Uberti 1876 , can the full size 28 inch barrel be cut back to make short rifle

[Mrdix]

Title says it folks ! Can I have my 28 inch centennial rifle cut back to 22 or 24 inches , if yes what's involved ?

Anyone ever do that with the Uberti barrel , mag tube , tube hanger ? I see the barrel is " notched out to fit the mag tube .

Thanks for any insight ...

Mike

[Abilene]

Mr Dix, certainly it can be done.  When Cimarron first started importing them some were sent to a gunsmith to shorten to 20".  As to what is involved, I'll leave that to others but I expect it would be those usual suspects that you noted.  I think the tube hanger dovetail is a twist type.

[Slamfire]

"NO-NO-NO", they can be sold or trade'd to some one looking for a rifle w/ a longer barrel. Once a barrel is shortened, it is extremely hard to re-attach it correctly, just say'n.
 Let's have a cup of coffee and talk about it'

 coffee's ready,, Hootmix.


 

[Black River Smith]

Mrdix,

Your first post on Cas City was about you getting your Cimarron Persidio, which is a short barreled 50-95 carbine.  So what did you buy that has a long 28" barrel and what is the caliber?

If it is a 40-60, then I would be interested in seeing it before you go and cut it up, unless you really like that caliber and just need a shorter barrel.

[Slamfire]

 "BRS" my HERO,(TA-DA).My Chappie are in 40-60 x 26", will be in my estate sale.

   coffee's ready, Hoomix
 ps. BRS you can have 2 cup's .

[Coffinmaker]

  Mrdix 

Short Answer without all the tears.  YES.  All you will need is Money, and a good gunsmith who is also a skilled machinist.  The barrel does not have to be removed from the frame (receiver) but the magazine tube does.  The barrel is simply cut at the preferred length (hacksaw), trued up and crowned.  Then the fun starts.  The dovetail for the Magazine tube hanger is radiuses and it may need to be moved . . or not.  Once cut, the Mag Tube will have an extra ugly notch or conversely, you may source a brandy knew Mag Tube.  If you don't have to move the hanger, you may not have problems with mag tube if it is carefully measured and cut. Just be sure to shorten it from the unthreaded end.  Shorten the Mag Spring.  Go Play.  With all the steps complete, you're probably looking at $350+ for the dastardly deed.

[Black River Smith]

"BRS" my HERO,(TA-DA).My Chappie are in 40-60 x 26", will be in my estate sale.

   coffee's ready, Hoomix
 ps. BRS you can have 2 cup's .

Slamfire,

Thanks for the heads up, there.  But, I hope and pray that 'it is a long long time from now', on your end.  For me, my time of holding those long heavy guns is running short, at just past the 60's and the arthritis    .   But I would not have any other for the 1876's.  I got the 45-60 out, two days ago, and was messing with it, just to see whether I still could.  Not bad.

I am preferring the '92's more nowadays.

It is good seeing that you still check in every now and then and that you still post. I miss the old conversations that make this board interesting.

I hope you have some good 'holiday fun and cheers' at this end of '25.
BRS

[Mrdix]

Thanks for the input folks , I sold my presido a few years back and miss the 1876 rifles ...I picked up a 28 inch in 50-95 and would like to make it a short rifle.... I might know a smart guy who can do the machine work .
I am not sure I understand the mag tube issue as described above ..if I cut the muzzle end off and machined new details in it would that not work ?

[Jeff Michel]

You might contact John Taylor on the Cast Boolits forum. He does a lot of barrel work.

[Mrdix]

Thanks for the information gentlemen, I may try to do this myself ... sounds like easy peasy ...nothing a steady hand and determination cannot accomplish...
I will post pictures when I do ..it will be next month before I can start though

[Coffinmaker]

  Mrdix 

Several clarifications.  If you don't "have" to move the hanger, and you carefully measure and cut the same amount from the Magazine Tube, the original slot for the locator pin will still be in the same place.  The hanger will just be a bunch closer to the muzzle.  If you cut from the muzzle end, you will also remove the threads for the Magazine Cap and most folks don't have the correct Metric Tap just laying around.

[Mrdix]

Ahhh ....thank you sir for the clarification!

The knowledge shared here is fantastic