Italian Winchesters

[Flint]

Uberti is the only maker of toggle-link Winchesters (Henry/66/73), no matter who's name is on the barrel.  Yes, they are good.  They are smoother than the other actions, even very acceptable out of the box.  Lots and lots are used in CAS matches. With a little judicious work inside, even smooter.  They will NOT however take hot handloads.  Use standard Colt-safe loads only.  Uberti revolvers are as good as it gets out of Italy.  USFirearms are better, but cost 50% more, Rugers are tougher but not authentic.  Colts are out of the question if price is important.  AWA line now looks good too for revolvers, they took over and renamed Armi San Marcos. If you want a 73 in a real Winchester, it would be a shooter, not a collector gun, and would never be found in 45Colt caliber.

[ButlerFord45]

 They are good rifles, they shoot just fine out of the box, much smoother than marlins and newer winchesters and a hole lot prettier to look at!  Bare in mind the they were designed in the black powder era, for black powder loads and it's not the metal in the new ones that is cause for not using HOT handloads, it is the toggle link design.  They are an effective 100 yd deer rifle with modern, or black powder loads, as well as being a lot of fun to shoot

[Flint]

Don't exceed the loads for a Colt SAA or clone.  If the loading manual lists loads for TC and Rugers only, DON'T use them in a Cowboy Action rifle.

[Flint]

The 44-40 (44WCF) is authentic in the 73 Winchester.  The Henry and 66 Yellowboy fired 44 Henry Rimfire.  Yes, Colt chambered 44WCF.  No rifle in the period ever chambered 45 Long Colt.  The 19th century baloon head cases had rounded corners like the 22 rimfire, and the rim is too shallow and rounded to bite well enough for a rifle extractor.  Modern solid head cartridge cases in 45Colt have sharper corners and a deeper groove at the base of the rim and a rifle can extract it.

[ButlerFord45]

:-D  Grant, if no one comes up with a website with a picture, tonight I'll pull the sideplate off of one of mine and take a picture of a toggle link action for you, I don't think I could explain it without becomming so long winded you'd forget what I asid in the beginning by the time you got to the end

[ButlerFord45]

Grant, this is the best I would do on short notice, but I think it will give you the idea of "Toggle Link"

http://nowaydn.home.kih.net/1.jpg
http://nowaydn.home.kih.net/2.jpg
http://nowaydn.home.kih.net/3.jpg
http://nowaydn.home.kih.net/4.jpg
http://nowaydn.home.kih.net/5.jpg
http://nowaydn.home.kih.net/6.jpg
http://nowaydn.home.kih.net/7.jpg


Hope this helps

[Flint]

No you don't have to take it down that far for routine cleaning, but sometimes to get deep blown back carbon and to lubricate.  It is not a complicated device, but the screws holding the lever and lifter springs can be awful hard to break loose.  You could relegate that to a gunsmith once a year or so.  The locked toggle is all that holds the bolt forward, sort of an upside down Luger.  Later Browning designs had lifting blocks to lock the bolt, much stronger.  This is strong enough for 44-40 and 45Colt standard loads, but no more.  ButlerFord done good with the pictures.  A Henry or a 66 Yellowboy is not as easy to take down as the 73, by the way, since the lever pivot screw goes though the sideplates on those rifles..

[Grant]

Thanks Flint.  

Thought I'd finally register since I seem to be here a lot.

Not that I'm gonna, but is this rifle in 45 Colt Long capable of taking deer sized game with those standard loads?  

Hey I was in the gun store yesterday and they were talking about the new Ca. Law.  You can't buy a handgun in Ca. now until you have taken a class and passed a test and demonstrated your knowledge and safety with the gun.  Then you get a certificate that's good for 5 yrs and in that time limit you may purchase hand guns.  When the 5 yrs is up you have to re-test.  

I wonder how the state determines who admisisters the tests?  And how do those poor bastards test to see if they qualify.  And of course there's probably gonna be a fee for the "class".  Who'll get that money?  Then, even if ya don't buy a gun, some one, somewhere has your information cause you took a "safety class".

Sheesh!  I'm moving back to Wa. as soon as I retire.

[ButlerFord45]

Grant the 45 factory loads, or my preference, case full of FFF and a 255gr lead bullet, makes for a deadly 100yd deer rifle,  I quit hunting, but my son's sometimes looking for a bit more challenge, use my bp loads and the 73 or 66. Two have been sucessful, big hole going in and a bigger hole coming out.   I've been successful at over a hundred fifty yards on drop-off dog packs, all the way through medium sized dogs.

[Yukon Jack]

Butler, is yours a Uberti?  Sure is a fine looking rifle.  Seems like a few years ago they were offered in 22 lr, but I haven't seen hide or hair of one.  Looking through Sam Fadala's Legendary Sporting Rifles, it looks like the rifle was originally offered by Winchester in 32-20, 38-40, 44-40 and 22 rf.

[ButlerFord45]

Jack, yes sir it is.  Uberti is the only company making the Henery, '66, or '73 to the best of my knowledge.  I have an old Gun Digest from back in 93 that lists 22lr, 22mag, 357, 38-40, 44-40, and 45 colt.  I haven't seen any new ones being offered in 22, however my not having seen one doesen't mean much.  Thank you for the compliment, I too think they lood pretty good, but much better for shooting!

[Flint]

Haven't bought anything yet this year.  Near as I've been told, you have to demonstrate to the dealer/seller you know how to load and, most importantly, unload the gun.  I was told you had to do this everytime you buy a gun.  The old permit/card was after taking a written or practical test, or getting a hunting license, was good, just show it.  The new law is just harrassment.  Bet the legislators that wrote it can't pass the test.

[Graybeard]

Dang yew boys in KA have tough laws.

I lak the test in Bama much better. All ya gotta do is show the dealer ya got money ta pay fer it.  

Not that ain't always easy however.

GB