Both aren't cheap, anyone seen or heard of quality differences between them? The local cowboy action folk say get the Uberti, but wondered what others thought?

Both are finished well. The uberti has been on the market longer and is a proven performer. Cowboy action shooters have several manufacturers of go fast parts for this gun. The winchester has one manufacturer of go fast parts at this point. If I was buying for cowboy shooting I would get a uberti.
If I am buyibg for hunting or shooting, my choice would depend on how the winchester is maunfactured. If it has the lawyered inspired tang safety, I would buy the uberti. If it does not, I would buy the one with best looking wood as compared to price.
I do own a uberti 66 in 44-40, that I use cowboy action shooting and it has worked very well.

I don't shoot cowboy action so I don't have that bias for speed.
I have Uberti and Winchester (Miroku) 1873 rifles.
Neither have tang or cross bolt safeties. I personally like the Miroku better. So much that I am going to sell an 1866 Uberti I have in .45 Colt and replace it with a Miroku 1866 in .44-40.
But like he said, if you plan to buy modified parts, the Uberti or Cimarron is your best option.

I think they're both beautifully made.

I bought the Miroku/Winchester. It's beautiful and accurate. Had really fancy wood. Most of the CCH/Octagon barreled Ubertis also have great wood.

I don't think there's a bad choice.

They are both great looking rifles (love the 73's). I would love to have a new Winchester 73 which they stopped making years ago. Miroku makes some fine rifles though, probably better than if Winchester made it.

Steve........

quote:

Originally posted by Steve E.:
They are both great looking rifles (love the 73's). I would love to have a new Winchester 73 which they stopped making years ago. Miroku makes some fine rifles though, probably better than if Winchester made it.

Steve........

:?The only Winchesters being made now are made by Miroku...the same company that made all the Browning reproductions 30 years ago.

Been knowing that for years, guess I should have 'splained' my comment a little bit plainer. The Miroku 73's are better made that if Winnie still made the Win 73's. I really like both my Browning (Miroku) BLR 81's, they are one easy carrying 308.

Steve.......

Thanks fellas looks like an even choice then

I bought a Win 92 short rifle last spring. One of my best choices.

I bought a Uberti '73 short octagonal rifle in .44-40 last year and use it for deerhunting. Absolutely top quality, and startlingly accurate with the right load, and businesslike with the rest.
There are no Winchester new model available here to compare '73's, but it is head and shoulders above the actual New Haven Winchesters of other models I have owned.

Timely thread, as I'm in the market for a repro '73. Mostly for fun shooting, not CASS. I really like the color-case hardened, PG versions.

Torn between the Win version that is D&T for tang peep, but lack checkering. Uberti is not D&T'd, but is checkered. Uberti wood is nice, but has more red tinge than I care for, plus, I think it would be a shame to D&T a nice rifle. I'm leaning towards the Win repro because of the ability to easily mount a tang peep. Tang peep has more function than checker on this particular gun.

Much cheaper to drill n tap than to have checkering added. I had a 'Smith' D & T one a few years ago and two holes were about $25.00. The last I did myself after I got my last mill, I like to use the vice as it is steadier than me. I know what you mean about the reddish wood look, I have a Uberti Rolling Block and the wood is a touch too red for me. I just haven't gotten around to stripping it yet. I had a Navy Arms Rolling Block one time that had the same red color and stripped it and the Walnut under the 'shellac' had some decent figure that you couldn't see before.

Steve.........