Broke weak, fell for it right away

[armoredman]

Walked into CAL Ranch looking for whatever reloading stuff I might find, saw an 1873 Uberti Cattleman BirdsHead on the shelf, and I looked at it, thinking, yeah, another 45 Colt I don't have dies, brass, molds, nothing....and my wondering eyes spotted the tag...357 Magnum. Huh? Ummm, Miss, might I see this little gem? Price was lower than MidwayUSA and Buds, the places I checked really fast. Everything locked up solid, timing felt nice, grip felt like it was made for my hand...everything felt wonderful, and so I broke weak...it's on layaway, because I paid some medical bills today. I walked out with nothing but a receipt - they were out of SPP anyway.
What's funny is I don't even know if it's the Old Model or the New Model, but pretty sure it's New Model.
Anyone have experience with this little hand boomer? I will be shooting mostly 38 Special, one, because I have real carry guns I use all the time, and this is a range fun gun, and two - I have something like 3 or 4 fired brass in .357 Mag.

[LAGS]

And you just happen to know someone that has several .357 sets of dies and molds.
Also.
If you have to,
You can reload .357 mags with .38 special dies.
I will have to look, I think I have some extra .357 mag cases out in my storage shed.

[Wheelguns 1961]

I have had a few Ubertis over the years. I always had good luck with them. Sadly, I sold them off when I decided that I didn’t like fixed sights anymore. I think that you will be very happy with it.

[LAGS]

That Birds Head Grip model is more concealable.
But being single action , you can't really " Bob" the hammer.
On the smaller revolvers like that, I preferred the Cross Draw model holsters.
I think Doc Holliday used that model since he was a card player.

[poppy42]

Walked into CAL Ranch looking for whatever reloading stuff I might find, saw an 1873 Uberti Cattleman BirdsHead on the shelf, and I looked at it, thinking, yeah, another 45 Colt I don't have dies, brass, molds, nothing....and my wondering eyes spotted the tag...357 Magnum. Huh? Ummm, Miss, might I see this little gem? Price was lower than MidwayUSA and Buds, the places I checked really fast. Everything locked up solid, timing felt nice, grip felt like it was made for my hand...everything felt wonderful, and so I broke weak...it's on layaway, because I paid some medical bills today. I walked out with nothing but a receipt - they were out of SPP anyway.
What's funny is I don't even know if it's the Old Model or the New Model, but pretty sure it's New Model.
Anyone have experience with this little hand boomer? I will be shooting mostly 38 Special, one, because I have real carry guns I use all the time, and this is a range fun gun, and two - I have something like 3 or 4 fired brass in .357 Mag.

Sounds like you had a great find!
Now I want you to listen to me! Guns are much more important in medical bills! Those doctors will wait! a dollar down and a dollar a day! Really if it was the procedure or treatment it’s not like they’re gonna on treat you! Or if you had an operation and they remove something, it’s not like they’re gonna put it back! You get where I’m coming from? Guns are much more important than medical bills! I speak from experience! Lol

[Bmi48219]

…….If you have to,You can reload .357 mags with .38 special dies.

When I started loading 357 with 38 dies I took a mic to the local Ace Hardware and found a 1/8” steel ring that the bottom of my .38 die would slide into. To switch from 38 to 357 I remove the 38 die and put the 1/8” spacer under it before re-installing on my turret. When using the same projectile for both cartridges there is no seating / crimping adjustment needed.

[Dusty Bannister]

If you are working with a turret press and not a single stage press, you will need the spacer for the deprime/case mouth flare die as well as the crimp die. The size die is just fine the way it is.

[armoredman]

Single stage, 1981 RCBS RS, great press, and was a gift. I think I will pay it off next payday so I can start playing...but, hmm, that means I need to start looking at leather...

[armoredman]

That Birds Head Grip model is more concealable.
But being single action , you can't really " Bob" the hammer.
On the smaller revolvers like that, I preferred the Cross Draw model holsters.
I think Doc Holliday used that model since he was a card player.

Very well could be, and I still have the 158gr mold you loaned me, sir, so I can cast up for it. Brass would be nice, avoid the long-term carbon ring and long forcing cone jump issues. Thank you again. amigo.
Edit to add, a Doc Holliday should rig would be the bees knees for this gun. But, then I will need to find some fake ivory grips...

[LAGS]

I shoot more .38 SPL's in my .357 Mags then I do Magnums.
Also.
I use more cast Boolits in the 38s than I do in the .357s , especially Hot Loads.
I have never had a carbon ring build up in my cylinders or chambers on the .357 rifles that I have if I shoot .38s more often.
I have found that I can shoot hotter cast loads in the .357s if I PC the slugs , especially in the rifles.

