New Rifle

[Tascosa Joe]

I purchased a pretty nice 73 Winchester in 38 WCF last Tuesday.  It is a late 3d Model and appears not to have been fired much.  I will try to get some decent pictures tomorrow and if Major 2 is willing I will get him to post them for me.
T-Joe

[Major 2]

Here you go TJ....    NICE!

[Major 2]

Your last two ....that is a sweet rifle

[Tascosa Joe]

I want to thank Major 2 for posting my pictures.  The bore looks brand new.  It is a 38WCF my favorite caliber. The butt stock may have been cleaned.

[Abilene]

If that rifle has not been reblued, then it's amazing how much original finish is there!

[Blackpowder Burn]

Now we need to know how it shoots!

[Buckaroo Lou]

Wow! Very nice rifle and a terrific find. I too like the 38-40.

[Tascosa Joe]

Abilene it has not been re-blued.  I will shoot it soon, the action is way too stiff to use in CAS.  I need to take it apart and put a shim under the main spring.  I really dont want to take it apart, I can be in the same room with a gun and the screw heads become buggered.

[Baltimore Ed]

Invest in a big set of Brownells hollow ground bits. Multiple widths and thicknesses so every screw has a perfect sized blade. A good investment.

[Tascosa Joe]

Good advice Ed.

[Cliff Fendley]

Very nice rifle Joe!

[Tascosa Joe]

Thanks Cliff.  I hope it shoots as good as it looks.

[dusty texian]

That's a dandy T - Joe . ,,,DT

[Tascosa Joe]

Where I live the lack of rain has caused a burn ban, which in turned closed the place I can shoot.  (Private farm ground)  The next 2 closest public ranges are 70-80 miles away.  Anyway, I took the new (old) 73 to an NCOWS match this morning, our rifle targets are oddly shaped steel at 50-60 yards  Anyway the old girl shoots where you point her.   My load is 231 and a 180 gr bullet.  I got the load from an article M. Ventorino wrote a few years back.  I also shot a 1906 Colt 4 3/4.  I am sure happy with the old 73.

[Virgil Lantey]

Great to hear your new (old) rifle is a good shooter! The hard part is keeping her pointed on target!

Regarding your 50-60 yard targets. What is the approximate size of those?

[Tascosa Joe]

They are all different, one is a coyote howling that is pointed on top and 10" at the bottom and about 2 feet tall, state coach the is about 14 X 18 and a buffalo about the same size as the stage coach.  They are not small but they are not as big as the SASS targets.   Our pistol targets yesterday were 9" circles at 10' to 12" yards.  The biggest issue I have making a rifle shoot well is my 76 year old body.

[Little Dalton]

Hot dog! That is one purty rifle!