1873 and hunting with +p loads

[SJ]

I apologize if this has been asked before but I couldn't find a definitive answer on the forum search, I recently found a really nice Taylor 1873 in 45 im new to cowboy shooting but would like to both use it for competition and hunting. Do I have to use a 92 action to shoot the heavier loads or with a modern 1873 can I shoot something like the buffalo bore +p? I'm inexperienced with lever guns so I wanted to ask first, I'd like to reitterat though my heart is set on this 1873 

Thanks for the help

[jimbobborg]

You'd have to use the 92 action for +P loads. 

[w44wcf]

SJ,
Welcome to the forum.  I would not recommend using Buffalo Bore ammunition in a modern '73 .45 Colt but one can load ammunition to a bit more velocity than the current factory standard cartridges.

Certainly a 250 gr bullet at 1,200-1,300 fps is a ok using slower powders and would be similar in performance, although a bit more powerful due to the heavier bullet, to the vintage .44-40 which accounted for thousands of game back in the day......

w44wcf

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[Ranch 13]

Really is no need for +P loads. If you spend some time with your chronograph and good loading manuals doing load testing, you'll find that with powders slower than unique you will gain 200 fps or more over the published handgun data. So you can easily get a 250 gr bullet into and around the 1200 fps area and just be using saami spec 45 colt loads.