Anyone have one of these? I have always wanted one. Are they accurate? Fun to shoot?
Uberti Schofield .45
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John Frederick Bell
Member
Accurate, fun to shoot, and good for turning heads when you go the range. Also heavy, limited to softer loads by the design, and (so I hear) finicky in the extreme with blackpowder.
Had one and traded it. Wouldn't mind another someday, but if I do I'll be getting a third model instead of a second. Mine was a second, and every time I went to holster it the front lip of the holster caught the release (frame mounted) and when I went to draw I'd come up with the gun broke partway open about 75% of the time. Third model fixes that on account of the latch being mounted to the barrel.
Neat guns. Not too practical, though.
Had one and traded it. Wouldn't mind another someday, but if I do I'll be getting a third model instead of a second. Mine was a second, and every time I went to holster it the front lip of the holster caught the release (frame mounted) and when I went to draw I'd come up with the gun broke partway open about 75% of the time. Third model fixes that on account of the latch being mounted to the barrel.
Neat guns. Not too practical, though.
semperfi71
US Veteran
Uberti makes the Schofield and the Russian.
They used to make the Laramie.
The Schofield has the latch mounted on the frame. The Russian and the Laramie has/had the latch mounted on the barrel.
Currently Taylor's Firearms "catalogs" (I do not know if they have them in stock) the New Model No. 3 Frontier, a long-winded name for the discontinued Laramie.
The Russian was modeled after the 3rd Model Russian.
The Laramie and the Frontier are modeled after the New Model No. 3.
The Schofields were done in first and second models.
I had/have all three versions and am now down to a pair of 5 inch Schofields and a 6 1/2 inch Laramie. My Russian was a .44 Russian and all of the others were/are .45 Colt (Or Long Colt to get anybody's goat).
I loaded all of them to a measured 750 fps with 200 grain bullets (.44 Russian) and 250 grain bullets (.45 Long Colt). This to avoid stressing the frame since it is not totally enclosed. A good target competition load would probably be about 600/650 fps. I might carry mine in the woods so I want a little more power.
All of them shot to point of aim at 25 yards. The Laramie shot very high so I had a gunsmith fit a better front sight. The .44 Russian would shoot 2 inch groups at 25 yards with the Black Hills factory ammo.
It is reported that all of these S&W clones do not have a "gas ring" and therefore foul up quickly with black-powder. I do not know about the substitute powders. I shot/shoot Bullseye in mine.
They are FUN to shoot!
The Russian, due to its "saw-handle" required flipping the hand to reach the hammer. I shoot them one handed. The Laramie is better. The Schofield is best because it has a grip profile similar to the Colt or Remington single-action revolvers.
Every one I have seen has been very well finished. They come with an internal hammer block safety "thing" which can malfunction and not allow a proper hammer fall. Once removed the weapon will function. I ALWAYS CARRY THEM WITH FIVE ROUNDS ONLY, THE HAMMER DOWN ON AN EMPTY CHAMBER...a la Colt SAA's and clones.
I love the balance of the five inch Schofields best of all. The Laramie 6 1/2 inch is a close second. None handle as well as a 5 1/2 Colt/Clone/Ruger single action though (my opinion...worth nothing but to me
).
It was reported early on that the .45 Colt rims were more narrow than the .45 Schofield rims and therefore the ejector stars would override the rims. This would cause the star to return to battery with cartridges underneath, tying up the gun. In my experience both cartridges will do this, so one has to be careful in unloading.
I use .45 Schofield brass so that I KNOW that my loads are safe in my Uberti topbreaks. This identifies them easily from standard .45 Long Colt brass loads.
A very cheap, but serviceable "Schofield/Russian/Laramie holster can be found in the Hunter 1100 series fitted for the Colt 7 1/2 inch or 5 inch barrels. As well the same holster for the Colt New Service will fit. A little "magic" via removing the strap on the belt loop and sewing the belt loop to the back of the holster will create a close appearance to the old "Slim Jim" style holster of the correct time period.
They used to make the Laramie.
The Schofield has the latch mounted on the frame. The Russian and the Laramie has/had the latch mounted on the barrel.
Currently Taylor's Firearms "catalogs" (I do not know if they have them in stock) the New Model No. 3 Frontier, a long-winded name for the discontinued Laramie.
The Russian was modeled after the 3rd Model Russian.
The Laramie and the Frontier are modeled after the New Model No. 3.
The Schofields were done in first and second models.
I had/have all three versions and am now down to a pair of 5 inch Schofields and a 6 1/2 inch Laramie. My Russian was a .44 Russian and all of the others were/are .45 Colt (Or Long Colt to get anybody's goat).
I loaded all of them to a measured 750 fps with 200 grain bullets (.44 Russian) and 250 grain bullets (.45 Long Colt). This to avoid stressing the frame since it is not totally enclosed. A good target competition load would probably be about 600/650 fps. I might carry mine in the woods so I want a little more power.
All of them shot to point of aim at 25 yards. The Laramie shot very high so I had a gunsmith fit a better front sight. The .44 Russian would shoot 2 inch groups at 25 yards with the Black Hills factory ammo.
It is reported that all of these S&W clones do not have a "gas ring" and therefore foul up quickly with black-powder. I do not know about the substitute powders. I shot/shoot Bullseye in mine.
They are FUN to shoot!
