Rifle Advice

[jsbcody]

Well, I got my pistols now (I picked up 2 tuned used USFA Rodeos from Long Hunter) and now I am looking at rifles. I want to stay in the .357/.38 calibers for now. I am torned between the 1866 Yellowboy and the 1873 rifle (I will probably go through Long Hunter on this too with the action and parts job). I really like the looks of the Yellowboy but I don't know enough about the reliability of it as compared to the 1873. I am not going into to this as a high speed gamer but I do want to compete a little and and have fun a lot. Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks!

[RickB]

I can only suggest what I am familiar with and that is the 1866. I have one and shoot .45 through it. It is a great gun and very reliable. If what I've read is correct the gun actually has a steel frame and is covered in brass. So that should give it a lot of strength. If that is the case that is. 

[pony express]

I have a '66 in .45 cal too, it's all stock and works well. I believe the action is all brass, never heard about steel covered with brass. But it's plenty strong for the calibers it's chambered in.

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[Major 2]

Rick
 if your gun is a Chaparral, then yes it's brass plated.

if it's a Uberti, it's gun metal an alloy of Brass simlar to Bronze cannon forgings.
The weak link in the guns Circa 2001-2006-7 was the loading gate tab...Uberti of late don't seem to have the issue.
I had one made in 1978 in 38 cal. I must have put 1500 + rounds through it, sold in 85 and the new owner still uses it
about twice a month in SASS sytle shoots. Lord knows how many he's shot throught it.
OH BTW it's a SR Carbine...

 I have a Henry about the same Frame less the loading gate, up until about Feb, of this year it was my main long gun.
many, many rounds fired ( I also have steel frame Henry )
I'm sure they are different in tensil strenght, but your gun metal 66 will serve you just fine.

[RickB]

Major, mine is an Uberti. It came from Cabella's and I bought it second hand at a gun show for $650.00. Never had an issue with it yet. It shoots great. Accurate, dependable, rugged. I couldn't ask for anything more. 

I knew I read somewhere that a 66 model was steel with brass over it. Just couldn't remember if it was one model or all of them. Thanks for the clarification.