Vintage Hunting with the 1873

[KirkD]

Well, I'm getting excited as well to bring home the venison with my 1889 vintage Model 1873. I've got my load, and this ol' '73 is a natural at offhand shooting at 100 yards. It's the heavy barrel and the tang sight. Only three more weeks until I get to head out into the bush with this beauty!

[D-Hansen]

Hey Rowdy, congrats to you on your coyote.  It is nice to spend time in the woods. 

KirkD,  Hope to see some photos of your 1973 and your harvest for the deer season.

D-Hansen

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Howdy Boys
Got a chance to fire a few rounds this morning . The Rifle is doing it part , I just have to do my part . I have a box of ammo loaded with Swiss Powder . This was ammo that was being tested for Powder Inc . after the Explosion they discontinued the Black Dawge line . But I have ammo for Deer season . Plan on smoking me a BIG Buck with my 1873 . There's supposed to be a Black Panther in those bottoms , I ain't seen it our even a track . But I sure hope I do . I think his hide would look Great laying in front of my fire place . Hope the camp cook has a good recipe for panther .

[KirkD]

Rowdy, I sure hope you get that Black Panther. A rug would look superb with a full mounted head. Can't say I'd be looking forward to chowing down on panther meat, though. Two weeks from today I'll be sitting in the bush with my '73 looking to fill my tag. Hope you get that big buck.

[Mean Bob Mean]

Howdy Boys
Got a chance to fire a few rounds this morning . The Rifle is doing it part , I just have to do my part . I have a box of ammo loaded with Swiss Powder . This was ammo that was being tested for Powder Inc . after the Explosion they discontinued the Black Dawge line . But I have ammo for Deer season . Plan on smoking me a BIG Buck with my 1873 . There's supposed to be a Black Panther in those bottoms , I ain't seen it our even a track . But I sure hope I do . I think his hide would look Great laying in front of my fire place . Hope the camp cook has a good recipe for panther .

Jack O'Connor said that Cougar tasted like veal.

[w44wcf]

Interesting story from Tom Dalton - posted on the SASS Wire back on 3/29/04..........

Just thought I would pass this experience on to all you folks. My Pa runs a Scottish Highland cattle ranch. Its small but he does OK. Well here in the Pacific northwest in Washington state we gots a few mountain lions and one of em got a hankerin after one of our 8 month old hiefers and took after during the night. Tore her poor little throat out and then left.

Cougars like to let their kill ripen a bit before they eat it. Well I wasn't too pleased so I took my Pa's Uberti made 73 in 44-40 and waited near the carcass in the field with my little brother. Sure enough the cougar came to feast and I plugged it with a 44-40 right in the chest. Penetration was clean through the vitals and came out right under her tail and clipped the end off on the way out. She bounced around for about 3 or 4 seconds and fell over dead. I tanned the hide and salvaged the skull and teeth.

The cartridge was handloaded  200 gr RNFP Orgeon Trail laser cast bullet at about 1,200 f.p.s.     Tom D

w44wcf

[D-Hansen]

Thanks for the neat story John.

D-Hansen

[Rowdy Fulcher]

W44wcf
Thanks for the story . Hows the Olde Enysford powder doing ? I have a few rounds of 44wcf loaded with Swiss . That will carry me through Deer season . I hope to Kill a nice Buck , a medium sized Doe , a couple coyotes . And a big black cat . Now that's my plan .

[Cliff Fendley]

I'm getting ready to load up some Old E. Will report back after I've had time to test it.

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Cliff
Will you take your 44wcf Deer hunting ? And do you plan to use BP ? I plan on shooting tomorrow , always like to practice as much as possible . I practice from close shots to out to 120 yards . In the woods I very seldom get a shot over 50 yards . I like hunting close , BUT you better have your crap together . And when you THINK you have them figured out they will prove you WRONG .

