Vintage Hunting with the 1873

Rowdy Fulcher · September 24, 2011, 10:07:18 AM

Howdy Pards
Hunting season is almost here . Hope everyone can get some pictures and tell everyone about their Hunt .I have been working with my 44wcf and it's ready .

w44wcf · September 25, 2011, 07:27:20 AM

Circa 1875 in northern Michigan hunting out of "Camp Erwin"
From the book: Legendary Deer Camps

"Most hunters that hung out at deer camp Erwin used the Model 1873 Winchester in .44 W.C.F. (44-40)......"

w44wcf

w44wcf · September 25, 2011, 09:32:59 AM

I wonder how many of these deer were harvested with the 1873 Winchester?
I'll bet 80+%.

From the book: Legendary Deer Camps

w44wcf

Rowdy Fulcher · September 28, 2011, 10:49:04 AM

Howdy
What is your pet load that you plan on hunting with . Will you be shooting black or smokeless ? And what caliber is your 1873 ?

w44wcf · September 29, 2011, 09:46:17 AM

Rowdy Fulcher,

I like stepping back in time so I plan on using 40 grs of SWISS FFG with a 200 gr. cast bullet in original W.R.A. CO. 44 W.C.F. cases (see avatar)..... similar to the ammunition that John Irwin used in his '73.....back in the 1870's......

w44wcf

Rowdy Fulcher · October 01, 2011, 02:32:15 AM

W44WCF
I know what you mean . I am going to our Hunting Cabin tomorrow and camp for the night and yes I will take my 73 and my USFA prewar . I love shooting both . The 44wcf is a excellent round in rifle or pistol . And I will have a GOOD time setting around the campfire thinking about that BIG Buck we all want to get . Will work in a little plinking session over the weekend . Will finish off the last batch of jerky over the weekend .

Rowdy Fulcher · October 30, 2011, 05:26:23 PM

Howdy
Got a chance to slip away to the cabin and shoot . I shot at 110 yards to see how much drop my bullet would have . I was impressed to see hope the bullet had enough energy to make small dimples in the soft steel target . I shot at 50 yards and it was smacking steel with authority . I was a little concerned about using the 44wcf but after this weekend I feel it will do an Excellent job in it's Range .

Rowdy Fulcher · November 15, 2011, 12:08:47 PM

Howdy
Deer season is here . Hope everyone has a safe and successful Hunt . Post your pictures , we want to see what you got big or small .

Dirty Brass · November 16, 2011, 08:54:39 AM

Rowdy I'll be using two rifles this season. One is the '76 I reworked and turned and shortened the BBL in 45/75, and the other back-up is my '86 Browning in 45/70 (that one will digest some hotter loads) Hopefully I'll be able to post some nice buck pics, as we've been seeing some nice ones during bow hunting this year. Good luck during your hunt!

Rowdy Fulcher · November 20, 2011, 08:36:32 PM

Dirty Brass
This year I have been using my 1873 . During Muzzle loader season I had a Big Bobcat at about 20 yards , but we have a season and it wasn't in then . Now we can take a Bobcat so I am waiting for him to come back . I was bored the other day while sitting in my stand so when a coyote came through at a fast pace I had to give him a try . And ole Willey Coyote was fast enough to not get hit .

Rowdy Fulcher · November 25, 2011, 09:20:15 PM

Howdy
Still no Deer , but I got a coyote today . He was about 55 yards and the 44wcf did a heck of a job . Tomorrow will be the last day I will be able to Hunt , wish me Luck .

w44wcf · November 26, 2011, 08:42:26 AM

Quote from: Rowdy Fulcher on November 25, 2011, 09:20:15 PM
Still no Deer , but I got a coyote today . He was about 55 yards and the 44wcf did a heck of a job . Tomorrow will be the last day I will be able to Hunt , wish me Luck .

Rowdy,
Nice job on that coyote!

We need less of them around. Hope you are succesful on your venison quest.

w44wcf

Coal Creek Griff · November 27, 2011, 10:13:08 AM

Rowdy:

We're breathlessly waiting for the hunting report. With no update, I'm assuming no good news?

Rowdy Fulcher · November 27, 2011, 10:46:52 AM

Howdy
Nothing moving today . So Deer season is over for Rifle season . Muzzle loader season will come in the 2nd Saturday of December .
Maybe next year for my 1873 .

Rafe Covington · November 27, 2011, 01:06:12 PM

Congrats on getting the coyote, nice shooting.

Rafe

Dirty Brass · November 30, 2011, 12:54:17 PM

We had little luck this season, but i managed to get this spike buck opening day with the modified '76 in 45/75. About 60 yards away, and walking slowly and carefully. I consider myself fortunate

May try the T-zone hunt on the 8th - 10th, but it's doe only that weekend. Didn't stick around for the ML hunt as we saw very few deer for the 9 day gun season.

Congrats on the coyote Rowdy!

Rowdy Fulcher · November 30, 2011, 05:36:19 PM

Dirty Brass
Fine looking Buck . Glad you was able to use your 1876 . How much Jerky are you going to make ? Congratulations on a fine kill .

Dirty Brass · December 01, 2011, 10:03:22 AM

Not making any jerky this year. Grinding everything into hamburger and seasoning it "Italian" style for chili, burgers, and spaghetti. Back steaks of course are separate for grilling and frying. Not much left of the shoulders for use.

I really enjoy the 45/75 as it is modified, but I'm leaning on using the '73 in 44/40 next time, or the 45/60 '76. Gotta spread the wealth around you know!

My only fear is seeing a 10 pointer 250 yards off and no scoped rifle for these old eyes (chuckle).

Continued success to all you folks still hunting!

Rowdy Fulcher · December 10, 2011, 06:33:42 PM

Dirty Brass
Are you going to shoot black or smokeless next year in your 73 ? I plan on working on a black powder load if the Black Dawge doesn't work out . I really enjoy working with the 1873 in 44wcf .The new short rifle needs a .429 dia bullet my old half round shoots .427 imagine that ? Why can't they all take the same bullet ?

w44wcf · December 15, 2011, 12:46:19 PM

Quote from: Rowdy Fulcher on December 10, 2011, 06:33:42 PM
..........I plan on working on a black powder load if the Black Dawge doesn't work out . I really enjoy working with the 1873 in 44wcf .The new short rifle needs a .429 dia bullet my old half round shoots .427 imagine that ? Why can't they all take the same bullet ?

Rowdy,
They can if one prepares b.p. ammunition like it was manufactured back when Winchester was making '73's.
In other words, a soft lead bullet of .426 - .427" diameter over a quality black powder.

Prior to the mid 1890's when smokeless powder and metal patched (jacketed) bullets made their appearance bore / groove dimensions varied widely according to George Madis, who wrote the Winchester Book (my '73 made in 1882 has a .433" groove diameter. I have heard of some being as large as .435".). George told me that Winchester knew that their b.p. ammunition would shoot accurately in barrels of varying diameter so didn't correct the situation.

That changed in the mid 1890's because smokeless powdered ammunition did not shoot so well in larger barrels.

Today, handloaded replications of early Winchester b.p. ammunition shoots well in my rifle's oversized bore. Black powder bumps up the undersized .427" diameter soft lead bullet to fill the bore just like the original ammunition did 100+ years ago......

I Took my gun for a walk a few times this year but didn't see anything legal. The magazine contained black powder ammunition assembled to replicate that vintage ammunition of yesteryear.

w44wcf