uncle jimbo
Well-Known Member
I am looking to buy a Uberti lever action rifle. Any member here looked at, shot or own one. Looking at their 1873 in 357 mag. And are built just as the original were.
Uberti lever rifles.
- Thread starter uncle jimbo
- Start date
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
There is a pawn shop in town here (Redlands) that is a stocking dealer for Uberti leverguns. Goodness gracious, they are beautiful rifles. Buckshot/Rick Tunell never miss going to the place if a gunshop crawl is part of a day's plans. The Uberti '73s are marked down about 10%-15% from MSRP. I have picked up and looked closely at examples in 357 Magnum and 45 Colt calibers, and almost snagged the 357 example back when I was shopping for a 357 rifle. The Henry is about $350 cheaper, and a significantly stronger action, and that knee-action locking system of the '73 does not give me a warm fuzzy feeling when the involved cartridge churns up 36K PSI. The 357/current SAAMI-level will probably be all right, but the backthrust from an Old School 44 Magnum (42K PSI) in a '73 seems a little too adventurous for my tastes. We are all familiar with Murphy's Law--there is also Allen's Addendum to Murphy's Law, which states that in matters of random handloads in repro firearm designs from 146 years ago, Murphy's Law is naively optimistic.
I would LOVE to find one of the Uberti/Cimarron '73s in 32/20.
I would LOVE to find one of the Uberti/Cimarron '73s in 32/20.
Pistolero
Well-Known Member
If it was me --- and it isn't, so this is just my opinon.
I'd want a light bbl 73 in .44-40 - the original caliber. Neither .45 Colt or .357 was ever in an original,
and the .45 Colt seems just wrong for a lever gun with that microscopic rim, when the real deal is still readily
available. I'd choose the short rifle version.....but I am not sure that they even make it in that config in .44-40,
or even any .44-40s any more. Seems like the .45 Colt and .357s are far more popular.
Bill
I'd want a light bbl 73 in .44-40 - the original caliber. Neither .45 Colt or .357 was ever in an original,
and the .45 Colt seems just wrong for a lever gun with that microscopic rim, when the real deal is still readily
available. I'd choose the short rifle version.....but I am not sure that they even make it in that config in .44-40,
or even any .44-40s any more. Seems like the .45 Colt and .357s are far more popular.
Bill
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I have three Uberti's and they are all excellent. I shoot 'tween 50 and 200rnds per week in each of them and so far they haven't missed a beat after two and a half years.
I have an 1860 Henry in 44-40, a 1866 "Yellowboy" in 32-20, and an1873 carbine in 38-40. They all shoot best with black powder loadings, fill 1/10" more than the seating depth of the bullet with Swiss 3f, seat the bullet and crimp. I much prefer the bottle necked rounds to the straight walled ones as they are much cleaner with black powder with the fouling only being in the barrel, not escape into the mechanism as you get with the straight walled cases. Also they are more period correct with the rifles even although the Henry was only a rimfire.
I have an 1860 Henry in 44-40, a 1866 "Yellowboy" in 32-20, and an1873 carbine in 38-40. They all shoot best with black powder loadings, fill 1/10" more than the seating depth of the bullet with Swiss 3f, seat the bullet and crimp. I much prefer the bottle necked rounds to the straight walled ones as they are much cleaner with black powder with the fouling only being in the barrel, not escape into the mechanism as you get with the straight walled cases. Also they are more period correct with the rifles even although the Henry was only a rimfire.
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
My 1897-made Win '73 carbine has a couple action parts now in service that were made by Uberti--THAT is how closely the Ubertis follow Winchester design specs. Bill--my example is the light-barrel variant you speak of. It is a delight to hunt with, and it has grassed more deer and bears during its service life as a ranch rifle than have all the rest of my gun safe's occupants combined.
Lamar--I recall reading a piece by Ross Seyfried some years back on this subject--BP substitute in old arms. His method used the BP nominal powder weight--in the case of the 44/40 WCF, 40 grains--multiplying it by 0.4--and using the resulting product as the weight in grains of IMR 4198. 40 x 0.4 = 16 grains. In my '73 carbine, velocity given to SAECO #446 (200 grain FP) is in the 1150 FPS ballpark. In the Uberti SA repro, the loads run ~825 FPS, and leave behind a few zombie granules. In 25/20, 32/20, 38/55 and 45/70 it does substantially the same thing--BP velocity replication. There is enough pressure present to prevent burn-back of case mouths in all calibers mentioned herein. Standard CCI primers were used in all loads. FWIW.
Lamar--I recall reading a piece by Ross Seyfried some years back on this subject--BP substitute in old arms. His method used the BP nominal powder weight--in the case of the 44/40 WCF, 40 grains--multiplying it by 0.4--and using the resulting product as the weight in grains of IMR 4198. 40 x 0.4 = 16 grains. In my '73 carbine, velocity given to SAECO #446 (200 grain FP) is in the 1150 FPS ballpark. In the Uberti SA repro, the loads run ~825 FPS, and leave behind a few zombie granules. In 25/20, 32/20, 38/55 and 45/70 it does substantially the same thing--BP velocity replication. There is enough pressure present to prevent burn-back of case mouths in all calibers mentioned herein. Standard CCI primers were used in all loads. FWIW.
fiver
Well-Known Member
it's also a trick I picked up from Ed Harris some time back.
in my 25-20 I actually burn AA-2230 with a mag SR primer under a plain base bullet.
I'm probably getting around 1400 fps and just using a tumble lube [still the original proof batch of 45/45/10 lube me and JD worked out] kind of an odd combination, but it's been working since forever for me.
