35 Whelen
10-04-2014, 05:20 AM
After lots of planning, waiting, plotting, calculating, etc., the wait ended Tuesday when my newest girl came in. I was out of town and didn't get to pick it up until Wednesday, then didn't get to shoot it at all until this evening after work. Here's how she looks:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Uberti%2044%20Mag%20Carbine/UbertiCarbine-3_zps8d3f73e0.jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Uberti%2044%20Mag%20Carbine/UbertiCarbine-3_zps8d3f73e0.jpg.html)
I'd had an 1873 Uberti 20" Short Rifle in .44 Special, but I wanted the .44 Magnum carbine that would handle the heavy-ish .44 Special loads I use for deer hunting. I doubt it'll see many .44 Magnum loads, at least for hunting, but I'm sure I'll piddle with some loads just to see her full capability. It feels quite a bit lighter than the 20" rifle with its octagon barrel. Anyhow, tonight I mainly chronographed it to compare velocities against those out of my .44 Special revolvers. As predicted, loads run about 200 fps above the same loads in my 4 3/4" SA. My latest hunting load for the revolvers consists of 8.2 grs. of AL Power Pistol under a 258 gr. SWC from an RCBS 44-250KT mould and it runs 1000 fps out of the 4 3/4", 1200 out of the rifle. After chronographing I decided to give it a quick sight in. The target I used is designed for use with a scope and is really difficult to see, especially in the evening. But much to my amazement, with some really careful shooting this little rifle shot VERY well:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Uberti%2044%20Mag%20Carbine/UbertiCarbine_zps76990426.jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Uberti%2044%20Mag%20Carbine/UbertiCarbine_zps76990426.jpg.html)
I hope to get to work on load development this Sunday focusing on slower burning powders such as 2400 and H-110/W-296. My goal is to have a load that will work interchangeably in my revolvers and this rifle and be accurate in both.
After the shooting session I retired to the work bench and proceeded to disassemble it for some minor polishing. Tonight I focused on the lever, trigger and hammer. I ground down the safety spring, trigger return spring, and the main spring, polished surfaces and worked on the sear. When I was finished, the rifle operated much more smoothly and I'd estimate the trigger to be breaking around 3 - 3 1/2 lbs.
Stay tuned!
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Uberti%2044%20Mag%20Carbine/UbertiCarbine-3_zps8d3f73e0.jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Uberti%2044%20Mag%20Carbine/UbertiCarbine-3_zps8d3f73e0.jpg.html)
I'd had an 1873 Uberti 20" Short Rifle in .44 Special, but I wanted the .44 Magnum carbine that would handle the heavy-ish .44 Special loads I use for deer hunting. I doubt it'll see many .44 Magnum loads, at least for hunting, but I'm sure I'll piddle with some loads just to see her full capability. It feels quite a bit lighter than the 20" rifle with its octagon barrel. Anyhow, tonight I mainly chronographed it to compare velocities against those out of my .44 Special revolvers. As predicted, loads run about 200 fps above the same loads in my 4 3/4" SA. My latest hunting load for the revolvers consists of 8.2 grs. of AL Power Pistol under a 258 gr. SWC from an RCBS 44-250KT mould and it runs 1000 fps out of the 4 3/4", 1200 out of the rifle. After chronographing I decided to give it a quick sight in. The target I used is designed for use with a scope and is really difficult to see, especially in the evening. But much to my amazement, with some really careful shooting this little rifle shot VERY well:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Uberti%2044%20Mag%20Carbine/UbertiCarbine_zps76990426.jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Uberti%2044%20Mag%20Carbine/UbertiCarbine_zps76990426.jpg.html)
I hope to get to work on load development this Sunday focusing on slower burning powders such as 2400 and H-110/W-296. My goal is to have a load that will work interchangeably in my revolvers and this rifle and be accurate in both.
After the shooting session I retired to the work bench and proceeded to disassemble it for some minor polishing. Tonight I focused on the lever, trigger and hammer. I ground down the safety spring, trigger return spring, and the main spring, polished surfaces and worked on the sear. When I was finished, the rifle operated much more smoothly and I'd estimate the trigger to be breaking around 3 - 3 1/2 lbs.
Stay tuned!