New Uberti 1873 Cylinder Gap Issues - Is this Normal/OK for Uberti?

[Ethan Verity]

I noticed recently on my Cimarron/Uberti '7th Cavalry' 1873 SAA replica, that it has some pretty deep flame cutting in the top strap. I purchased this gun brand new less than a year ago in June, 2023 through Midway USA. Since then, I have only put 1,000 rounds of black powder 45 Colt through it; a roughly even distribution of 30gr and 35gr 3Fg charges of GOEX black powder, always under a 250gr lead RNFP bullet lubed with SPG.

After noticing the deep flame cutting/erosion, I got cylinder gap measurements with a feeler gauge. I then also noticed the barrel was not cut square with the cylinder, so the gap is uneven from top to bottom. It goes from an already generous 0.009" at the bottom, and opens up to 0.014" at the top.


Here is a picture of the flame cutting/erosion in the top strap after 1k rounds of black powder 45 Colt.


Here you can see how the barrel is not cut square with the cylinder face, the bottom gap is 0.009", and the top gap is 0.014".


In addition to the flame cutting/erosion, the bluing on the front of the cylinder has also been worn away due to the excessive gas splash-back off the top strap.


Considering how sloppy this is, I have a hard time believing I just got unlucky with this gun. I'm wondering if this is just the normal QC for Uberti's 1873 SAA clones. After all, they are relatively inexpensive for what they are, and I bought it to be a shooter - not an heirloom. I'm fine if this is just the way it is with an Uberti clone, assuming this doesn't lead to other problems. I'm hoping the flame cutting doesn't continue to get any worse than it already is.

For those who have an Uberti 1873 clone, how are these tolerances? Specifically on the newer production ones (since quality never gets better with time). Is this normal for an Uberti clone, or do I actually have a lemon here?

Edited for spelling error.​

 

[NeroM]

IMHO- you have lemon ....
Only have one Uberti at the moment, a 357 Bisley - below is a pic of the gap.... fairly tight, no uneven "burns or gas cutting"

 

[.45Coltguy]

Just checked my Uberti/Taylors 1873; Cylinder gap is .004". Yours is excessive at .009-.014. And that flame cutting is not good I wouldn't think. Man!
So, no, not normal. Also checked my 1873 Pietta gap, .004". Both are .45 Colt.

 

[Ethan Verity]

Thanks, it's not looking good then - just my luck!
I reached out to Cimarron now, to see what should be done next with this revolver...

 

[NeroM]

......rounds of black powder 45 Colt through it; a roughly even distribution of 30gr and 35gr 3Fg charges of GOEX black powder, always under a 250gr lead RNFP bullet lubed with SPG.........

Ethan:
Unrelated question......
I use a similar load of Goex FFFg [32 gr] also with an SPG lubed 250 gr RNFP bullet, I place a 0.06 wad over the powder - can I ask, what velocity are you getting with your loads ? Thanks ! NeroM.

 

[Ethan Verity]

Ethan:
Unrelated question......
I use a similar load of Goex FFFg [32 gr] also with an SPG lubed 250 gr RNFP bullet, I place a 0.06 wad over the powder - can I ask, what velocity are you getting with your loads ? Thanks ! NeroM.

Sorry, I don't have a chronograph. My best guess is just based on the velocities others are reporting with a similar loading.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Extra breezy cylinder gaps are one of my main pet peeves. Unfortunately, they are all to common today. I recently passed-up a nice late 90's (MIM, no lock) 4" 629 because you could almost read the newspaper through the gap. Usually S&W products from that era are great, but it must have been a Friday afternoon gun and my barrel fitter had a hot date that night.

 

[unspellable]

I ran some experiments for cylinder gap vs velocity using a Dan Wesson 44 Mag with user adjustable gap. At 0.012 inch it started spitting crap back in my face. This with Magtech loads that are on the mild side.

 

[bangswitch]

Both my Uberti .45C revolvers are much tighter than yours at the BC gap, mine measure around 0.004-0.005" You probably have so much flame cutting because the gap is uneven and the flame front gets "channeled" towards the wider portion, which in your case is the top strap. I think I'd be in contact with Cimarron and send them those pictures. They have excellent CS, but make sure you're doing nothing that would void the warranty or they won't cover it.

 

[Ethan Verity]

Both my Uberti .45C revolvers are much tighter than yours at the BC gap, mine measure around 0.004-0.005" You probably have so much flame cutting because the gap is uneven and the flame front gets "channeled" towards the wider portion, which in your case is the top strap. I think I'd be in contact with Cimarron and send them those pictures. They have excellent CS, but make sure you're doing nothing that would void the warranty or they won't cover it.

I sent an email last night. Unfortunately I would imagine the only viable option is to replace the gun, and I'm not seeing this particular model in stock at the moment. It's frustrating, since a replacement will (with my luck) come with a whole new set of problems I'll have to deal with.

