Who has one? What caliber is it? What are your opinions of it?
Oh yea, show me some pictures!!!
Oh yea, show me some pictures!!!
Uberti 1873 Lever Rifles
- Thread starter boykinlp
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Alpo
Member
44/40, of course. Anything else would be like buying a 1911 in some other caliber than 45.
It's all right. Safety spring (little dingus that has to be pushed up by the lever before the gun will fire) is stronger than is necessary. Mine does not like CBC or Remington cases. Does not want to extract them. Since I have brass from many makers, I have to be careful not to put any of them in it.
I got the 24" rifle, and it's heavy as all get out. I later got a Rossi 92 SRC, and it's much lighter. With that caliber you don't need the weight to fight recoil, so I shoot the Rossi much more than the Uberti. Uberti is purtier than the Rossi, though.
Apparently the only pic I have of it is this closeup.
It's all right. Safety spring (little dingus that has to be pushed up by the lever before the gun will fire) is stronger than is necessary. Mine does not like CBC or Remington cases. Does not want to extract them. Since I have brass from many makers, I have to be careful not to put any of them in it. I got the 24" rifle, and it's heavy as all get out. I later got a Rossi 92 SRC, and it's much lighter. With that caliber you don't need the weight to fight recoil, so I shoot the Rossi much more than the Uberti. Uberti is purtier than the Rossi, though.
Apparently the only pic I have of it is this closeup.
Wheelgunner840
Member
My 44-40 (1873 rifle) works flawlessly. Imported and distributed by Cimarron. I have nothing bad to say about them. Unlike the poster above, mine feeds and extracts all brands of brass without a hitch. If you plan on shooting hot ammo, opt for a 1892 model, as the 1873 is a toggle link design, and not as strong as the 92.
WG840
WG840
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OP
I guess I don't live close enough to "Cowboy Action Shooting". I called about 6 gun shops in town and none had any Uberti rifles. Most said that they have never carried them. I was hoping to admire one close-up. Oh well..............
Faulkner
Member
I saw several replica 1873's at recent gunshow in Little Rock. I was looking at 1892's and handled a few '73's while I was at it. They are heavy.
VAdoublegunner
Member
I have the Short Rifle in 45 Colt that I use for cowboy action. Accurate, reliable, and fast. There is something satisfying about it's 'snick, click, snick' when you are working the action and they are quite handsome rifles with the casecoloring, nicely finished wood and metal and generally excellent fit. It always gets comments when I have it at the range where folks are not as familiar with CAS/SASS events.
Eventhough the 1873 was never chambered in 45 Colt, it works well in the modern rifle. I think one of the problems, perhaps lore but possibly real, was the rim of the early balloon head cases and straight wall design caused extraction problems. The extractor couldn't 'grab' the narrow rim reliably when BP fouling built up. I've read somewhere that there may have been feeding problem issues as well. Plus, the tapered case of the 44-40 or 38-40 formed a better seal against BP smoke blowing back into the action when it was being worked. The 1873 was chambered for many tapered/necked case rounds so that my have been a consideration.
I also bought a second Uberti when a local sporting good store sold out to a competitor and they cleaned out all of their stock at giveaway prices (an 1873 repro from Uberti for just over $500 is a give away price imho
). It is a 24" rifle also in 45 Colt. I wish they had had a 38/357 one but I couldn't pass it up even in that chambering. Maybe one day I can trade it for one.
Two cautions about them. One, because the toggle link action is inherently not very strong, do not try to push loads beyond what the rifle is designed to handle. Even with modern metals and manufacturing technique, it will cause them to wear loose quickly. They can be used with modern smokeless powder loads of course, just keep them in SAAMI spec (e.g. 14kpsi for the 45 Colt; those chambered in 357 Mag can be used with a standard 357Mag load. It is case head thrust that is the issue, not simply operating pressure). But in the 45 Colt, you can get some pretty impressive performance out of the old girl at standard load levels anyway. I'm sure the same with the 44-40. Second, they are somewhat sensitive about cartridge OAL for reliable feeding. Too long and you will try to shave off the bullet's nose, with predictable trouble. Also, it is widely reported that the lever tension screws on the bottom of the receiver are tightened and locked into place with Gold Kryptonite Loctite by Guido the Gorilla. This is true. Buy extras for when you bugger them up, if you ever intend to loosen them and for most purposes you never will. Some cowboy shooters like to do so to get a lighter, faster action. Other than that, they are a fun and pretty foolproof direct connection to old west style shooting!