The Russian, due to its "saw-handle" required flipping the hand to reach the hammer. I shoot them one handed. The Laramie is better. The Schofield is best because it has a grip profile similar to the Colt or Remington single-action revolvers.
Every one I have seen has been very well finished. They come with an internal hammer block safety "thing" which can malfunction and not allow a proper hammer fall. Once removed the weapon will function. I ALWAYS CARRY THEM WITH FIVE ROUNDS ONLY, THE HAMMER DOWN ON AN EMPTY CHAMBER...a la Colt SAA's and clones.
I love the balance of the five inch Schofields best of all. The Laramie 6 1/2 inch is a close second. None handle as well as a 5 1/2 Colt/Clone/Ruger single action though (my opinion...worth nothing but to me
).It was reported early on that the .45 Colt rims were more narrow than the .45 Schofield rims and therefore the ejector stars would override the rims. This would cause the star to return to battery with cartridges underneath, tying up the gun. In my experience both cartridges will do this, so one has to be careful in unloading.
I use .45 Schofield brass so that I KNOW that my loads are safe in my Uberti topbreaks. This identifies them easily from standard .45 Long Colt brass loads.
A very cheap, but serviceable "Schofield/Russian/Laramie holster can be found in the Hunter 1100 series fitted for the Colt 7 1/2 inch or 5 inch barrels. As well the same holster for the Colt New Service will fit. A little "magic" via removing the strap on the belt loop and sewing the belt loop to the back of the holster will create a close appearance to the old "Slim Jim" style holster of the correct time period.
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Alpo
Member
How?
The only way that comes to my mind is slit the stitching down the welt, open the holster, sew the belt loop (now that both sides of the leather are available) and then restitch the back seam shut.
Is there another way?
Ivan the Butcher
Member
I have a pair of the #3 Russians. Love them!!! The sights are tiny, like the Original. While I was plinking at dad's farm with mine, dad shot them at 25 yards. he shot at the corners of a paper target with one and then repeated with the other. Upon examination you could see 2 overlapping bullet holes on 3 corners and a perfect 4 leaf clover at the upper right corner. He complained about the sights the whole time (Grumpy old man!) My ammo is with Trail Boss and a 205 lead flat RN Cowboy style bullet at 750 fps. My first brass were from TOP BRASS and 1/3 split on first firing. My second batch of brass were Starline, and were fine. They came with smooth wood grips, I bought my pair used and they also have Mother of Pearl grips. The wood grips are the ones for shooting, the pearl grips are real good lookers! If I find Stag or bone grips at an affordable price they're the new grips. I have a M-1902 Hand ejector with bone on them and they nice looking and easy to hold on to. Ivory would most likely cost more than I paid for the guns! If you buy a Scofield, try loading with a 200 and/or 230 grain bullets. I believe 45 S&W was loaded with 200 and a latter military round (45 US, Scofield length and Colt rim) was loaded with 230 @ 810 fps. I shot somebody's else Scofield at a shoot once, but I didn't like the latch system. I guess I'll never make a good cavalryman! Ivan
semperfi71
US Veteran
Hi,
I take two needles and cut them sort enough to work.
I use a pair of long needle-nose pliers.
I drill holes in the leather of the flap and holster body (matching).
I insert needle #1 from the outside and work it to the inside. I grasp the interior needle with the pliers and pull it through and out. I then begin stitching by doing the same with needle #2.
It takes a bit of patience and it works best by "pre-drilling" the necessary holes so that the needles feed through easy.
It is not a professional job but I'm talking "cheap" as to the holster and the work done on it.
One can pull the stitching on the holster and do the work unhampered and them re-stitch. I did this initially on a few holsters and the re-stitching is easy, but not required once I figured out my current method.
I also remove the snap for the retention strap on the holster. If done carefully a small hole remains. I remove the retention strap as well. I then take a short portion of the retention strap and sew it across the hole on the holster. This creates a short section of leather that would be, or could be, used for a new retaining strap that slips into it. Just as was done on some of the original Slim Jim" style holsters.
Alpo
Member
Okay. I thought of that, but figgered I was the only one strange enough to come up with that idea - too much work involved.
Didn't think about cutting the needles. Needle-length was another problem I saw with that method.
Didn't think about cutting the needles. Needle-length was another problem I saw with that method.
semperfi71
US Veteran
Cut the needles short enough to fit the inside width of the holster and still be retrieved with the needle nosed pliers.
I was/am too lazy to unstitch the holster welt and then re-stitch it.
Currently will be doing this (short needle trick) on a Hunter holster reconfigured for Commander sized M1911A1s.
I was/am too lazy to unstitch the holster welt and then re-stitch it.
Currently will be doing this (short needle trick) on a Hunter holster reconfigured for Commander sized M1911A1s.
Wyatt Burp
Member
Semperfi, I had an original 3rd Model Russian years ago and loved the look, but what you said about repositioning the hand to reach the hammer is so true. and that hump kept the gun too high in the hand for me. I also had two orig. New Mosel 3s and what a difference! And I had a 1st model Russian, that looked like an American, and I was surprised how great that gun felt in the hand, even with an 8" barrel. Man, I wish they made a replica of that in .44 special. Or a Laramie in .44 Special.
Alpo
Member
Aw, since I shoot the dang thing with two hands anyway, that hump don't bother me none. I stick that left index finger on the trigger-guard spur and grab holt.
