.357 Uberti baby rolling block, mini range report

[R.W.Dale]

I'd been asked to do some reporting on how my little Uberti rolling block does at the range so I figured there's some interest in today's results.

Rifle: Uberti .357 magnum rolling block 22" bbl

Sights: WGRS rear, savage plastic front.

Load: 16.0g WW296, Norma case, Magtech SR 7 1/2 primer, 158g Montana Gold JHP, 1790fps

Range: OFGC Alma 100yds

Conditions: 75 degrees, partly cloudy, winds 5 to 10 blowing downrange

Results: 2x five shot groups @100yds both measuring right at 4"

Ive done better but today all I could do was muster 4" groups. The two for this rifle and two more with an 03a3. I'm thinking a finer front sight will help as my current front bead is the same size as the plate when superimposed at 100

The first group is marked by a line with the second (after making sight adjustments) is denoted by circled bullet holes.

[mechanic]

Fine looking little rifle.  Love the rolling blocks!  I can tell you from personal experience that wind greatly affects this round.  Perhaps on a windless day, the groups will shrink dramatically....

[kombi1976]

A very nice rifle.
Thought about trying the new Hornady FTX bullets for a better ballistic coefficient?

[R.W.Dale]

A very nice rifle.
Thought about trying the new Hornady FTX bullets for a better ballistic coefficient?

First off THANKS!!


Yes and I'm not gonna bother. WHY you ask? Because the BC's for the FTX bullet is actually LOWER than the bc for the 158g XTP and even if it was higher the velocities 357 generates are not high enough to take advantage of a higher BC anyway.However you slice it handgun bullets are short fat and aerodynamically inefficient and no matter how you shape the tip you still get most of your drag from the low pressure behind bullet's base.

Hornady LEVERevolution Bullets 38 Caliber (357 Diameter) 140 Grain Flex Tip
# Sectional Density: 0.157
# Ballistic Coefficient:0.160



Hornady XTP Bullets 38 Caliber (357 Diameter) 158 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point
# Sectional Density: 0.177
# Ballistic Coefficient:0.206

even in hornady's factory FTX load they claim 1850 fps from an 18" bbl......Which is the same as I get from my 1894 shooting 158g handloads with the higher BC bullet. Which makes me wonder how the claims below REALLY stack up?/

   *  Up to 250 feet per second faster muzzle velocity than conventional lever gun loads.
    * Exceptional accuracy and overwhelming downrange terminal performance.
    * LEVERevolution bullet featuring Flex Tip Technology.
    * Up to 40% more energy than traditional flat point loads.

[Remfarmer]

Was it ever determined if you could safely rechamber one of these into a .357Max?

[bulldog1935]

Hi, introducing myself.  
I pulled up this post when I was searching for into on barrel twist.  
I have a baby rolling block in .357 and added a malcolm 3x scope.  
I've been grouping 1" at 100 yds with BVAC reloads, 180-gr, 1200 fps - and that's with the scope, not a peep sight
(my 1873 with tang and Beech sights groups 2-1/2" at 100 yds on cowboy loads)

I'm going to try to improve on this with the carbine, and especially push it out by loading Hornady 3505 180gr .35 tapered bullets with IMR 4227 - going to start at 13 gr. and work up.  (can't use these pointed things in a lever, only in SS)  I'll let you know how it goes.  

But here's my pretty.  
 

 

 






if you like the sling, it's a cheapie, from Dixie Gun works
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=9963

here's the 1873

[kombi1976]

A friend got one of these 2nd hand is perfect condition for $300!!
Suffice to say I hate him and am very jealous.

[BlkHawk73]

  Wasn't aware Uberti was offering the diminutive Sharps and looking on their site, I don't see it.   I put off one of the Charles Daly ones and now those are gone.    Not worth the $3000 for a Dakota.  Anyone else making them for an affordable price for a plinker?

[bulldog1935]

the baby rolling block carbine (and rifle) is a big seller in Europe.  
Navy Arms imported them a few years back.  

The Pedersoli version (Cimmaron and Cherry's) is based on the large Army No. 1 block, but the baby is based on the No. 2/4 block.  
Lone Star also builds a No. 1 modeled after Custer's sporting rifle.  
http://www.lonestarrifle.com/CusterRifle.html
These are 8-9lb. rifles, and even the Pedersoli baby is 7-1/2 lbs.  

The Remington No. 4 was of course .22, and the No. 2 were mostly made in .32-20.  
The .357 is a lot hotter round than anything available in the original babies (essentially equivalent to a .38-40, but better ballistics)
With scope, mine weighs 5-1/2 lbs.  
Last decade you could find babies turning up on Guns America, et.al. for $350.  
I paid $750 for mine on Gun Broker earlier this year.  

http://www.ubertireplicas.com/lever-babyrollingcar.php

There is a rumor (started by Cimmaron) that Cimmaron is going to import the .357 babies in the near future, but these will probably be the Pedersolis instead of the smaller (and cheaper) Ubertis.  

[BlkHawk73]

Was it ever determined if you could safely rechamber one of these into a .357Max?

  That's exactly what I would do to one.  have a H&R and a Blackhawk in max and another would be nice.

[bulldog1935]

you could certainly do that with the Pedersoli Rolling Block.  
http://www.cherrys.com/ped_cart.htm
since these are special order, right at $1000, you might be able to get the factory to chamber it for you.  

A Pedersoli rolling block .357 carbine sold on Gunbroker for $700 earlier this year, so they do turn up occasionally.