73 Uberti 44-40

[Eric Johanen]

Just time for a quick outing on the range today so I used my Uberti Schofield 44-40 instead of the 73 rifle. I had 60 rounds loaded with smokeless and 25 loaded with GOEX 2 fg. 300 cases are sized and trimmed ready to reload so that will be my next project. I posted my 25 yard timed and rapid fire target at 15 yards and started with the smokeless load. A few rounds out of the black and remembered to shift my grip. I have to shoot this revolver with a high thumb perched along side of the hammer on the frame. If I do not do this I have a tendency to string shots to the left. After 20 rounds I changed to the black powder loads. These shot to the same poi as the smokeless using American Select. 15 rounds later the cylinder was just starting to get sluggish and I rotated the cylinder while pushing to the rear to scrape fouling off using the cylinder stop on the top strap. A few spins and things were rotating freely again. Fired another 10 rounds with smokeless and then the last 10 with black powder. Everything was working like a charm and I fired the last of my smokeless ammo and as they used to say, " The black was shot all to tatters!" Impressed several shooters on the line when I shot those black powder loads alright! Smokeless brass is in the tumbler and the black powder brass is about to get de-capped and ready for cleaning. That fine revolver will get spiffed up after supper. Pretty satisfying day. When I first got the Uberti 44-40 and my Armi San Marco in 45 Colt I used a fine needle file to lower the hand notch in the frame a tiny bit and peened the tip of the hand and used Kasenit to add a little toughness to it. This gives the hand a bit more purchase on the cylinder ratchet for more positive rotation. The other thing I did on both is to put a slight radius on the back of the cylinder to help minimize binding due to fouling. I really think these little tune ups help keep the guns running when using black powder. Just another fine day on the range!!

[Mike]

Eric, Sounds like good doin's. I've told Taylor's that their New Model #3 Frontier should be made in both .44 Russian and .44/40, both being authentic chamberings while the .45 Colt (the only "flavor" they offer) is not authentic to that gun. As we might expect, I've gotten no reply. But those copies of the find Smith & Wesson single actions do impress me. I have a Laramie with a 5" barrel in .38 Special that shoots very nice. Lately more attention has gone to a 3rd Model Russian in .44 Russian, imported by Stoegers. That gun needs a trigger job, maybe pretty soon. And now I'm waiting on delivery of another Laramie, this one a .45 with a 6 1/2" barrel. Getting a .44/40 Schofield, probably with a 5" barrel so it looks like a Wells Fargo gun, has crossed my mind. A New Model #3 Frontier would please me more, with target sights, so we'll see if Taylor's answers me at all. Shoot sharp, Mike

[Stephen Borud]

I practiced with this rifle out to 150 yards for several months and felt confident with my accuracy. This day we saw several bucks and does, slow rain, windy, perfect antelope hunting conditions! I saw this buck feeding behind a herd of does. I ended up sneaking down a creek bottom and popped over the top of the bank and he was still out at 200 yards. I was out of cover except for some old fence posts that laid in front of me. A little mud crawling up to the posts got me to a 174 yards. I aimed at the top of his back and the bullet struck him right where I aimed. He went down immediately! Biggest buck I've killed, and just think a little 44-40 did the job

Stephen

[Eric Johanen]

Mike, I do like those longer barrels for the sight radius and look. I was one of the lucky ones as I have not had any problems with my .45 Armi San Marco and it is a real good shooter! After running a few black powder loads through it I have used only .45 Schofield rounds as the recoil with the heavy Colt loads really gets one's attention!! Trigger job is not difficult but be sure to use the right size pin punches to remove the trigger guard. My triggers are about 4 pounds and have a nice smooth feel to them.. use a good sharp edged stone for the polishing sear and trigger. I did not have to lighten the trigger springs on my revolvers. I have thought about a #3 Russian in that cartridge and would remove the trigger guard spur to get a better feel and cleaner look. With the Uberti guns being oversized and chambered in 44-40 they are easy on the recoil and great shooters. Saw your write up in" the Shootist" on the Taylor #3 Frontier and it sounds like a nice revolver, chambering not with standing.

[Dave Roelle]

Really nice goat Stephen !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dave

[Eric Johanen]

Stephen, would you give us the particulars of the load you used?

[Stephen Borud]

Thanks Dave,

Eric I will look at my load info in a couple days. Headed to a couple rigs in Colorado in the morning.

Thanks
Stephen

[Mike]

Stephen, Yes, nice looking "lope-goat." I would also like to hear more about the loading and that long barreled rifle. Shoot sharp, Mike

[Mike]

Eric, I've come to really like the spur on the trigger guard of the #3 Russian. It comes in handy when shooting with a two-hand hold. Just wrap your "other trigger finger" around it and the spur really adds to the grip. Now I wouldn't think about cutting it off. Shoot sharp, Mike

[Mike]

Eric, You must get your copies of The Shootist a few days before I do. My copy of the latest issue just got to me today. Before I got this copy, I wondered where you saw that story about the Taylor #3 New Model Frontier... Of course, I hope you agree with the things I said about it. Like I said in that story's conclusion, I want one (or two) of those in .44/40. If some of us keep the pressure on, it just might happen. Shoot sharp, Mike