Underwheld by Uberti warrenty repair

Roscoe Coles · June 05, 2010, 12:20:22 AM

I start this with the absolute recognition that my Uberti is head and shoulders above the Chaparals I had and with a great deal of appreciation of the gun.

As come of you know, I had a problem where a sharp edge left by the cutout for the bolt shelf (in the bottom of the barrel) caught on the edge of the chamber, bending up into the chamber (it acted like a sharp chisel and cut the brass back on the cartridge about 18th of an inch in the process). I called them, explained the problem and sent along a detailed explanation of the problem and they said they would take care of it. I just got it back and it looks like they just ran a reamer to bevel the mouth of the the mouth of the chamber, which took care of some of the high spot, but there is still a bump in the chamber which scratches the brass as rounds go in and out. As I said, I'm under whelmed by their work. Ah well, I guess I should have known to do it my self if I wanted it to get done right.

In any case, it looks like I will also have to get the special dies for the Uberti chamber as it came back with the original over sized chamber (which does not surprise me all that much as).

evodude · June 05, 2010, 08:48:59 AM

Jeeezzz Roscoe! I never had any problems with my 3 Chaparrals- .40-60 and two .50-95's but I do feel your pain! Can you touch the spot with a Dremel tool with the 1/2" dia. ball grinder installed? You may be able to completely remove that beveled edge by 'massaging' the spot at high speed.

Roscoe Coles · June 05, 2010, 11:01:17 AM

Honestly, the way to do it is pull the barrel. Then it can be easily polished or reamed out. Its a bit of a pain but I have pulled barrels on a number of Winchester lever guns (to do relining, to have the receivers engraved or plated etc.). Your lucky with your chaparrals, I had one that shattered the forward link pin after 25 rounds; thats when I went to the Uberti.

larryo_1 · June 05, 2010, 10:05:59 PM

Roscoe:
I must interject here with for what it worth. I cannot understand all the concern over chambers. I have an early 45-75 with the "larger chamber" and am very happy with it. It gives me more case capacity and has not hurt accuracy or anything else. My suggestion would be to get the dies, fire form the brass, neck size only and be happy. It is a good rifle and I certainly enjoy mine the way it is.

Roscoe Coles · June 06, 2010, 12:52:05 AM

Larry, my problem is not with the large chamber (though as I have said I would prefer the SAMI spec so I could own multiple guns in 45-75 and not have to make two kinds of ammo). The problem I have with this gun is from a manufacturing defect that caused a high spot in the chamber, which was causing the gun not to feed smoothly and is scratching my bullets and brass as they are fed into the gun. Totally different problem and getting the Uberti dies won't fix it.

larryo_1 · June 06, 2010, 07:28:18 AM

Roscoe:
Well then it sounds, to me, as though you may be able to take care of it by, as you said, pulling the barrel and tackeling it head-on. It also seems that Uberti should make good on it with a new barrel but if you are set up to do it, the actual project other than removal and reinstallation shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes? I do symphathize tho with you and your situation. So far---knock on wood--my rifle is okay. I did go through a mess tho before I got it. I told Grizzley Adams about it a couple of years ago. That involved a couple of Chappies before I got the Uberti. A long story and is now buried. Good Luck in your endeavors.

evodude · June 07, 2010, 07:41:44 AM

Im still trying to figure out how you 'shattered' a link pin! Did it bend, or snap off? What were you shooting in it to cause such a failure? Jeez Roscoe, Ive chamferred a few chambers with the Dremel in my time ,it will work just fine with the easy accessability you have to the chamber mouth. 5 minute repair. The Dremel, just like Acraglas, are both gifts from The Great Spirit!

Cimarron · June 07, 2010, 05:56:44 PM

Sorry to hear about your lack of an adequate resolution to the the problem. I' ve been away from this hobby for a long time and have only just gotten fired up about it again. What strikes me is the "serious" money they get for these guns now. It doesn't make any difference if you get a dealer discount or not these guns cost a lot of money. I remember dealing with Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Colt and Harrington & Richardson back in the early 1980's. I never got a gun back that wasnt fixed. I better stop before this becoms a rant, I don't want to get into trouble with the moderator.

Roscoe Coles · June 08, 2010, 01:07:57 AM

I got out a powerful light and some magnification out (my eyes are not what they used to be) and looked at the chamber closely and its clear that what they actually did was take a flex shaft (a high class dremel) and a pretty rough grinding wheel and went after the lower lip of the chamber from the top of the elevator slot. Not class work at all. Just cheap and dirty. I will have to set it aside until I get the time to pull the barrel and do it right. But hey, while the barrel is out I might just matte the top flat and re mark it with the proper caliber markings (on the left flat of course like the factory matted guns). While I am at it I can save up for some of the Uberti dies. Anyone need a set of standard C&H 45-75 dies?

evodude · June 08, 2010, 05:17:48 AM

With that kind of warrantee service, I think Ill stick with my Chappies, thank you!!

Roscoe Coles · June 09, 2010, 12:46:51 AM

well, I have done two chaparrals and there is a reason I went to the Uberti. But hey, to each his own. Glad you like what you have.

rustyrelx · June 12, 2010, 08:58:34 AM

Rpscoe: Are the dies a 3 die set and how much. Don rustyrelx@yahoo.com

john boy · June 12, 2010, 04:24:50 PM

Quote...though as I have said I would prefer the SAMI spec so I could own multiple guns in 45-75 and not have to make two kinds of ammo

Roscoe - good luck finding multiple firearms manufacturers that fit the bill for your desire. I haven't found one yet: cylinders - bores and chambers. You have to remember also that the gunsmith at the factory will hardly ever stop the chamber reamer at the same exact distance every time during the production run. And there is also the Monday & Friday syndrome!

I even have multiple firearms from the same vendor with different dimensions - go figure!

Roscoe Coles · June 13, 2010, 01:38:05 PM

Well, there are differences and then there are differences. This is much too large a difference for normal variation in manufacturing. Its a mistake of design and Uberti knows it. Honestly, it should be called 45-75 Uberti rather than 45-75 Winchester. But hey, I like the rifle and will just get the Uberti dies from C&H.