Uberti 1866 carbine / rifle barrel interchangeable?

[ryder west]

I have an Uberti 1866 carbine in 44-40 that I can not get the barrel band to tighten up enough to keep the barrel and magazine tube from rotating back and forth when either twisted by hand with light pressure or under recoil. I have tried both the stock front sight / band and a PGW speed sight. Both act identically when installed.

I am looking into replacing the carbine barrel and magazine with a short rifle barrel and magazine as I have lost faith in the carbine setup. Does anyone know if the carbine and rifle barrels are interchangeable?

[Abilene]

Well, yes a rifle barrel will screw into the frame same as a carbine barrel.  But I think you will also need to change the forend and its hardware.  Have you priced all these parts?  Very $$$.  I knew a guy who had a rifle but he wanted a round barrel with a rifle forend.  He got a smith to do it up for him and cost him as much as a new gun!

You might try shimming between the barrel and/or magazine and the barrel band to make it tighter, or send it to a good smith to tighten it up.

Good luck!

[Pettifogger]

+1 to what Abilene said.  The barrels are all the same thread.  However, if you use an octagon barrel in addition to the new barrel and magazine tube, you will need to dovetail the barrel for a magazine tube hanger, you will need a new fore end and fore end cap and you will need to dovetail the barrel for the fore end cap retainer.  This will cost you more than a new gun.  Try this.  Put your carbine barrel band on and do not put in the screw.  Push it back with your fingers (or give it a LIGHT tap with a brass punch) to shove it a little further onto the barrel.  If everything tightens up, just file a new groove for the barrel band screw in the barrel and mag tube.

[ryder west]

Try this.  Put your carbine barrel band on and do not put in the screw.  Push it back with your fingers (or give it a LIGHT tap with a brass punch) to shove it a little further onto the barrel.  If everything tightens up, just file a new groove for the barrel band screw in the barrel and mag tube.

Thanks guys. I opted to try this. With a light tap, the barrel band easly slip an additional 1.25 inches further onto the barrel. Now, when the screw is tightened the barrel band actually clamps  tightly on the barrel and magazine. Can't say that I'm to pleased with the appearance though.

Will update once I can get it to the range for a sight in.

[Grizzly Adams]

With a light tap, the barrel band easly slip an additional 1.25 inches further onto the barrel. 

That's a bunch!   Very odd.