Anyone else shooting a 32-20, '73? We've had a Browning 32-20 around for several decades. But I've always wanted a 1873 Winchester in 32-20. Finally stumbled upon on a Cimarron Deluxe Rifle with a 20" barrel just recently.
Fresh out of the box the thing would not run. Nice that the dealer sold me a POS. Gun had been around a while as the box was pretty beat up, some handling marks on the wood but hang tags still on the gun. You couldn't even load it properly through the side port- loading gate. Which had to be fixed immediately as the gun started life as a single shot for me
Then there is the mag tube...which is the same size as a 45 tube. Not all that impressed with the "improved engineering" by Uberti there. Stupid idea which causes all sorts of problems feeding for the 32s and 38s. The extractor was shaped and tensioned incorrectly and the barrel cut improperly done. Which inturn made a single shot that needed a knife to help in extract a spent shell. And finally in the worst way, this rifle really needed a trigger job.
Took several disassembles to get every thing sorted. But I really did want to, at the very least, "try the gun out". Our Browning 53s will shoot most any ammo exceptionally well. Not so the '73. But it will shoot given the right diet and a little TLC. Nice rifle now!
Weight empty 7# 13.5 oz.
20" barrel Deluxe short rifle
25 yard targets with ten rounds of 115gr. lead bullets in each plate.
Now that the gun is actually reliable...with 200 rounds down range and no failures it is time for a real trigger job. And a "Smooth Cycle Kit" from the Smith Shop to solve any additional feeding issues.
If most 32/38 owners would stuff one of the inserts into their mag tubes early on I'd bet there would be a lot less broken bolt stub problems down the road. That and a spare hand fit extractor should make this little rifle one of our favorites.
http://www.thesmithshop.com/smoothcycle.html