table are within the SAAMI pres-
sure guidelines of 14,000 psi.
In addition to in-line feeding,
virtues of the Model 1873 design
include simplicity, easily removed
side plates for cleaning and a dust
cover that serves to keep the ac-
tion clean and clear of foreign
objects. Furthermore, the lever
pivots off of a single screw, per-
mitting rapid cycling from the
shoulder.
On the western frontier, these
were very desirable features. My
grandfather carried an original
1873 .44-40 during the 1880s on
the Arizona frontier while run-
ning cattle and sheep right in the
middle of the Tewksbury-Graham
Feud (aka Pleasant Valley War).
He praised the Winchester for its
extreme reliability and indicated
that it was a rifle that was “scarce”
and “very hard to obtain... due to
great demand.”
The Uberti 1873 follows simi-
lar stock dimensions as the orig-
inal, which has greater drop than
comparatively modern lever-
action designs offered by Mar-
lin and Winchester, including the
Models 1886, 1892, 1894, 1895, etc.
Some riflemen instantly notice the
reduced cheek weld when sights
are brought into alignment with
the eye, but that was the preferred
stocking method in 1873. I simplyJuly-August 2019 http://www.riflemagazine.com 15
.45 Colt Handloads
overall 4-shot
loaded 50-yard
bullet powder charge length velocity group
(grains) (grains) (inches) (fps) (inches)
250 Rim Rock RNFP Titegroup 5.2 1.575 942 1.
A-2 7.2 1,086 1.
A-5 11.0 1,225 1.
Unique 9.0 1,221 1.
260 Lyman 454190 Red Dot 6.0 1.585 982 1.
Power Pistol 9.3 1,230 1.
AutoComp 9.3 1,229 1.
True Blue 9.0 1,071 1.
250 Hornady XTP Power Pistol 9.3 1.580 1,169.
250 Speer Gold Dot HP Power Pistol 9.3 1.585 1,148 1.
250 Nosler Sporting JHP Power Pistol 9.3 1.580 1,174 1.
Factory loads
200 Blazer JHP (1,000*) 1,188 2.
225 Buffalo Bore Barnes XPB (1,000*) 1,204 2.
225 Hornady LEVERevolution FTX (950*) 1.651** 1,026 1.
250 Black Hills Cowboy RNFP (725*) 986 1.
250 Magtech Lead Flat (761*) 961 2.
250 Remington Express lead (860*) 981 2.
250 Speer Gold Dot HP (750*) 1,048 1.
* stated velocity ** single-shot mode only
Notes: A Cimarron Uberti 1873 Short Rifle .45 Colt with a 20-inch barrel was used to test all loads. Starline
cases and CCI 300 primers were used throughout. Bullet diameter: .451 and .452 inch; maximum overall
loaded length: 1.600 inches.
For more data on this cartridge please visit LoadData.com.
Be Alert – Publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors in published load data. Listed loads are only valid in the test firearms used.
Reduce initial powder charge by 10 percent and work up while watching for pressure signs.(Continued on page 59)