Head space for an 1851 RM?

[Four Eyed Floyd]

Ok I am not sure I am using the right term. On my new 1851 RM conversion it rotates freely without ammo in it (38 Special) but as soon as it is loaded it drags. I checked for high primers. Anyone have any ideas??

[Hedley Lamarr]

One suggestion:
Could the conversion ring screws be loose?
This happened to my '51 R&D conversion once, before I put locktite on the two screws holding the ring to the recoil shield.

[Four Eyed Floyd]

Thanks I'll check that, it is brand new from Taylor's. Great shooter POA up to 25 yards, I'd just like for it to work correctly.

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[Hoof Hearted]

If you have hammered the wedge in too tight, you'll get this issue. Cause it's a Uberti. Try knocking it back out and and just tap it in enough to be snug.

Good on ya!

HH

[Gassaway]

try screw on loading gate mine give me fits on a 51 R&D conversion

[Flint]

The headspace for a 38 Special is .060, .066 max.  or altrernatively, .006 case clearance.  38 Special rim thickness should be .048 min/.059 max.

On the opentop models, there is a gas ring.  If you overtighten the wedge, the gas ring will get clamped between the frame and the barrel.  Push in the wedge until the retaining screw can be rotated into the wedge's well, then push the wedge back outward against the screw's head.  If there is little or no endshake, it's possible  the headspace might be too tight.

The headspace should be set, when installing a new cylinder by adjusting the height of the rachet teeth.  Once that is set, the length of the gas ring is adjusted to provide enough endshake to allow the cylinder to rotate with the wedge in the correct position.  The Uberti factory presumably does that.

As others have suggested, check the retaining screws, the gate screw is a frequent offender, Locktite it.

Also check your brass against the dimensions I gave at the top.  There is a difference between brands of brass, see if one of the makers (often Starline) is too thick.

[Coffinmaker]

Plus one to Flint.  And .... Added.

The problem may not be the head space alone.  It may include end shake and barrel/cylinder gap.  With FIRED cases in the gun (all 6) first check the head space.  Should be .006 +/- .001.  Then check the barrel/cylinder gap which should be around .005 and end shake.  End shake should be felt and not seen or about 1 - 2 thou.
Uberti Open Top Guns (all models) have the bore for the arbor drilled too deep, allowing the barrel assembly to set back too far especially with the wedge driven in a mite deep.  There are fixes for the arbor hole in the barrel assembly, some are expensive and some are cheap.  You will probably need to address the problem with the arbor bore eventually, but first, what is the head space??

Coffinmaker