Here is a review I wrote for the NCOW's "Shootist"
Uberti #3 Frontier …………………………. Gun Review by Roger Ragland
I have memory, Oh so long ago when I was in Grade school, I’m thinking 4th Grade.
Sitting in Ms. Martin’s class, I can still see her in my mind’s eye. On one particular day, I had or hadn’t done something, and she called me a NON-Conformist for that infraction. I’m thinking I was 9 years old, and had no Idea what that $20 word meant … NON-Conformist? What horrible thing could a non-conformist be? I had to ask my Mom, and had to work the nerve, less it be something really bad! Well, after I knew what it was, I decided it wasn’t bad, in fact, “Ol” Lady Martin was pretty astute (another $20 word). I was indeed a non-conformist as she had coined me. Kinda proud, I dance to different drummer. Leaping forward to Last April 2014 I reached a pivotal point, I was officially at retirement age, and I decided that meant something to commemorate that milestone which brings me to the point of this article.
Western Action Shooting is for the larger part shot with Single Actions Armies, their replicas of different makes and of course Ruger’s…and to lesser number conversions. Even when I was riding the neighborhood range 60+ years ago my pistol of choice was the Hubley Texan 45, this piece was a good-looking stylized version of the 1860 conversions. I’m quite sure the Hubley led me to my passion for the 1860 Army cap & ball and the conversions including the Open Tops. I tried my hand with Ruger’s Vaquero a short while. But that different drummer beat has me shooting the Colt conversions as my main guns. Oh, I have a Remington conversion and a Colt Single Action Army in 45 … it’s the 1860 Army and conversions that continue to float my boat. Having said all that, I was looking to dance to the next beat, and that came to me as something I did not have, A Top Break #3 frame Frontier.
Enter UBERTI’s #3 Frontier, this is handsome piece, and one was available. Not only was it in the 6 ½” barrel length I preferred but in 45 Schofield, and at a grab me price dealer cost. Several stars had aligned and conspired for one to become mine; First, I had a nice little honorarium in part of a retirement bonus, at the right moment. Second an out of battery ASM 38spcl. Richards Army Conversion I had sold, was just returned to me and was snapped up in partial trade by my dealer (all my other Army based Richards, R&M’s and Open Tops are in 44 calibers) and lastly as I mentioned it was available at the right moment. The deal was struck, I traded the 38 Cal. Richards and 4 crisp $100 bills and the New in Box #3 Frontier was mine. The revolver is well-polished and nicely finished in blue. Rear sights are near identical to the 19th century models. A miniscule button of a V sight, that I find myself right at home with, I’m used to Colt Open Top rear sights. My gun cycles smoothly and locks-up vault like, as does the closure latch. The first order of business was to replace the OEM walnut grips. I purchased a set of Vintage #3 S&W grips and with very minor fitment, I installed them. The shape/feel IMHO is superior to the wood and the checkering keeps the gun secure in my hand. I was impressed, the grips were basically a drop-in. Uberti has the grip frame dead on…personally the feel of the OEM walnut is a bit too round and thick.
I decided to take the new #3 at a local gun shop’s indoor range. The stage was set, the music playing, it was time to dance. I had a couple of Black Hills factory boxes in 45 Schofield with 180 Grain round nose bullets. The only other shooter in the indoor range was just leaving so I had the place to myself. Loading up was as easy as breaking open the revolver and dropping 5 rounds.
I had purchased a couple of standard torso targets the kind with the oval graduation rings, then ran it out on the electric conveyor cable to 10 yards. Using a rest, I aimed center mass spot on the X. The revolver cocked smoothly, and I squeezed off my first round, it hit about 1 inch low but centered to point of aim. I noted the trigger wider and pull is some heavier than the conversions I’m used to shooting. My first 5 shots were slow and deliberate aiming at the X, the #3 shot a nice snug little group. I was very pleased as I broke open and eject five empties. I loaded 5 more rounds and adjusted my aim point a little to address the bullet drop and was rewarded by erasing the center X, both groups a tight 2” inches. With the next loading, I used a modified two hand grip without the padded rest. Cocking with my left thumb and again aiming center mass at the same distance, I pretty much obliterated the orange spot target patch though my group opened a bit, this gun can SHOOT! For CAS ranges on steel, it should do quite well. I installed another Torso Target and ran it out to the 25-yard maximum for the Oak Ridge Indoor Range. Returning to the bench rest, I put 5 rounds about 3” low (I offer that to the lighter 180 grain pills) but again a nice group. The rear sight is nubbin of a V but the front is a nickel dome and makes a decent sight picture. Pulling the target back to 30 feet (10yds) I shot 5 quick dualist style, the grip design make this feel quite a bit different than the Army conversions, you kind of have re-train the Thumb. It isn’t bad just different, and I suspect a bit slower. By this time, several shooters had come in and it was getting somewhat annoying listening to the autoloaders so I wrapped it up.
Conclusions:
I enjoyed the accuracy, action and handling of the Uberti New Frontier #3. This gun will be a fun addition to my battery, but I won’t likely swap it for my Conversions all that often for NCOWS Matches. I may use it in two gun Working Cowboy or maybe long-range pistol. Yeah! I see it doing well in long range pistol. The 45 Schofield is sweet round; however, 44 Colt & Russian are in my opinion sweeter. I doubt my #3 will see Black Powder, I read mixed views from others, enough to say I’ll probably skip BP Schofield loading and I think I’ll step up to 230 Grain bullets.
I’d like give a shout out to David Carrico, I contacted him for a holster and he did not disappoint me. I bought one he had one on the shelf. I did a re-dye so it’d have darker hue, but the fit was perfect.
So, if you dance to different drummer, you might consider the S&W Top Break design Uberti made #3 New Frontier. Adios Major