Sporter means a longer barrel and nicer wood, and Winchester's Model 73 Sporter has both. It carries a 24-inch steel barrel in polished blue, a black walnut stock with a crescent buttplate, and a full-length tube magazine, chambered in .44-40 Winchester.

The Sporter is a traditional-style lever action with a top tang and steel loading gate. Adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sights and a gold bead front sight give it the right Old West look, and the overall length is listed at 43 inches with a weight of about 8 pounds.

That weight and barrel length make the rifle steady on a target and mild on the shoulder, which suits both cowboy matches and deer hunting in places where it is allowed. The .44-40 is a time-honored cartridge, easy to shoot and easy to handload.

Notes list the capacity as 13 or 14 rounds, so confirm the number for your state before hunting. Keep the blued steel oiled and wiped, and treat the walnut with a light coat of finish. The rifle ships to your FFL dealer, where the background check is completed.