Winchester 73 build

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Perentie
Posts: 417
Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2014 9:22 am
Location: Queensland, Australia.

Winchester 73 build

Post by Perentie »

Years ago when I was younger I used to shoot Western Action. I had a Winchester 73 carbine in 44-40, a couple of Ruger Old Army,s and an old 12g double hammer gun. I loaded Black Powder in all of them.
They all got sold off but I was offered a bunch of 73 bits a few years ago and now have decided to see if I can make one gun from them all.
It looks so far that all I am missing is a 44-40 breech bolt and extractor. An internet search finds some in the USA but they wont sell overseas.
Do you know if there is some kind of agent that will for a fee tranship to me if I bought the bits I need and had them sent to them?

ImageWinchester 73 01 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/141809689@N05/]
semtav
Posts: 2876
Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:21 pm
Location: Montana

Re: Winchester 73 build

Post by semtav »

Perentie wrote: Wed May 15, 2019 11:46 pm Years ago when I was younger I used to shoot Western Action. I had a Winchester 73 carbine in 44-40, a couple of Ruger Old Army,s and an old 12g double hammer gun. I loaded Black Powder in all of them.
They all got sold off but I was offered a bunch of 73 bits a few years ago and now have decided to see if I can make one gun from them all.
It looks so far that all I am missing is a 44-40 breech bolt and extractor. An internet search finds some in the USA but they wont sell overseas.
Do you know if there is some kind of agent that will for a fee tranship to me if I bought the bits I need and had them sent to them?
Did you have any luck with this project?
cat1870
Posts: 531
Joined: Thu Feb 22, 2007 11:28 am
Location: Southwest Utah
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Re: Winchester 73 build

Post by cat1870 »

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Which rifle should I shoot today???
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kenny s
Posts: 775
Joined: Sat Nov 07, 2015 8:14 am
Location: Venice FL

Re: Winchester 73 build

Post by kenny s »

there is a book, Repairing and restoring antique guns
it goes into detail about restoring a 73, and repining the action.
that is something you should do to make it tight.

the action should over travel when closing and 'snap' shut. new pins will do this.
I've used drills. a trip to the hardware store will find one that is slightly tighter than the worn pin.

I did this on a 73 and a 76 with success, and not too big a job.
Ken
mdeland
Posts: 11708
Joined: Mon Nov 20, 2006 1:47 pm

Re: Winchester 73 build

Post by mdeland »

I pulled up an exploded view of the bolt in the 73 and am quite sure one can be machined with relative ease if a borrowed copy or dimension schematic could be obtained. Originals would have been made of carbon steel and case hardened but a new one could be made of 4140-50 and heat treated for much more strength.
If you can get the correct dimensions from some one you could have a machine shop over there build it for you.
Perentie
Posts: 417
Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2014 9:22 am
Location: Queensland, Australia.

Re: Winchester 73 build

Post by Perentie »

Yes its together with the original bolt.
I found an extractor in the States and got them to send it to Jim (Distant Thunder) as he is building a front sight for me and agreed to put the extractor in the bag.
I lined the barrel, glueing it with Loktite, after drilling from each end. I had to make a bigger pilot on the drill. This was my first attempt at all this. Just reading stuff in books.

Imagewinchester reline 02 by

Crowned the muzzle, and reamed the chamber.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2geeaJo]Image
reline muzzle by

I had to shorten the barrel to match the liner, then shorten the mag.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2gfUnLM]Image
winchester reline 07 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2ggz56c]Image
winchester reline 08 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/141809689@N05/

Got it all together and it seems to feed OK and gave it a test fire. That was OK too but as it still has no extractor I cant really cycle it.
When DT sends the front sight for my Rolling Block project I am working on I will be able to fit the extractor and give it a workout.
I could have made one I suppose but as its coming I will wait.
In the meantime its hanging on the wall.

Imagewinchester reline 13 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/141809689@N05/]
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