[armoredman]

Gotta wait another 7 days...will have to look for some 357 mag brass somewhere.

[Gray Fox]

If I remember correctly, either the Lyman or the RCBS dies used to ship with a spacer like that. I should look to see if I have one or if I'm going to have to go buy one myself now that I'm loading more on a single-stage press than my Dillon 650.

[Baltimoreed]

Should be able to find .357 reloading gear and components easily. I pulled a .45 uberti Thunderer with checkered grips out of the prize bucket at a NE Regional years ago. Neat little sa. I would have bought a second but I already had invested in Ruger Vaqueros for cas. Still have it. Maybe I’ll use it and a Schofield at this month’s shoot. Going to do an undertaker look with my frock coat and black top hat as it is Halloween. Have to carry my Elvira standup too.

[david s]

Starline is listing both 38 and 357 magnum brass as available. RCBS use to have the 1/8 inch spacer ring.

[charlie b]

FIL had an Uberti in .357, std grip. He loved that thing and carried/shot it more than his Python. Carried whenever he was outside the house. First two rounds were snake shot and he killed quite a few rattlers with it. 140gn Lee bullets were his std load, usually with Unique.

[armoredman]

Oh, I am happy today.

https://i.imgur.com/RHyswSX.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/K3cAUjG.jpg

[elmacgyver0]

.38specials will shoot just fine out of that, and a lot more fun, but if you like punishing yourself, you can use the magnums.
I have two Uberties, one is .45 Colt the other is .357 magnum, but they are the full-size cowboy style.
Love them both!
You are going to have fun!

[Texas by God]

That’s a real carry gun, too!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[shooting on a shoestring]

Ok! That’s a real cutie! Yeah you did good!

[Walks]

I won a Cimarron Thunderer about 25yrs ago at EOT. 3 1/2" bbl, but it had a "humped" grip.
In .44Spl, same caliber as My Colts.
Liked the same load as My Colts too.
My Dad came up with the washers under the die lock ring, back in the 1960's. He got it from a machinist friend.
I have Ubertis', Piettas' and Armi San Marcos'.
All are good guns; .357Mag, .44Spl, .44-40 & .45Colt. Never had to send one back.
Good Luck and have fun.

.38Spl loads;
Bullseye -3.0grs
Unique -4.0grs
700X-3.0grs
Over the Lyman #358665 or Lee #358-158-RF.
Great plinking loads, or Cowboy.

[Baltimoreed]

Nice revolver.

[pworley1]

Nice addition to your collection.

[armoredman]

Thank you for all the kind words, much appreciated. Hoping to get some range time real soon - I have plenty of 38 Special to start out with!

[armoredman]

Well, the little thing has potential!



https://i.imgur.com/bAnfrXk.jpg



Unfortunately, we didn't stay long - the cover blew off this shooting position a few months ago, and that sun start beating down. Yes, it's October, but it's October in Arizona. We live right around the corner from the range, so it's no big deal to come back over sometime when I can access one of the covered positions.



My son was showing off his "Western" shirt. That's his, "Why are you taking a picture of me" look.



https://i.imgur.com/jn1DKbS.jpg



So first things first - it works. What was really surprising, even though it shouldn't have been, is this little smokewagon is a PUSSYCAT to shoot. Even with the 125 gr Golden Sabers it recoiled about what my P-10C does. My son shot a few of the SD rounds through it and said that his P-10S recoiled harder than this one does - well, DUH! The P-10s are half plastic - the only plastic on this gun is the debit card that paid for it!



Another thing I noted - empties do not fly out unless the ejector rod is stroked smartly. Probably because everything is new, I am guessing.



https://i.imgur.com/So7rj86.jpg



The VERY first group...I didn't get a picture of, three rounds of 125gr Golden Sabers from me and two from Da Boy. However, they made a WIDE group well off to the left of the bullseye.



This is the tightest group.



https://i.imgur.com/1nzoB3K.jpg



This the most POA/POI



https://i.imgur.com/dMUmSiF.jpg



Fat guy shooting - I had just popped one off.



https://i.imgur.com/Pl8yq1S.jpg



Am I happy still? You betcha - as a reloader this is a new challenge, find the right load! As a shooter it's a new challenge, because I MIGHT have not given it the best chance, as I have been told single action Colt clones tend to shoot for to POA one handed.
Time to clean and oil, maybe I'll get back out Saturday, we'll see. This is going to be fun!

