1871 OT problem

[Dead Eye Dave]

So I bought a Uberti 1871 OT yesterday and went to shoot it today.  But the cartridges wouldn't fit.  Its very clearly stamped .45 cal on the pistol and I was using Great Basin cartridges.  Do you think it could .44-40 instead?  That would be fine with me and probably more accurate historically.  I even tried a snap cap when I got home just now and no go.  How could I find out if its .44 instead of .45? 

Thanks

DB

[Dead Eye Dave]

Yes I was trying to chamber a .45 Colt cartridge and the diameter was too large.  I don't have a dial caliper but maybe I will get one.  Thanks for the info. 

[Bill Durvin]

Hi,

[Bill Durvin]

Hi,  I just joined STORM.  I bought an Uberti 1872 Open Top in .45 Schofield around 1999.  It is marked on the bottom of the barrel with a very small hard to read ".45 S&W".  I bought it becasue I wanted a 45 caliber and at that time they did not make the open top in .45 Colt.  Recently I have seen the open top offered in .45 Colt and also the .45 Colt cylinder is now offered as a "spare part".  Would it be possible to buy a spare cylinder in .45 Colt and use it to "convert" a .45 Schofield open top to .45 Colt just by swapping cylinders?  Or is more complicated than that?

[Flint]

You can go to VTIgunparts.com and get a 45 Colt cylinder. it is part number 916005, price is $85.00  The revolver is listed as a 72 Opentop, not as a 71.

When fitting the cylinder you must adjust/check the headspace first (may have to do that with the barrel removed if the cylinder binds up.  If it is excessive, adjust the height of the ratchet star on the cylinder.  If it is too tight, adjust the length of the gas ring in the front of the cylinder until a cartridge rim will fit.  (Starline brass seems to have the thickest rim).  I have found the timing for rotation and lockup to be pretty well right with several cylinders, it's the headspace and gas ring length that need to be set.

https://www.vtigunparts.com/ab2240000Equick/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=89&cat=Uberti+1872+Open+Top+%2E44+Colt+%2E44+Russian%2C+%2E45+S%26W%2C+%2E38sp

[Abilene]

Dead Eye,
What caliber does it say on the bottom of the barrel?  If you remove the cylinder can you then drop a 45LC into it?  I ask this because the .45's are "iffy" on having the loading gate port line up with the cylinder holes.  On some of those guns when the cylinder is rotated and clicks, it has gone too far to load (or unload) a round, you have to load it like a Ruger and drop the round in before it clicks.  If a 45 won't go into the cylinder when it is removed from the gun, then it may be a 44 cylinder.

Bill Durvin,
Call VTI and talk to them before ordering a cylinder.  I have been told that current 45LC Opentops have different dimensions and are not barrel and cylinder compatible with OT's of other calibers.  VTI knows their stuff and will know if it can be done.  Let us know what the say.

I'm about to be gone for a week with no internet so I'll check into this topic when I return.

[Dead Eye Dave]

Dead Eye,
What caliber does it say on the bottom of the barrel?  If you remove the cylinder can you then drop a 45LC into it?  I ask this because the .45's are "iffy" on having the loading gate port line up with the cylinder holes.  On some of those guns when the cylinder is rotated and clicks, it has gone too far to load (or unload) a round, you have to load it like a Ruger and drop the round in before it clicks.  If a 45 won't go into the cylinder when it is removed from the gun, then it may be a 44 cylinder.

Well that worked!  You're right.  Thanks for all the responses here.  Back to the shooting range!

DB

[Bill Durvin]

I contacted VTI about the .45 Colt cylinder, and here is their response:

Yes, we sell the same cylinders for your gun.  The only thing to check is the overall length of the cylinder.  Uberti did make some modifications to the barrel and cylinders of the Richard Masons and Open Tops after the first few batches and the length of the Open Top Cylinders and forcing cones on the barrels changed.

We are out of stock on the 916005 cylinder at this time, but if you place an order on the website at www.vtigunparts.com we can call you when they are in stock and check the measurements.

Thank You,
VTI Gun Parts
PO Box 509
Lakeville, CT 06039
(860) 435-8068
Fax (860) 435-8146
mail@vtigunparts.com
www.vtigunparts.com