Cimarron '73 .44 Special

[Ballard]

I was wondering if anyone shoots one of these. Do they feed Keith bullets? How about LBT nose styles?

[Fernando]

If you've come across one and decide to pass could you possibly pm me the contact info?

[Irascible]

I shoot a '73 in 44 Special. It does not feed either Original Keith nor SSK bullets. Both are too long. It does not feed my ogival wadcutter (almost straight with a chamfer around the top edge) which sticks out of the case quite a bit as the throat is too tight. I have not tried some of the shorter Keith type bullets. They will probably feed OK. I use it for cowboy action and it feeds 200gr RFN, Truncated and semi-wadcutters very well and FAST.

[Ballard]

irascible, do you think they could be made to feed the Keith bullet?

[35 Whelen]

a few years ago I bought a Uberti 1873 .44 Special Short Rifle for CAS, and of course hunting. When I started CAS the only .44 mould I had was an old Ideal single cavity 429421, so that's what I used. The rifle fed that bullet like poop through a goose. I fired several matches with that rig and never once did the rifle bobble with that SWC bullet. Eventually I got more moulds and for hunting I used an RCBS 44-250KT which the rifle fed fine as well. Like irascible said, the rifles are FAST.

I sold that rifle to fund the purchase of another Uberti 1873, this one in .44 Magnum. While I haven't run this one through the mill like I did the .44 Special, I have worked up some loads with the same RCBS bullet, which by the way has a fairly large meplat, and it feeds it fine.

The way the 1873's are designed, seems to me they'd feed just about anything because they run the cartridge directly in to the chamber.

35W

[Ballard]

How do you like the .44 Mag?

[stubbicatt]

Sort of a thread veer, but that rifle in 20" barrel length in 357 magnum is a real sweetheart. I've heard that the action is "weak" but I've put quite a few rounds through mine and it exhibits no frame cracking or any sort of fatigue. I use a RNFP bullet though. It is surprisingly accurate and is one of my favorites.

Don't know that it would stand up to a steady diet of 44 magnum, but maybe it would. On Cimarron's webpage they post the bore dimensions and twist rate and such. The 357 magnum has a .356" groove diameter and it exhibits absolutely no signs of leading with slugs sized .358"

I think that rifle in 44 would be a real sweetheart.

If I had it to do over, I think I would buy the 24" half octagon barrel, just to get the balance a little more muzzle heavy. As is, it balances right behind the rear sight.

[35 Whelen]

How do you like the .44 Mag?

I LOVE it. It is hands down the smoothest lever I've ever operated and is quite accurate too.

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)

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)


35W

[Ballard]

Do you shoot all .44 special in it? What bullets have you tried besides the Keith?

[35 Whelen]

Do you shoot all .44 special in it? What bullets have you tried besides the Keith?

I bought the rifle as a companion to my .44 Special revolvers and so I could shoot my .44 Special loads which range from the Skeeter load (258 gr. SWC @950 fps) to the Keith load (258 gr. SWC @ 1200 fps). I haven't shot any Magnum loads in it yet.

35W

[Ballard]

35 Whelen you have a PM.

[mac266]

My Cimarron '73 is a .357 magnum, not a .44, so your mileage may vary. However, I found that it will NOT feed any semi-wadcutter, wadcutter, or any boolit design with a shoulder like those have. It likes round nose flat points ONLY. This is true with both .357 magnum and .38 special rounds.

In each case, the problem is the boolit shoulder hanging up on the chamber mouth. All of my Marlins are the opposite -- they will feed SWCs all day long and I don't even feel a hang up on the chamber mouth. It's just a difference in gun design, which is why I think you might have similar problems in a .44.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
I am 73 fan from many years back. I would like to know if the recent models have upgraded the breach looking system. If someone with a camera who would not mind removing the left side plate and posting the photo I would say a big "Thank you" !
With new steel in the toggles and frame it is understandable the newer rifles can sustain the pressures. 44 Special and 45 Colt as factory loads are basically on the mild side but 44 mag is a whole new world.
Mike in Peru

[35 Whelen]

I'll take a picture of mine this evening, but I can tell you the innards of my Uberti '73 in .44 Magnum are all but identical to my 129 year old '73 Winchester .

35W