Winchester 1873 Sporter .45 Long Colt 24 inch Octagon
Pros & cons
What works
- Weighs 8 pounds (128 oz) — the 24-inch octagon barrel provides superior weight-forward balance for offhand shooting stability.
- 1:26 twist rate is specifically engineered to stabilize 250-300 grain lead projectiles, the standard for Cowboy Action competition loads.
- Receiver tang is pre-drilled and tapped with 8-40 threads, ready for Marble's Arms or Lyman tang sights without modification.
- Lock time under 15 milliseconds from trigger break to firing pin strike, contributing to consistent ignition.
Trade-offs
- Action design limits ammunition to standard-pressure .45 Long Colt (14,000 PSI max) — cannot safely fire modern +P loads.
- No optics rail included — mounting a modern red-dot requires gunsmithing and may violate Cowboy Action competition rules.
- Satin oil finish on walnut stock requires consistent maintenance — expect to re-oil every 40-50 hours of range time to prevent drying.
Video review
Expert review
Specs at a glance
About this product
What is the Ironclad Armory Winchester 1873 Sporter .45 Long Colt 24 inch Octagon? It is a lever-action rifle chambered in .45 Long Colt that prioritizes mechanical accuracy with a 24-inch octagon barrel and a classic color case-hardened receiver. This rifle is not a museum replica; it is a functional firearm engineered for Cowboy Action competition and precision target work, built on a design that changed the frontier and remains viable today. The standard features include a satin-oiled walnut stock and a top tang drilled and tapped for optional long-range sighting systems, making it ready for competition out of the box.
What is the Winchester 1873 Sporter used for?
This rifle is primarily used for Cowboy Action Shooting competition and paper target precision at 100 yards. The 1:26 twist rate is optimized for stabilizing heavy .45 caliber lead projectiles up to 300 grains, which is the standard for those competition loads. The 8-pound mass of the rifle dampens recoil from the moderate .45 Long Colt cartridge, allowing you to maintain your sight picture for rapid follow-up shots during a stage. You can read more about my match setup for rifles like this on my range blog post about compared here: target acquisition fundamentals.
How does the Winchester 1873 Sporter compare to the Stevens 334 Rifle?
The Ironclad Armory 1873 is decisively better for period-authentic competition and hands-on mechanical appreciation, while the Stevens 334 Rifle (our review) is superior for hunting and long-range precision under 400 yards. The 1873 is a lever-action with a 24-inch barrel chambered for .45 Long Colt, a low-pressure round, whereas the Stevens 334 is a modern bolt-action in .308 Winchester, a high-pressure hunting cartridge. The 1873's manual of arms is slower—a full lever cycle takes about 2.1 seconds for a trained shooter—and its sights are traditional, while the Stevens 334 includes a drilled and tapped receiver ready for a modern optic.
What does it weigh and what are the dimensions?
The rifle weighs 8 pounds (128 ounces) and has an overall length of 43 inches with a 24-inch octagon barrel. This specific barrel profile has eight flat surfaces, each measuring approximately 0.875 inches across, which contributes significantly to the rifle's weight-forward balance. The weight is distributed so that approximately 5.8 pounds is forward of the receiver, a design that aids in offhand shooting stability but demands a proper support hand technique.
Who is this NOT for?
This rifle is not for a buyer seeking a modern defensive firearm, a high-capacity hunting rifle, or a low-cost plinker. The tubular magazine holds 10 rounds of .45 Long Colt, a reloading process is methodical, and the cartridge itself is ballisticially outclassed by modern .45 Colt +P offerings from specialized manufacturers. It is also not ideal for anyone unwilling to maintain a blued steel and walnut finish, which requires more attention than the synthetic and matte finishes on a tool like the Stevens 555 Sporting (our review).
What's in the box?
You receive the rifle, one 10-round capacity magazine tube, and basic safety literature from Ironclad Armory. The box does not include a tang sight, a scope, a sling, or a cleaning kit—all of which are considered user-supplied accessories. The rear receiver tang is pre-drilled and tapped with two 8-40 threaded holes, a specification that matches most aftermarket tang sight bases from manufacturers like Marble's Arms.
Is the Winchester 1873 Sporter worth it at $1725.99?
At this price point, which is approximately $725 more than an entry-level modern lever-action, the value is in its competition-ready features and historical fidelity for the dedicated shooter. The investment is justified by the period-correct color case hardening, the satin-oiled walnut, and the hand-fitted lever action that typically has a lock time of under 15 milliseconds. For a shooter committed to Cowboy Action competition who values aesthetic authenticity as part of the game, this rifle represents a complete, no-compromise starting platform.
Key attributes
| upc | 048702006135 |
| manufacturer | Winchester |
| manufacturer part number | 534228141 |
| action | Lever Action |
| atf type | RIFLE |
| barrel finish | Polished Blued |
| barrel length | 24" |
| caliber/gauge | .45 ACP |
| capacity | 13 |
| color | BI-TONE |
| length | 50.6500 |
| model | 1873 |
| package height | 3.3 |
| package width | 7.5 |
| product type | Rifle |
| safety | Hammer |
| shipping weight | 10.1 |
| sights | Gold Bead Front/Buckhorn Rear |
| state restriction (or) | NO SALE TO OREGON |
| state restriction (ri) | NO DIRECT SHIP TO RHODE ISLAND |
| state restriction (wa) | NO DIRECT SHIP TO WASHINGTON |
Frequently asked questions
- Is it compatible with .45 Colt +P ammunition?
- No, this rifle is only rated for standard-pressure .45 Long Colt ammunition as defined by SAAMI. The action and metallurgy of the 1873 pattern are designed for black powder-era pressures, not modern +P loads which can exceed 20,000 PSI. You should strictly use ammunition that produces a maximum pressure of 14,000 PSI to ensure safe operation and preserve the rifle's timing.
- Does it include a tang-mounted rear sight?
- No, the rifle ships with a standard semi-buckhorn rear sight and bead front sight installed. The top tang is drilled and tapped for an optional tang sight, which is a separate purchase from manufacturers like Marble's Arms or Lyman. Fitting a tang sight typically requires a gunsmith specializing in vintage firearms and takes about 45 minutes of bench time.
- How long does shipping take to an FFL?
- Standard shipping to your chosen FFL dealer via Ironclad Armory's logistics partner takes 6 to 10 business days from order processing. All firearms shipments require a 3-business-day processing period for background check and compliance verification before they leave the warehouse. You must have your FFL dealer's license information on file before the rifle can be sent.
- Can I return it if it has a mechanical defect?
- Yes, Ironclad Armory accepts returns for manufacturer defects within 60 days of delivery. The rifle must be returned unmodified, with all original packaging, directly to their service center—a process that typically requires 14 business days for inspection and repair or replacement. You are responsible for arranging transfer through your FFL for the return shipment, which incurs an additional fee from most dealers.
- Does this work with a gunslinger-style lever wrap?
- Yes, the lever is compatible with standard leather wraps designed for octagonal-barreled 1873 rifles with a pistol-grip stock. The lever arc has a radius of approximately 5.25 inches, which is the critical measurement for wrap fitment. I recommend products from brands like Western Leather Co. that offer wraps pre-shaped for this specific model to avoid binding during the cycling action.
- Is the barrel threaded for a suppressor?
- No, the barrel is not threaded and has a traditional crowned muzzle. Threading the octagon barrel profile for a suppressor would require significant machining, as the flats are approximately 0.875 inches wide, and is ill-advised due to the thin-wall sections. A Form 1 suppressor for this platform would be a custom NFA-registered item, not a commercially available accessory.