I will probably end up using a similar combination in my 375 win. 94 big bore before it's all said and done.
you know I always enjoyed Ross's writings him and Finn Aagard were probably my two favorites they seemed to be able to break down things that seemed complicated into not so complicated terms.
this always meant to me that they really understood what they were conveying.
in my 25-20 I actually burn AA-2230 with a mag SR primer under a plain base bullet.
I'm probably getting around 1400 fps and just using a tumble lube [still the original proof batch of 45/45/10 lube me and JD worked out] kind of an odd combination, but it's been working since forever for me.
I will probably end up using a similar combination in my 375 win. 94 big bore before it's all said and done.
you know I always enjoyed Ross's writings him and Finn Aagard were probably my two favorites they seemed to be able to break down things that seemed complicated into not so complicated terms.
this always meant to me that they really understood what they were conveying.
dannyd93140
New Member
If your shooting cowboy 1873 if your just target shooting Henry Big Boy. Have had both, traded the 1873 kept the Big Boy.
IMO you should not under rate the smile factor. If that ‘73 would make you smile every time you looked at it, then by all means go for it! I wouldn’t be too concerned if someone thinks the design is weak. It may very well be if you fed it a steady diet of factory 357 jacketed stuff. It’s obviously been proofed for it but we’re all handloaders here and we can do better. I have shot a Martini Cadet in 357 Mag for more than 45 years. My kids grew up with what they called the “Kid Gun” and there’s lots of memories in it now. I have always loaded for it with lead bullets and pressures significantly lower than magnum level. I can guarantee that it’s fun and has taken it’s share of small game and varmints through the years.
One of my other smile factor guns is a Cimarron ( Italian made) 1871 Colt open top revolver in 38 Spl. We all know it is very weak, but when you load for it with lower pressure loads duplicating BP velocity, it’s just good fun. Try any lead bullet up to 165 gr with 3grs. of Bullseye and I’m having fun.
If you like the looks and feel of a ‘73 Win. then respect and care for it the way it deserves. Load up some appropriate ammo and go have fun!
One of my other smile factor guns is a Cimarron ( Italian made) 1871 Colt open top revolver in 38 Spl. We all know it is very weak, but when you load for it with lower pressure loads duplicating BP velocity, it’s just good fun. Try any lead bullet up to 165 gr with 3grs. of Bullseye and I’m having fun.
If you like the looks and feel of a ‘73 Win. then respect and care for it the way it deserves. Load up some appropriate ammo and go have fun!
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
Jim E--you are correct, in all respects. I enjoy my original '73 Winchester, and have respect for its 121-year-old metallurgy. I suspect the current crop of Pasta Coltas and Gardona Val Trompia Winchesters are made of better metal than my originals are composed of. SAAMI's moderating of MAP standards for all of the Magnum revolver calibers in the 1990s enabled '73s in 44 Magnum and S&W J-frames in 357 Magnum. I preferred the Henry (or the Win 92 or the Marlin 94) in order to use Doug Wesson-level 357 Magnum loadings from time to time. I wanted a rifle in 357 that was able to keep up with my Ruger Blackhawk 357 that sent #358156 downrange at 1500 FPS+; these clock in the 1900 FPS ZIP Code from the Henry. Loads like this have no business anywhere near a J- or K-frame S&W or a Win '73 of any era.
A large part of my enjoyment of the replica old-schooler arms is enjoying them in their original calibers, to address KeithB's 2nd sentence properly. I think we are all on the same sheet of music here, just altering the chords a little bit to suit our own musical tastes.
A large part of my enjoyment of the replica old-schooler arms is enjoying them in their original calibers, to address KeithB's 2nd sentence properly. I think we are all on the same sheet of music here, just altering the chords a little bit to suit our own musical tastes.
You are absolutely right about our various tastes and desired uses. I was just trying to convey the fun factor and the nostalgia usually associated with some of our older guns and their copies. I would love to carry and shoot a ‘73 but I know it’s no thumper. Compared to the 22 I might carry instead, it’s a real Gun! I share your desire for guns that shoot the old calibers. I really like shooting my’92 rifle in 32-20, the other ‘92 is a 35yr old Browning in 44Mag. that I like to load with Lyman’s 44-40 data. I guess I’m stuck here a century and a half too late. Carry on brother, there’s still lots of shooting out there to do!
uncle jimbo
Well-Known Member
Well after hunting all over the LGS and the internet, I found the Uberti 1873 I was looking for. I found a place called Kones Korner in SD. I call and the gentile man said he had one, NIB. I said he was the only in the USA that had one, and he said that he was the largest Uberti distributor in the country and according to his computer, he has 70 of them in stock.*
I ordered one and now I am waiting for it to arrive. I ordered it last Thursday so I should be getting late today or tomorrow, I hope. I ended up paying $1084.00, that includes the shipping and the FFL fee on my end.
So when I get, I will probably be trying to pick the brains of those that have one of these 357 mag lever rifles for loads and bullet styles for this rifle.
* This is what the voice on the other end of the phone was telling me, I have no Idea if it is true or not.
I ordered one and now I am waiting for it to arrive. I ordered it last Thursday so I should be getting late today or tomorrow, I hope. I ended up paying $1084.00, that includes the shipping and the FFL fee on my end.
So when I get, I will probably be trying to pick the brains of those that have one of these 357 mag lever rifles for loads and bullet styles for this rifle.
* This is what the voice on the other end of the phone was telling me, I have no Idea if it is true or not.
Bass Ackward
Active Member
Make sure you clean & lubricate it fairly quickly. As cold as it”s been from SD on down, it will have most likely sweat once or twice in shipment depending on how many warehouse layovers & transfers it had to do to get to ya. I was .... concerned about shipping molds, but it’s due a warm up nationwide soon.