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Howdy
Today I did my last minute shooting . The Swiss powder did a Great job as always . The Swiss shoots Great and the cleanup is easy . I will be using my 1873 exclusively  this year    , will leave my 1876 in 45-60 at home . Today I checked my gear for this Friday , the plan is to leave work and head to the Hunting Cabin . The weather forecast for opening day is Good . But they have a tendency to change the weather forecast everyday . So when we get up Saturday , then we will know what the weather will be .

[KirkD]

Rowdy, sounds like you will be hunting the same time as me. I'll be doing my final practice session of offhand shooting tomorrow. On Friday morning I leave for the 7 hour drive up North and start hunting at the crack of dawn on Saturday. Good luck!

[Cliff Fendley]

Yeah Rowdy, I'lll be shooting black powder in my 44wcf. I plan to take my Uberti 66 rifle with 24 inch barrel since it has the sights on it I think would serve me best hunting.

Update on the 44wcf Old E. powder loads.

Accurate 43-210 35 grain 2f Old E. average 1317fps. Most accurate load tested. Nice 3 inch group at 100 yards with my eyes and open sights.

Accurate 43-210 33 grain 3f Old E. average 1345 fps.

Accurate 43-215C 35 grain 2f Old E. average 1275 fps.

Accurate 43-215C 33 grains 3f Old E. average 1311 fps. Second most accurate load tested. I'm probably going to hunt with this one since it hits perfect point of aim.

Regular Goex powder 36 grains 2F produced 1135fps with Mav44 big lube bullets. This is the load this rifle had been sighted for and hits good groups point of aim.

All loads were well within minute of deer accuracy and most were nice groups but I had a flier on the second two tests. Probably was my fault.

The sights on this gun are a large white marbles bead and the rear sight is a stock uberti sight that I have modified to the same profile as an original 1873 winchester sight. Not the best set up for real accuracy testing at a distance since the bead is too large for longer ranges but a great set up for close range deer hunting under 75 yards or so. I can find that big marbles bead with low light in the woods.

Where I plan to take this one hunting my shots probably wont be over 50 yards and likely within 30 yards.

The Old Eynsford powder does really seem to be clean like the Swiss powder.

[KirkD]

I still have not snagged any Swiss, otherwise I'd be using it for hunting next weekend. This evening, I am loading up my 44-40 cartridges with 18 grains of 5744 under a 200 grain Accurate Moulds cast bullet for right around 1,300 fps. It gives me around 2 & 3/4" five-shot groups at 100 yards out of my original '73. Hope one of these bullets takes down the venison next week.

[Patrick Henry Brown]

I plan to take my 44-40 Uberti Henry deer hunting next weekend. Loaded some cartridges yesterday morning with 35 grains of Swiss 3FG behind a a Mav Dutchman Big Lube 44 200 grain RNFP. Went to the range today and tried them. Excellent group at 50 yards. sighted 2" high at that range. Any idea what I can expect as far as POA vs POI at 100 yds. Don't plan on shooting that far, but am interested anyway. I'll be hunting in East Texas, so probability of encountering some hogs as well.

[KirkD]

if it is 2" high at 50 yards, it should be very close to bang on at 100.

[Patrick Henry Brown]

Thanks. That was what I was thinking, but thought I'd ask.

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Howdy
Well Hunting season is just DAYS away .Hope everyone has a safe and successful Hunting season . And don't forget your pictures . We love all the pictures , does anyone have there eye on a Monster Buck

[Mean Bob Mean]

I am so bummed, I was set to go hunting this Friday-first time with my 1873 and my 1860 conversions-but they've called me in to work in the crime lab.

[KirkD]

I am so bummed, I was set to go hunting this Friday-first time with my 1873 and my 1860 conversions-but they've called me in to work in the crime lab.

Mean Bob, that is a crime in and of itself.

I'm leaving first thing in the morning and come dawn on Saturday morning, me and my '73 will be out in the bush.