Uberti 1873 levergun in 32-20 loading gate/feeding problem

[cal44walker]

Got an Uberti 1873 in 32-20. Problem is that the width of the cartidges seem to be so narrow compared to the channel they sit in on the brass elevator that they sit at a severe sideways angle and half the time rest against only the tab on the loading gate. As they are sitting on the tab and not the shoulder the rim jams on the start of the upwards travel on the cutout where the elevator arm goes up and down. I used an angle gringer and file to camfer this area and this seems to have solved the problem. It seems that with the larger 44/45 calibers the cartidges do not have the room to sit at this severe angle and therefore the rims sit where they should: on the machined shoulder in the reciever, not pushing against the load gate tab. It seems to me to be a design issue with this small caliber. Any other 32-20/38 special shooters have the same issue?

Matt

[Pettifogger]

This is a very common problem with the Uberti .32-20.  You have found the problem and the cure.  Uberti uses the same carrier and bolt that they use for the .357.  The parts simply aren't scaled for the .32-20 and they sell so few it isn't worth the cost to make carriers and bolts specifically for the .32-20.  There is one other problem you will almost surely encounter.  Since the carrier is so loose when you are loading, the rounds can go diagonal and the nose of the bullet will hit the flat surfaces inside the receiver where the rounds start into the mag tube.  It will feel like the rounds are jammed and you can't put in more rounds.  Most of the time you can smack the side of the receiver with the palm of your hand and that will shake the round in carrier enough that it will start into the mag.  If it doesn't you have to push in the loading gate, shake out the cartridge and try again.

[cal44walker]

Thanks for the reply  I suspected as much that the carrier and bolts were not made specifically for the 32WCF. It's kind of annoying as I love the gun and the caliber. The modification I made seems to work very well but it's like a band aid solution which I'm not that fond of. I tried loading a few 357's into the tube and carrier and they seem to have the exact same problem but I hab'nt heard of any major issues with the 38 caliber shooters? Whats the deal with that? Do the 44/40 and 45 Colt rifles have the same issue as the 32-20, or is just this caliber? I'm tempted to trade it in for a Short rifle in 44/40 or a Henry.