Author Topic: question for cowboy shooters (Read 614 times)

tommy4toes · « **on:** November 09, 2003, 09:54:05 AM »

I'm contemplating buying a conversion or Open Top from Uberti to use for CAS - I already have a beautiful Uberti Henry in 45 Colt. The Open Tops come in 45 Schofield; can this cartridge be fired in my Henry, and what will be the effect on accuracy? Also, can I reload 45 Schofield with 45 Colt dies ?

t4t

Cuts Crooked · « **Reply #1 on:** November 09, 2003, 10:39:37 AM »

Howdy Pard,

You may not be able to seat and crimp the Schofields with the Colt dies, then again you might. Depends on the dies. You could use the Schofield dies to make .45 Colt though, no problem.

Regarding the Henry: Maybe, maybe not.....Lever guns tend to be sensitive to overall length in order to feed properly. Some will work with the shorter rounds, some won't

I know you were hoping fer a more definitive answer, but unfortunately that's the nature of the beasty, it's a "try it and see" deal.

Flint · « **Reply #2 on:** November 09, 2003, 08:03:10 PM »

The Schofield will load with 45Colt dies except for the crimp station. Get a 45 Scofield crimp die and you're in. You'll have to reset the bullet seater deeper. The Henry, 66 and 73 all use the cartridge in the lifter as a stop for the magazine, which means the round has to be the length of a factory standard round, as the Schofield is shorter, the rear of the next cartridge ahead in the magazine will go into the lifter as well and bind it from lifting. For instance, Cimarron sells a 73 in 44 Special, which will feed 44 Colt, with a longer bullet seated to the 44 Special overall length, but not the 44 Russian, which can't be made long enough, as the 45 Schofield can't be loaded to a long enough overall length. Boy, would that possibility increase the magazine capacity. Something to look at would be whether it's possible to modify or replace the lifter with one that would be the right internal dimensions for the 45 Schofield. If you had a second lifter that would work that way, you could swap out lifters to recalibrate the rifle.

Cheyenne Ranger · « **Reply #3 on:** November 10, 2003, 09:04:19 AM »

I thing Capt Baylor points out is that if you have two different guns in calibers that are close 45 vs 44-40, or 45 Colt vs 45 Schofield you will, someday, load in wrong ammo in one of the guns.
I've seen (as has the good Capt) 44-40 brass that was fired in a 45 chambered gun. Surprizingly the cowboy did have a clean run but this is not the best for the brass or guns.
Now the 45 Schofield can be fired in the 45 Colt guns without a problem but that takes us back to the problem of the Schofields somehow ending up in the rifle.
Just my "take" on this

Cheyenne

tommy4toes · « **Reply #4 on:** November 10, 2003, 03:46:04 PM »

OK I think y'all have answered my question. Didn't even consider the lifter in the Henry - that'll never work. I think what I'll do is get a 44 conversion and team it up with my Spencer rifle, and use my 45LC weapons for the cowboy shoots. Thanks for the reality check fellas.

t4t

Flint · « **Reply #5 on:** November 10, 2003, 05:09:39 PM »

Incidently, the 1872 Open-top is a better, stronger gun than the R-M conversion, as the cylinder pin has more thread length into the breech, has a "gas ring" bushing on the cylinder to keep fouling out of the cylinder pin gap and set the headspace, and a springless solid, VERY hard wedge (harder than a file) that won't fold up and get loose like the percussion wedge. You have to get used to removing the wedge a slightly different way, as you have to rotate the screw to a flat to clear it before you tap it out, or you'll break the screw head. I have one in 44 Special, which will shoot 44S, 44 Colt or 44 Russian. Got it from Cimarron at their End of Trail booth. I noted the 44 Special isn't listed, but they make it. The 7-1/2 inch barrel gun has an 1860 Army sized grip, and the 5-1/2 inch barrel has a Navy sized grip.

tommy4toes · « **Reply #6 on:** November 12, 2003, 04:32:27 PM »

well I indeed ended up with a conversion 44 - always wanted one anyways. Maybe i can harden that wedge you speak of Flint. Thanks for the advice everybody !!!!!!

t4t

Flint · « **Reply #7 on:** November 12, 2003, 07:44:40 PM »

You can buy an 1872 Wedge and screw from either Cimarron or VTI gunparts, for about $10-$12. Both Cimarron anbd VTIgunparts have exploded views of the guns with part numbers and prices, Cimarrons being mosty Uberti, and VTI sells parts for Uberti, Pietta and Pedersoli. I installed 1872 Wedges in the guns I use with Kirst 38 conversions.