[armoredman]

Notes from cleaning - this is the Old Style with the Base Pin Screw, as opposed to the plunger style. After I loosened the screw, (Uberti VERY thoughtfully included a spare in case it is lost), I slid the Base Pin out...only to run flat into the back of the Ejector Nut. I had to pull it down about 1/4 inch so it would rotate enough to let the Base Pin out. After that, everything was simple as can be. While cleaning the cylinder, the Base Pin Bushing came out, so I cleaned and lubed it - is it supposed to do that? After cleaning everything was reassembled and when dry firing I could see the firing pin reach the "primer", so I will have to assume everything is back together correctly. :smile:

[shooting on a shoestring]

Cylinder bushing sliding out…yep it’s supposed to. It’s call “removable”.

Colts all did that for the 1st and 2nd generations. The 3rd gen Colts used a press-in bushing that is not removable. Some Colt fans thought that was terrible (although no-one could show a difference on a target). So, Colt went back to the removable bushing and some people call that the 4th generation. Others just call it late 3rd. I own Colts of both types, press-in and removable. I’m happy with both.

I have a Uberti Smoke Wagon 5&1/2” plow handle in 44-40. It has the removable bushing. Good gun.

I think the original idea Colt had was back in the black powder days with softer steel, they worried the base pin would wear the cylinder. The resulting wobble would have to be corrected by fitting a new and expensive cylinder…unless there was a removable bushing. In which case a new bushing could be easily fitted (shortened a few thousandths at the front) and the wobble fixed and the expensive cylinder saved. Tradition being a powerful force, we still have them. They’re fine. And if you shoot enough to ever wear one out, let us know.

[armoredman]

Thank you - nothing in the manual says the bushing is "removable", from where I was reading, just happy it works right. :)

[armoredman]

Dadgum WIND! I tried to get out to see if some new full wadcutter loads would work...but the wind came howling right down the mountains and that target stand didn't have a chance.


https://i.imgur.com/yjpJCig.jpg

That was with three separate shopping bags full of rocks tied to the legs! However, before it dove for the last time I managed to get ONE group shot.

https://i.imgur.com/AXEbDbF.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Topad7J.jpg

Ten yards, braced. It HAS potential, I just need to find the right load. That's five rounds - one is two in one hole.

See that steel target at the far end of the range, upper right corner? That's TUB, my steel AR500 target that my son was shooting with his STG44 clone, sooooo, I drove all the way out here, I started plinking with the little 1873 Bird Heads. Gents, she would consistently put 2 out of 5 on that 3/4 steel IDPA at 80 yards with 158gr LRN cast reloads. I tried one cylinder of 5 of the 125gr Remington Golden Sabers at 80, and I got 3 out of 5. I feel MUCH better about the little blaster!

[david s]

How long before you need a hideout holster for this one as a backup to your CZ?

[shooting on a shoestring]

“just happy it works right.”
Ummmm….yep it looks like it’s working right to me!

[armoredman]

How long before you need a hideout holster for this one as a backup to your CZ?

You been peekin' at my search history??? :p

[david s]

I'm on the Original CZ forum also. Recognized your forum name from there.

[armoredman]

Yep, that's me

[Gtek]

Sorry for drift but the 75B and SP-01 that live here sure like to go for walks, car rides and even boat rides!

[billmc2]

Sorry for drift but the 75B and SP-01 that live here sure like to go for walks, car rides and even boat rides!

I'd be careful with those boat rides. You wouldn't believe the number of people that seem to have boating accidents, loosing their guns.

[armoredman]

Fortunately I managed to stay away from any boats, especially Missourah Boat Rides...
I did do some testing, finally, since the wind died down. The results were...interesting. All groups shot at 10 yards from a braced two handed position.

https://i.imgur.com/9lb644A.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/BUSiq31.jpg

You know why I like five shot groups? because everytime I go for more, it falls apart...

https://i.imgur.com/yBUImcX.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/iwPRATV.jpg

See? A decent five shot group - yes, one is a two holer. Then...I push it...

https://i.imgur.com/46WGKGy.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/cYaheIf.jpg

Ok, so THAT one didn't really fall apart that much.

https://i.imgur.com/qf2SCmk.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/9J2aRPJ.jpg
Dadgum flyer...and then...

https://i.imgur.com/7yPrks7.jpg

I have much data to sort through and see where I can improve here and there, especially with the 158 gr cast, as I think there is some room to wiggle there.

[armoredman]

The horror is the best POA/POI seemed to be J WORDS!

https://i.imgur.com/BR0JG7l.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ebMPGnV.jpg

It must all be a terrible mistake....