[Jeff Higgins]

While '73's are wonderful rifles, they have notoriously weak actions. There are no locking lugs of any kind that hold the bolt in battery, but rather a toggle link that gets pushed over center to hold the action closed. This mechanism allows them to be the slickest lever actions ever made, but it does severely limit them. Their traditional ammo - .44-40, .38-40, .32-20, etc. is quite expensive and not all that common anymore. I believe some of the replicas are available in more modern calibers but, with the higher pressures those generate, I would be leery of firing them in a '73. Oh, and the firing pin is not restrained in any way. There have been several reports of shooters getting killed and injured when it comes flying out the back of the action having fired an over pressure round. So, unless you need one for some specific reason, like Cowboy Action Shooting or something like that, I would steer clear of '73's.

'92's are great little rifles. They have the dual rear locking lugs that John Browning first used on the big '86 action, so they are hell for stout. They are perfectly safe with modern high pressure magnum revolver ammunition. I would recommend a .38 Special / .357 Magnum for plinking. Brian Pearce has developed loads for strong lever guns that approach .30-30 ballistics, if you are inclined to hunt with it.

Be leery of the .44 and .45 caliber versions. Until this latest introduction form Miroku, the '92's in .44 and .45 calibers had very, very slow twist rates (1:38 or so) that simply will not adequately stabilize heavier bullets. 240 grain .44's and 250 grain .45's test those limits, with some rifles not even stabilizing those, especially at lower velocities. Forget the 300 grain stuff - these rifles just won't shoot them well. Miroku has now fixed all of that, and offers these calibers with a 1:20 or so twist, which will stabilize the heaviest bullets in either caliber.

Personally, I would stay away from the modern guns with their rebounding hammers and big ugly safeties. Typical advice with lever guns is to buy the oldest one you can afford. Do avoid the '64 through about 1990 or so Winchesters at all costs - fit and finish, and overall quality, really sucked. It got much, much better about the time they turned production over to U.S. Repeating Arms, but then the external safeties and rebounding hammers came in. The newest ones from Miroku are the best of the modern ones.