Suggestions for Slicking Up a Uberti Schofield?

WaddWatsonEllis · June 08, 2009, 07:24:27 PM

I see so many kits and gunsmiths who specialize in 'slicking up' Colts and Colt Clones.

Is there any kits for a Uberti Schofield?

Or are they just pretty darn perfect as they come out of the package?

Also, is there any gunsmiths who specialize in top break revolvers like the Schofield?

Are there any on the Left Coast?

What has been anyone's experience?

Thanks in advance for all your replies!

St. George · June 08, 2009, 11:56:21 PM

Take a look through the 'back pages' of this Forum, and you should easily find the answers to your questions - all posted previously.

The first thing to do with the piece is to make certain it's been properly lubed and then to shoot it.

I'd suggest about 500 rounds would give it a good 'break-in' period - and you'd also get used to the way a Schofield handles.

After that - assess exactly 'what' you need to improve things and begin with a very thorough disassembly and cleaning.

Look for any high spots and burring, and carefully stone them away - don't change any of the factory angles.

Then double-check your cleaning and lube properly, reassemble and try dry-firing with a set of dummy rounds in the chambers.

You 'should' see an increase in 'felt' smoothness and your shooting should confirm this.

Good Luck!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

WaddWatsonEllis · June 09, 2009, 03:34:29 AM

St George;

500 rounds? I think I am already halfway there.

The 'feel' of a Schofield; my previous weapong before SASS was a Mk VI Webley .455 (rechambered for .45 Auto Rim or .45 ACP with 'snowflakes' ... so the weapon feels like an old friend.

One of the things that I really respect about the gun is its overall balance ... that big heavy seven inch barrel, although cumbersome to draw, brings the pistol barrel right down to regain target acquistion as soon as a shot is fired. I can really understand why so many of the target pistol records went to Schofields in their day.

As an aside, I was watching Cheyenne, and one of his sidekicks took the identity of a Smith and Wesson traveling salesman. I am guessing they were aiming from 1875 to 1880, 'cause the gun they had for sale was, you guessed it, a 7 inch barrel Schofield! Talk about Deja Vu

The gun was owned by a very competitive member of SASS and he did his own work on the pair of Schofields ... I was just thinking that since the pistols are about ten years old, come rainy season I might want to send them off to a gunsmith to have him check them out and pronounce his benediction on the possibility that the pair be used for another ten years ...

St. George · June 09, 2009, 10:13:15 AM

If you do your part with the cleaning and lubrication and any needed stoning - there's no need for an 'outside opinion' unless you just feel like spending money.

Stick to 'factory' or 'cowboy loads, and your weapon should be in fine shape for years.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

Old No7 · June 09, 2009, 08:28:49 PM

Gee, since my new Uberti Schofield still has < 500 rounds through her (too much work... which I am grateful to have...), I was going to suggest 3 things:

1) Shoot it...

2) Shoot it some more...

3) ...and shoot it again and again!

Dry-firing with SNAP CAPS

might be a good idea too.

Good luck with yours!

One of these days, I will fix the "windage problem" I posted about mine months ago, and I will post on the results.

Old No7

Virginia Gentleman · July 28, 2009, 05:14:52 PM

Making sure the gun is well cleaned of grease out of the box prior to shooting is also critical. Many of the so called problems with these gun arise when the gun is not properly cleaned of excess grease when fired and it is a magnet for lead and powder fouling if it isn't cleaned out. One guy actually fired his out of the box with cowboy squibs and it locked up after about 30 rounds. We cleaned it on the range and it went for another 120 rounds when the range session ended with no other problems.

WaddWatsonEllis · July 28, 2009, 06:14:52 PM

Did, Did and Done,

My Schofields are a second pair that was owned by a very serious SASS member.

In addition to adding custom grips that really give a handle to the weapon, he replaced the front blade sights with a blade of brass, and increasedthe size of the oval on the rear sights. So now the front sight really 'pops', and the larger oval allows one to see enough 'air' on each side of the blade to make sure it is alligned.

I guess I read of all the kits and springs for the Colts and Colt Clones and feel that I should be doing something.

But in reality, I am pretty pleased with the pistols as they stand....

Virginia Gentleman · August 03, 2009, 09:13:39 AM

The NIB Taylor's and Co. Uberti Schofield 5" barrel is starting to smooth out after cleaning and re-oiling as I have been dry firing with snap caps and working the action several hundred times.

Virginia Gentleman · October 05, 2010, 12:57:08 PM

Quote from: WaddWatsonEllis on June 09, 2009, 03:34:29 AM
St George;

500 rounds? I think I am already halfway there.

The 'feel' of a Schofield; my previous weapong before SASS was a Mk VI Webley .455 (rechambered for .45 Auto Rim or .45 ACP with 'snowflakes' ... so the weapon feels like an old friend.

One of the things that I really respect about the gun is its overall balance ... that big heavy seven inch barrel, although cumbersome to draw, brings the pistol barrel right down to regain target acquistion as soon as a shot is fired. I can really understand why so many of the target pistol records went to Schofields in their day.

As an aside, I was watching Cheyenne, and one of his sidekicks took the identity of a Smith and Wesson traveling salesman. I am guessing they were aiming from 1875 to 1880, 'cause the gun they had for sale was, you guessed it, a 7 inch barrel Schofield! Talk about Deja Vu

The gun was owned by a very competitive member of SASS and he did his own work on the pair of Schofields ... I was just thinking that since the pistols are about ten years old, come rainy season I might want to send them off to a gunsmith to have him check them out and pronounce his benediction on the possibility that the pair be used for another ten years ...

