So I got this crazy idea to get one of those old scopes for the 73'. Heck, if ya can't see anything...might as well get a scope right? I purchased a Malcolm 6x scope a few weeks back by Hi-Lux Optics. The scope is not mounted today the way it was back in the day. Today the mounts are a bit to be desired but certainly functional. The original mounts were attached to the side plate with a nice elevation knob. I guess to be cost effective, the scope was already priced at $355, the mounts are attached to the dust cover rail and to the rear sight dove tail. The mounts are another $40 or so from Taylors Inc. The front scope mount is a bit sloppy but a second block I received worked well and the set screw held with the help of some blue loctite. The below photos show a poorly designed front scope mount. In order to shoot normal pressure loads, the scope must be set to the far right side of the barrel. When a "loose block" tightens down, it pushing up on the right side of the mount at an angle. The set screw would not hold, even with loctite past four or five shots.
more photos: https://curtisshawk21.wixsite.com/44centerfire/post/scoped-winchester-1873
The old block was .3610" and fit real loose. After receiving and installing a second dovetail block, I was able to shoot nearly fifty rounds without the set screw loosening. The second block was about .3850" and I was able to clean it up to .3735" and tap in to place. Finally.....all went well after the initial setback and groups were promising, even with Trail Boss and a 200gr "Big Lube" bullet by "Dick Dastardly"...cast by Mark Whyte of whytesleatherworks.com. Initial targets ran .5" @ 25 yards and 2 1/8" 6 shot group @ 100 yards before I threw in the towel with the loosening mount screws.
25 Yards
100 Yards
A second trip to the range yielded much more realistic groups.
100 Yards second attempt.
This is what the 100 yard target looks like through the scope in comparison to the 25 yard target to the left. The second photo shows the 100 yard target just in front of the front sight.
Here is the video from 265 yards:
44-40 Website - https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/chasing-the-44-40