Rebuilt 66 finished!

[DeaconKC]

Just got word that a Uberti 66 that is being rebarreled by Boomstick is done and will ship out to me as soon as they get my check! I'm looking forward to seeing how it will handle compared to my 73. Will post pics when it arrives.

[Black River Smith]

Deacon,

So the questions are What caliber is this 1866 being 'rebarreled' to?  And/Or Why did it have to be 'rebarreled'?

PS -- So I see previous posting where you have purchased a second 1866 in 45Colt.  Is this what is being rebarreled or your older 44/40?

I bought my one and only 1866 back in 2001.  It is in 44-40 and I combined it with an Uberti OT firing 44Russians.  This was used for several years in NCOWS shoots.  That 1866 levering is one smooth action.

[Navy Six]

I had two done about 20 years ago. Both were 45 Colt and since I only shoot black powder it wasn't working too well as SASS matches. Both are now 1866 short rifles, one in 38-40 and the other in 44-40. I love a 45 Colt as much as anyone but the guns will now go through a 2 day match if necessary.

[DeaconKC]

I purchased the 66 in 2020, it was in .44-40. I never shot it so I took it to Comin at Cha last September to sell. When someone went to look at it we discovered the barrel was bulged. I spoke with Boomstick who was there and he had access to a wallhanger 66 in .45 Colt. So the rifle went with him and now it is done and headed my way. As .45 Colt is my usual caliber to shoot, I am curious to see how the 66 will feel compared to my usual Uberti 73. I didn't even ask if it is an octagonal or round barrel.

[DeaconKC]

I heard back from Boomstick, it is a 19" round barrel.

[Abilene]

I assume it was a carbine before the change? Lots more parts to change to go from octagon to round or vice-versa.  Although,  if all the parts came from the wall hanger  then I guess more doable!'

[Coffinmaker]

  Well . . Well well 

OK everybody.  I shoot lots of 45 Colt rifles.  With BP or Subs, they will all Foul out rather quickly.  UNLESS you take the time to ANNEAL your cases.  Annealing will eliminate Blow-By and the guns will shoot as clean as 38-40 or 44-40.

A few hours of skull numbing boredom and a small tank of propane can and will save big bucks as opposed to re-barreling.

Part TWO:  If you don't want to anneal, simply start out with 44-40 cases.  Carefully run 'em thru 45 Colt dies, load and fire form to 45 Colt.  Seal the chamber right up.  Same same, couple hundred 44-40 cases lots cheaper than a re-barrel job.


Yes Agnes, People ARE Hazardous to Yer Health

Near forgot:  I absolutely LOVE BRASS RIFLES you betcha!!

[DeaconKC]

I limit by fouling by shooting full power loads, 7.5 grains of Unique under a 200 or 250 grain RNFP. And yup, I do have to clean em, but not as much as the guys with mouse fart loads.

[Coffinmaker]

DEACON 

YESSIREE Bob > (Uh, Bob Who??).  Tis fer sure running heavy loads will only sort of mitigate Blow-By. 

Blow-By is not as serious of a problem with that Heathen Fad Smokeless stuff some aficionados seem to be obsessed with, as it is with BP and Subs.  In point of fact, when shooting smokeless, rifles will run an entire match easily.  Not necessarily so with BP or Subs. 

I always get a kick out of when the Brass Pickers at a match look askance at my fired 44-40 brass 'cause it don't look like 44-40 brass.  Fun, you betcha. 

We'll get ya shooting some real decent powder yet Deacon.  Just hang in there   

[DeaconKC]

Well, finally got the little beastie. Still gotta get a proper rear sight for it, but man it is SLICK. Wow, my 73 has not had any work done on it and this 66 seems to have had some work done before on it. Well worth the wait, Boomstick Jay does great work.

[Reverend P. Babcock Chase]

Hey Coffnmaker,

Shooting smokeless in a 66 can run months without cleaning. Don't ask me how I know.

Rev. Chase

[Coffinmaker]

Rev 

Have/Had a real close friend with a '66 I built for her.  I was talking with some folks at a match one day about cleaning Toggle Link rifles.  She piped up with Cleaning??  Really you do that??  Couple drops of Oil now and again.  That's it.  She was shooting 44-40 with smokeless.  Once in a while ran a patch with Break Free through the bore.  She'd been shooting it for something over a year.