Let's Start a List: Chaparral and Uberti Production Problems

[TCRken]

Gents

Thanks for the response.   

Re: 44WCF, yep, I've got a early '94 Marlin carbine in 44WCF and have carried it for deer.   It's light and short and fun to shoot with a shotgun butt instead of the CB.   Some younger hunters ask why I use these old obsolete calibers.   I guess I've gotten past the trophy want when I was young and enjoy the challenge of getting a bit closer and using the old ones.  Only problem is my eyes are making it a bit harder with the open sights.  One advantage of the Marlin's is I can mount a scope, but before anyone gets excited on ruining a collectable it's only on the newer ones where I've had them rebarreled.

re: west.  Yep, Colorado.

As for why a '76, I guess it goes back to when I was a young guy with a growing family and saw one in the rack for more than I made in a month.   Always wanted one (never had the $$ for an original).  After I got my '86 light weight in 33 WCF I thought I was done adding to my collection of "wants" when my bride made the offer. 

re: TCR, it's a monoblock hammerless break action single shot that Thompson Center made in the 80's & up to the fire in '91 when the tooling machinery was lost in the fire.  The '83 had a set triger, the '87 was a single trigger.  The barrel just lifted off the hinge pin as an break actionshotgun does. It was available in many calibers and gauges and the custom shop would chamber most anything.  I forget when they made the "magnum" monoblock when you could get a 7MM Rem Mag & such.   I never wanted a magnum as the rifle was light and it would have been more pain than fun.  Do a google search and you can see info on them.   

[J23]

I just picked up an 1876 Chappy from CDNN, 50-95wcf, 26" barrel.  Outwardly, I am pleased with it..   I havent had the chance to take it to the range quite yet..  Ive only recently obtained a set of RCBS dies, brass (Jamison...which seems outwardly to be of high quality;correct headstamped!,) and a 515139 Lyman mold... 

The only problems I have seen yet regarding my Chappy is that no one seems to have been able to give you any solid information on specs... specificallly, I ordered a Marbles tang...   the rear tang screw wasnt even close... I took the orginial to a machine shop who told me that it was 12-28 pitch...    Marbles makes such a screw (abit too long...) for the 1894 Winchester Legacy, and I had to grind several thousandths off to make it work.   Prior to obtaining the screw, I attempted to contact Chapparal, in Italy, as they have no US service reps... and the attempt was less than successful.   

Aside from the problems with the tang sight install (which ended up well...though with the marbles base, there is no place for my thumb!) the trigger is an abomination..   not only do you have the squeeze the lever so hard to activate the lever safety that your knuckles are white, the trigger which has no overtravel or take up (a good thing...) has about a 15 pound pull, no exagguration!  Its horrible. 

The other day I casted up about 50 bullets, I am still unsure as to what sizing die to pick up yet..  I am thinking .512, but I am not sure.  I am going to try a load recommended by Chuck 100yd on here and on the Castboolits forum to which I belong:  14g Trailboss under the above mentioned boolit.  Ill let everyone know how she shoots when I take her out.. 

[Roundsworth]

I bought my 1876 from Cimarron, via Buffalo Arms, a few months ago. It is a standard model in 45-60. The internal components required a little bit of stoning, as did the inside of the receiver itself. I made some cartridges using information in the latest Lyman handbook. The Jamison brass chambered without a hitch. The RCBS Legacy dies are a real bargain for a quality set.  She is a tack driver, for sure! The underside of the barrel is channeled for the magazine tube. I understand that there are some rifles out there without this feature. The wood is very nice with a flawless finish and fitment to the receiver. Aside from the parts roughness, I have no complaints. The rear sight is quite functional, but there is a bit too much daylight on each side of the front sight when looking for a 'proper sight picture'. My eyes really like tang sights, so I will be getting one from Buffalo Arms soon. They have a Riflesmith sight made for the Uberti 1876. Cheers!

[mtmarfield]

   Greetings, All!

   Well, for starters, my "Chapp. / Tri-Star" 1876 26"Bbl. in .50-95-300 wouldn't feed from the magazine. Period. I sent it back, and they replaced the Breech Bolt, the Loading Gate, and another part that I do not recall. It cycles / feeds beautifully with several of the .50 bullets that I cast for.
   The folks were very polite, communication was great, and all that I need to do is fireform some .348 WCF brass, and touch off a handful of BP rounds loaded with Bertram brass (All that I could find at the time...) to warm things up.
   Oh... This problem I failed to mention to them: the Rear Sight Dovetail is cut slightly cock-eyed. The Factory Sight is going away, to be replaced with a Buffalo Arms Buckhorn Rear Sight, after my 'smith "straightens" the dovetail cut in the barrel. I'm not too bent about the Rear Sight situation, as I have another U.S. made rifle with the same problem, just not acute enough to do anything about.

   Be Well, All!

                  M.T.Marfield