Uberti "66" Yellowboy-- advice needed

[Dai.S.Loe]

I have a question for anyone who may be of assistance.

I am determined that I am going to get a Uberi 66 Yellowboy as the feel of the carbine and the short rifle just seems to suit the way I heft a rifle.

I like all that weight in the middle of the gun and from all those I have handled they seemed to point just right.

What I need your help with is a choice of calibre.

Over here in NZ they only import from Uberti direct and as such only import the 66 in the calibres .45 and 44-40 and .38.

I note that in the US the rifle can also be had in .44spl.

This would suit me as both my handguns are in this calibre and my Rossi lever action is in .44 mag.

I have a couple of thousand .44 spl brass, reloading dies and bullet mould and realise that if I were to change calibre I would have to purchase these items in the new chambering.

What I want to know is how easy is it to have the rifle rechambered from 44-40 to .44spl.

I realise that the projectile is slightly different .429 as opposed to .429 but as dropped from the mould my bullets are .430 so I could size them to fit.

What would it entail changing from 44-40 to .44 spl.

I would like to do this as I intend to change to .44 Russian in my revolvers and know that it is possible to shoot this in a 66 that has had the lifter modified.

Please help me.

Chris

[Pettifogger]

First, go here and read the article on toggle links.  http://www.theopenrange.net/forum/index.php?topic=5274.0  .44 Special barely works in a stock gun and .44 Russian is generally to short.  The rifle can be made to work and Happy Trails at the Smith Shop is working on a modified carrier so the .44 Russian will work in a 66.  Some "experts" will get on line and tell you to go ahead and fire the .44 Specials out o the stock .44-40 chamber.  I personally think this is very bad advice since the head of the .44-40 is larger than the .44 Special.  The gun cannot simply be "rechambered" because the .44-40 is bigger than the .44 Special.  You would have to shorten the barrel to set it back, rethread and then rechamber.  This might cost more than its worth unless you have a machinist friend.  The bores on the Uberti .44-40 and .44 Special are the same, so there is no problem there.

[Abilene]

A good smith might be able to sleeve the chamber to 44 Spcl.  Otherwise you would need to buy a new barrel.

[Long Johns Wolf]

A gunsmith has altered a couple of toggle-system guns (Henry, 73s) that were originally .44-40 (bottle necked cartridge) to shoot straight walled .44 Colt (which is actually) a shortened .44 Special with a smaller rim (or a longer .44 Russian with a smaller rim). My smith tried 2 ways which both worked well, but check your local laws:
1. cut back the barrel by approx the length of the thicker part of the .44-40 cartridge, and have a smith cut a new chamber for the straight walled .44 Special, as Pettifogger pointed out. You will also have to shorten the mag tube accordingly.
2. if legally possible have your friendly machinist cut a new chamber in .44 Special (or .44 Colt = my favorite because dimensionally close to the originally used .44 Henry!) that can be screwed into the .44-40 chamber, as Abilene suggested. Obviously the originally chamber will have to be opened some and threads have to be cut into it. This way you don't "lose" barrel length and would not have to work on the mag tube.
I found that only marginal fitting of the original .44-40 carrier is needed to work the new cartridge, if needed at all.
There might be a third option if .44 Special is not outlawed in NZ: have your friendly dealer special order an Uberti 66 in .44 Special directly from the factory. At the end of the day that might be the cheaper way and you keep the factory warranty.
Long Johns Wolf

[Fox Creek Kid]

By the time you figure in all the 'smithing cost you'd be dollars ahead to just get a 44-40. After all, you only need one or two hundred cases. Don't forget that 44-40 shoots far cleaner than any straight walled case as well. 

[RRio]

Buy the barrel, have a good 'smith install it for you.

'66 Yellowboy

UB:218003