Uberti SA revolvers

rlgarman · December 2, 2002, 02:19 AM

I just shot a Uberti 45LC with a Birdseye grip. It was great. First time I have shot an old time type SA revolver of any kind. Are they all this good? The action was real stiff and the trigger pull was not the best, but I hit what I was aming at. It was wonderful, I hit a 25yd. gong and then hit a gong at 70yds 5 out of 5! Got to get me a good SA revolver in 45LC! Can I load it up a little for Deer hunting? Are there any factory loads that would meet the Illinois 500 ft/# minimum for handgun deer?

Bill Mitchell · December 2, 2002, 08:00 AM

Howdy,

Ubertis are generally decent pistols, with quirks you spoke of regarding the hammer pull and trigger. You can get reduced power springs that will help with both the hammer pull and the trigger weight. I personally shoot two Uberti 1875 Remington replicas in CAS matches, and have for 4 years. In that time I've had a couple of handsprings break. Some newer SAA replicas have a coil handspring which fixes that weak point.

With that said, if your looking at a Bird's head gripped pistol for hunting, I would suggest one of the new Bird's Head Ruger Vaqueros. They come in .45 Colt, and would easily take the hot loads a hunt might require.

Biggun Stump · December 2, 2002, 06:51 PM

What Bellicose Bill said!

I have two Ruger Vaqueros in SS .45 with 5 1/2 barrels. They're great fun to shoot and some tough to boot!

dmb3006 · March 15, 2008, 06:03 AM

Just made a deal on a 45LC single action revolver.I'm also getting a Gun belt with 24 loops and holster.The gun is a Uberti millenium.It shows no use.This is the plain jane model.Cabela's has them on sale for $389.00.I'm getting my whole outfit for much less than that.There is nothing more pleasing than to hear all of those clicks when you cock the gun.I know this gun is going to lead me to that charcoal blue color case hardened model.At the price of factory ammo I'm glad I reload.A set of dies from Lee and some brass from Mid-Way and I'm good to go.

CraigC · March 15, 2008, 11:28 AM

A good 250-260gr cast bullet at 900fps will kill the hell out of any deer that ever walked. The question is, how far can you place that bullet accurately with those SAA-style sights?

Tom2 · March 15, 2008, 03:11 PM

A Ruger Blackhawk with the adjustable sights might be a good comprimise to use for hunting in that cal. You could presumably load it hotter than one of the western replicas, those are usually shot alot with light loads in practical usage for cowboy stuff. They can get out of time with hot loads. I had a Ruger once and the only beef I had was the chamber throats were a bit undersized as compared to bore size. Like, maybe .449 versus .452 bore.

jtaylor · March 16, 2008, 08:53 AM

The new Rugers should not be used with those hot "Ruger only loads" . The new Vaqueros are now generally the same specs as original SAA's and don't have the beefy cylinder and backstrap that the old Vaqueros had.
You should still be able to have a "hot enough" load for hunting. I'm sure they can handle around 9 grains of Unique, that should put you around 900fps with a 250gr RNFP.

Mark Milton · March 17, 2008, 03:25 PM

Ubertis do tend to shoot tight groups. They generally have good barrels and tightly fitted cylinders.
Sometimes older ones shoot a tad high though.

The hammer and bolt springs are heavy and stiff and a gunsmith who has read Elmer Keiths book Sixguns knows some ways to modify the parts to make it work smoother and last longer.....

To meet the Illinoise deer hunting regs, you may have to use a .357 magnum, which most SAA clone makers chamber their guns for.
In reality most factory .45 colt loads will drop a deer in its tracks better than any arrow, but game regulations people seem to be living on the moon when it comes to the rules they come up with...

December 2, 2002, 02:19 AM	#1
rlgarman Member Join Date: January 21, 2000 Posts: 47	Uberti SA revolvers I just shot a Uberti 45LC with a Birdseye grip. It was great. First time I have shot an old time type SA revolver of any kind. Are they all this good? The action was real stiff and the trigger pull was not the best, but I hit what I was aming at. It was wonderful, I hit a 25yd. gong and then hit a gong at 70yds 5 out of 5! Got to get me a good SA revolver in 45LC! Can I load it up a little for Deer hunting? Are there any factory loads that would meet the Illinois 500 ft/# minimum for handgun deer?