I already had to send this revolver into Cimarron once to have the sights properly aligned. Originally there was absolutely no effort put into properly indexing the barrel, the front post had more lean than the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Bad part is it's not a particularly easy fix. Your comment about the sight not being clocked right is kinda a give away about the assembly on this one. The fix is to pull the barrel and set it back and then adjust the B/C gap. Uberti really should address this one.

 

[Ethan Verity]

Bad part is it's not a particularly easy fix. Your comment about the sight not being clocked right is kinda a give away about the assembly on this one. The fix is to pull the barrel and set it back and then adjust the B/C gap. Uberti really should address this one.

Yep, and in addition to the barrel being set back, with this being an 1873 model the ejector housing would also need to be shortened up in order to fit the new barrel changes.... just seems like a lot more work than I think they would want to deal with.
Like I said, the only viable option is to just replace the whole gun in this case. To which, I'm not seeing any new ones in stock right now.

I'll just see how this goes... I'm in communication with Cimarron regarding this problem now.

 

[Barmcd]

I noticed recently on my Cimarron/Uberti '7th Cavalry' 1873 SAA replica, that it has some pretty deep flame cutting in the top strap. I purchased this gun brand new less than a year ago in June, 2023 through Midway USA. Since then, I have only put 1,000 rounds of black powder 45 Colt through it; a roughly even distribution of 30gr and 35gr 3Fg charges of GOEX black powder, always under a 250gr lead RNFP bullet lubed with SPG.

After noticing the deep flame cutting/erosion, I got cylinder gap measurements with a feeler gauge. I then also noticed the barrel was not cut square with the cylinder, so the gap is uneven from top to bottom. It goes from an already generous 0.009" at the bottom, and opens up to 0.014" at the top.
View attachment 1207967

Here is a picture of the flame cutting/erosion in the top strap after 1k rounds of black powder 45 Colt.
View attachment 1207969

Here you can see how the barrel is not cut square with the cylinder face, the bottom gap is 0.009", and the top gap is 0.014".
View attachment 1207968

In addition to the flame cutting/erosion, the bluing on the front of the cylinder has also been worn away due to the excessive gas splash-back off the top strap.
View attachment 1207970

Considering how sloppy this is, I have a hard time believing I just got unlucky with this gun. I'm wondering if this is just the normal QC for Uberti's 1873 SAA clones. After all, they are relatively inexpensive for what they are, and I bought it to be a shooter - not an heirloom. I'm fine if this is just the way it is with an Uberti clone, assuming this doesn't lead to other problems. I'm hoping the flame cutting doesn't continue to get any worse than it already is.

For those who have an Uberti 1873 clone, how are these tolerances? Specifically on the newer production ones (since quality never gets better with time). Is this normal for an Uberti clone, or do I actually have a lemon here?

Edited for spelling error.​

My Cattleman II is currently at Benelli USA in their repair queue for that very reason. The cylinder gap was .015 and I couldn't get much more than 700 FPS out of it with maximum loads. I had to send it back on my dime and they are checking it out and sending it back at no charge to me.

 

[Ethan Verity]

I'm still awaiting feedback from Cimarron, however I stopped at a local gun shop today that sells Uberti revolvers to get a look at some other specimens firsthand. There were three in 357Mag, two in 22LR, but only one that was chambered in 45 Colt. The 45 Colt was a brand new 5.5" Bisley model... I took a look at it to inspect the cylinder gap. I didn't have a feeler gauge with me (I should bring one next time) but that cylinder gap looked awfully wide on this gun. Unlike mine, it was perfectly even from top to bottom, but it was evenly wide... very similar to how mine looks at the top. Heck, between the two I would actually prefer what I already have, since it at least keeps fouling out of the cylinder arbor.

I also took a look at one of the new 357Mag models, and the cylinder gap was very tight... along the lines of what you would expect with a quality revolver. However, that brand new 45 Colt Bisley with a spacious gap, had me thinking it's more common than not... at least on the 45 Colt model.
-
Update, in the time I was typing this I refreshed the page and saw Barmcd's post saying his in in the shop for the exact same issue, with a gap of 0.015"! Even further indication to me that Uberti does not give much attention to cylinder gap.

 

[Tallball]

My Uberti looks nice and goes bang just fine. I guess a good one slips through every now and then?

Cimarron Model P in 357 magnum

• Tallball
• Apr 24, 2021

 

[.45Coltguy]

OP, I bought my Uberti/Taylors in late 2019; yours is less than a year. Perhaps Barmcd can tell us when his was made/purchased. Curious.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Uberti's usually have very tight b/c gaps. Guess you got a bad one.

 

[film495]

things happen. curious what the seller or manufacturor will do for you. is the real question.

