My Uberti 1873, keep or trade/sell for Rossi 92

[Johnny Moon]

I'm not too familiar with shooting, reloading, and caring for these, but already have this 1873 from Uberti in Antique Finish. I love how this looks and feels, but have not shot it yet. I keep readying about how these anot designed for modern powder loads or loads above 14000 cups (not sure what that means). I am thinking I need to get a newer or modern version from Rossi, Marlin, etc so I can shoot more powerful loads. This is my only rifle so want to target shoot, home defense, maybe some CAS eventually, so want to make sure I can shoot accurately to at least 100 -150 yards, but longer if possible and still have enough power to knock down targets.

Is the Uberti a compromise power wise, and should I get a modern Rossi or Marlin to replace it, or will the Uberti be good enough as my only rifle?

Any advice or thoughts?

Johnny Moon

[Shotgun Franklin]

The Uberti will handle any approved factory load you can get for it. It will handle any reload that is taken from a Reloading book or manual. You currently have a Cadillac, do not trade it off for a Mazda.

[cal44walker]

You didn't say the caliber. The 357 magnum chambered 1873's will take the standard 357 Magnum cartridge rated up to around 30,000psi, just don't feed it those all the time and it will last a while longer. You didn't say what target you want to knock down at 150 yards. For anything other than small light falling targets you're pushing the envelope for a pistol caliber rifle in terms of terminal effect and accuracy. Rossi or a new Marlin? Kind of like asking me if I want measles or chickenpox to be honest. Sounds like you need to keep the Uberti and get something in a larger caliber. An 1876 Uberti, Pedersoli 1886/71 in 45_70, Winchester 1894 in 30/30?

cal44walker

[Johnny Moon]

Sorry, this is a 45 colt 1873.

So I shouldn't expect to make a kill shot at 100-150 yards with factory loads. I need to understand what factory loads means compared to all these different numbers I see being thrown around for load pressures and +P and magnum loads. I recently read an article by Paco from Leverguns forum. That is what got me a little confused. He mentioned the Marlins and Rossis' could handle 30,000-50,000 cups, but the Uberti was not desiged for modern loads, maybe 14000-20000. . That's what made me think the Rossi "Mazda" might shoot farther and more accurately with more power then the Uberti Cadillac. I would rather keep the Uberti but I really never plan to buy another rifle unless I am replacing this one, so want to make sure I have the right "one" rifle.

[Shotgun Franklin]

If you're shooting factory ammo, just avoid the +P.45Colt and you'll be fine. I've been using a .45 Colt rifle of some kind since 1997. You can easily hit a target out to 150 yards, practical hunting range is closer to 100 yards.

[MJN77]

As has been stated, keep the Uberti. Any store bought .45 colt rounds are fine for the gun as long as they're not marked +p or Ruger only. I own a Uberti 1873 rifle in .44-40 that I hunt deer with using home loaded black powder loads. Shots out to a hundred yards are not a problem. So for target shooting, 150 yards wouldn't be a stretch. I also own a Rossi in .44-40. If I ever wanted to load up some hot, high power smokeless loads, the Rossi would be the gun to use. But for standard, store bought, off the shelf ammo, the Uberti is plenty strong enough. Don't underestimate this rifle.

[Johnny Moon]

Okay, thank you, I am conveinced I should and will keep my Uberti 1873. Pictures below are of my 1873 and other cowboy guns in cse you'd like to see them.

One lingering question about the +P and Ruger loads. Hypothetcally, if the Uberti could handle the high power loads, what improvement, if any, would I see in accuracy, distance, killing power, or would it be just not that much difference. For example would I see similar or better groupings at 150-200 yards with the higher power compared to factory loads at 100 Yards (assuming I was making the exact same shot and didn't flinch or breathe differently when making the shot with each load)?

Thanks for all the thoughts and advice, now I need to get out and shoot this 1873 "Cadillac" :-)

Johnny Moon

[Shotgun Franklin]

With a +P load you'd see more power up close. Any big flat ended bullet looses way more velocity, thus power, at longer ranges. I doubt that anything you'd shoot at 150 yards you could tell much difference. In my experience loads that are a bit slower that the highest possible tend to be more accurate. I figure there are exceptions but not many.

[hp246]

I have both an Uberti 73 and a Rossi 92 in .45 Colt.  IMHO, the 73 is a much better choice for CAS than the 92.