Jeremy P said

TXGunNut said
 Be careful around Jeremy, guns tend to follow him home. Sometimes he doesn't even have to pay for them! 
 
Mike
  

I've heard you shouldn't covet your neighbor's wife or something like that, blah blah blah....pretty sure that doesn't count for guns. At the very least, it's not cheating if I just shoot another owner's gun, right?
I may not have much pocket money to take with me and no pending raffles!
  

Limited funds gives you more time to focus on the eye candy and learning opportunities, maybe even survey a 1911 or two. 

Mike

Mike

Zebulon said
I was thinking of ordering some RNFP 200 grain .430 bullets for Model 73 Sporting Rifle, and asking for a 16 to 1 alloy. (Browning specs a .429 groove diameter for all its 44 Winchester rifles, a useful idea for maker and customer.) Do you happen to know the typical Brinnell number for that alloy? 
  

I generally go with 20-1 for BP cartridges (about 11 BHN) and I think 16-1 is the ratio noted on old ammo boxes. That would be about 10 BHN. Hardness rating sometimes varies with casting methods, impurities, age and testing methods so I just shoot for a ratio that works for my guns. Some commercial casters may offer a limited menu of alloys, 16-1 may be harder to find than 20-1 but I really haven't looked around enough to know. Changing alloys is a chore, that's why I have four furnaces and three standard alloys.

Mike

slk said
I would like to add an additional question here.  If ya had a choice what would you choose chambered in 45 colt or the 44/40 for the 1873??Any reasons for either. 
  

Considering the 45 Colt is a pistol cartridge and the 44-40 is a pistol sized rifle cartridge.....

If you are looking for "Minute of Deer" accuracy, availability, and ease of loading...get the 45 Colt and use it for the pistol cartridge it is at less than 150 yards.

If you are looking to treat the 44-40 like the rifle cartridge it is...get the 44-40 and deal with the demand for handloads to get what you need.

If you can handle 300 yards or further, like those before us did, better learn how to load the 44-40.

Early Years 44-40 target competitions: https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/targets?authuser=0

visit the 2026 300 yard targets: https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/targets/targets-load-development/2026-targets?authuser=0

...and of course, the 44-40 Doc Pardee Club: https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/doc-pardee-club?authuser=0

Zebulon said
Very handsome, Bryan and it makes me happy to see you using it for what it was intended. 
I'm waiting on a Miroku-built Winchester 1885 made up as part of Browning's Traditional Hunter series. A limited edition, it is NIB although built in 2004, chambered in 38-55. It comes furnished with a tang micrometer sight (looks like the windage adjustable Marble's) but  I've started to study the modern reproductions of the Malcolm scopes.  Do you have any suggestions or recommendations?
  

I AM JELOUS!!! LOL

I suspect this is the range of prices you'll find, depending upon condition and the degree of 'originality' you desire.

If you are willing to accept some aftermarket modifications, you can probably get one for much less.

Paul

Thanks

Steve

TXGunNut said
 Be careful around Jeremy, guns tend to follow him home. Sometimes he doesn't even have to pay for them! 
 
Mike
  

I've heard you shouldn't covet your neighbor's wife or something like that, blah blah blah....pretty sure that doesn't count for guns. At the very least, it's not cheating if I just shoot another owner's gun, right?

I may not have much pocket money to take with me and no pending raffles!

For my current needs with the commercial bullets now available I'm not sure I would go down the "pour your own" road today. Yes there are risks but I take a risk driving, walking or cooking and that doesn't stop me. I've made mistakes and experienced equipment malfunctions but the impact was mitigated by good PPE and safety procedures. One change that is a factor for aspiring bullet casters is that very few passenger vehicles use lead wheel weights today so that "nearly free lead" window of opportunity is closing. There are also several commercial casters today who produce a good product for less than I would sell them for if I thought my time was worth anything. 

The 44WCF is a cartridge best loaded by a bullet caster who can tailor bullet diameter and hardness to the varied bore diameters found in vintage and modern rifles. Commercial alloys remove the risk of melting and cleaning scrap lead so when I run out of my current supply of scrap lead I will quit using it, even though WW scrap makes a great handgun bullet. It's possibly a bit hard for the 44WCF but I've found pure lead mixed 50/50 with WW scrap gets close to the 20-1 or 16-1 the old BP cartridges were designed for. 

Mike

You Can't go wrong building a library. Having these members help to verify, what you find in Tulsa, would be a plus and a learning experience that would be second to none.

Tony

TXGunNut said
Welcome, IndianCent! You're off to a great start, the Tulsa show will give you an awesome opportunity to look at and handle hundreds of Winchesters and talk with dozens of collectors. There's no better way to learn about these wonderful old guns. Books are good, too. Be careful around Jeremy, guns tend to follow him home. Sometimes he doesn't even have to pay for them! 
 
Mike
  

Appreciate the kind words. This is my 5th year in Tulsa (display pre-73 Rugers). I shoot and load SAA's (Colt, Uberti n USFA). I want to get some long guns to go with that. I ordered the book on Mod 86 n 92 from Arthur Pirkle. I hope it's gets here before we leave for Tulsa. My main focus is on 1892's, I already have a 1892 73' in 32-20. Much more fun ahead.

Mike