Uberti Pocket Models accuracy capabilities?

[LonesomePigeon]

I'm looking for comments regarding the accuracy of the various Uberti pocket model replicas; 1848 Baby Dragoon, 1849 Wells Fargo, Pocket Police and Pocket Navy. According to the Dixie Gun Works catalog...

The 1848 Baby Dragoon and 1849 Wells Fargo both have:
.31 caliber.
1:48" twist.
Button rifled .011" deep.
7 lands .310".
7 grooves .332".
Chamber diameter .319".

The Pocket Police and Pocket Navy both have:
.36 caliber.
1:32" twist.
Button rifled .005" deep.
7 lands .360".
7 grooves .370".
Chamber diameter .372".

The 1848/49 models seem to have awfully deep rifling and a chamber size that is .013" undersized. I think it would be highly unlikely that a ball would bump up enough to seal the bore on such a low powered revolver. The Pocket Police and Pocket Navy both have a chamber size .002" over bore diameter, which would seem to be good for accuracy.

 

[rodwha]

I don’t own one but have been quite interested in a Police model and the numbers I’ve been given were .370” lands, .376” grooves, and .372” chambers.

Figured I’d want to ream the chambers when I finally get one.

 

[LonesomePigeon]

rodwha, thanks, that's very interesting. Maybe the Dixie catalog has a typo. I did find one obvious typo which stated the same bore diameter for a .45 Colt and .44-40 SAA replicas. The dimensions you observed are more in line with other Uberti cap n' ball revolvers which all have undersized chambers. The Pocket Navy and Pocket Police are the only ones in the Dixie catalog listed as having oversized chambers.

 

[ClemBert]

I measured the chambers on my Uberti 1862 pocket police and I was getting 0.371 for a measurement. I'm not confident that there's enough room to get the 0.372 measurement. My expectation is that the .380 ball is preferable vs .375.

I need to measure my Colt to compare with the Uberti..

 

[mec]

This is an original Colt Pocket police shot one-handed at 23 yards. The feel sensation and off-hand groups compare directly with a Uberti replica. .380 ball 15 gr 3f as I remember. OF course both this and the replica are much more accurate if fired from a bench.

 

[damoc]

Pocket Navy,Pocket Police and I think its my Wells Fargo 31 all show good grooves on recovered bullet and ball and wadcutter bullets out of the 31 do not keyhole My accuracy problem has nothing to do with my guns LOL.

 

[44 Dave]

Got .372 chambers. Chambered a Eras Gone Colt pattern conical .380 then slugged the barrel with it. The groves are filled the lube band of the bullet is mostly closed and there is a slight "skirt" formed on the bullet. Don't think it could get any better. With a poor vision and a bad shoulder, it shoots better than I can !!

 

[dickydalton]

I have to use .323 balls in my 1849 Uberti because the chambers are too large.

 

[mec]

I have to use .323 balls in my 1849 Uberti because the chambers are too large.

Same Uberti 31 two barrel set-ups I've used .320 with no problems I just measured the bullet (71 gr) and a ball from an original mold they went .322 and 324 respectively and seated firmly in the chambers Bullets hit point foremost -nice round holes recovered balls are well engraved.

No joy on image posting...
On reply below

 

[mec]

Same revolver different barrels Mold is original

 

[ClemBert]

I went back and measured the chambers in the Uberti 1862 Police in daylight and managed to get cylinder measurements of 0.372. Also, the Colt 1862 Police came out exactly the same, at 0.372 with the ol' Harbor Freight caliper. No idea on lands or grooves as I have yet to slug out the barrel.

 

[mec]

maybe short sighted but Ive never worried about anything but the chamber mouths. Pietta are a bit smaller and work fine with .375 balls. -which are looser in the Uberti chambers making 380 a sure bet. Recovered balls are well engraved. I have had factory .375 balls which were not completely round and with the already marginal fit in the uberti chambers, some of the ball would either walk forward from recoil in the other chambers or just come right backout stuck to the seating ram. This will probably draw forth an Internet Expert but it is possible to use those undersized balls with good accuracy if you lightly smack them with a mallet or nipple wrench handle and load them with flat side up in the chamber. Even correct size balls take on a trunkated shape as they are pushed into the chamber -some even leave a ring of lead at the chamber mouth.

 

[Tommygunn]

I've been informed all balls should leave a ring of lead as they're loaded.

 

[rodwha]

I’ve read of people feeling that reaming chambers to bore or a hair over is foolhardy. Mostly with the .44’s. Curious how much meat there is between chambers, the edge of the cylinder, and the cylinder pin hole. Pics anyone?

 

[LonesomePigeon]

For those that have both, would you say the .31 or .36 caliber Pocket's are more accurate? If you were going to shoot cans at 15 - 20 yards which would you choose?

 

[Brad_Bradsher]

Not directly an accuracy opinion, but man, those little .31's are harder to load...I feel like a giant trying to fumble balls into a G.I. Joe cap and ball cylinder. I can attest that my Uberti Pocket Police is one of my more accurate revolvers, using .380's from DGW...

 

[whughett]

Is the Uberti 1862 Police a "pocket" revolver. Not sure I'd want to carry it in a pants pocket or even an inside coat pocket for that matter.

 

[Tommygunn]

Is the Uberti 1862 Police a "pocket" revolver. Not sure I'd want to carry it in a pants pocket or even an inside coat pocket for that matter.

Men's pockets used to be much larger than they are today.

 

[ClemBert]

Is the Uberti 1862 Police a "pocket" revolver. Not sure I'd want to carry it in a pants pocket or even an inside coat pocket for that matter.

This is a Uberti 1862 Pocket Police with 5 1/2" barrel....Note that it's a dainty lil' gal relatively speaking.

 

[whughett]

Oh boy, do love that Kirst Konverter on the Walker. Who did the work and how does it shoot. Looks like a lot of metal to remove from the recoil shield.

 

[whughett]

Men's pockets used to be much larger than they are today.

I think the original "Levi" jeans were made in 1873, the 1862 Police was most likely carried tucked thru the belt or in a holster, or perhaps the origin of "deep pockets" dates from then also

 

[mec]

Years ago, Phil Engledrum mentioned that pockets on men's clothing are a lot smaller now than in the early 20th century and probably before-accounting for the overall size of the 1903-08 colts and similar "Pocket" pistols. He attributed this to a degree of gender identity ambiguity that he perceived to be a factor among clothing designers. In any case coats with pockets were a bit more common than belted pants and maybe pants pockets

 

[rodwha]

Tried looking at a Mike Beliveau video on the Police, and though there’s lots of shadow and moving it appears as though there is plenty of room between the chambers and edge of the chambers to ream them to the appropriate diameter. Yea or nay?