Strength of frame...

[flatapple]

Being a newbie...I love the open top, I have a 1872 Uberti in .38 Special.  My question will the open top handle the larger bores like the .44 Special, Russian or Colt and the .45 Colt and Schofield for everyday use of cowboy action shooting?

[Pettifogger]

There's plenty of them being used so the answer must be yes.  Most cowboy loads are fairly lite and a lot of people use BP in them.  These loads are low pressure.  I wouldn't use them for a steady diet of maximum charge loads.

[Flint]

I've been shooting Opentops as main match guns for ten years.  They are 44 Colt and 44 Special, and I shoot them as 44 Russians, middle range load from Hogdon''s Cowboy data with 200 gr bullets.  If using BP, the 44 Russian caliber is great, as it uses less powder than the larger cartridge cases, and is mild .

I have fitted 38 and 45 Schofield barrels and cylinders, but I much prefer them as 44's.

Flint

[Paladin UK]

Fer Flint..

Could not agree more pard,

Ya cant beat the ROAR of a pair of 44s!!

Paladin (What luvs his 1960s  ) UK

[Graveyard Jack]

I've been shooting the snot out of my .44Colt for 7yrs and it's no worse for wear. I wouldn't have just spent a bunch of money to have it engraved and refinished if I thought it wouldn't last. 

[Coffinmaker]

Like Flint, my Main Match guns for the past 12 years (Gunfighter) have been Open Tops.  Mine were originally .45 Schofield, then I added .38 Spl and .44 Spl cylinders and barrels.  I really like the versatility of the Open Top.  While I have "all"  the Open Top toys, my guns have primarily been shot as .45s, first with Schofield brass and for the past several years, Cowboy 45 Special brass.  I've had no problems beyond normal wear and tear for guns shot in 4 matches per month plus a little practice.
With good maintenance and loads that are SAMMI limited or lighter, Open Tops will last a lifetime.  The guns do however, benefit from careful set up as they are a little sloppy from the factory.  Fix the barrel/arbor fit and fire away!!

Coffinmaker

[Coffinmaker]

Oh, forgot.
Craig, if you wanna send me that Open Top, I can probably repair al those gouges and scratches.  Have it back to new for ya I just a couple of years <};-)

Coffinmaker

[Pettifogger]

Oh, forgot.
Craig, if you wanna send me that Open Top, I can probably repair al those gouges and scratches.  Have it back to new for ya I just a couple of years <};-)

Coffinmaker

Yep.  Looks like it needs defarbing.

[Graveyard Jack]

Y'all know a good welder??? 

[Hoof Hearted]

I've been shooting the snot out of my .44Colt for 7yrs and it's no worse for wear. I wouldn't have just spent a bunch of money to have it engraved and refinished if I thought it wouldn't last. 

Very nice!

HH

[Virginia Gentleman]

That is one nice BBQ gun!    I think with the modern steels used in these reproduction open tops, using SAAMI spec ammo in them with lead bullets would not harm them.  With black powder or CAS level squib loads they should last a long. long time.

[smokin6]

  Good looking weapon!

I've been shooting the snot out of my .44Colt for 7yrs and it's no worse for wear. I wouldn't have just spent a bunch of money to have it engraved and refinished if I thought it wouldn't last.