Winchester 73 rant..

[morgan in nm]

Went to the local shop today and they had a 60% other than the modification, win 73 for a fair price so I bought it. It was inexpensive because some knucklehead years ago rechambered it to 357 mag. They also rebored it and it was done some time ago because the rifling is of an older style. They also cut it down to 21.5" so relining is not an option. Thankfully the barrel and the magazine tube is the only thing messed with. The color-case on the hammer is vivid with about 60% blue remaining. The stock has no chips and is about as clean as I ever seen one. It appears not to have been shot since the modification. It looks good enough to just about leave it the way it is but I would rather rebarrel it back to 32-20. Where should I start looking? I also placed an ad in classified. Why do some folks have to mess up such a nice looking rifle?

My camera is broken again so pics will have to come later.

[arjunky]

You could talk to Mike Hunter, Hunter Restorations.
http://www.hunterrestorations.com/
Maybe reline original barrel or have him make a new one.
Or just download and shoot it the way it is.

Byron

[jnyork]

Can you use Uberti parts?

[Gun Smith]

If you are looking for a 32/20 original barrel, they come up once in a while. Go to Gunbroker and look in Parts- Rifle. I have seen them there. Also check numrich, a possibility. I would bring it back to close to original if it was mine. Ebay is another choice.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Went to the local shop today and they had a 60% other than the modification, win 73 for a fair price so I bought it. It was inexpensive because some knucklehead years ago rechambered it to 357 mag. They also rebored it and it was done some time ago because the rifling is of an older style. They also cut it down to 21.5" so relining is not an option. Thankfully the barrel and the magazine tube is the only thing messed with. The color-case on the hammer is vivid with about 60% blue remaining. The stock has no chips and is about as clean as I ever seen one. It appears not to have been shot since the modification. It looks good enough to just about leave it the way it is but I would rather rebarrel it back to 32-20. Where should I start looking? I also placed an ad in classified. Why do some folks have to mess up such a nice looking rifle?

My camera is broken again so pics will have to come later.

Mike can actually weld a piece to that barrel then re-line it back to 32-20 or he can make you a barrel.

[brno602]

Went to the local shop today and they had a 60% other than the modification, win 73 for a fair price so I bought it. It was inexpensive because some knucklehead years ago rechambered it to 357 mag. They also rebored it and it was done some time ago because the rifling is of an older style. They also cut it down to 21.5" so relining is not an option. Thankfully the barrel and the magazine tube is the only thing messed with. The color-case on the hammer is vivid with about 60% blue remaining. The stock has no chips and is about as clean as I ever seen one. It appears not to have been shot since the modification. It looks good enough to just about leave it the way it is but I would rather rebarrel it back to 32-20. Where should I start looking? I also placed an ad in classified. Why do some folks have to mess up such a nice looking rifle?

My camera is broken again so pics will have to come later.

Well to be honest and it might sound real bad but some folks want to build a rifle they really like in a cal that would do a better job and just for the H*** of it because they can. I have a lightwight 86 in 33 win I keep thinking of going 33win improved and making my own Wildcat something that would give my mod 71 Browning a run for it's money? lol But knowing the gun is worth at least 2grand I can't do it!
I am so giddy that Hornady now has a soft tip 200gr bullet again in a Spitzer too for my old gun I still have at least 300 of their 200 gr flat pionts in stock but want to try the rubber tipped bullets.But if I die tomorrow my wife will part with most of them I know my brothers will end up with all of them but sometimes guns hit the market because no family want's them.
Hope this post made sence it's a read between the lines kinda thing.

[Pete44ru]

Numrich has magazine tubes in stock @ $20, but you just missed a gunbroker auction (now "closed") that had three 1873 barrels, one of which was a .32-20.

.

[Wind]

Hey there morgan in nm -- That actually happened quite a bit. Every one seemed to be doing it in the '30's to the 50's with 25-20's and 32-20's. New, hotter cartridge... Change it back. Here is my 101 year old 25-20 back from .357 (new barrel). I'm so loving it now. Hope this helps. Best regards. Wind

[morgan in nm]

Went to the local shop today and they had a 60% other than the modification, win 73 for a fair price so I bought it. It was inexpensive because some knucklehead years ago rechambered it to 357 mag. They also rebored it and it was done some time ago because the rifling is of an older style. They also cut it down to 21.5" so relining is not an option. Thankfully the barrel and the magazine tube is the only thing messed with. The color-case on the hammer is vivid with about 60% blue remaining. The stock has no chips and is about as clean as I ever seen one. It appears not to have been shot since the modification. It looks good enough to just about leave it the way it is but I would rather rebarrel it back to 32-20. Where should I start looking? I also placed an ad in classified. Why do some folks have to mess up such a nice looking rifle?

My camera is broken again so pics will have to come later.

Well to be honest and it might sound real bad but some folks want to build a rifle they really like in a cal that would do a better job and just for the H*** of it because they can. I have a lightwight 86 in 33 win I keep thinking of going 33win improved and making my own Wildcat something that would give my mod 71 Browning a run for it's money? lol But knowing the gun is worth at least 2grand I can't do it!
I am so giddy that Hornady now has a soft tip 200gr bullet again in a Spitzer too for my old gun I still have at least 300 of their 200 gr flat pionts in stock but want to try the rubber tipped bullets.But if I die tomorrow my wife will part with most of them I know my brothers will end up with all of them but sometimes guns hit the market because no family want's them.
Hope this post made sence it's a read between the lines kinda thing.

It does make sence. Like my dad said, back when the modification was done, the rifles were being sold for under $20 and availability was not an issue.

Pete44ru, I wish I would have known that but then, the dealer I bought it from just got the rifle yesterday. I will keep an eye out.

[Old Time Hunter]

This guy can still retain the original barrel, restore it to original length, and line it without 99.9% of the people being able to tell whether or not it was done:

Bob Hoyt
R.A. Hoyt
Freischutz Shop
700 Fairfield Station Rd.
Fairfield, PA 17320
717-642-6696

[morgan in nm]

Well, I shot it just now with 11 grns of 2400 using a 158grn lead FN. It grouped to about 8" at 50yds. I also took it apart and on the underside of the barrel is stamped 22. I don't know what that means but I don't think its the date as the barrel markings seem to be correct for a 3rd model. I then examined the muzzle and there dousn't appear to be any cut marks. Could 22 be the original length? I have never heard of a rifle with such a short barrel.

Is 11 grns too weak causing the large group? The bore is mirror. I was looking for the weakest load that might duplicate the original 32-20 but now I think I should load up some. What would be a safe starting point for 357mag on this old rifle?