1873's in .357 Magnum, will they feed .38 Specials?

[FF1063]

Still trying to decide on that 'just right' levergun, will probably be my last rifle purchase for some time. I like the 1873's, looking at a Cimarron 1873 19" carbine or 16" Trapper in .357 Magnum, but would want to load in .38 Special brass to mate with my S&W model 10. Just won a sweet model 10-5 from 1974 on Gunbroker.

How do your 1873's feed the shorter round?

I might go with a 1866 Yellowboy carbine in .38 special as an alternative if feeding Specials is an issue in the '73.

P.S. 3leggedturtle, if you're out there, we need to get to the range this weekend and give the model 10 a workout. Call me.

[Wind]

Hey there FF1063 - If you get a '73 chambered for .357 it will not feed a .38 Special. It will but it will jam, every time. In the '73, the cartridge leaves the magazine tube and slides into the lifting block, pushed by the magazine follower or the next cartridge in the tube. If this cartridge is the correct length, it prevents the next cartridge from leaving the magazine tube. It serves as the cartridge stop. If the cartridge in the lifting block is too short, the next cartridge coming from the magazine tube will enter part way into the lifting block and prevent it cycling. If it's too long, it won't clear the magazine tube and create a jamb. You then have to empty the magazine tube from the muzzle end to clear the jamb. The 1866 functions the same way. You might be able to get a lifting block or an adapter to convert a .357 block to handle .38's. I can't help you there. Hope this helps. Best regards. Wind

[COSteve]

A simple way to ensure that any 357mag levergun will shoot 38spl is to increase the OAL of the 38spl round to at least 1.500". If you're a reloader, that's simple as you just set that as the height you set the bullet at. If you're not I'm not sure what to tell ya but I'm sure someone here's got an answer for that too.

[adirondakjack]

There are long nosed bullets designed to run .38 cases in a '73. Ya gotta get the OAL out there or like they said, they jam or at the very least run rough as the carrier forces the round back into the mag tube.

[Wind]

So how well will these long rounds work in his Smith & Wesson Model 10 chambered in .38 special? 66's and 73's are very over-all-case-length sensitive. Best regards. Wind

[FF1063]

Thanks for the thorough replies, I'll take a look at the model 10's cylinder to gauge COL, I will be rolling my own for both guns, but probably will go with the '66 to be certain.

[COSteve]

So how well will these long rounds work in his Smith & Wesson Model 10 chambered in .38 special? 66's and 73's are very over-all-case-length sensitive. Best regards. Wind

The guys in our CAS group with Uberti or Cimarron '73s all reload their 38spl cases to 1.500" - 1.510" OAL and they feed smooth as snot. The few with '66s don't have an issue because the rifles are chambered in 38spl only.