'73 barrel

[Hays]

Howdy Folks;
 
     Is it  possible to change the barrel on a '73 carbine (Uberti), from 38 spl. to 32/20. The parts book shows the two use the same carrier block. What all would be invovled? $175 for a new barrel. What else???  Thanks in advance.   Hays

[Pettifogger]

If you look at, for example, the VTI website it lists the breech bolt and carrier for the .38/.357 and then says "adjust for .32-20."  In order to save money on a limited demand item, Uberti uses .38/.357 parts for their .32-20s.  The problem is the .32-20 is much narrower and has a smaller rim than a .38 or .357.  As a consequence a lot of Uberti .32-20 66s and 73s have problems.  I have an original 73 and Winchester made the carrier and bolt to specifically fit the .32-20.  I have a Uberti .32-20 border rifle and it wouldn't feed one round when I first got it.  Have finally gotten all the bugs out and it shoots OK.  However, every once and a while a round will still get hung up in the carrier when loading and you can't get more rounds in until you stick a screwdriver in the carrier to straighten out the round.  However, once loaded it does shoot OK.

[Hays]

Pettifogger, Thanks. Sounds like I better leave well enough alone !   

[Capt. Augustus]

Pettifogger, I have a 1866 carbine in .32-20 that drove me crazy for about six months. It was made about the time the loading gate problem appeared. No matter what gate I used, cartridges slipped by. I compared the carrier to an original 1873's carrier and found the solution. Uberti makes a circular cut at the rear of the carrier. The Winchester carrier is only cut on the loading gate side. This combined with the .38 carrier gave the cartridges too much wiggle room. I built up the opposite side with J-B Weld using a .45-70 case as a spacer. That solved the gate problem and the loading problem you described.

[Pettifogger]

Yep, I did the JB weld thing a while back.  Helped, but didn't totally solve the problem.  Every once in a while the nose of a round will still get cocked enough inside the carrier that it will hit to the side of the mag tube and prevent loading the next round.  Usually, a little jiggle of the gun will shake it loose.

[Paladin UK]

Fer Pettifogger n the Capt...............

What is ...   JB Weld!!  I aint never heard of it before

Paladin (Whats gotsta know  ) UK

[Marshal Will Wingam]

It's a two-part epoxy bonding agent. Great stuff. There is the standard stuff and the 5-minute version. I use the 5-minute stuff but the other is stronger.

http://jbweld.net/index.php