December 2, 2002, 08:00 AM	#2
Bill Mitchell Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 15, 1998 Location: Roswell,GA Posts: 433	Howdy, Ubertis are generally decent pistols, with quirks you spoke of regarding the hammer pull and trigger. You can get reduced power springs that will help with both the hammer pull and the trigger weight. I personally shoot two Uberti 1875 Remington replicas in CAS matches, and have for 4 years. In that time I've had a couple of handsprings break. Some newer SAA replicas have a coil handspring which fixes that weak point. With that said, if your looking at a Bird's head gripped pistol for hunting, I would suggest one of the new Bird's Head Ruger Vaqueros. They come in .45 Colt, and would easily take the hot loads a hunt might require. __________________ Bellicose Bill SASS #18308 Range Master- The Cherokee Cowboys & The Shootout at Mulecamp

December 2, 2002, 06:51 PM	#3
Biggun Stump Junior Member Join Date: November 24, 2002 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4	What Bellicose Bill said! I have two Ruger Vaqueros in SS .45 with 5 1/2 barrels. They're great fun to shoot and some tough to boot! __________________ U.S. Army Hue-Phu Bai '69-'70 We were winning when I left! "I like grumpy old cusses, hope to live long enough to be one." - John Wayne

March 15, 2008, 06:03 AM	#4
dmb3006 Member Join Date: January 15, 2008 Posts: 38	Uberti Millenium 45LC Just made a deal on a 45LC single action revolver.I'm also getting a Gun belt with 24 loops and holster.The gun is a Uberti millenium.It shows no use.This is the plain jane model.Cabela's has them on sale for $389.00.I'm getting my whole outfit for much less than that.There is nothing more pleasing than to hear all of those clicks when you cock the gun.I know this gun is going to lead me to that charcoal blue color case hardened model.At the price of factory ammo I'm glad I reload.A set of dies from Lee and some brass from Mid-Way and I'm good to go.

March 15, 2008, 03:11 PM	#6
Tom2 Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,676	A Ruger Blackhawk with the adjustable sights might be a good comprimise to use for hunting in that cal. You could presumably load it hotter than one of the western replicas, those are usually shot alot with light loads in practical usage for cowboy stuff. They can get out of time with hot loads. I had a Ruger once and the only beef I had was the chamber throats were a bit undersized as compared to bore size. Like, maybe .449 versus .452 bore. __________________ Your gun is like your nose, it is just wrong for someone else to pick it for you!

March 15, 2008, 11:28 AM	#5
CraigC Junior member Join Date: November 28, 2001 Location: West Tennessee Posts: 4,300	A good 250-260gr cast bullet at 900fps will kill the hell out of any deer that ever walked. The question is, how far can you place that bullet accurately with those SAA-style sights?

March 16, 2008, 08:53 AM	#7
jtaylor Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 2007 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 215	The new Rugers should not be used with those hot "Ruger only loads" . The new Vaqueros are now generally the same specs as original SAA's and don't have the beefy cylinder and backstrap that the old Vaqueros had. You should still be able to have a "hot enough" load for hunting. I'm sure they can handle around 9 grains of Unique, that should put you around 900fps with a 250gr RNFP.

March 17, 2008, 03:25 PM	#8
Mark Milton Junior member Join Date: January 30, 2006 Posts: 504	Ubertis do tend to shoot tight groups. They generally have good barrels and tightly fitted cylinders. Sometimes older ones shoot a tad high though. The hammer and bolt springs are heavy and stiff and a gunsmith who has read Elmer Keiths book Sixguns knows some ways to modify the parts to make it work smoother and last longer..... To meet the Illinoise deer hunting regs, you may have to use a .357 magnum, which most SAA clone makers chamber their guns for. In reality most factory .45 colt loads will drop a deer in its tracks better than any arrow, but game regulations people seem to be living on the moon when it comes to the rules they come up with...