I wouldn't have thought that they were strong enough, but.....

[fourfingersofdeath]

I just had a look at the Uberti sire and they have a new 1873 in 44 Magnum!

Anybody seen these yet? Are they different to the others? I am not interested in 357s, but I was always leery of them, thinking they were a bit strong for the gun. What do I know?

[Silver Creek Slim]

I have a Uberti Buckhorn in .44 Mag. It is a flattop target model that was imported by American Arms. The proofmark is BC which means it was made in 1993. The cylinder diameter is 1.719" My Ruger Super Blackhawk's cylinder is 1.725". So it is a bigger frame than the "normal" 1873 Uberti. It has a 1860 Army grip frame instead of the Navy grip frame of the "normal" 1873's. It looks like the Callahan Target model but the frame is case-colored and the cylinder is fluted. I haven't shot .44 Mag loads in it just CAS level loads.

Slim

[Driftwood Johnson]

I think he is talking about the 1873 rifle.

There was some discussion of this over on the SASS Wire a few weeks ago. Unlike here in the USA, Italian guns must be proofed in a government proof house, so if Uberti is making a 1873 chambered for 44 Mag it has to have passed a proof test for 44 Mag. That means it is strong enough to take the cartridge. However, proofed for the round, and being able to take a constant diet of it are two different things. A friend of mine bought a used 1873 chambered for 357 Mag a few years ago, but returned it when he discovered a hairline crack in the frame. Personally, I would be leery of buying a toggle link rifle chambered for 44 Mag. I doubt if it would stand up to a constant diet of pounding from the round.

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[Adirondack Jack]

I too would be wary.  Though a perfectly timed 73 in .44 manglem might well make it through a proof test, I have seen enough 73s with timing issues (some with links that plainly did NOT over-center) that I'd be real worried.