 

[halfmoonclip]

I'm curious about that level of flame cutting. The .45 Colt is a relatively low pressure round; it's not clear to me how it could generate that kind of damage from 1K blackpowder-ish rounds.
Not saying there's nothing wrong, but flame cutting seems unusual. It's like shooting the rifling out of a revolver; because of handgun rounds relatively low pressure, it's about impossible.
How does the gun shoot? How about measured velocity?
Keep us posted, and good luck.
Moon

 

[armoredman]

I'm still awaiting feedback from Cimarron, however I stopped at a local gun shop today that sells Uberti revolvers to get a look at some other specimens firsthand. There were three in 357Mag, two in 22LR, but only one that was chambered in 45 Colt. The 45 Colt was a brand new 5.5" Bisley model... I took a look at it to inspect the cylinder gap. I didn't have a feeler gauge with me (I should bring one next time) but that cylinder gap looked awfully wide on this gun. Unlike mine, it was perfectly even from top to bottom, but it was evenly wide... very similar to how mine looks at the top. Heck, between the two I would actually prefer what I already have, since it at least keeps fouling out of the cylinder arbor.

I also took a look at one of the new 357Mag models, and the cylinder gap was very tight... along the lines of what you would expect with a quality revolver. However, that brand new 45 Colt Bisley with a spacious gap, had me thinking it's more common than not... at least on the 45 Colt model.
-
Update, in the time I was typing this I refreshed the page and saw Barmcd's post saying his in in the shop for the exact same issue, with a gap of 0.015"! Even further indication to me that Uberti does not give much attention to cylinder gap.

Uh oh, I juts looked at my Cattleman II Birdshead, and it looked a LOT like the gap at the top of your revolver. However, it did look very even, ad I haven't noted any side spitting or top strap cutting, so I will keep an eye on it.

 

[Ethan Verity]

Uh oh, I juts looked at my Cattleman II Birdshead, and it looked a LOT like the gap at the top of your revolver. However, it did look very even, ad I haven't noted any side spitting or top strap cutting, so I will keep an eye on it.

Thanks for looking... what's your round count and type of ammo through it so far? Also, year of production?

 

[Ethan Verity]

I'm curious about that level of flame cutting. The .45 Colt is a relatively low pressure round; it's not clear to me how it could generate that kind of damage from 1K blackpowder-ish rounds.
Not saying there's nothing wrong, but flame cutting seems unusual. It's like shooting the rifling out of a revolver; because of handgun rounds relatively low pressure, it's about impossible.
How does the gun shoot? How about measured velocity?
Keep us posted, and good luck.
Moon

I don't have a chronograph to measure the velocity, but it is an excellent shooter with exception to this flame cutting issue. This is why I'm a bit hesitant to send it back for a replacement, which could have other problems of its own. Most of my shots are fired at 100 yards, and the gun has no issue hitting a silhouette target with good accuracy at this distance (so long as I do my part). It runs reliably for me as well, never an issue with the timing or lockup.

I did light my shirt on fire once, when a huge burning ember came out of the cylinder gap (possibly from the felt wad) and landed on my shoulder and burned a hole in it... I'm not sure if that's because of the large cylinder gap, or just the nature of shooting black powder 45 Colt in general... Not really a big deal, I don't wear nice clothes when shooting this gun for that reason, and a few pats with the hand put the flame out (I don't overreact to such things, not even when burning hot brass goes down my shirt from the guy shooting 5.56 next to me).

Still no update from Cimarron (they did confirm they had received my email on Monday, and were looking into it... so it's not just a case of a lost email).

 

[Barmcd]

OP, I bought my Uberti/Taylors in late 2019; yours is less than a year. Perhaps Barmcd can tell us when his was made/purchased. Curious.

I bought it last October.

 

[armoredman]

Thanks for looking... what's your round count and type of ammo through it so far? Also, year of production?

Reloads. maybe 100 rounds. I cannot say - I cannot find a proof mark anywhere! There is a 23 inside a circle right above the serial, perhaps they abandend the date code and it was made it 23? The only other mark is a U inside a gear inside a circle, assuming an Uberti mark.

 

[Ethan Verity]

Reloads. maybe 100 rounds. I cannot say - I cannot find a proof mark anywhere! There is a 23 inside a circle right above the serial, perhaps they abandend the date code and it was made it 23? The only other mark is a U inside a gear inside a circle, assuming an Uberti mark.

Yep, that 23 in a circle means it was made in 2023... same as mine.

There should definitely be proof marks though, I believe it's required by law in Italy. There are proof marks on the cylinder, and proof marks on the frame under the trigger guard.

So both yours, Barmcd's, and my guns are relatively new, and all have a wide cylinder gap... including that new Bisley I looked at in the gun store last week.