1873 Winchester-safe ammo?
Hello: I have a Winchester 1873, made in 1890, that is in good mechanical condition, chambered in .44-40. Is it safe to shoot cowboy smokeless loads in it, or should I stick to blackpowder loads only? Thanks.
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Trick question - who's cowboy loads? If it were mine I'd be feeding it cast bullets correctly sized and lubed just for it, loaded over top of a fake black like American Pioneer. 0 -
All American factory ammo made since 1960 is safe to shoot in a good condition M1873. 0 -
The Winchester brand Cowboy loads are perfectly safe to shoot. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by richarda
All American factory ammo made since 1960 is safe to shoot in a good condition M1873.
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Almost any thing you find today is down loaded about 400 to 500 fps
compared to "old" loads.
Here is a C&P for you to read.
The initial standard load for the cartridge was 40 grains (2.6 g) of black powder propelling a 200-grain (13 g) round nose flat point bullet at approximately 1,245 ft/s (379 m/s), but in 1886 U.M.C. also began offering a slightly heavier 217-grain (14.1 g) bullet at 1,190 ft/s (360 m/s), also with 40 grains (2.6 g) of black powder. Winchester soon began to carry the 217-grain (14.1 g) loading as well, but in 1905 U.M.C. discontinued the heavier load. In 1895 Winchester switched to a 17-grain (1.1 g) loading of DuPont No. 2 Smokeless powder with the 200-grain (13 g) bullet for 1,300 ft/s (400 m/s), and in 1896 U.M.C. followed suit with a reintroduced 217-grain (14.1 g) bullet @ 1,235 ft/s (376 m/s) Soon both companies were offering the cartridge with lead `Metal Patched' (i.e. jacketed), and full metal case versions. In 1903 Winchester began offering a higher performance version of the loading called the W.H.V. (Winchester High Velocity), boasting a velocity of 1,500 ft/s (460 m/s) with a 200-grain (13 g) jacketed bullet from a 24-inch (610 mm) barrel length, U.M.C. and Peters Cartridge Company soon introduced equivalents. Over the years a number of different bullet weights and styles have been offered, including 122, 140, 160,165, 166, 180 and 217-grain (14.1 g) in lead, soft and hollow point, full metal case, and even blanks and shotshells. The most common current loading is a 200-grain (13 g) bullet @ 1,190 ft/s (360 m/s).[1]0 -
Thank you for the responses. 0 -
One word of caution... The WHV loads were for the Model 1885 Single Shot Rifle and the Model 1892 lever-action only (marked on the box as such). Do not shoot WHV loads in an original Model 1873 rifle or Colt SA. 0
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