Winchester 1873 Trapper

[AmBraCol]

Tyler Gunworks has a Winchester 1873 Trapper model in 38/357 caliber. Looks like a lovely bit of kit as some of my Brit friends would say. Click on the link in the model name to take a gander.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Thats a really pretty gun at a very reasonable price.

[Griff]

I, for one, LIKE IT! I do wonder if it's bone & charcoal CCH, or chemical?

[OldWin]

Pretty cool rig. Sure ain't cheap.
In a Trapper, as much as I love the 73, I think I'd rather a 92. The 92 is lighter and more compact. In a 73, the standard carbine makes me happy. I have an original in 38-40, and it's a lot of fun to carry and shoot.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I'm still not sure how it works that you can have a .357 in a 73 action with no apparent problems. But there are a lot of them out there.

[Griff]

I'm still not sure how it works that you can have a .357 in a 73 action with no apparent problems. But there are a lot of them out there.

In what manner do you ask? Bolt thrust or feeding? The same as my '73s in 45 Colt, a straight wall case, easily aligns with the chamber with a RFN or TC bullet... There's a ramp on the front of the carrier that as the carrier is raised, pushes any portion of the next cartridge in the magazine that's protruding into the carrier back into the magazine. (The round on the carrier acts as the cartridge stop). And while some folks complain their gun won't run with .38 Spls... the vast majority do.

Several friends have the Miroku made Winchester and they're very smooth from the factory. The vast majority are probably used in cowboy action, where no one is loading to .357 SAAMI specs.

My understanding is that the .357 doesn't have all that much bolt thrust.

[Scott Tschirhart]

My concern would be with the relatively high pressure of the .357 cartridge vs. the older .44-40 and the like.

I hear about the term "bolt thrust" and I understand that it has to do with the smaller case head on the .357, but it sure seems like there isn't much to back that cartridge up in a 73.

[OldWin]

I don't know. While the 73 isn't strong by today's standards, I think it is stronger than its given credit for. Especially in newer manufactured examples.
One thing for certain is that many 357s have been made in these guns. While many are used in CAS, I'm sure not all are. It would seem if it was an issue we would hear of multiple guns with stretched actions and excessive headspace. There must have been fairly extensive testing, especially in today's litigation happy society.
I was skeptical of these too, in the past. They have been out there long enough now that I have less concern.

[.45colt]

A few years ago Uberti made and sold the '73's in .44 magnum . what other proof of strength do We need?

[Scott Tschirhart]

I have a Uberti marked .44 Special, but it is chambered for and feeds .44 Magnum ammo. It was built as a .44 Magnum.

But I don't shoot it with anything but Skeeter equivalent loads in .44 Special cases.

[KWK]

The color case looks as if from the Stevens cyanide process. The results don't look like the Winchester bone charcoal style.

[AmBraCol]

This one got all scratched up.

[High Desert Hunter]

I am pretty sure Bobby does pack hardened, I don't believe it to be chemical.