uberti schofeild durability

[X9ballX]

I have been looking around for a top break revolver. At first I wanted a more modern look until i found the uberti top break. After some research on the smith and wesson model 3 which I'm sure the ubertis were cloned from.

I decided that I might see if i could get ahold of one. I was thinking the 5 inch barrel 45 long colt.

I would like to know how durable is the hinge. Can it handle large amounts of use. Could i take it to the range and put 200 rounds through it once a week and so long as I maintain it well would it last. 

[Pettifogger]

The originals are still being shot at some matches.  The hinge is beefy and will last a LONG time with SAAMI level or cowboy loads.  The reproductions are used in Cowboy competition all the time and are shot hundreds of rounds per month, year in, year out.  If you want a magnum and want to shoot max loads, you want a solid frame gun.

[X9ballX]

The originals are still being shot at some matches.  The hinge is beefy and will last a LONG time with SAAMI level or cowboy loads.  The reproductions are used in Cowboy competition all the time and are shot hundreds of rounds per month, year in, year out.  If you want a magnum and want to shoot max loads, you want a solid frame gun.

I don't want a magnum. The power of a 45lc gun is enough for me. I just wanted to know if the reproductions are durable enough to be shot on a regular basis.

Magnums have to much recoil for my taste and acording to an article i read awhile back 45 lc has the same amount of power as 357 mag at 50 yards. Or something of that nature. Either way it has enough power for me.

My plans were to use it for cowboy action shooting and self defence once I get all the proper paperwork.

[kcub]

get the nickel & pearl

I have one in .38 and should have got the .45

[St. George]

Shooting .45 S&W will be like shooting .45ACP - and will give excellent accuracy with lower recoil.

For self-defense - it's an awfully large weapon unless it's in a drawer, and it's on the slow side...

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Short Knife Johnson]

Well I've heard the theory that inspiration for the .45 ACP was simply the .45 S&W shortend and given a rebated case rim.  Sounded good to me, but old Johnny Browning isn't giving up any secrets at the moment.

I would second the motion that it would not be the ideal candidate for a carry gun.  Although it would be a romantic image... blazing away (justifiably of course) at some low-life goblin.  Smoke billowing forth whilst the bad guy is crapping his pants and wishing he had learned to shoot his stolen Glock with the sights upright rather than held at some wierd angle.  Oh there is a Frederic Remington painting in this somewhere.   I've looked at my Schofield and Russian repros and thought the same thing, but yeah, way to big for a belt gun in this day and age.  Not that I'll ever have to worry about that living here.

kcub, that is one fancy, dancy Schofield you've got there.

[Shotgun Franklin]

Shootings are not fast draw contests. Except for the trouble of carrying a gun that big, that Schofield would work as well as any other gun. I, many years ago, used to carry a 6" barrel N Frame S&W. I went to a smaller gun because it was tough to keep the gun out of sight. I still, on occasion, carry a Colt SAA.
BTW, if you do carry a .45 Colt don't bother with the expensive HP loads. I've tried nearly all of'm and they just don't expanded in a living being like they do in the ads.

[St. George]

The 'slow' referred to wasn't meant as speed from the holster or anything else.

Schofields aren't a natural-feeling - natural-pointing revolver for the most part - and you have to train your trigger finger to stay off the trigger while you cycle the piece.

Any self-defense piece needs to feel both 'natural' and uncomplicated - my S&W Schofield doesn't, but my Colts do.

As with any piece being thought of for personal defense - practice, practice, practice.

Then - practice some more.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Shotgun Franklin]

I know people who shoot CAS as many as 4 times a month. They then insist on carrying a high capacity semi-auto. I guess they think that because that's what is used in movies they have to do the same. I've never fired more than 4 rounds in a gunfight.
BTW, if you want to be in a gunfight frequent bars in the roughest part of town, deal or do drugs, flash big wads of cash and date someone else's wife/girlfriend. The average guy will never be in a gunfight. To avoid a gunfight, go to church on Sunday, don't DO anything stronger than the occasional mixed drink, go to bars with a cop at the door, use a credit card and date ugly women.

[Pancho Peacemaker]

I have been looking around for a top break revolver. At first I wanted a more modern look until i found the uberti top break. After some research on the smith and wesson model 3 which I'm sure the ubertis were cloned from.

I decided that I might see if i could get ahold of one. I was thinking the 5 inch barrel 45 long colt.

I would like to know how durable is the hinge. Can it handle large amounts of use. Could i take it to the range and put 200 rounds through it once a week and so long as I maintain it well would it last.  

