Range Time Colt 73 Circa 1897

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rusty gunns
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Range Time Colt 73 Circa 1897

Post by rusty gunns »

I finally got to the range with my brand new, 116 year old colt. Circa 1897

Though it is not a black powder frame, according to Colt it is still a Black powder gun. They told me last week that their 73 revolvers were all black powder until 1906, regardless of frame design.

Having said that, the link below shows my 25 foot target off hand.

http://s1337.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... 897%20colt

I tried a couple of factory cowboy loads and found that, though a reasonable smokeless load is fine in the gun, it doesn't expand the lead in the barrel enough to get a good grip on the rifling, and accuracy is very poor.

The trigger is a bear on this old timer so I pulled to the left quite a bit. I plan to have that addressed after this season's Sass shoots. I am so addicted, that I peddled my S&W 66-1, my Ruger MarkII .22, Uberti Scofield, and my old cattleman so I can have another old colt.

The down payment is in, and my Money order will go out Monday.

That gives me an original Winchester 73, a Marlin 89, and my 1878 Parker brother's 10 gauge, for Cowboy shooting. The world is getting to be a good place! :D
The problem using historical quotes in your signature is that there is no way to verify its authenticity.
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Pair of Colt 73 44-40 (1897)
Parker Bros 10 Gauge (1878)
Winchester 73 44-40 (1881)
Marlin 89 38-40 (1891) Marlin 89 44-40 (1891)
Win 92 38-40 (1892)
Win 92 Short Rifle 44-40 (1901)
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2ndovc
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Re: Range Time Colt 73 Circa 1897

Post by 2ndovc »

I've wanted a real SAA for as long as I can remember! That sure looks like a Sixgun that sure has been there anddone that!

Looks like your having fun!

jb 8) 8)
jasonB " Another Dirty Yankee"


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J Miller
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Re: Range Time Colt 73 Circa 1897

Post by J Miller »

Nice pistola. Although Colt says it is a BP gun, I'll bet it's had more smokeless fired through it in the last 107 years than you can imagine.

Use .454" or .455" bullets and you'll get much better accuracy.

Joe
***Be sneaky, get closer, bust the cap on him when you can put the ball where it counts ;) .***
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Old Savage
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Re: Range Time Colt 73 Circa 1897

Post by Old Savage »

Not in a 44-40 :)
In the High Desert of Southern Calif. ..."on the cutting edge of going back in time"...

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rusty gunns
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Re: Range Time Colt 73 Circa 1897

Post by rusty gunns »

J Miller wrote:Nice pistola. Although Colt says it is a BP gun, I'll bet it's had more smokeless fired through it in the last 107 years than you can imagine.

Use .454" or .455" bullets and you'll get much better accuracy.

Joe

Joe,

Oh, that it were that easy. The chamber throats are a consistent .425, which was the common opening back then for the early First Gen Colts.

For these old colts, they suggest using .427 bullets so they don't stress the chambers. Once I get that trigger done, it will be perfect. When I benched it it was right on the money. I won't be cutting playing cards in half, but I believe it can hold a two inch group at 25 feet.

But, hey, we'll see.
The problem using historical quotes in your signature is that there is no way to verify its authenticity.
-Abraham Lincoln

Pair of Colt 73 44-40 (1897)
Parker Bros 10 Gauge (1878)
Winchester 73 44-40 (1881)
Marlin 89 38-40 (1891) Marlin 89 44-40 (1891)
Win 92 38-40 (1892)
Win 92 Short Rifle 44-40 (1901)
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J Miller
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Re: Range Time Colt 73 Circa 1897

Post by J Miller »

Arhggggggg, somewhere I missed that it was a 44-40. Yeah, running a .454" bullet down it's gullet wouldn't be doable.

Joe
***Be sneaky, get closer, bust the cap on him when you can put the ball where it counts ;) .***
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rusty gunns
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Re: Range Time Colt 73 Circa 1897

Post by rusty gunns »

Old Savage wrote:Not in a 44-40 :)
.454 in a .44-40?

Oh yes... you certainly can.


Once!
The problem using historical quotes in your signature is that there is no way to verify its authenticity.
-Abraham Lincoln

Pair of Colt 73 44-40 (1897)
Parker Bros 10 Gauge (1878)
Winchester 73 44-40 (1881)
Marlin 89 38-40 (1891) Marlin 89 44-40 (1891)
Win 92 38-40 (1892)
Win 92 Short Rifle 44-40 (1901)
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Old Savage
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Re: Range Time Colt 73 Circa 1897

Post by Old Savage »

Probably won't chamber.
In the High Desert of Southern Calif. ..."on the cutting edge of going back in time"...

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Lefty Dude
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Re: Range Time Colt 73 Circa 1897

Post by Lefty Dude »

A few years ago I ordered a pair of Colts from the custom shop, 44-40's with seperate 44 Spec. cylinders.

When I received them much to my surprise, one had a 45 Colt cylinder instead of the 44WCF. This was serial numbered to the 44WCF frame. Needless to say Colt was shocked to say the least when I stated that they screwed up.

The piece was returned to Colt and the proper 44WCF cylinder was replaced. Colt paid the Air FedX both ways.
I was instructed to keep the 45 Colt cylinder as they did not want it returned with the Revolver. I later sold the Cylinder and bushing.

I have always wondered if there is a 45 Colt SAA out there some where with a 44WCF cylinder.
SASS# 51223
Arizona Cowboy Shooter's Assoc.
Cowtown Cowboy Shooter's Assoc.

Uberti 73/44-40 carbine, Rossi 92/44-40,
Marlin 94CB/44 24" Limited, Winchester 94/30-30
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Pitchy
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Re: Range Time Colt 73 Circa 1897

Post by Pitchy »

Nice gun and group. 8)
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KirkD
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Re: Range Time Colt 73 Circa 1897

Post by KirkD »

I have an original Colt SAA 45, and I cast my own bullets out of pure lead and use smokeless. Those soft, pure lead bullets do the trick.
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
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C. Cash
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Re: Range Time Colt 73 Circa 1897

Post by C. Cash »

Very neat.....thanks for sharing!
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M. M. Wright
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Re: Range Time Colt 73 Circa 1897

Post by M. M. Wright »

Rusty,
Look on the left side of the trigger guard, the front part up near the frame. It may have a stamped triangle containing a vp in it. Stands for "Verified Proof" and means the gun is proofed for smokeless. These started around serial no. 192000. If it is not there then it is a black powder gun. This was a transitional thing and some mixing occurred.
44-40 is my favorite caliber and I have several Colts in it. I load .429 bullets and have to watch my brass to be sure it is thin enough to chamber with that bullet. Winchester and Starline works but Remington won't. I cast my 200 grain RNFPs from a sorta no. 2 alloy. When I used the smelter I dumped in a bunch of wheel weights, added lead and bar solder until a 500 grain mold I have threw a 500 grain bullet and called it good. Still have enough for the rest of my life I think.
Shoot them old Colts. They deserve it.
M. M. Wright, Sheriff, Green county Arkansas (1860)
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