Uberti handgun question?

[grahng]

Can someone comment on the open top pistols, specifically how well or stable they are because they are open top.

Thanks

[Hillbilly]

are we speaking of the '71 Colt clone?

I think those are offered in 38 Special-correct? As long as you stay at normal 38 Special pressures I dont think you should have any problems with that pistol.

Remember... Colt 44 Army revolvers were open top... and even with heavy blackpoweder loads held up ok. The .36 cal Navies offer close to 38 perfomance and they held up pretty good. The 71 was a transition... the open top was strong enough for the BP loads then.

The Italian guns have better steel than the old Colts.

[DPris]

I knew a gal who used to use a pair for CAS, she finally gave up on them when her gunsmith husband couldn't keep them running.
I also had one repaired for a friend by my gunsmith, the trigger pull had gotten progressively lighter till it reached a dangerous point. The problem was that the trigger steel was very soft and the tip had literally curled with use reducing engagement with the full-cock hammer notch.

These were about 6 years ago, current production may be better.

Denis

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

The Conversion clones started appearing in the late 1990's. Early on they are problematic. I had many hours in these two before I figured out a couple things the maker wasn't doing that left these gun very inconsistant. For one thing the cylinder gap/headspace can effect timing. Uberti has figured that out on their newer conversion and opentops. All that said the design is really weak. Think about this. If it was the be-all-end-all colt never would have made the SAA.

I knew a gal who used to use a pair for CAS, she finally gave up on them when her gunsmith husband couldn't keep them running.
I also had one repaired for a friend by my gunsmith, the trigger pull had gotten progressively lighter till it reached a dangerous point. The problem was that the trigger steel was very soft and the tip had literally curled with use reducing engagement with the full-cock hammer notch.

These were about 6 years ago, current production may be better.

Denis

There are folks that still use them for CAS but most of those guys use them Dualist/onehanded style shooting. Shooting them one handed they don't get beat up as bad as the really fast two handed shooter do there guns.
Denis, it's true the clones from back then did seem to have more soft parts than the current guns but even back then it was more about poorly fitted parts and excessively heavy springs to compensate for the poor fit. Even good steel won't hold up well if poorly fitted and over sprung.

[DPris]

Steve,
I know the guns Uberti's putting out now are generally better than in previous years, particularly those from the new factory. They're taking them a bit more seriously nowdays.
For literally decades before CAS caught on, the Italians made Almostaguns for the "crazy Americans". They looked like guns, they felt like guns, and if you didn't shoot them a LOT they even shot like guns. Most buyers didn't shoot them much, relatively speaking, and they held up relatively well.
When CAS came along and those guns (not just the opentops) were actually expected to be used hard & often, they started to develop problems with wear. Demand & dissatisfaction brought about change in the Italian replica industry, and the guns of today are not the guns of 20 years ago in overall quality.

My first-ever handgun at the age of 16 was an Italian .36 (which I still have). Over the years since then, and with personal & professional experience & exposure, I feel very comfortable in saying that Uberti guts were not noted for their hardness.

The growth of CAS has been directly responsible for an upgrade in the quality of what Uberti makes, and that's why I specified that the two incidents I mentioned above were some time ago.

Denis

[Buck Elliott]

One of the BEST things that ever happened to Uberti was the Beretta take-over. Quality improved almost overnight, and continues to improve, under Beretta's leadership.

[Ysabel Kid]

These are high on the "cool factor"! I have a Uberti conversion as well as their rendition of the "transition model" (the open-top). I will admit though I don't shoot them enough to put too much wear and tear on them.

[grahng]

Thanks for posts guys. I just purchased a conversion and it certainly seems like it should be fine. I just wanted to get some opinions on the open top before I make a purchase. I love the looks and the nostalgia it brings.
Thanks again.

[grahng]

Can we safely say that these days, the revolvers that Uberti/Cimarron are putting out are equal in quality and strength to a similar Ruger model?

