Author Topic: 1873 Carbine with ladder sights shoots high  (Read 3663 times)

Offline sturbee

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1873 Carbine with ladder sights shoots high
« on: August 06, 2012, 11:53:17 PM »
Hello, I have my great grandfather's Winchester 1873 carbine, 44-40 wcf, 1891 production and have recently been shooting it. Question is how to raise the front sight? I see no way to lower the rear ladder sight. At 50 yards I need to aim 8 inches low, at 100 yards I need to aim even lower, I am using the 44-40 Winchester Cowboy ammo. Thanks in advance for any response

Offline Rowdy Fulcher

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Re: 1873 Carbine with ladder sights shoots high
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2012, 08:17:43 AM »
Howdy
The Cowboy ammo is a light velocity ammo which will cause it to shoot higher . Do you reload ? Also are you using a fine bead with your front sight ?

Offline Sir Charles deMouton-Black

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Re: 1873 Carbine with ladder sights shoots high
« Reply #2 on: August 07, 2012, 09:49:07 AM »
Like Rowdy says;  Take a fine bead.  Bury it at the bottom of the "V".  Most of us are trained to line the blade with the top of the notch, but that was not "the way".

It seems that some leverguns shoot lower with heavier loads.  It is really noticeable with the 1892 design from any maker. Try factory duplication loads in the 1200 fps level.

BTW;  Try these two tips separately so you know which worked.
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Re: 1873 Carbine with ladder sights shoots high
« Reply #3 on: Today at 08:43:11 AM »

Offline sturbee

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Re: 1873 Carbine with ladder sights shoots high
« Reply #3 on: August 07, 2012, 07:47:32 PM »
Thanks for the help, I am new to shooting. My grandfather who died in 1980 had this carbine hanging on his wall for years and we all thought it was not safe to shoot. He did not know when it was the last time the 1873 had been fired. My grand boys are now 4 years old and I thought I should get it checked out, the gunsmith said safe to fire so I have been enjoying it since last fall.

Offline w44wcf

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Re: 1873 Carbine with ladder sights shoots high
« Reply #4 on: August 07, 2012, 10:26:45 PM »
sturbee,
Welcome to the forum!  It is awesome  ;D that you have a family heirloom in the form of a vintage, historic Winchester 73!

If you are not using the tip of the front sight (instead of the whole bead...assuming it is a bead) as the aiming point, I would suggest that you try that.  Also as has been suggested the front sight could be aligned lower in the rear notch.

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