Winchester Repeating Arms 1873 - Manual (Page 12)

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a DDitional S aFetY i nFormation
• It is recommended that you keep the action open
(with the finger lever extended) when your rifle is
laying on a bench or table at a shooting range or
other facility, and at all other times except when
you are in the field and shooting is imminent.
a mmunition
do not use aMMunition other than what
is inscribed on the barrel. exaMine every
cartridge you Put in your FirearM.
discharging FirearMs in Poorly ventilated
areas, cleaning FirearMs or handling
aMMunition May result in exPosure to lead
and other substances Known to cause birth
deFects, reProductive harM and other
serious Physical injury. have adequate
ventilation at all tiMes. wash hands
thoroughly aFter handling aMMunition.
use only aMMunition suitable For use in a
centerFire riFle with a tubular MagaZine.
use only Flat nose, hollow Point, round nose
Flat Point or siMilar bullets. never use
Pointed or conical Point bullets in a
centerFire riFle with a tubular MagaZine.
Failure to Follow these instructions could
result in injury to yourselF or others, and
cause daMage to your FirearM.
The Model 1873 is designed to shoot modern factory
cartridges only. The caliber of your new Model 1873 is
inscribed on the barrel, just in front of the receiver.
Make sure you use only the exact ammunition/caliber
as listed on the barrel.
The barrel and action of this rifle have been made
with substantial safety margins over the pressures
developed by established American loads. However,
we assume no responsibility for incidents which occur
through the use of cartridges of nonstandard
dimension or those developing pressures in excess of
SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition
Manufacturers’ Institute) established standards.
l oaDing
when loading your riFle always KeeP the
MuZZle Pointed in a saFe direction, always
Place the haMMer in the halF-cocK Position.
KeeP your Fingers away FroM the trigger.
Failure to Follow these warnings could
result in serious injury or death.
do not carry your riFle with a cartridge in
the chaMber to avoid accidental discharge.
when Firing is no longer iMMinent, unload
the chaMber and MaKe sure the haMMer is in
the halF-cocK Position. Failure to Follow
these warnings could result in serious
injury or death.
l oaDing the m agazine
The magazine is loaded through a port on the right
side of the receiver. The tubular magazine will hold
10 rounds of .357 Mag. or up to 11 rounds of .38 Spl.
ammunition. Another cartridge may be placed in the
chamber to provide a total capacity of 11 rounds of
.357 Mag. or up to 12 rounds of .38 Spl. ammunition.
NOTICE! dePending on the overall length
oF the cartridge, it is Possible to load
11 .38 sPl. cartridges into the MagaZine.
however, doing so May cause Feeding
ProbleMs, requiring the MagaZine to be
disasseMbled to coMPletely unload the
riFle. thereFore, we recoMMend loading no
More than 10 cartridges into the MagaZine.
1. With the action closed and the hammer in the
half-cock position, press the loading port cover
inward with the bullet tip of the first cartridge
until all but the rim has entered the loading port
(Figure 13, page 22).