Uberti 1872 Open Top .44 Spl to .44-40?

[Dirty Dick]

My CAS guns are .44-40 (Pietta) and there is a Uberti Open Top in .44 Special for sale, can the .44 Spl cylinder be re-chambered to accept .44-40 OK?

DD

[Abilene]

Depends on how you define "ok".  Springfield Slim is one person who has done it.  He says the brass comes out with the shoulder a little off and it is worked more when reloading but it works okay for him.

[Coffinmaker]

  Dirty Dick 

Actually YES.  The real problem is the alignment of the Chambering Reamer in relation to the center axis of the Bore/chamber.  You may also encounter occasional interference of the cartridge rims.  The Uberti Open Top is actually a bit larger than the Original Colt, to permit 45 Colt loading so it can be done.  Before embarking however, be sure to correct the Abysmal Barrel to Arbor fit FIRST.

 

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[Lefty Dude]

The 44WCF cartridge rim is slightly larger than a 45 Colt case. Good luck !

[Coffinmaker]

Hey!!!  Hi there Lefty. 

A tiny small addendum.  Originally, the cylinder and frame for the Uberti Open Top was designed around the .45 Schofield.  44-40 rim is "slightly" smaller than 45 Schofield.  6 Schofield fit just fine.  Just need to pay attention to the alignment on the chambering reamer.  this could be real fun

[FriscoCounty]

It is tight and easily mucked up.  Springfield convinced me to try it.  It is not an easy project by any means.  Fortunately, but expensively, I ordered new cylinders to try it on; as I wanted to be able to swap back and forth. 

First, not every reamer is the same and getting a reamer with an accurate profile is, well, let's just say the spent brass definitely needs full length sizing.  Getting the new bore right actually requires a slightly offset/angled ream so the rims don't interfere with the ratchet.  Wound up making a jig to fit on my drill press, manually turning the reamer, so I could accurately ream it out.

In the end, I don't bother using them.  Just shoot .44 Russian (in BP when possible) in the original cylinders.  Oh, yes, there is enough material reamed out that I only comfortable shooting BP when using the .44-40 cylinders.

[Abilene]

Frisco, thanks very much for that.  The question comes up fairly often, and knowing there is more to it than a quick ream is important.

[nativeshootist]

Could you share some pictures of your converted cylinder?