Need info on new Uberti/Cimarron/ opentops

[thelastfrontier]

Hello Gents new to this forum am interested in seeking info on the new Cimarron/Uberti Repos
1# i am not looking for being historically correct for the caliber of pistol to actual model 2# i am not looking to put thousands of rounds through one per year .50 to hundred rnds max per yr .With that said i am looking at a few different models the 1860 army open top,the 1872 open top late ,the type 2 Richards conversion.All in 45lc I have read quite a few blogs about not shooting factory smokeless ammo through these.Only for cowboy action loads .I Have also read others say they have put thousands of rounds through theirs without a hitch?So any info on the topic would be appreciated i would like to just use off the shelve factory ammo within reason not magnum +p or any other hopped up loads. What is the deal with these guns and what will they reasonably shoot? without falling apart or being in danger?

Thanks

[RattlesnakeJack]

I would suggest that you move your question to the STORM forum here in Cas City .... that is where the "open top" gurus congregate ....

Edit: Aha .... I see you posted there also, and appear to have several replies already ....

[Virginia Gentleman]

Because the design is a black powder design, I would only put through standard pressure .45 Colt loads through an open top or conversion as that is what they were manufactered for, but milder CAS loads would be easier on it in the long run.  50-100 rounds a year is no problem.

[rifle]

The way I see it the guns are warranted for factory ammo whatever the caliber. Not +P loads or the like.
At one time the barrels of the 44's and especially the 45's were milled too thin at the breech on the lower side. The barrels could get a crack there at the breech end.
That has been addressed as far as I know. Doesn't hurt to know there was a problem there and be juducoius with the pick of caliber though. The 38 would be the thickest barrel and the 44 the next thickest ect ect ect .
I'd opt for the 38cal or the 44 cal. guns.
Except for the barrels cracking on some of my guns and replacing with properly milled ones ,that hold up, I've had no big problems with the guns shooting middle of the road handloads.

I agree with those that say to stay in the blackpowder velosity range since the design was made for the black.
The guns are made of modern steel and are warranted to handle smokeless so I don't have a problem using the smokeless in mine. I do like to use less than the heaviest bullets though since they are easier on the guns. Cowboy loads are not a bad idea with these guns.

Personally I thunk that the use of hardcast bullets isn't the best idea to get the best longevity to the guns. I opt for pure lead bullets.

Pure lead bullets means reloading yer own since most of the commercial loads carry hardcast bullets. They are harder on the guns than pure lead bullets.
Velosities that replicate the blackpowder velosities are a good rule of thumb. Loading and shooting exclusively blackpowder loads would not be a bad idea either. There are commercially made blackpowder replica powder loads to buy at the stores.
Hope this info is a help to ya Hombre.

[Mean Bob Mean]

They are well made guns, don't exceed standard pressures and at 50-100 a year your grandkids will pass them on. 

[Flint]

I have a pair of Opentop 71/72 by Uberti, one chambered 44 Colt and the other 44 Special, and I shoot them both as main match guns using 44 Russian brass.  Loads are pretty much per Hogdon's website, using smokeless,.  I have used Titegroup, W231, TrailBoss and Bullseye.  Load a 205 gr Bear Creek bullet.  Guns are OK and solid after 10 years of CAS.  I also fitted 38 Special and 45 Schofield barrels and cylinders because I could...  I have only occasionally used BP or a sub loading, and they shoot fine without any fouling out of action, but smokeless is easier to maintain if you shoot them as match guns.

[Virginia Gentleman]

Mine are all shot with smokeless only because the clean up of shooting black powder in the action can be a PIA. 

[Seth Hawkins]

I know you want a 45 LC but...

Consider the .38-cal guns.  I have a pair of 1851 Navy Richards-Mason Cimarron conversions in 38 Special that , Heaven forbid, I can shoot factory smokeless ammo thru.  But their normal "diet" is 38 Long Colt brass filled with BP with a 125 gr bullet.

The reason you should consider the .38-cal is this:  if you should ever decide to try your hand at reloading, the smaller caliber's are cheaper to load.  The .38 cal uses less smokeless powder.  The .38 LC brass holds less BP.  The .38 cal uses a smaller, cheaper to buy or cast bullet.  All of this means a pound of powder loads more cartridges, and a pound of lead makes more bullets.

And finally... I doubt you'll ever wear out any of the .38-cal guns as long as you "play by the rules" when it comes to reloading smokeless and BP.  I don't know how many thousands of rounds I've shot thru mine, but they're just as tight today as they were the day I bought them from a guy who had put a few thousand rounds thru them before selling them to me.

I think the most important factor for longevity - regardless of caliber or model - is the fitment of the frame to barrel.  There's a thread here in the STORM forum that discusses it and why it's so important, and how to correct it if it isn't correct.
I hope you have good luck and enjoy whichever model & caliber you choose.  Don't forget to post pics when you get it/them.