[Terry Murbach]

Can we safely say that these days, the revolvers that Uberti/Cimarron are putting out are equal in quality and strength to a similar Ruger model?

NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT .

[Buck Elliott]

Can we safely say that these days, the revolvers that Uberti/Cimarron are putting out are equal in quality and strength to a similar Ruger model?

NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT .

DITTO

[Ysabel Kid]

No. Ruger doesn't make an open-top revolver. The design alone is simply not near as strong as any single-action with a top strap. Now, I think Uberti SAA's are as strong as any Colt-SAA clones, but the Ruger isn't a clone. On the outside some may look close, but the inside is a modern design. Worlds apart.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

No comparison. The Ruger lock works were designed in the 1950's. It is nothing like the colt style lock basically unchanged since 1836. I tell my Cas customer, for the game where you are actually racing with guns as opposed to cars, that's like comparing 60" muscle cars to model "T"'s.

[grahng]

OK guys, lets take this one question at a time.

First, I am new to the reproduction area. When I purchase things, whether it be guns or whatever, I try to get the best quality I can. I think we are all like this. I am not into CAS shooting but think its pretty cool stuff. I will be shooting casually once a week and problably never the same gun. I usually rotate through my cache. LOL
I know Uberti makes the Cimarron but don't know if it is to the same specifications as Uberti manufactures their guns.

That being said:


1. Open Tops either Uberti or Cimarron: Will I have issues or will this gun work as designed?
http://www.uberti.com/firearms/army_nav ... en_top.php

2. 1858 New Army Conversion Uberti or Cimarron: Will I have issues or will this gun work as designed?
http://www.uberti.com/firearms/army_nav ... en_top.php

3. 1873 Uberti or Cimarron: Same question.
http://www.uberti.com/firearms/single_a ... tleman.php

As always, I truly appreciate you guys expert opinions.
Thanks,
Jerry

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

OK guys, lets take this one question at a time.

First, I am new to the reproduction area. When I purchase things, whether it be guns or whatever, I try to get the best quality I can. I think we are all like this. I am not into CAS shooting but think its pretty cool stuff. I will be shooting casually once a week and problably never the same gun. I usually rotate through my cache. LOL
I know Uberti makes the Cimarron but don't know if it is to the same specifications as Uberti manufactures their guns.

That being said:


1. Open Tops either Uberti or Cimarron: Will I have issues or will this gun work as designed?
http://www.uberti.com/firearms/army_nav ... en_top.php

2. 1858 New Army Conversion Uberti or Cimarron: Will I have issues or will this gun work as designed?
http://www.uberti.com/firearms/army_nav ... en_top.php

3. 1873 Uberti or Cimarron: Same question.
http://www.uberti.com/firearms/single_a ... tleman.php

As always, I truly appreciate you guys expert opinions.
Thanks,
Jerry

Jerry,
The Cimarron imported Uberti's will sometimes have some external markings that differ from the others but the insides are all the same. If you plan to stick with normal load levels you should be just fine with any of the three. Obviously the open top will be the weakest of the three. Next will be the 58 conversion with it's add-on recoil plate. The current Uberti 73 SAA has a very good track record.

[grahng]

Thanks for the input Steve.

[rusty gunns]

I have a pair of 72's in 45 colt. I shoot then exclusively in black powder. (CAS). If you read the paper work that comes with them, it will tell you that the basic design is flawed. (My words, not theirs). With no top strap on the frame, the barrel is thrust forward against the barrel wedge when the bulled fights its way through the forcing cone.

After about 50 rounds, it tends to drive the wedge in further pulling the barrel back where it will bind against the front of the cylinder. They suggest a rubber mallet and a couple of friendly taps on the top of the barrel just behind the front sight. I usually just give them a heavy palm on the top of the barrel every now and then. Also a spray of windex at lunch time keeps the front of the cylinder clean and keeps the gap open.

I have never had one bind up to where it was the least problem after a day of BP shooting. But I think the higher pressures of smokless may enhance the problem.