What would you choose?

S

shafter

New member
I'm thinking about buying a levergun. Its not for cowboy shooting but for historical appeal and general plinking and likely some deer hunting as well.

Here's the choice:
1860 Henry rifle in 45 colt
1873 Winchester rifle in 45 colt(maybe 44-40)

I don't want a carbine and if I go with the winchester I would like it to have a 20" barrel or maybe the next length up. I'm assuming the standard pressure 45 colt would be fine in either the Win or the Henry. By standard pressure I mean smokeless powder with a 250-255gr bullet at 1000fps or less. I've been leaning towards the Winchester but the Henry has recently caught my attention. The 45 colt is easy to reload and will go with the six shooter so thats why I prefer it over the more historical 44-40.
What'd you think?
 
I am really sticking my neck out

I am at the real risk of rendering an opinion when I really don't have much knowledge to back it up. I am no hunter and not much of a long arm guy.....


But the Winchester would be lighter by almost two pounds, right? Easier to tote?


Oooo, I should also add that as a guy from Southeastern Virginia I am accustomed to deer that are really the size of a big dog.
 
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"Historical appeal"

Lever guns were not chambered in .45 Colt until modern times due to the minuscule rim on the original Benet primed cases. Balloon head boxer primed cases retained essentially the same rim dimensions and were just not suitable for lever guns.

BenetPrimed45Colt.jpg


The 1860 was never chambered in a centerfire cartridge at all, but the 1873 was a .44-40 right from the get go.

Looks like a clear choice to me. :)
 
I recently went through the same decision process, although I also included the Model 1866 Winchester YellowBoy in my option list. I too am a plinker, not a hunter, and like historical replicas.

And like you, although historically inaccurate, I wanted .45 LC chambering since .44-40 is generally harder to find (although I've recently seen some at places that didn't have the more popular .45), and my revolvers are .45.

I chose the Yellowboy based primarily on the good looks of it's polished brass (bronze) receiver but, to tell the truth, I'm going to get the Henry and the 1873 too. All will be carbines.

Although I bought my Uberti Yellowboy locally, I am going to buy my 1873 from Cimmaron. Although it's still a Uberti, Cimmarons have all the historically correct markings on them, at a little higher cost of course.
 
I'd go with the 73 not only for less weight over the Henry and 66 but the removable side plates make clearing jams so much easier. If you really want to spruce things up tho the Winchester 92 is the strongest. All the others have toggle link actions that wont take a lot of pressure.
 
Yeah I know 45 colt isn't historical for either gun but thats okay with me. I'm going more for appearance than overly technical specs and 45 colt is still more of an "old west" caliber than 357 or 44mag anyway and good luck finding 44 rimfire!
Thanks for the input, I'm definately going to take my time on this decision
 
Here's the choice:
1860 Henry rifle in 45 colt
1873 Winchester rifle in 45 colt(maybe 44-40)
Click to expand...

Given the choice, the '73 Winchester in 44-40. Two basic reasons, as stated previously, the .45 Colt is not historically correct & the 44-40 is; and the '73 is lighter than the Henry.

Having said that, I have a 44-40 Henry, 44-40 and .45Colt '73, and 44-40 '66 Carbine. Out of all of them; the '66 Carbine is my favorite & has been used in CAS competition for the past 6 years. All loadings are BP or Pinnacle and it is a light, quick, accurate rifle.
 
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