Eventhough the 1873 was never chambered in 45 Colt, it works well in the modern rifle. I think one of the problems, perhaps lore but possibly real, was the rim of the early balloon head cases and straight wall design caused extraction problems. The extractor couldn't 'grab' the narrow rim reliably when BP fouling built up. I've read somewhere that there may have been feeding problem issues as well. Plus, the tapered case of the 44-40 or 38-40 formed a better seal against BP smoke blowing back into the action when it was being worked. The 1873 was chambered for many tapered/necked case rounds so that my have been a consideration.
I also bought a second Uberti when a local sporting good store sold out to a competitor and they cleaned out all of their stock at giveaway prices (an 1873 repro from Uberti for just over $500 is a give away price imho
). It is a 24" rifle also in 45 Colt. I wish they had had a 38/357 one but I couldn't pass it up even in that chambering. Maybe one day I can trade it for one.Two cautions about them. One, because the toggle link action is inherently not very strong, do not try to push loads beyond what the rifle is designed to handle. Even with modern metals and manufacturing technique, it will cause them to wear loose quickly. They can be used with modern smokeless powder loads of course, just keep them in SAAMI spec (e.g. 14kpsi for the 45 Colt; those chambered in 357 Mag can be used with a standard 357Mag load. It is case head thrust that is the issue, not simply operating pressure). But in the 45 Colt, you can get some pretty impressive performance out of the old girl at standard load levels anyway. I'm sure the same with the 44-40. Second, they are somewhat sensitive about cartridge OAL for reliable feeding. Too long and you will try to shave off the bullet's nose, with predictable trouble. Also, it is widely reported that the lever tension screws on the bottom of the receiver are tightened and locked into place with Gold Kryptonite Loctite by Guido the Gorilla. This is true. Buy extras for when you bugger them up, if you ever intend to loosen them and for most purposes you never will. Some cowboy shooters like to do so to get a lighter, faster action. Other than that, they are a fun and pretty foolproof direct connection to old west style shooting!
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Vulcan Bob
Member
I have one in .45 Colt and I love it. Shot CASS with it for five years with no problems at all.
Big Fred
Member
I've got two of them. Both are 24" Deluxe Rifles.Checkered pistol grip stock and checkered forend. Both of them have been short stroked and slicked to the limits. They are chambered in .357 mag. but all I shoot out of them are .38 specials. My son and I use them in CAS. We've been shooting them for around 8 to 9 years now.
I have a Cimmarron Deluxe rifle in 45 Long Colt caliber. Very accurate and fun to shoot. If you have never shot one you really owe it to yourself to at least give one a try. Cimmarron's are made by Uberti. The brass elevator makes a distinct "clip, clop" noise when you work the lever that I have heard no where else on any other gun. Kinda neat when you're shooting it.
Beamy
Member
I have a Uberti Special Sporting model in 45LC. Bought it as a range toy and cowboy action shooter. Haven't really done much with it yet. Aside from the safety bar spring which is unnecessarily strong, she's a peach. Gorgeous looking and groups decent at 50yd with 250gr cowboy loads.
here's a pic of her
here's a pic of her
keith44spl
Member
Short Rifle chambered in 45 Long Colt....With a hard cast Keith SWC it kills what ever I turn it on.
Su Amigo,
Dave
Su Amigo,
Dave
canoeguy
US Veteran
Someday, one will be mine....
In .357 caliber.....
Got to buy an 1892 rifle first, then the 1873.
In .357 caliber.....
Got to buy an 1892 rifle first, then the 1873.
VAdoublegunner, I disagree with that statement. A straight wall cartridge case has almost no "case head thrust." P. O. Ackley relates in Volume I, "Handbook for Shooters & Reloaders," along about Page 147 et seq, an experiment to prove that straight wall cases do not have "case head thrust." A junk Winchester Model 94 .30-30 was rechambered for an "improved" .30-30, which has almost straight case walls. After brass was fire-formed and reloaded, Mr. Ackley began unscrewing the barrel to increase head space so as to allow case setback if there was any. The cartridge was always fully forward in the chamber when fired. As he unscrewed the barrel, the primers began to back out since the case head was not in contact with the bolt face. If the case had "case head thrust," the primers would have been pushed back into the primer pocket when the case moved back against the bolt face. They were not.
Eventually the firing pin had to be lengthened when the primer got too far away from the firing pin as the barrel was further unscrewed, but still the case did not move back in the chamber when fired. As further proof of concept, the locking lugs were removed and the rifle was fired. Even with no locking lugs, the case still remained tight in the chamber and the primers backed out the same as with the locking lugs present.
While the .44-40 might have enough taper to have some "case head thrust," I do not think any of the straight wall revolver cartridges like the .45 Colt and .357 Magnum will have any. I have seen the cautions in reloading manuals about using hot handloads in the toggle link lever actions, but I think Mr. Ackley's experiments prove that is not an issue with straight wall cases.
badguybuster
Member
Lord, there is nothing prettier than a nice lever gun!!!
