Opinions on the Uberti 1858 revolving carbine?

[Handshaker]

It looks cool to me. How does it shoot?
thanks

https://www.impactguns.com/black-powder-rifles/uberti-1858-new-army-target-carbine-44-18-barrel-037084412009-341200/

[bedbugbilly]

I purchased a new one off of GB last winter but haven't had the opportunity to shoot it yet - too many things going on this summer. Mine looks good - good fit and finish - what you'd expect from Uberti. The main thing on them is to keep your fingers/hand behind the front of the cylinder and that is why the trigger guard has a spur on it - to support it with your other hand. I had wanted one since they became available in the 60s as they are "different". Not a true copy but close enough to the revolving carbines/rifles that Remington made and sold in limited quantities. They are supposed to shoot accurately with RB or Conical - I bough a Eras Gone mold for the Johnson and Dow pattern conical to use in it. I also purchased a conversion cylinder for 45 Colt from Taylors for it. The conversion cylinder fits like a glove - now to find the time to shoot it!

I shopped around and could't find a good used one so bought one off of GB - I believe Wholesale Hunter or something like that as they had a decent price on them. When it arrived, it was NIB and marked with a production date of 2014. Just one of those things in mu "bucket list" that I decided to do while I could still enjoy it. Google "Shooting Remington Revolving Carbine Video" - you should come up with some good videos of them in action.

Good luck and have fun!

EDIT: Just looked at your link - that's a decent price for one.

[dnepr]

I have more work to do with mine , but I am getting some decent accuracy with 25 gr FFF goes a a couple secretly box wads and a .457 RB

[Handshaker]

I have admired these for a while now, but previously wasnt into BP, now i am. What size conical bullet mold would be best for this? I can buy one online for 462 delivered.

[rodwha]

Uberti chambers run .450” for their pistols so I’d assume it’s the same, but the barrels I’m not sure of. Might be different.

Regardless there’s not much point going but .001-2” over chamber with a bullet/conical.

[KCSO]

I had a couple and sold them both. They were good enough shooters but unhandy to hold as your lead hand has to be behind the cylinder. In addition if there is any leakage around the cap it is right in your face. All in all a nice curiosity but I soon saw why Remington sold so few of the originals. About like the 30 carbine too big for rabbits and too small for deer.

[Handshaker]

I had a couple and sold them both. They were good enough shooters but unhandy to hold as your lead hand has to be behind the cylinder. In addition if there is any leakage around the cap it is right in your face. All in all a nice curiosity but I soon saw why Remington sold so few of the originals. About like the 30 carbine too big for rabbits and too small for deer.

Thanks for the info, i was thought that might be an issue. On the 1858 revolver, i was just hoping i could use the lee .452 long colt mold i have coming for the conversion cylinder on my Ruger old army, it looks like i will be able to.

[rodwha]

I had a couple and sold them both. They were good enough shooters but unhandy to hold as your lead hand has to be behind the cylinder. In addition if there is any leakage around the cap it is right in your face. All in all a nice curiosity but I soon saw why Remington sold so few of the originals. About like the 30 carbine too big for rabbits and too small for deer.

A fellow on another forum has one and has hunted with it. It’s fine for deer (and not the smaller ones you find in some parts of the country) out to about 50 yds where the accuracy falls off. Like me he uses energetic powders and custom bullets with a wide meplat.

My Pietta NMA likes a weighed charge of 33 grns 3F Olde Eynsford pushing my 170 and 195 grn WFN, and judging by a few similar loads posted my load is likely akin to a standard .45 ACP load producing 350-425 ft/lbs. Run that through a longer barrel and it will boost it just a little bit more.

Even a ball from a handgun using an energetic powder at 25 yds is doing roughly what a patched ball from a rifle is doing at 100-125 yds, and we know those are effective.