On thing to watch with the Webley is not to shoot full house .45 ACP leads in it as they are loaed to a much highier pressure than .455 ammo. If it is so altered, then use .45 Auto-Rim brass (no need for moon clips) with .454" sized bullets and load them down to .455 balliastics in the 620-700 fps range for safety and authenticity.

Old No7 · October 14, 2010, 08:27:11 PM

WWE Wrote: "In addition to adding custom grips that really give a handle to the weapon, he replaced the front blade sights with a blade of brass, and increased the size of the oval on the rear sights."

I tried to punch out the blued pin holding the front sight (Uberti 7" Schofield in .38 Spcl) and all I succeeded in doing was leaving a slight mark where the steel punch was seated -- the pin didn't budge at all...

Any tips or ideas from others???

I bought some German Silver ovals from Dixie Gun Works, and I had planned to silver solder at least one of them to the left side of the front blade (to move the bullet's impact right), but I don't dare do the soldering with the blade still on the barrel.

Oh, and back on topic for this post, my Schofield is now past 500 rounds and handling/shooting well. The snap caps I mentioned on an earlier post for this thread really helped. I took my daughter and her boyfriend to the range recently, and they also shot a SP101 in 32 Mag, a Kahr PM9 and a GP100 in .357 (reloads) -- but the one gun that she DID the best and LIKED the best was the larger/heavier Schofield!!! So now we have plans to watch 3:10 to Yuma again. We saw it together when it first came out, and she didn't know what a Schofield was back then (silly girl) -- but now that she knows (that's my girl!), she wants to see them in action!!!

Thanks! And tight groups to all.

Old No7

WaddWatsonEllis · October 14, 2010, 08:57:12 PM

A woman who not only enjoys shooting .... but also likes Schofields?

Is she married? (Just kidding; at 61 I would end up the unoffical uncle anyhow *L*)

Old No7 · October 15, 2010, 07:47:03 PM

Quote"A woman who not only enjoys shooting.... but also likes Schofields? Is she married?"

Nope, not yet...

And I think she likes to shoot with me more than her boyfriend does (although he's doing pretty well with the new Ruger SR9C he just got *). But... She is a better shot with a shotgun or the Schofield!!!

* can I even mention that gun here???

I have to admit, I'm pleased as punch that my l'il girl likes to shoot my Schofield. Maybe some day, it'll be hers (but I hope she's not in a rush...)

Old No7

WaddWatsonEllis · October 17, 2010, 05:51:39 PM

Top,

Perhaps it is time to find a used Schofield to give you a pair and make the 2nd one semi-officially hers ....

Pitspitr · November 13, 2010, 10:21:11 AM

Quote from: WaddWatsonEllis on October 17, 2010, 05:51:39 PM
Top,

Perhaps it is time to find a used Schofield to give you a pair and make the 2nd one semi-officially hers ....

That's what I did. My boy really liked my 3" Wells Fargo Model so I gave it to him and bought the 7" Cav model I always wanted. Problem is that the WF was a good gun and the Cav model has been a terrible lemon. $:-\$

WaddWatsonEllis · November 13, 2010, 10:31:31 AM

Pitspr,

Mine have never given me a problem in spite of beginner's misuse ... but that might be not so much Uberti's braggin' rights than the previous owner ... who honed and polshed them to where they are simply great smooth performers ...

If you bought them new, I would say take them back. If not, some gunsmith who specializes in Top breaks might be worth looking into ... David Chicoine comes to mind, but the bill might be like buying new ones ...

Pitspitr · November 13, 2010, 10:52:25 AM

Yep, I bought it new, but had done work on it before we found the true problem. The gunsmith I use eventually got it fixed but it took a while.

Irish Dave · November 23, 2010, 10:08:49 AM

QuoteI tried to punch out the blued pin holding the front sight (Uberti 7" Schofield in .38 Spcl) and all I succeeded in doing was leaving a slight mark where the steel punch was seated -- the pin didn't budge at all...

Any tips or ideas from others???

Old No. 7:

I have replaced front sight blades on both my Laramies and my New Model Russian. The problem, of course, is that unlike the original Smiths, Uberti appears to insert the sight pin first and then dress & finish the barrel afterwards -- pin and all.

In each of my cases, I ended up taking the revolvers to a friend's machine shop and drilling out the pin on a mill. The hard part is making sure you're centered on the pin (strong light and magnifier recommended) since there is often VERY little outline to judge by. Once centered, it's a simple process as the pin is soft material and drills out easily. I then replaced the blade and pin, using a short piece of properly sized drill rod, blued and rounded on the ends. I left the ends slightly proud of the barrel (per the originals) and I don't think I'll have any problems should I need to change the blade again.

Hope this helps.

Virginia Gentleman · February 13, 2011, 01:03:21 PM

On a recent repair on my Schofield, the gunsmith polished the cylinder arbor bright as he said the Italians make these gun so tight that they need a little polishing in the right areas from time to time. Modern CNC machining makes the parts so precise that if any fouling gets inbetween parts they can slow down or bind a bit. Now that mine has been polished up it is butter smooth and the cylinder rotates freely at half cock now. Before it was dragging and took some effort to rotate.