My Uberti 73' is a great gun. Chambered in 44-40 and feeds eveything. Been loading 7 grains of Unique and a 200 grain lasercast bullet. Very accurate and lots of fun to shoot. Been using in it SASS since 2004 and it never hiccups.
Get one ASAP you won't regret it!
Randy
Get one ASAP you won't regret it!
Randy
Thuer
Member
canoeguy. I dont recomend a Uberti 1873 model in .357magnum.
The lock with the hinges is far to weak to handle the .357magnum.
Dont do this. I have seen a lot of 1873 break down at this caliber.(i do work in a gunstore)
Aldo I love the 1873 the action is weak. You should shoot only blackpowder in it.
The 1892 Rossi is much stronger.
The lock with the hinges is far to weak to handle the .357magnum.
Dont do this. I have seen a lot of 1873 break down at this caliber.(i do work in a gunstore)
Aldo I love the 1873 the action is weak. You should shoot only blackpowder in it.
The 1892 Rossi is much stronger.
canoeguy
US Veteran
Thuer,
Thanks for the advice, looks like I will have to do some heavy research before jumping into a 1873 replica...
They are expensive, especially for a replica, and I'd hate to break one and then try to get it repaired ($$$$$)!
Canoeguy
Thanks for the advice, looks like I will have to do some heavy research before jumping into a 1873 replica...
They are expensive, especially for a replica, and I'd hate to break one and then try to get it repaired ($$$$$)!
Canoeguy
Short Rifle chambered in 45 Long Colt....With a hard cast Keith SWC it kills what ever I turn it on.
Su Amigo,
Dave
That's a gem, Dave
The replicas are built with better quality materials (I'm assuming!), but there are still limitations on the loads used in the action because of it's design.
Take one apart,,there isn't much there. A double toggle link that goes over center by action of the lever to lock the breech shut.
The 3 pivot pins are a little less than 3/16" dia each.
They wear and go out of round quickly if you don't take it easy on them leaving a loose action..
It has it's limits. That's why the '92 was born even though the 73 was still in production and remained so, shooting smokeless in the same calibers as the 92.
Something of stronger design was needed.
The '76 gave way to the '86 for the same reason.
The early import versions of the '73 and '66 (brass framed) in 357mag & 38sp are not uncommon to be seen with a loose breech.
Treat them right, use loads within reason, and both the original and the replicas will run for a long time.
Replica/repros are getting pricey,,but shooter originals are way up there too.
Take one apart,,there isn't much there. A double toggle link that goes over center by action of the lever to lock the breech shut.
The 3 pivot pins are a little less than 3/16" dia each.
They wear and go out of round quickly if you don't take it easy on them leaving a loose action..
It has it's limits. That's why the '92 was born even though the 73 was still in production and remained so, shooting smokeless in the same calibers as the 92.
Something of stronger design was needed.
The '76 gave way to the '86 for the same reason.
The early import versions of the '73 and '66 (brass framed) in 357mag & 38sp are not uncommon to be seen with a loose breech.
Treat them right, use loads within reason, and both the original and the replicas will run for a long time.
Replica/repros are getting pricey,,but shooter originals are way up there too.
HAGEN
Member
1873s and Other Models
Uberti makes some Excellent Long Guns - Ck out Uberti.Com for Pictures and Specs
I have 2 1873s - The 20 Inch Short Gun and the 24 Inch
Sporting Rifle Both 45 LC
1-1866 20 Inch Yellow Boy Short Rifle 45 LC
1- 1860 24 Inch Henry Rifle 45 LC
1- 1885 32 Inch High Wall 45-70
(I have used Factory Hunting Ammunition in both the 1860 Henry and the 1855 High Wall to take Dear on several occations, No Issues.)
Stay Within The Gun's Limits and Enjoy.
Making White Smoke with a 1873 Short Rifle
My Old 2 Cents
Hagen
Uberti makes some Excellent Long Guns - Ck out Uberti.Com for Pictures and Specs
I have 2 1873s - The 20 Inch Short Gun and the 24 Inch
Sporting Rifle Both 45 LC
1-1866 20 Inch Yellow Boy Short Rifle 45 LC
1- 1860 24 Inch Henry Rifle 45 LC
1- 1885 32 Inch High Wall 45-70
(I have used Factory Hunting Ammunition in both the 1860 Henry and the 1855 High Wall to take Dear on several occations, No Issues.)
Stay Within The Gun's Limits and Enjoy.
Making White Smoke with a 1873 Short Rifle
My Old 2 Cents
Hagen
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