[AtomHeartMother]

They're great fun. I cast the Lee .452 and use a R&D 45 colt cylinder in mine. Always get comments at the range on it. Honestly, I shoot it better than my 1860 Henry repro in the same caliber. The henry has like a 12moa front sight so getting the groups down at 100 yards can be a challenge. The revolving carbines' sights are much better in that regard. I don't find the hold on the carbine too awkward and can get regular hits on an eight inch steel at 100 yards. Just remember if you're casting those in place of conicals, pure lead is a must. I would even recommend a cylinder loading stand with pure lead bullets as the remingtons' loading levers aren't the strongest.

[bigted]

Interesting! I have, as well, desired getting one of these revolving carbines. Should be a hoot I would think. It is on the list.

Thanks for beginning this post! I will watch and read with interest.

[Good Cheer]

Too bad they weren't made in smaller caliber just for hunting.
Somebody is bound to have considered it.

[rodwha]

Too bad they weren't made in smaller caliber just for hunting.
Somebody is bound to have considered it.

I’ve often wondered how cool it would be to have a small caliber revolving carbine in a small caliber for rabbits and such. Those little NAA pistols or a .31 cal.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

You would for sure want to wear ear and eye protection.

[bigted]

Too bad they weren't made in smaller caliber just for hunting.
Somebody is bound to have considered it.

Thinkin the NAVY cylinder and barrel could be installed ... maybe! Betcha that WOULD be a fun shootin carbine. And a Rabbit gettin hummer to boot ... prolly tree rats and grouse too.

[Lostinidaho]

I really like mine. It accurate out to 150 yards.

[Good Cheer]

A Navy cylinder oh golly gosh yes.
You could have a replacement barrel with whatever twist you wanted.
Or would a 38-55 liner work?

[Surculus]

Too bad they weren't made in smaller caliber just for hunting.
Somebody is bound to have considered it.

At some point, Uberti must have made some Navy [.38nom] caliber ones, because I saw the barrels & cylinders listed as parts at some point [long ago. Numrich maybe?] but they probably never came stateside as being "not historically correct" or something. Maybe someone in Yurp can tell us if they have them over there in Navy config?

[pietro]

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Holding with both hands behind the front of the cylinder is a non-issue if an archery forearm guard is worn on the non-trigger arm (or just wear a long sleeved heavy shirt).

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[Surculus]

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Holding with both hands behind the front of the cylinder is a non-issue if an archery forearm guard is worn on the non-trigger arm (or just wear a long sleeved heavy shirt).

.

Archery forearm guard isn't going to do you much good if you suffer a chain fire and the cylinder sends a spare ball into your wrist. Using the carbine w/ one of the conversion cylinders would avoid that eventuality, but you'd still want to wear something fairly fire resistant as a sleeve for the hot gas coming out of the cylinder gap.

[rodwha]

Archery forearm guard isn't going to do you much good if you suffer a chain fire and the cylinder sends a spare ball into your wrist. Using the carbine w/ one of the conversion cylinders would avoid that eventuality, but you'd still want to wear something fairly fire resistant as a sleeve for the hot gas coming out of the cylinder gap.

Actually some testing was done with 30 grns of powder and a ball with no barrel on a Colt model and it produced something like 7 ft/lbs of energy. It’s unlikely to break the skin but might just leave a bruise.

[Caswell Ranch]

Too bad they weren't made in smaller caliber just for hunting.
Somebody is bound to have considered it.

Very old post but, .451 RB is great for rabbits and tree rat with low load, up the load, fox and bigger are O.K.

[bimus]

Uberti 1858 carbine with a rear peep sight mounted behind the hammer on the stock is my most used hunting rifle for Grouse since 1989 .

[Caswell Ranch]

Uberti 1858 carbine with a rear peep sight mounted behind the hammer on the stock is my most used hunting rifle for Grouse since 1989 .

Add a picture please

[bimus]

I hah to cut the bead off the front sight so it is now just a post .

[bimus]

More pictures loaded with 35 grains of fff or ff black powder or Pyrodex and 454 Hornady or Speer round ball .
FFF velocity 833 FPS
FF velocity 869 FPS

[Caswell Ranch]

Interesting that the velocity of 2F load is higher, have seen this a couple of times with some long barreled guns.

