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Post by J Miller on Nov 9, 2011 10:08:31 GMT -5
Bowenbuilt,
I have an old Uberti Cattleman that was overhauled by Steve Young. I've put in a Wolff spring kit with the flat trigger bolt spring and Steve did the coil spring w/ plunger for the hand. The gun works, but I find that Wolff hammer spring too soft and the lock time too sluggish. Somewhere along the line I'm going to order a factory fresh hammer spring and tune it to what I want.
The hammer block is a non-issue. It does not affect the action one bit. Matter of fact it does nothing until you put the hammer on the first notch. At that time the trigger sear pushes up on the rod witch pivots the hammer block down blocking the hammer from going any further down. The one in my old Uberti is still there and functional. Although I never, or well almost never use it.
Joe
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Post by Bowenbuilt on Nov 9, 2011 20:52:13 GMT -5
The hammer block does not bother me either but to some it seems to be a worry so I included directions to remove it. I will try mine both ways on the hammer spring, the originals are cheap enough should I care to experiment a little. Thanks for the tip and I will be paying attention. All my "stuff" should be here for it tomorrow so I can get to work on it.
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45colt
.30 Stingray
Posts: 109
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Post by 45colt on Nov 10, 2011 2:11:51 GMT -5
Bowenbuilt, Does that Uberti have that hammer block safety that's part of the hammer or just the two position base pin. I'm thinking about getting one but don't want the hammer block safety. Thanks, Jim Hi saajim, My Uberti Cattleman almost like the Bowenbuilt photo. The safety can be ignored.As it does not interfere with the guns' operation. But, please leave one chamber empty.You'll have a 5 shooter. When carrying, have that empty chamber under that hammer. This is a safety practice since way back when. And yes, those Uberti's are light to carry loaded. With regular Colt loads, there's hardly any situation that Italian can't handle. My first range trip, with Frank V, shown the accuracy potential. At the customary 21 feet/7 yards,it would cut almost a clover leaf. That was with some of my ammo. We did some chronographing. (QuickLoad gave me some good results) With Magtech factory ammo, same thing. It was worth my money. Only now,need to buy a music wire spring.Mine broke sometime ago. For a temporary "fix",I shaped a hacksaw blade to make a spring. Worked for a while. The trigger is way too light. It's an accident waiting to happen. I'll need to order up 2 from Brownells. You enjoy that gun. They are good. Yes, I'd buy another one.
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edk
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,118
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Post by edk on Nov 10, 2011 7:56:44 GMT -5
Maybe this is being too picky at these prices but do they have decent internal dimensions. Are throats OK? Even undersized would be tolerable, again at the price, but 0.455" would not please me.
I'm pretty much a cast bullet shooter and the economy of these would go out the window if I had to buy moulds or anything else for it.
Have to say they look good though!
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dmize
.401 Bobcat
Posts: 2,825
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Post by dmize on Nov 10, 2011 8:51:32 GMT -5
Mine is in 45 Colt. I neaver bothered measuring throats but I can tell you it locks up tighter than any of my Rugers.
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edk
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,118
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Post by edk on Nov 19, 2011 14:14:06 GMT -5
I took delivery on one of these today. Overall I'd give it a "good". Perhaps most importantly the objections that keep it from being graded excellent are items I can care for.
The good is that dimensionally it is very good. Cylinder gap is .004" and endshake is less than .001" As far as cylinder lockup there is some play in the bolt notches relative to the cylinder stop but the stop is very tight in the frame window. Most of the cylinder play is attributable to the base pin being a loose fit in the frame and cylinder. It seems as though a +0.002" Belt mountain pin would clean it up nicely but I will not rush to do that - just keep it in the back of my mind. The barrel is 0.441" land/0.451" groove with less than 0.001" thread choke at the frame and looks nice internally. edit: When supplying dimensions I had fully intended on including the following which I had measured but forgot to include while actually sitting down to type - throats 0.453"; chamber 0.483".
The bad is the finish. Not only a sad bead blasted matte but very unevenly applied at that. Oh well, have to remind myself I bought it as a shooter.
The ugly is the trigger. Just nasty. Furthermore the pin in the hammer for the safety is peened so badly and above flush relative to the sides of the hammer it catches on the rear of the frame when falling! Sounds like Wolff springs and some TLC are in order. I generally stick with factory springs but the fact that Uberti promotes they spec Wolff springs in their higher priced models says something about their own springs.
Once I get the mechanics sorted out I'll have to see how it shoots.
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Post by Bowenbuilt on Nov 19, 2011 18:32:04 GMT -5
I received and installed the Wolf Spring's Shooter Pack yesterday and what a difference! The trigger breaks cleanly now at 2.5 pounds and the action was improved dramatically. I also replaced the cylinder pin latch spring and put in a Belt mountain replacement over sized cylinder base pin. With 8 grains of Unique and a cast 250 grain RNFP it made some nice 1.25" groups off the bench at 25 yards today. After filing the front sight down about 1/16th" it now prints those loads to the point of aim. For $280.00 I am completely satisfied and who cares if it gets a scratch on it, it will only give it character. I think I may have to purchase one in .44 special with nice blue and case color finish. I have always been somewhat leery of the Italian copies but if they are all as well fitted and accurate as this one I may start a whole new collection. As to the question of the throat size, the bullets I shot today were sized .452 and after 73 rounds I happily did not see any leading in the forcing cone area or barrel. I did not measure the throat diameter but a .452 bullet does not pass too easily through the cylinder throats and it shot these bullets most excellently today with my compromised old eyesight and coffee induced giddiness.
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Post by sackpeterson on Nov 20, 2011 23:32:57 GMT -5
I've been motivated to follow along and slick up mine.
I shimmed the mainspring with a lockwasher, which I prefer over the traditional homebrew leather spacer.
I did put in the Wolff sear and bolt spring because I felt the OEM spring was too stiff. It felt like it was binding right prior to bolt release and that last click. Action is much improved.
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Post by Bowenbuilt on Dec 17, 2011 21:02:00 GMT -5
The more I looked at this $250.00 bargain the more I did not like the bead blasted finish. After looking at Boge Quinn's article of aging his Uberti and emailing him for the details I decided that the cost of a gray Scotchbrite pad and a cold afternoon would be cheaper than a re-blue. I am more than satisfied with the results. I added about 100 years to the bead blasted finish which I think is 100 steps above the original. Sack Peterson is in the process of making a set of his antler artwork for this piece and I can hardly wait till they get here. Here is a before and after shot, which one would you rather have? Before After
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Lil Dudey
.327 Meteor
I'm out there watching you!
Posts: 639
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Post by Lil Dudey on Dec 17, 2011 22:29:48 GMT -5
Gray 100 year old finish.
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Post by triggernosis on Dec 18, 2011 9:09:09 GMT -5
Great work on that finish!
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Post by texagun on Dec 18, 2011 9:24:33 GMT -5
The refinish looks great. Huge improvement!
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Post by Boge Quinn on Dec 18, 2011 16:51:56 GMT -5
Looks great, glad I could help!
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Post by steve1701 on Dec 18, 2011 19:12:19 GMT -5
WOW! That looks 100 times better!
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Post by Frank V on Dec 18, 2011 20:07:21 GMT -5
Bowenbuilt Congratulations, & since you asked, I'd much rather have the after!!!!! One day I may get one & it'll be a candidate for the after finish. Frank
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