'72 OT .44 Colt to .44 Special

Grenadier · March 18, 2014, 02:32:39 PM

I have an Uberti 1872 in .44 Colt that I would like to have reamed to accept .44 Special. Any suggestion on a smith to do this?

Blair · March 18, 2014, 03:12:15 PM

What is the bore dia. of the revolver? (.429 or .451?)
My best,
Blair

Mean Bob Mean · March 18, 2014, 03:17:59 PM

Quote from: Blair on March 18, 2014, 03:12:15 PM
What is the bore dia. of the revolver? (.429 or .451?)
My best,
Blair

Did Uberti ever sell .44 Colts with .451 diameter bores?

Blair · March 18, 2014, 03:27:21 PM

Mean Bob,

I honestly don't know!
But, what I can tell you is that Colt "never" produced a .44 conversion in anything less that .451 bore dia.
And some modern conversions do not offer a bore dia. change.
This is why I asked my question.
My best,
Blair

Flint · March 18, 2014, 04:16:29 PM

Uberti's 44 Colt are 44 (inside the case) caliber, I regularly shoot both a 44 Special and a 44 Colt with 44 Russian ammo.

Seth Hawkins · March 18, 2014, 04:27:06 PM

Yeah. You shouldn't have any problem shooting .44 Special in a .44 Colt. The modern .44 Colt uses the same diameter bullet as the Special/Magnum/Russian. I'm not by any means suggesting you shoot a "factory" .44 Special or, God forbid, a .44 Magnum, thru the gun. My point is simply that the bore diameter will accommodate all of them as they are all the same. More or less.

JohnsonBarr · March 18, 2014, 04:42:29 PM

You may lucky enough to have a early Uberti cylinder actually chambered for .44 Colt (.429 inside lubed bullets). Most recent OT's will say .44 Colt on the box but, Uberti got lazy and started reaming chambers for .44 Special. Be sure a .44 Special won't fit before spending cash for no reason. Uberti does the same thing with the .38 Colt (.358 inside lubed bullets) OT's. The box says .38 Colt but, the chambers are .38 Special. Oh, by the way I use .44 Russian brass for my smokeless loads with very good results shot from my .44 Special reamed cylinders.
Best way to improve accuracy in an OT is to have the barrel throat reamed. My groups tighten up amazingly.

Mean Bob Mean · March 18, 2014, 06:39:16 PM

Quote from: Blair on March 18, 2014, 03:27:21 PM
Mean Bob,

I honestly don't know!
But, what I can tell you is that Colt "never" produced a .44 conversion in anything less that .451 bore dia.
And some modern conversions do not offer a bore dia. change.
This is why I asked my question.
My best,
Blair

Thanks Blair, mine are all .429.

Best to you sir,

Bob

Graveyard Jack · March 21, 2014, 09:44:27 AM

Quote from: JohnsonBarr on March 18, 2014, 04:42:29 PM
You may lucky enough to have a early Uberti cylinder actually chambered for .44 Colt (.429 inside lubed bullets). Most recent OT's will say .44 Colt on the box but, Uberti got lazy and started reaming chambers for .44 Special. Be sure a .44 Special won't fit before spending cash for no reason. Uberti does the same thing with the .38 Colt (.358 inside lubed bullets) OT's. The box says .38 Colt but, the chambers are .38 Special. Oh, by the way I use .44 Russian brass for my smokeless loads with very good results shot from my .44 Special reamed cylinders.
Best way to improve accuracy in an OT is to have the barrel throat reamed. My groups tighten up amazingly.

Yep, my Open Top is a true .44Colt but my 1860 Type II is a .44Spl. Although both are marked .44Colt. All Uberti .44Colt's use modern inside lubed bullets for the .44Spl/Mag. Factory .44Spl pressures should be no problem. Shouldn't take the usual $150-$200 for a rechamber since you're really only deepening them.