Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Which model 1873 for Deer Hunting?

I could be interested in a 73,
The questions are, 1) Whose is built well for that apllication, Winchester, Uberti, etc.?
2) Which cartridge would be best, 357 Rem Mag, 44-40 Win, 45 Colt (got the 45 dies).


My eyes are only good to about 50 or so yards at dusk with open sights...bow ranges mostly.

.357 magnum.

The 44-40 and .45 colt rifles are only rated for BP equivilent loads.

The .357s can handle factory 158 JHP loads which should run about 1,600 FPS in a rifle. Will do a deer fine out to your sight limitations.

Aa far as rifle brand, I would go with a Miroku made Winchester Short rifle.

Any of the cartridges will work adequately for what you describe but I'd go 44-40. It's right in a '73 and the cartridge is plenty.

Well, after running a Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt, and having the dies, I was wondering if the old 255 gr at original velocity might get it done as.well as ths others....but I am Very open to suggestions...the 44-40 and 357 interest me too.

38-40

I'd go 44/40 or 45 Colt. I really don't want a Magnum 73, regardless of today's 'improved metal properties'

I once owned an old.Marlin, an old one, don't know the model...but she was.a.babe.. Dad and I let it go in order to get my Bro a rifle...one of my regrets in life is letting that go...glad he got his gun but should have just bought his with cash.

I always appreciate when you.chime in..

If it came down to the 44-40 Win vs the 45 Colt...is there a load in thd 44-40 Win that will perform as well as the 45 Colt...at the '73's pressure ceiling.?

Or doesn't that matter in this senerio..?

hanco that's a darn fine '73 you got there.

Straight walled cartridges in the 73 tend to blow gas and unburned powder back at the shooter due to the case not sealing well. Winchester brass is on the softer side and seals some better, but the 44/40 is a better choice. It can be loaded to adequately do the job under the conditions you describe.

Pet Loads by Ken Waters has some great 44/40 loads and work ups I have used that are all quite safe. I have used one of his loads in a 7 1/2" Uberti flat top target to take a couple of Georgia white tails at under 40 yards. Shot placement is king!

I have killed a few pigs with it.

A deer won't know the difference between the 44-40 and 45 Colt.

Anyone, in the 44-40 are we looking at a 200gr bullet at 1300fps. is that about right.?

What does that bore measure, anyone swage it.?

Load data.?

Hodgdon max loads - 965 from 6" barrel, 200 grain bullet. Pistol
1117 from 20" using 6.2grains of Titegroup, 200 grain bullet. Rifle

My Uberti '66 Win is chambered for the Colt..6.5 grs of Unique and this 300 gr cast sized .454 is a hammer at a modest velocity of 1040 fps. Don't be scared off by all the negative 45 Colt blow back and un-burnt powder BS.....If these brainiacs would size .454 instead of .452 and use a heavy crimp the stars would align and all would be good in Leverville. If you don't roll your own order a good cast bullet it'll most likely shoot better than its counterpart.

I shot a nice buck last year with my Remington 14 1/2 in 44/40 with a factory cowboy load. The range was 75 yards and that soft lead, slow moving, non magnum load sailed right through. I don't have a peep sight on my 73 in 45 colt, so I would probably be more limited in range than I am with the 14 1/2 but putting one through the ribs is going to put venison in the freezer, If I do my part. They did it that way back in the 1800's and it still works. Get close, put that bullet in the right place and it works. It use to be called hunting.