The American-Made Taylor’s & Company TC73 9mm

    By
    On Target Staff
    -

    The American-Made Taylor’s & Company TC73 9mm

    By: William Hunter

    Photos by: Ben Battles

    Creating your own ammo shortage has never been this much fun

    Some rifles impress you with numbers on a spec sheet. Others leave an impression long after you’ve packed up your gear and headed home. The Taylor’s & Company TC73 Rifle 18″ 9mm Case Colored Taylor Tuned falls squarely into the second category. From the first time I worked the lever, I knew this rifle would be fun.

    The suppressor-ready 9mm TC73 is 100-percent made in the USA — with USA parts, finishes, and labor — and the craftsmanship of this rifle is a sight to behold in person.

    Built on the iconic 1873 lever-action platform, the TC73 chambers the popular 9mm Luger and features an 18-inch threaded barrel, a 10-round tubular magazine, and a side-loading gate. It’s a combination that sounds unconventional on paper, but after spending a day on the range, it makes perfect sense.

    Based on the historic 1873 family of lever actions, but produced using modern-day technology, the TC73 features an improved carrier block design, fully-machined internal parts, hardened screws, and is optimized for reliable cycling of the rimless 9mm cartridge.

    The rifle is simply beautiful. The vivid case-colored receiver immediately draws your attention, complemented by an American walnut stock and classic lines that pay tribute to the legendary 1873 design. The white bead front sight and semi-buckhorn rear sight complete the traditional look. It’s the kind of firearm people stop to admire before asking if they can work the action. Once they do, they understand the appeal.

    The 18-inch, high-polish-blued barrel is threaded to 5/8×24 at the muzzle for suppressor use — an accessory this rifle will beg you for. Pictured is Dead Air Silencer’s (www.deadairsilencers.com) lightweight and highly effective RXD30Ti suppressor … read more about it here: https://www.ontargetmagazine.com/2026/03/16300/. The white bead front sight and semi-buckhorn rear sight offer a traditional look and shooting experience, and a 10+1 capacity keeps the fun rolling.

    The Taylor Tuned action is exceptionally smooth. Every stroke of the lever feels deliberate yet effortless, feeding cartridges with confidence while delivering the mechanical feedback that makes lever guns so enjoyable to shoot. The crisp trigger only adds to the experience.

    Another feature worth highlighting is that the TC73 is 100% made in America. In today’s market, that’s something many shooters appreciate, and the overall fit and finish reflect the quality of its American craftsmanship.

    The case-colored receiver (also available in blued for $200 less) is very well done, and provides a distinctive, period-correct look. Machining marks and subpar craftsmanship were nowhere to be found on the TC73.

    I headed to the range eager to see whether the TC73 offered more than good looks. Weighing just over eight pounds, the rifle has enough heft to absorb virtually all of the already mild recoil generated by the 9mm cartridge. The result is an incredibly soft-shooting rifle that stays flat and returns to target almost effortlessly. Follow-up shots are quick, and after several strings of fire I found myself repeatedly topping off the tubular magazine simply because I didn’t want to stop shooting. Budget accordingly.

    High levels of fit and finish are exhibited throughout the TC73, not the least of which is the perfect wood-to-metal fitment of the nicely figured walnut furniture, which showed zero gaps or proud edges anywhere. The buttstock is fitted with a cushy Limbsaver recoil pad — a nice touch, but, if we’re being honest, a bit of overkill considering the rifle’s chambering.

    Accuracy testing was conducted at 25 yards using several factory 9mm loads. The standout performer proved to be Nosler Match Grade 124-grain Jacketed Hollow Point, consistently producing the best five-shot groups of the day. While every load functioned reliably, the Nosler ammunition clearly delivered the accuracy the rifle was capable of.

    Reliability was equally impressive. Throughout the range session, the TC73 fed, fired, and ejected flawlessly. Considering the engineering required to adapt a traditional lever-action design to a rimless cartridge like the 9mm, the rifle performed amazingly. The threaded barrel is also a welcome feature for anyone planning to run a suppressor.

    1.50-inch groups at 25 yards came relatively easy with quality ammunition. Function was flawless throughout testing, with the TC73 feeding, extracting, and ejecting everything we stuffed into the magazine tube.

    What surprised me most, however, wasn’t the accuracy or reliability. It was the experience. Modern rifles often emphasize speed and efficiency. Lever guns encourage you to slow down, enjoy the process, and appreciate each shot. Somewhere between punching paper and working the smooth Taylor-tuned action, I caught myself grinning. I couldn’t help but feel like a cowboy — just one carrying a lever gun chambered in 9mm instead of a traditional frontier cartridge. That feeling is difficult to quantify, but it’s exactly what makes the TC73 special.

    The TC73 isn’t trying to replace a traditional .357 Magnum or .44 Magnum lever gun. Instead, it offers something different: a beautifully built rifle that combines classic styling with inexpensive, readily available ammunition and virtually no recoil. Whether you’re introducing someone to the shooting sports, spending an afternoon ringing steel or simply enjoying a leisurely day at the range, the TC73 delivers an experience that’s hard to match.

    If there’s one thing that we highly encourage new owners of a TC73 to do, it’s to have a generous supply of 9mm on hand; when the shooting starts, this one’s tough to put down. The fun factor of the TC73 is almost off the charts, especially with a suppressor attached. Between the extremely low, shoot-it-all-day recoil levels, the affordability of 9mm ball ammo, and the relentless reliability of the Taylor’s tuned 1873 action, lands solidly in our “must have” category.

    Some firearms are purchased because they’re practical. Others because they’re beautiful. The Taylor’s & Company TC73 manages to be both. More importantly, it’s the kind of rifle that reminds you why shooting is supposed to be fun — and that’s exactly why I can’t wait to take it back to the range. See the TC73 at your nearest dealer, or for more information, contact Taylor’s & Company; Tel.: (540) 722-2017; Web: www.taylorsfirearms.com

    Specifications:

    Caliber:                       9mm Luger

    Action type:                Lever action

    Barrel:                        18 inches

    Rate of twist:              1:10 RH

    Finish:                        Color case hardened/blued

    Length of pull:           14 inches

    Furniture:                   Walnut

    Magazine/capacity:    Tubular, 10+1

    Sights:                      Semi-buckhorn rear, white-dot front

    Overall Length:         37.50 inches

    Weight:                    8.05 pounds

    MSRP:                      $1,799.00

    RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR