Loading a new Uberti 1873 sporting rifle problem

[Bullseye]

I took my "never fired" Uberti Stoeger 1873 45 LC sporting rifle out today for the first time to shoot. I have starline brass and 250 gr lead round nose flat tip ammo.

Placing my first bullet in the loading port half way and then trying to push in a second behind it it was somewhat stuck.
The rim of the first bullet seemed to be snagged on the Carrier Block. With some persuasion I got it to enter and had to do the same with all 8 rounds that I loaded. They fired fine and ejected fine.

I am hoping that this is simply a case of breaking the gun in and the brass needs a little wear. I sure hope so. Any help here? Thank you.

 

[Bullseye]

75 + views and no comments. Maybe a couple images will help.
Thanks for the views anyway.
OK this doesn't look all that good to me but maybe somebody else has seen something like this before. What I think I am seeing is what looks like cast brass metal. That rough area on the right of the brass. Like a chip or burr?

 

[rcmodel]

I don't know exactly what it should look like?

But that bugger thing sticking out with the casting slag stuck in it looks like somebody forgot to clip off the mold sprue and polish of the clipper mark?

But I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking at in the photo without a cartridge in it too see how it interferes with loading?

rc

 

[N.Schafer]

I agree with rcmodel. The carrier block doesn't look quite finished. Is that burr keeping the carrier from going all the way down?

If the carrier is all the way down, then a slight bevel on the corner would fix your problem. Wearing it down with brass will take a long time. Remove the carrier and a few strokes with a file and emery paper is the fix. If you're handy, a fairly simple task. If not, then a cheap fix by a gunsmith.

 

[Bullseye]

Thanks for the comments. I watched a video on how to take these apart to get to the carrier block and remove it. I think I am going to call the gun shop where I bought this first and tell them about it first. I am sure that any one of those guys in there could disassemble this and correct it better than I could. I am going to see how well two other types of ammo cycle in here. The carrier block does go all the way down since the brass rectangle on the underside is flush with the housing in the locked lever up position.

 

[Kp321]

Find a shop that caters to Cowboy Action shooters, they know their way around 73's. Looks like a ten minute fix.

 

[Bullseye]

The gun shop I bought this at is a highly respected place of business. I just got off the phone and they told me to bring it over and they'll take a look at it in a very polite manner. I highly doubt they will charge me for any work since I bought it there. When I find out what the problem was I will post. I may even ask them to let me take a picture of the carrier block while it is outside of the rifle if they do this on the spot. Either way, I will give a report later here on what the cause and remedy is for anyone else who may encounter situation this down the road.

(See below: after I wrote that but before I posted)

I think I am too gentle with this rifle. Probably because it was new and purty I am treating it like a baby. The "burr" we see is probably burned powder residue. I think bullet shape has something to do with this in combination with baby-ing the rifle.

I just got out a box of Leverevolution 225 gr FTX and they fed as they are supposed to into the magazine with no problem.

Cycling them into the chamber and out the top was a little sticky because I was doing it too slowly and without authority.

After that I tried my reloads in starline brass again. I got a little more agressive and they seemed to go in the loading gate better than yesterday and cycled much more smoothly than the Hornady.

I tried some Winchester Super X 225 Silvertip JHP and they fed into the magazine smoothly enough but would not always chamber properly.

I don't think this loading gate/chamber block likes the Starline brass. I do think with some use it would get smoother.
Good thing I have the revolver to use these up. I think I will try semiwadcutters in the next reload. What it probably boils down to is I was being to gentle with the procedure. I don't think there is any real problem here except it being a new rifle.

I am not a cowboy shooter, have no plans to even try it. Just like the looks and feel of old west firearms.

 

[BWB]

Not sure about the '73, but my original '92 Winchester 32-20 is a bit of a nuisance to load if you try to completely insert each cartridge.
Try pushing them in up to the hang-up point in series, then push the last one home while pushing down on the cartridge as well as forward.
If it turns out there's nothing wrong with your rifle, this technique should help you and your thumb.

 

[Bullseye]

I took my rifle to the gun shop where I purchased it today. We cycled the three types of ammo there in the shop and they have it now.
They are aware of the issue and the gunsmith will be in on Monday.
He said he will make things right so it works as it should and I feel very good about this. When it comes back to me I will report what the issue was and how he fixed it.

 

[Bullseye]

This rifle was sent off to Benelli for repair at the expense of the gun shop. It could be awhile til I get it back. Has anyone ever sent a firearm to Benelli and were you satisfied with the results? I think I would have sent it to the importer Stoeger but the gun shop says they have dealt with Benelli and they do them pretty good. Maybe Stoeger Uberti would have replaced the firearm completely? Hope it don't come back boogered up.

 

[RainDodger]

I think it was probably sent to Beretta. That's who owns Uberti. It's a bummer the dealer wouldn't simply exchange the rifle for you rather than taking away your new rifle for what could be an extended stay at a service facility... I hope it all works out well and you get it back soon.

Edit addition: I also own a Uberti short rifle, though in .357 Magnum. No problems with feeding anything - .38 Special or .357, as long as the bullet profile is reasonable for a lever action.

 

[Drail]

Sounds like maybe somebody during assembly tried to just "drop in" a part. We all know how that works. Don't sweat it - they'll figure it out.

 

[Bullseye]

I just want it right, I have patience to wait on it. The gun shop only had this one when I bought it. I thought they said Beretta too but for some reason I thought Benelli had a connection with Uberti and Stoeger.
I don't care if they sent it to Mr Wizard as long as it comes back as pretty as I left it off and that it works as smoothly as I have heard they do.
Thank you for the comments, I am sure waiting on the rifle will be much easier than waiting on Spring weather around here in PA.

 

[Jim Watson]

As best I can tell, Benelli, Uberti, and Stoeger are all subsidiaries of Beretta.
I don't know if Beretta owns the Turkish factory where some of the Stoeger branded guns are built, though.

 

[Milkmaster]

As best I can tell, Benelli, Uberti, and Stoeger are all subsidiaries of Beretta.

That is what the paperwork showed the last time I got a firearm back from service in Maryland.

 

[forward observer]

I have three 1873's. A Uberti in 44-40, and original in 38-40, and a current Miroku made Winchester in .357/38 spl.

It been a while since I have completely torn one down, but in looking at all 3, I can plainly see that your loading gate is not opening to it's fullest extent. It should depress to a state almost even with the inside edge of the chamber of the shell carrier. The shell carrier should have no pins or burrs protruding as it is uniformly rectangular. If it did, I don't think it would move up and down.

It simply appears that is that something is restricting the loading gate from depressing fully, so it could be the rear edge of the shell carrier or the loading gate itself. To me, this is something that any competent gunsmith should be able to quickly analyze and easily fix.

However, in visiting the on-line Uberti/Stoeger site and looking at the warranty page, it first tells one how to request warranty service if no dealer is available, but then they make this statement.

For warranty service, follow the steps below or take your firearm to your local authorized Uberti dealer. Please note: Dealers do not perform any warranty service.

Consequently, even though it may have been a simple fix, in doing so, your dealer realized that they could violate the warranty, so they had no choice but to send it off.

The good thing is that according to the warranty page, you should either get your rifle back in working order, or it will be replaced with a brand new one that is in working condition with a brand new 5 year warranty.

Cheers

 

[BBBBill]

Unless things have changed, FN had a piece of Beretta.

 

[Bullseye]

I would be happy either way, but a new rifle would be sweet. I am sure they would look over either one they ship for any problems so not to have an ongoing problem. I bet a new one would be up to snuff but this one sure was pretty except for this major issue.
When I bought it it was sold as "never fired" but since it was a trade in the gun shop sold it as used. The gun shop assured me that the guy who traded it in is a real stand up guy, no shady business. They also did sell it to him originally. He traded it in and went with a modern 1873 357 Winchester instead.
No big deal since I paid 900.00 "out the door" which covered 6% tax and a registration. The tag price was $975.00. So if I get a whole new rifle, I am making out like a bandit. If it comes back fixed up nice I still got a good deal.
forward observer:
I realize that you are most likely right about the protocol and why the gunsmith at the shop decided best to send it off to Beretta. Makes a lot of sense. The gun shop I dealt with is very customer friendly and on the ball.

 

[Bullseye]

Actually, after talking to my gun dealer, he sent it right to Uberti. Eh ... waiting ....

 

[Drail]

Yeah but it will be worth waiting for. All good things are. When cycling the gun you don't want to force anything but you do want to cycle it all the way against the stops with gusto. You won't hurt it.

 

[Bullseye]

I'm still waiting. When this shows up I have a 44 mag Henry Big Boy sitting at the gun shop on layaway to pay off too.

I bet they send a new rifle at this point. If not it better be in the mint condition it was in when it shipped out.............. and working flawlessly. It's been gone a long time now.

 

[HCP Gunsmithing]

My shop does almost all of the warranty work for Cimarron, who imports Uberti guns, so I have worked on hundreds of these.

I believe the biggest problem with them is the lack of final fitting by the factory. The problem is that they are trying to make guns that were designed when hand fitting was the norm using modern manufacturing techniques. This pretty much means that they come off the machine, someone puts them together and, as long as they can force it to work for proofing, they ship it. I have never been to the Uberti factory and this is just an assumption on my part.

The second biggest problem is springs that are too strong. I have seen several 73's that the carrier or lever spring were so strong that the screw snapped just from working the action.

From viewing your pictures, I bet that there are some burrs in the receiver that probably need to be stoned/filed off. It probably wouldn't work with the flat point bullets as well because they were catching on a sharp/burred surface where the more wedge-like shape of the FTX bullets allowed them to be loaded easier.

Let us know how this turns out.

 

[Bullseye]

I will follow-up .... still .... waiting.
I will describe exactly what I learn when it returns for others to refer to should this problem come up again for someone else.

 

[Bullseye]

It's back

Got a call from the gunshop. My Uberti is in.
I am having a Ruger Hawkeye 22-250 shipped this week to the shop as well. So I'll pick them both up at the same time. They said there is a letter or note included with it that says what the issue was and how it was repaired. We shall see. I will probably post a picture of the letter here next week and also give a range report.
I have three rifles that I haven't shot yet to take to the range to include a Henry Big Boy in 44 mag. That is ... if I get a scope on the 22-250 before I go out and shoot. Reviews to follow.
Hope it's all good! Nobody has it better than me. LOL

 

[Bullseye]

OK so I picked up my Uberti 1973 Sporting Rifle today. It came back well packaged and boxed in a heavily egg crate foam lined large box. It was on a long vacation at Benelli USA / Stoeger Ind. Paperwork printout reads

Condition Received ---- Good .... Nick on Stock .... Rust on loading gate .... Scratches on Barrel Receiver and Mag Tube.

5-19-14 Function Check, test fire with Black Hills, Remington and Winchester. No malfunctions. Note ammo must be round nose or round flat point no wadcutters or Semi wadcutters.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't know why there are stated condition issues about this rifle except it looks a little mishandled since the return. Still looks nice but any issues were not from me. Nothing pops out at me but under close inspection, but somebody treated it a little rougher than I do.

I can see that Benelli did some filing or dremmel work on the brass loading block. I would have thought they would at least polish out the scratchy appearance of the work they did. It does feed better. But I haven't shot it. Oddly the ammo I have on hand that feeds very smooth is Winchester Super X 225 Silvertip JHP. My reloads feed and so do the Leverevolution but still are a little fussy on how the lever is worked.

I cannot say I am thrilled with the work they did. This rifle is supposed to feed any kind of 45 LC ammo smoothly. I still love it and will just have to shoot it and I guess I'll have to break it in and also find what size and type of ammo it prefers. Perhaps it will get smoother with use. It is the last Uberti I am going to buy. I was not impressed with the warranty repair. In the end, I think it will work out OK. If this doesn't shoot properly on the range, it's going right back.