Huge Uberti Dissapointment

[Tazman1602]

Extremely disappointed in Uberti. I had been looking at an Uberti 1875 "Frank" revolver, great looking piece but finally settled on a nickel plated 1873 birds head 357 Magnum, bought it a week ago locally at Jays sporting goods in Gaylord Michigan. Took it to the indoor range today with wife who was shooting her Sig and her Kimber.

Not even one cylinder in, something didn't feel right. Backed up and looked, nothing apparent. Then no fire and a hard cylinder turn. Loosened up and fired the rest, very accurate. Loaded another cylinder and STOP. Something not right. Cylinder wasn't locking right and primer strike were WAY off center. Couldn't get cylinder to turn to unload, thought I was in a world of do-do but got it to spin and unloaded. At that point lockup was non existent, definitely wrong.

Wife who is very proficient asked me to please stop trying so we immediately quit, went home and called Jays in Gaylord.

This is the good part. They told me to bring it back and they would do WHATEVER it took to make me happy. Drove the 50 miles, talked to manager - a girl who is very savvy and she told me good move, we can either fix, give you a new one out of stock, or give me total credit towards the gun of my choice.

Here's the really good part. Wife asked me please do not get another one of "those" guns, will you please get a Ruger, Smith, Kimber or something I don't have to worry about. I did like the birds head, nickel plate, etc but when a wife of 38 years cares that much about me I will comply.

She picked me out a S&W 686 brand new 357 mag with a GREAT trigger that was a bit more money, can't wait to get back to the range. She also told me for our 38th wedding anniversary on the 23rd that she wanted 2 hours of range time and dinner out. What a woman!

Anyway it's great to be married to such a girl but it is also VERY NICE to do business with a gun store that takes care of their customers that well. Can't wait to shoot my first new Smith!

Art

[TNsailorman]

She's a keeper for sure. Did you ever find out what the trouble was with the Uberti?

[Tazman1602]

She's a keeper for sure. Did you ever find out what the trouble was with the Uberti?

We did at the shop. Spring under the hand snapped. Not acceptable for a brand new gun. Unbelievable.i really liked that gun too but this Smith is absolutely the berries. Won't trust Uberti again, could have gone bang in a bad way...

Art

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Stuff happens. Too bad you're soured on Uberti, a really good company with which I've had no problems. But I'm happy you got such good service from your gun shop and ended up with something you like. I'm certain I'd be doing all my business with them in the future.

Flat springs/leaf springs do fail once in awhile, and are an integral part of old west-type revolvers.

[jonp]

That's a good gun shop you buy from.

[slim1836]

You will like that 686, your wife has good taste.

Slim

[salvadore]

I've seen new Smith's sent back to the factory.

[dverna]

Hi neighbor. I am 25 miles from the Jay store in Gaylord. We bought a matched set of 686’s from Jay’s recently for my fiancé and me. You will love your 686.

We got the 5” barrels....nice guns

[35 Whelen]

Well, I'm a little confused. Did they actually show you the problem? I mean did you see the broken spring? I ask because late production Uberti's hands use coil springs and plungers like this (thanks Goggle)-



Even if somehow the hand malfunctioned, the cylinder would still lock with the hammer at rest, first click, (assuming it's a 4-click version) and full cock, even if you had to manually index it.

Are you possibly referring to the bolt spring?



While I agree the spring shouldn't break in a new revolver (I'm assuming it was brand new, although you didn't say it was), these are prone to break eventually in all SA revolvers that use them. I've replaced them with a Wolff wire spring in the dozen or so Uberti's I've owned because 1) They all break eventually (Even Colt's) 2) It's a simple job 3) Replacing it normally shaves about 1 lb. from the trigger pull and 4) It's a $6.00 part.

I agree it's too bad you're soured on Uberti. I bought three more just last year and fit and finish is the best it's ever been and accuracy is off the charts. Just today I was whacking my 21" gong at 150 yds. with my newest; a 5 1/2" Cattleman in 32-20.



35W

[Larry Gibson]

35 Whelen

Well said.....I agree 100%.......

[Tazman1602]

Hi neighbor. I am 25 miles from the Jay store in Gaylord. We bought a matched set of 686’s from Jay’s recently for my fiancé and me. You will love your 686.

We got the 5” barrels....nice guns

Hey D!

I remember you do live close. I have *almost* bought every gun I own in the last ten years from Jays because of service. They are just wonderful and would do literally anything to make sure you're happy. This 686 has a 6" barrel and I've got an older model 66 with a 4" barrel along with a *few* (you know me...we've talked....) Ruger revolvers LOL.

To all the people who have asked about and stuck up for Uberti I didn't mean to disrespect them. One of the reasons I bought Uberti was because they have a VERY good reputation. I evidently just got a lemon. I don't know exactly what broke, but a brand new gun losing its lockup and striking primers almost to the side of the brass scared my wife to death. She is a very savvy shooter and knows what that this could have ended up as.