I'm a fan of the Uberti No.3 replicas.  I've been shooting Beretta Laramies as main match guns for 3 years (I also have a Russian replica).  They are durable.  The hinge is strong.  One issue:  The forcing cones on some of the top break repicas need to be trued.  (A gunsmith friend of mine made me aware of this issue.)  Many of the Uberti top breaks will "shave" your bullet as the bullet exits the cylinder and enters the forcing cone.  This shaved lead will kick out to the sides and down into your hinge.  After the first 1000 rounds in my Laramies, my hinges began to feel stiff and sluggish.  I unscrewed the hinge (very easy) and found lot of shaved lead fragments down in the frame hinge.  Have your gunsmith take a look at the forcing cones and do a little work on them for better function.

[X9ballX]

I'm a fan of the Uberti No.3 replicas.  I've been shooting Beretta Laramies as main match guns for 3 years (I also have a Russian replica).  They are durable.  The hinge is strong.  One issue:  The forcing cones on some of the top break repicas need to be trued.  (A gunsmith friend of mine made me aware of this issue.)  Many of the Uberti top breaks will "shave" your bullet as the bullet exits the cylinder and enters the forcing cone.  This shaved lead will kick out to the sides and down into your hinge.  After the first 1000 rounds in my Laramies, my hinges began to feel stiff and sluggish.  I unscrewed the hinge (very easy) and found lot of shaved lead fragments down in the frame hinge.  Have your gunsmith take a look at the forcing cones and do a little work on them for better function.

I remember my dad saying something of that nature when it comes to firing any revolver repeatedly. Something along the lines of the cylinder becoming slightly off and shaving the bullet.

Shootings are not fast draw contests. Except for the trouble of carrying a gun that big, that Schofield would work as well as any other gun. I, many years ago, used to carry a 6" barrel N Frame S&W. I went to a smaller gun because it was tough to keep the gun out of sight. I still, on occasion, carry a Colt SAA.
BTW, if you do carry a .45 Colt don't bother with the expensive HP loads. I've tried nearly all of'm and they just don't expanded in a living being like they do in the ads.

if I carry i'm going to have it in a shoulder holster

[Pancho Peacemaker]

if I carry i'm going to have it in a shoulder holster

For CAS matches, I carry my 6.5" Russian in an El Paso Saddlery 1895 shoulder rig.  I've never liked shoulder rigs in the past, but this one is very comfortable. 

[kcub]

http://www.epsaddlery.com/pc-44-9-1895-hardin-shoulder-rig.aspx

"We made this shoulder holster for John Wesley Hardin in 1895."

What more can you even say to that?

[X9ballX]

http://www.epsaddlery.com/pc-44-9-1895-hardin-shoulder-rig.aspx

"We made this shoulder holster for John Wesley Hardin in 1895."

What more can you even say to that?

good lookin rig. I have heard of some problems with typical holsters on schofeilds. Something along the lines of rubbing the latch weird.

[Pancho Peacemaker]

good lookin rig. I have heard of some problems with typical holsters on schofeilds. Something along the lines of rubbing the latch weird.

The latch was one of the "issues" with the Schofield modification of the No. 3.  The original No. 3 American had the latch on the barrel.  Maj. George Schofield's redesign moved the latch to the frame, so the latch could be thumbed back, making one handed reloads easier for the mounted soldier.  There in lies the problem:   when reaching up to thumb the trigger, many a gunman have accidentally engaged the frame mounted Schofield latch and rather than cocking their piece, they just unloaded it. 

The No. 3 Russian and the later No. 3 New Model moved the latch back to the barrel position.  At that position, it does require two hands to break the action open, but it does leave the gun more secure.

I have never seen any CAS holster problems with any of the No. 3's, but I have seen a fella accidentally break open the action on a Schofield when he went to cock his first round on a pistol sequence.

[Short Knife Johnson]

Yeah, I've accidentally opened the frame mounted latch while trying to cock the hammer.   Only while out plinking though.  Nothing important.  I also have opened the barrel mounted latch on my Uberti Russian with one hand.  Although not something I would do if time was a factor, and when I have two working hands.  You know, maybe I'll run into a stage where there is a reload on the clock, and your hand is trapped in the... ummm... whatever they get caught in.  It could happen. 

I can see how unintentional opening of the Schofield would happen in a panic situation.  I guess the benefits must have outwieghed the drawbacks.  Or... the oft used (by me anyway) phrase "It seemed like a good idea at the time."

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Slowness of a Schofield .... as an aircrewmember I spent 20 + years 'qualifying expert' with the K 38 Combat Masterpiece Smith & Wesson ... ( I hope I have all the nomenclature correct).

The Scofield fires and feels like the old Combat Masterpiece ... the only trouble I have is the seemingly very long distance from my shooting grip to the grip to cock the hammer when shooting gunfighter ... but I think it is more of a problem with short stubby hands that with the  ...

[Virginia Gentleman]

If shooting standard loads these guns should be fine if disassembled and cleaned every 1000 rounds or so.  I will look into the forcing cone issue as that may have caused mine to bind at the hinge a bit.