Winchester 1876 Action Strength

shrapnel · July 17, 2023, 10:03:57 AM

I was just reading in my 1876 Winchester book about the history of the 1876. There have been many stories spread about how weak the 1876 Winchester action is and I find it interesting to see what the actual field test was to determine just how weak/strong that action is. Everyone parrots the same old saying about how weak it is and yet this study seems to nullify that rumor.

Here is a picture of a blown up 1876 that the action held and yet the barrel was blown completely off the action...

King Medallion · July 17, 2023, 10:14:14 AM

I'm curious how those loads were assemble to even be fired? How can 203 grains of Black powder plus 5,6 bullets be loaded into a chamber?

Hair Trigger Jim · July 17, 2023, 10:53:56 AM

Probably muzzle loading on a primed case. I suppose that would swage the bullets a bit, but the action was obviously plenty strong for any black powder cartridge that would feed from the magazine.

Roosterman · July 18, 2023, 09:07:33 AM

OMG! A new post on the '76 forum!

dusty texian · July 20, 2023, 08:28:33 AM

I think the 1876 Winchester is much stronger than it gets credit for . My opinion has been formed from actually using one or actually several for a few decades . Yep I think you are right, most that parrot or repeat the old ( It's a weak action ) say this because they have heard or read this and have no real life experiences that would prove this . Personally I have never seen the action of an 1876 Winchester fail due to over pressuring. I have no doubt it has a breaking point as every action does , but I doubt I will ever see it .,,,,DT

King Medallion · July 20, 2023, 09:33:26 AM

I had a load that was "too much" and it blew the brass, nothing else. Made the shoulder take notice tho.

Slamfire · July 20, 2023, 08:25:17 PM

I'm with DT, the76 "is" stronger than some have been told , and no it's not a Bazooka, just load it with some respect. I "LOVE MY 40-60 " and treat "HER" w/ respect. Loaded some a couple of months ago will have a report in a few days.

coffee's ready, Hootmix.

Coffinmaker · July 21, 2023, 08:26:24 AM

Say Now

Let's hear it for the "Parrots." From a mechanical standpoint, the Toggle Link actions are far far stronger than those "knowing" scribes have any clue. This applies to both the 1876 and the lesser Bs as the Henry, the 1866 and the 1873. Otherwise the Uberti '73 would not be offered in .44 Manglem. Burma Shave

greyhawk · July 26, 2023, 05:07:49 AM

Quote from: Coffinmaker on July 21, 2023, 08:26:24 AM
Say Now

Let's hear it for the "Parrots." From a mechanical standpoint, the Toggle Link actions are far far stronger than those "knowing" scribes have any clue. This applies to both the 1876 and the lesser Bs as the Henry, the 1866 and the 1873. Otherwise the Uberti '73 would not be offered in .44 Manglem. Burma Shave

Follered this on that other forum for a bit and generally agree
I would leave the brass frame guns out of it tho - seen a couple of those bent enough with warm '92 loads to bind up the bolt

done the same to a 22magnum we had - pulling it down for a clean, had the sideplates off and the stock wouldnt come loose, gave the point of the comb a bump with the heel of my hand, yup off it came, when I put that one back together the bolt was binding in the action - stiff and sticky and had been fine before -- still puzzling how this could happen but that is the only explanation I can come up with - so thinking those brass guns get much of their action strength from the tight fitting sideplates ?

hpbear101 · August 16, 2023, 01:53:30 PM

Cinnabar covering the Winchester tests of the 1876 action strength.

King Medallion · August 16, 2023, 04:15:32 PM

Interesting that only one link was used in the testing. Maybe I missed it, but why is the right side link weaker than the left side?

RoyceP · August 18, 2023, 10:29:57 AM

Quote from: King Medallion on August 16, 2023, 04:15:32 PM
Interesting that only one link was used in the testing. Maybe I missed it, but why is the right side link weaker than the left side?

He says in the video that it is more common to find the right link broken on old worn rifles so that means the right link is more susceptible to failure. Makes sense to think they removed one of the links in order to weaken the rifle by half. Remember they were testing a brand new rifle, not an old worn one.

King Medallion · August 18, 2023, 01:35:47 PM

Ok, but that doesn't answer the question as to why the right side is weaker.

RoyceP · August 18, 2023, 03:50:59 PM

Quote from: King Medallion on August 18, 2023, 01:35:47 PM
Ok, but that doesn't answer the question as to why the right side is weaker.

Luck of the draw - there were no old worn out rifles then, only new ones. Why is one link more likely to be broken on old worn out rifles? Maybe you have the means to find out the answer. I don't think anyone else does.

Tronicst1 · August 18, 2023, 07:01:36 PM

I actually double charged one of the reloads I did for my Miroku 1873 .357 Mag. It was really noticeable when it went off.
It locked up the action but when I freed it up with the leaver after a bit of work, it fired fine. Took it apart and could find no discernibly
damaged parts. After watching the video I can see why.