I had to exchange a Ruger Vaquero with Jays about ten years ago -- not due to mechanical issues but because I *think* it didn't get washed properly after the blueing process. You could look down inside with trigger when cocked and it was FULL of rust. Jays took the time to get me a new one and even drove it the 55 miles or so to my home to make the exchange. No mechanicals like I said, just cosmetic but still not right for a brand new gun.

For those of you who asked, YES this was a brand spanking new gun never fired before that first cylinder. For what it's worth I LOVED the way it handled, shot, etc on those first three shots BUT when I have a mechanical hard failure on a brand new gun, that sours me on the whole experience and it scared her. My son in law bought a Uberti 44 Mag at the same time and we are going to run 100 rounds through it today just to be sure it is OK.

VERY glad I bought this locally instead of from Gunbroker like I was thinking of. That would have been an ordeal.

At least part of this post was to brag about my wife and how she watches out for me after 38 years, but it was also a shameless plug for Jays Sporting Goods in Gaylord Michigan and the way they take care of customers.

Many Thanks for listening to my whining......

Art

[9.3X62AL]

Both that lady you married and the gun store you trade with are PRECIOUS TREASURES. I am similarly situated, and can appreciate how blessed I am and how such elements in your life add to its depth and quality.

You will LOVE that 686. I have a 4" from about 1990, and am on final approach to a 6" 586 of similar vintage as product of a pending trade. I have had great luck with my Uberti Cattleman revolvers so far. The 686 is A LOT MORE GUN, though.

[Tazman1602]

Both that lady you married and the gun store you trade with are PRECIOUS TREASURES. I am similarly situated, and can appreciate how blessed I am and how such elements in your life add to its depth and quality.

You will LOVE that 686. I have a 4" from about 1990, and am on final approach to a 6" 586 of similar vintage as product of a pending trade. I have had great luck with my Uberti Cattleman revolvers so far. The 686 is A LOT MORE GUN, though.

You ain't just a whistlin' Dixie pal! She has always been my best buddy and Jays has been great about the whole gun deal.

The first handgun I ever bought was a S&W Police Positive in .38 Special in 1979, the year I turned 21. Its wife's gun now but that old Smith has had thousands of rounds of 38 put down the tube and never even a hiccup ---- I paid $169.95 + tax for it back then.

I have lusted after a 686 for years and she cemented the deal for me. As I've said she's an experienced shooter and when she picked it up she said it ooozed quality (I was looking at Rugers, I'm kind of a Ruger nut but always wanted a 686 like I said..) and the trigger was outstanding and she was right. The minute it hit my hand I was thinking "WOW". Haven't had it out to put the trigger pull gauge on it yet but I'm betting it's somewhere in the 3-5lb range in single action, breaks like glass, and is smooth as butter in double action.

Going back to range this week, can't wait to put some downrange.....and yes she's going with me!

Oh wait! I know, "This thread is useless without pics!"


This is the new 686


This was the Uberti which was an absolute beauty <sigh>

[wrench man]

Interesting, I only have one Uberti but it's been flawless!, it's ten times the revolver than the Taurus it replaced! and of the S&W's that I've had the opportunity to shoot?, I DON'T see what everyone sees in them either??

[Tazman1602]

Interesting, I only have one Uberti but it's been flawless!, it's ten times the revolver than the Taurus it replaced! and of the S&W's that I've had the opportunity to shoot?, I DON'T see what everyone sees in them either??

I hear you wrench, everything I've read says they are extremely nice and well made, threw me for a loop. Interesting thing you've got. I have three Taurus revolvers, two six inch 357's one with a vent rib and a 44 Special snubby. Both the long barrels I got in divorce sales for $200 each and the snubby (I think it's a 445 IIRC) and all three are flawless. The non-vent rib Taurus is one of the best cast Bullet shooters I've got.

Interestingly enough because of this I pulled out all my pistols just to wipe and clean. I have pistols from my dad, grandfather, and great grandfather and remember when and where I got every single one.....except for one. It's a Smith Model 66 no dash Combat That I'll be dogged if I can remember when I got it but know I've had it for decades. Stainless with a 4" barrel now I've got to shoot it! 357 Mag too. Oldest pistol is a Colt 1898 32-20 that great grandfather got to keep behind the counter in his bank. My grandson will be very wealthy when he's my age....

Still wish that Uberti had worked out.....

Art

[Tackleberry41]

I have bought 1 Uberti, and probably be my last. Paid $1000 new for one of their top break guns, come in a cheap cardboard box, I know not a huge deal. But a $500 glock, etc comes with a hard case.

Then I shoot it, not firing sometimes, see where the firing pin is hitting the frame. Several emails to Uberti, nothing. So I fixed it myself. Now less than 100rds in the gun, and the timing is going out, 2 chambers won't lock when you cock it.