This is pulled from July 24th question about 1873 replica strength.
'The 1873 action was not a strong one when it was designed, but it did fine for the black powder pistol cartridges available at that time.
Wait and find a more modern design if you want .44 magnum ballistics from a lever gun. Even with the modern steels used for today's replicas, the '73 is comparatively weak in its lockup.
John Browning later designed beefier actions for more powerful cartridges, but the '73 is limited.
See John Taffin's book Action Shooting Cowboy Style, p.255, "The 1866 and 1873 are smooth, but they are not strong. Do Not, Repeat, DO NOT use anything other than standard loads in the 1860, the 1866 , or even in the 1873 Winchester replicas." His emphasis.'
These replica toggle-link guns are made of better steel, but they still have a major handicap in their design once you enter the smokeless era. Play it safe; the replica 1873s are made for playing the "Cowboy Game".
