Picked up a interesting uberti 73

[Mike]

It is a 1977 made (proofed) Mod 1873 made by uberti.
It is in 25-20, sleaved but realy well done. It is fitted with a Marbles tang sight and a Beach's front sight. The butt stock has been shortened at some time and then a piece has been put back on. Will shoot it and then deside what to do with the stock.

[Abilene]

Interesting indeed.  I think you've got yourself a one-of-a-kind there.

[Mike]

Abilene.
Yeb it is a one off, would of been better in 32WCF but hay it was cheep. Need to find a mould, i have 32 case I can use to re size to 25-20.
I have two dummy rounds one with a Speer head which will not chamber from the carrier and a round nose which run straight in.

I have just ordered a stock for it, all ready have a butt plate in my parts box.

[Grizzly Adams]

Abilene.
Yeb it is a one off, would of been better in 32WCF but hay it was cheep. Need to find a mould, i have 32 case I can use to re size to 25-20.
I have two dummy rounds one with a Speer head which will not chamber from the carrier and a round nose which run straight in.

I have just ordered a stock for it, all ready have a butt plate in my parts box.

Now that's interesting!  Odd someone would go to the trouble and expense to convert one to 25-20 as that caliber was never offered in the 1873.  It was a fairly common offering in the 1892, I believe.  I had an 92 so chambered, and it was a cracker jack of a shooter and fun in spades.  Reloading was a bit of a pain, but that's been many years ago so things may have changed in that regard.

BTW, IMHO, the 25-20 is a better cartridge than the 32WCF which is a bit of a dog on either end of the scale. 

[Mike]

Had a job tracking down case's here in NZ, but now have 50 new and 12 used Winchester case. I pick up a old Winchester mould as well but not sure if it will cast any good. Will find out Sat.

Loaded 10 rounds with a 60grn Hornady as that is all I could get.

Will report after the range test sunday. The round feed great from the magazine.

[Mike]

First outing with the 25WCF.
Well same issues as with the other early Uberti I have, the short carrier on these early guns, I have to give the lever a good quick working forward to pick up the first cartridge.
As I had limited bullets, ten Horn JFP and some 186grn LFP from a old Winchester mould the gun shot OK. The gun shoots well off to the right at 25m and no amount of sight movement on the front sight would get it centred.
The Marbles Tang sight is not sitting square on the tang either so will fix that by stoneing one side to level it (some one has had a go at it already but the wrong side )
The gun was made in 1977 but I dont no when it was sleaved to 25WCF from my guess a 38/357.

Well some thing to work on, I may give up and put a 32WCF barrel on it as I know were one is hidding.

[Mike]

Stock has been repaired and is now being oiled.