian]

Mean Bob Mean,have not used the 200 gr. hp.But have shot hog with the 255 gr. lead in .45 Colt , out of a 4-3/4 in barrel ,with fullcase of 3fff Goex,range was about 65 yd. It only took one shot,the hog was about 140 lb. and standing broadside feeding. Bullet entered in the shoulder ,knocked him down, passed through, he recovered ran about 15yd. nose plowed into the dirt Mighty DEAD . Out of your 73 that type load should Knock em silly. Good Huntin......Dusty

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Howdy
Now is the time to start planning that Big Hunt this fall . And now is the perfect time to work on that perfect load IF you don't have it already . What is your favorite hunting load for your 73 .

[D-Hansen]

Well I am still learning here so no short A1 answer, but I have one that I know is good to go and another I wish to test out this fall.  The one I plan on using this fall is 35.2 gr by weight of Swiss ffg, compressed and a 200 gr. bullet. (44-40) About 1295fps.  The 1973 SRC I am loading for has been a far easier project vs. the Marlin 1984 44-40 I was working with last summer.   I enjoy hunting with the vintage firearms.    Good luck on your hunt and hope to see some photos of a harvest.

D-Hansen

[Rowdy Fulcher]

D-Hansen
Welcome to the Vintage Hunters . We love the old weapons and we love to Hunt .

[D-Hansen]

Thanks for the welcome Rowdy.   For years I was using a 1894 Winchester SRC in .32ws from 1927,  then two years ago started using a Marlin 1894 in 44-40 made in 1895.   I have a great time hunting with the vintage firearms, last year other hunters (who had spent range time with me)  said they knew it was me that shot from the sound of the report from my 44-40.  (connected with a nice six point buck)  It makes you feel good when you hear things like that from other hunters.   I plan to change things up slightly this fall vs. last fall.  One change is using Swiss instead of A2400 and the other will be to let the 1873 Winchester get out for a week in the woods during Whitetail season.  The season is fast approaching and I am looking forward to it.  I like taking photos also, so like I always do I will take lots of pictures. I have just recently joined this sight, but had been reading information on the 1873 Winchesters here and liked what I was reading.  It is nice to have the resource like this and the extra reading material.

Take care, D-Hansen

[Rowdy Fulcher]

D
What state do you call home . Hows the Hunting there . I am a Kentuckian , born and raised here . I went to visit my Uncle for a few years ( 6 1/2 ) they came back home to stay . My Uncle kept me in shape and we did all kinds of FUN things as all 11-B do .  But then that was 30 years ago , don't time fly .

[D-Hansen]

Rowdy,  I'm in Minnesota, been here my whole life 50 years.  I hunt in different area over the years,  most of my hunting is North East Minnesota, along the Minnesota Wisconsin border.  About and hour south of Duluth Mn.    Hunting here is good.  Harvest numbers are about half of what Wisconsin does.  I've taken a deer each of the last two years and I also small game hunt.  The area I deer hunt has some large Black Bear, I have come across them while in deer stand or out hunting.  But I have yet to try Bear Hunting.  I did bear hunt when younger 14 and 15.  The area along the St. Croix river, North of the St Croix State park there are 400 to 600 pound black bears taken.  I'm not an expert, but just like being in the woods and enjoy the outdoors.  I have been bitten by the 44-40 bug and its got a good hold on me.  Most of my friends hunt with .243, 7mm, .300 mag, you get the idea.  But I have yet to track a whitetail that I have shot.  I have had to help others track, but the 44-40 does a fine job on deer.

D-Hansen

[Rowdy Fulcher]

D
I enjoy the ole school weapons . The 44wcf in a 73 Winchester is as GOOD as it gets . I also have a 1876 in a 45-60 it's a shooter but it's heavy . I killed a nice buck with it a few years ago . But I haven't taken a Deer with my 73 . Last year I used my Muzzle Loader to harvest a buck . I wish you could use a 1873 using black powder ammo in muzzle loading season . Maybe some day ?
Good luck to you on this upcoming Hunting season be safe , have fun and hunt every day , life is short .

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Howdy
Went to shoot my 73 today . I had a few rounds loaded with Triple 7 they shot good . They came in at 1250 fps the other loading I used came in over 1300 fps . So if you can't get your hands on Black Powder then the T7 is another choice .

[D-Hansen]

Rowdy,  I shot three different loads today from the 73 Winchester in 44-40.  1st was 15.2 gr. of A2400 with a 200 gr. rnfp at .430" diameter these were at 1000 fps.  2nd was 33.6gr of Goex and that was 1250fps, (I had to clean after ten rounds)  3rd was 35.2gr of Swiss at 1290fps and very low SD.  I have been pan lubing, but want to buy a luber/sizer.  Been think about the Lyman 4500 model with heater.  Have fun and hope to see some photos of your hunting camp and harvest.

D-hansen

[Blackpowder Burn]

It's a little more money, but you'll be thankful in the long run if you buy a Star Lurbisizer from Magma Engineering.  The straight through design is much, much faster and easier to use.  I started out with a Lyman and kicked myself in the posterior for not getting a Star sooner.

[D-Hansen]

Blackpowder Burn,  Thank you for the advise.   I will look into a Star Lubersizer.   I have not had the need to size yet.  My 1894 Marlin is very large groove diameter.   An I have not purchased a mould for the 1873 yet.  Plan on ordering a Accurate Mould from Tom.   It will be a 430215c or the one that 30wcf recommends as being close to the Winchester original design (I have the number written down).

D-Hansen

[Blackpowder Burn]

If you can afford it, you'll also appreciate the pneumatic cylinder to provide automatic lube feed.  It requires a small air compressor, but is another item that really speeds up sizing and lubing.

So many toys...............so little money! 

[pony express]

If you go with the Lyman, you shouldn't need a heater if you stick with using BP type lubes, that's mainly needed for the newer hard smokeless lubes.

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Howdy
What's the new guy going to do for black powder ammo . After the explosion Black Dawge is gone . Sadly with them out of the picture , the Vintage Hunting ammo is done before it started . I have made a few calls and they say we are to small . They are wanting a larger crowd . Oh well , just go hunting and have a good time and remember how much fun you had with our obsolete weapons and ammo .