New member with an 1873 45-70.

[mjpchief]

Just got my 1873 today and would appreciate any information I could get on this rifle. Rifle is in overall good condition with the exception of a broken firing pin and some missing parts. I will probably repair the firing pin or make a new one beings I am a tool & die maker and I have already found sight parts. Will order them later.

Where would I go to find out the year of manufacture of this rifle? Serial number on receiver is 336735. This is a Springfield rifle. Thanks in advance.

[Dick Hosmer]

Welcome! Your rifle was made in 1886. Unless you want the fun/challenge of making a firing pin, I'd just buy one...

[FrankD]

Welcome to the group. Buy the pin and have fun!

[mjpchief]

Already repaired the firing pin and found some Sun-sonic rounds for it. Got a nose cap ordered from Dixie Gun Works. Try it out tomorrow. Will have to buy some rear sight parts but other wise this is a really nice and clean rifle. Good bore with no pits or rust. Wife don’t think much of it but I’m pretty proud of my find.

[Jim]

Save your brass for handloading some .460/.461” diameter lead bullets, and be amazed at how much your accuracy IMPROVES!

[mjpchief]

Will definitely be saving the brass. Will be getting a set of dies for the 45-70. Don’t know about your area but around here ammo is just over $2 a pop. Just ordered the rear sight parts from Dixie Gun Works. Raining here or I would be out making brass right now.

[Dick Hosmer]

Does Dixie still have genuine original TD parts?

They were a go-to source i the 1960s/70s but then everythiong seemed to go repro. Their cleaning rods were especially bad.

[mjpchief]

Every thing I’ve ordered for it so far has been original parts. Took it out yesterday and shot a couple rounds through it just to hear it go boom. When I get the sight parts I will find out how accurate it is. Shot some sub-sonic round in it. What about the Horady lever action rounds. Would they be too much or would they be alright? Does anybody know what diameter the cleaning rod is. That will be the only thing left to make rifle complete. Could buy one but I kinda like making things.

[Tom Trevor]

Sounds like a fun project to create the rod. rod is .190 for long length diameter , swell for rod retainer .350, tip is .400. Start with a .5 carbon steel rod and use double steady rest on your lathe to keep whip down while turning to shape. Best to borrow an original to copy to get correct dimensions.
LEVERevolution ammunition is way over powered for your rifle muzzle velocity is over 2000 fps. Trapdoor ammo runs 1200-1500 for safe use.

[mjpchief]

Thanks for the reply. Guess I’ve got some lever action ammo for sale. Cleaning rod will come later after I get everything else taken care of. Think I’m really going to like shooting this rifle. Just need to get ANOTHER set of reloading dies. Lol