The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Winchester 1873 Vs 1876 and other competition

MJN77 · March 9, 2012, 10:10 PM

First off, the 1873 was available for three years or so before the 1876, so it's not like it was a choice between the two for a few years. Second, at the time, the 1873 was the most powerful repeater one could get, Spencer rifle company having gone out of business in 1869. Third, the Colt revolver was not chambered in anything but .45 colt until 1878, so compatability wasn't an issue at first. Most frontiersmen (and women) wanted a repeating rifle, that was powerful enough to put meat on the table, and defend against "injuns" and outlaws. You do not need a .50-110 express for that. If you wanted something that shot out to 1000 yards, you bought a buffalo rifle. Winchester produced the 1876 to try to get in on military sales (the .44-40 was deemed too weak) and to "horn"

in on the buffalo hunter market. The 1873 Winchester was arguably the best rifle for what it was designed for in that era. Otherwise, I don't think they would've made around 720,000 of them until 1919. The 1876 was discontinued in 1898 at around 64,000. It has been said, that next to the .30-30, the .44-40 has killed more deer in this country than any other cartridge.

March 9, 2012, 10:10 PM	#6
MJN77 Senior Member Join Date: April 27, 2009 Location: on a hill in West Virginia Posts: 789	First off, the 1873 was available for three years or so before the 1876, so it's not like it was a choice between the two for a few years. Second, at the time, the 1873 was the most powerful repeater one could get, Spencer rifle company having gone out of business in 1869. Third, the Colt revolver was not chambered in anything but .45 colt until 1878, so compatability wasn't an issue at first. Most frontiersmen (and women) wanted a repeating rifle, that was powerful enough to put meat on the table, and defend against "injuns" and outlaws. You do not need a .50-110 express for that. If you wanted something that shot out to 1000 yards, you bought a buffalo rifle. Winchester produced the 1876 to try to get in on military sales (the .44-40 was deemed too weak) and to "horn" in on the buffalo hunter market. The 1873 Winchester was arguably the best rifle for what it was designed for in that era. Otherwise, I don't think they would've made around 720,000 of them until 1919. The 1876 was discontinued in 1898 at around 64,000. It has been said, that next to the .30-30, the .44-40 has killed more deer in this country than any other cartridge.