[Soundguy]

I hold mine with a 2 hand grip BEHIND the forcing cone. They do spit some..as expected.

[bimus]

When hunting wear safety glasses mostly dark when in the sun and the yellow ones in dark timber and keep a ear pug in my left ear and put the right side in before I shoot and hand behind cylinder .The nipples going off do pepper the side of my face .

[Caswell Ranch]

Interesting link below, note the 45 colt conversion gun serial number 34 with 18" barrel, trigger guard , loading lever, size of side relief scallops on stock (stock to frame), rear sight type, if Uberti used a gun as a model this has to be it.

The other point of interest for me was how close today's cartridge conversion cylinders are to the originals.
.46 rimfire making the transition from old caliber reference to new way (back then), land size as bore to groove size (.44 land , .46 groove).

https://www.remingtonsociety.org/a-study-of-remington-revolving-rifles/

[Caswell Ranch]

Uberti 1858 carbine with a rear peep sight mounted behind the hammer on the stock is my most used hunting rifle for Grouse since 1989 .

Is the rifling twist rate the same on the 1989 model as the new one, I know of changes in bore/groove depth a friend has one with a .460 groove depth but has the 1 in 18 twist (6 year old gun).

[Caswell Ranch]

Dixie lists twist as 1 in 38" (has to be a typo) , I've seen reference to 1 in 30" and 1 in 32" along with 1 in 18" twist (new/newish) .

[Caswell Ranch]

At some point, Uberti must have made some Navy [.38nom] caliber ones, because I saw the barrels & cylinders listed as parts at some point [long ago. Numrich maybe?] but they probably never came stateside as being "not historically correct" or something. Maybe someone in Yurp can tell us if they have them over there in Navy config?

.36 is historically correct, I don't think Uberti ever made one in .36, maybe to company that made the Colt Root revolving carbine, I would like to see that repro come back.277391

[nightwolf1974]

I had one I bought used, and lost in a house fire. Took me some time to get used to shooting it. **Never put your hand in front of the cylinder...not very safe, and can be painful!**

[dondiego]

I had one I bought used, and lost in a house fire. Took me some time to get used to shooting it. **Never put your hand in front of the cylinder...not very safe, and can be painful!**

True for most revolvers!

[Pier23]

Hi all,
I have just recently become aware of the 1858 Remington Army .44 cal carbine. It looks like a fun firearm! But the vids I have seen show the ram lever dropping after a few rounds. Is this a chronic issue? Is there a simple fix?

I was looking particularly at the Cimarron offering, which I assume is an Uberti? Are spare cylinders available for this?

I am new-ish to BP, I have a traditional cap-fired muzzleloader, and want to get further into BP. This carbine looks like a good gateway drug.

Many thanks!

Don

[oldsalt444]

I'm enjoying mine. I bought a Howell conversion cylinder in 45 Colt. Accuracy is minute of pie plate at 100. With the BP cylinder I found that conicals like the Lee 200 gr. are more accurate than round balls. Definitely wear good shooting glasses with wide lenses. I always feel stinging on my cheeks when shooting both BP and 45 Colt cartridges. But it is a great deal of fun. Good luck!

[SlippyRider]

Theyre super fun to shoot and very accurate to 100 yards. Given that muzzle velocities on an 8" barrel with 30 grains of 3f and a 138 grain round ball are well over 800 ft/second, which gives you just over 200 ft/lbs energy, the added barrel length of the carbine and a heavier conical is gonna bring energy levels in the neighborhood of 45acp. Pretty cool!

As for gripping the gun behind the cylinder, yes always. I see reference to an experiment showing virtually no dangerous velocities from
a round fired directly from the cylinder, as happens in a chainfire, but its difficult to lend this much credence when an 1858 with a 3" barrel, 30 grains 3f and round ball achieves 700 ft/second. Also, a pepper box can kill. Its firing bullets directly from a cylinder. And the chainfires ive seen on video send lead balls out fast enough to splatter against the frame where they do hit. Thats gonna hurt a fellows hand.