Uberti Retractable Firing Pin Dilemma

[CitadelGrad08]

Howdy all,

 

This is my first time posting as I am very new to SASS, though I've been a long time lurker to the forums and have learned a great deal. Sorry in advance for the long winded post!

 

I am gearing up for my first match in December, I already had a EMF Great Californian II, Uberti Winchester 1873 clone, and a Cimmaron Richard Mason Conversion all in .357. I bought them before I decided to join a local Cowboy Action group, hence the variety.

 

Yesterday my Uberti/Taylors Smoke Wagon Deluxe came in, I ordered it after hearing great things about how slick the gun was and wanted something to complement my EMF. I plan to borrow a coach gun for the match until I get one for myself.

 

Unfortunately in my research I did not learn about the new retractable firing pin feature that was implemented recently until I already had the gun in my possession. Most of the reviews I saw were of the older Cattleman I style vs the newer models.  After doing some searching on various forums there seems to be a mixed bag in regards to the reliability of the new firing pin system. Some in the forum say it works great others have had nothing but headaches.

 

My dilemma is this: should I run the gun as is or get ahead of the game and go to VTI to get replacement parts?

 

These are the parts I am looking to buy: UB:701010 Uberti Trigger (1873 Target) and UB:400002/no Uberti Hammer no Safety .150 diam hand pin (1873 SA - Current)

 

 

Any guidance is appreciated.

 

 

[Tyrel Cody]

You can also disable the safety:

 

[Rye Miles #13621]

I have one that I've put about 200 rounds through no problemo! As a matter of fact I'm going to shoot it Saturday at a cowboy shoot!

[Goody, SASS #26190]

That would be my suggestion. Shoot it till it won't shoot, then fix what's wrong.

[Intervention]

I did this!

[Abe E.S. Corpus SASS #87667]

Citadel, eh?  Are you in SC now?  Come shoot with us in Greenville on October 28.  Don’t wait until December to attend a match; life is short.

 

I would run what I had.  It might work fine as it is.

 

And welcome!

[CitadelGrad08]

5 hours ago, Tyrel Cody said:

You can also disable the safety:

 

I saw that while doing my research, not sure if I have the technical know how to take it apart like that. How easy is it to do a full disassembly?

 

4 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

I have one that I've put about 200 rounds through no problemo! As a matter of fact I'm going to shoot it Saturday at a cowboy shoot!

That makes me feel better, good luck!

 

2 hours ago, Abe E.S. Corpus SASS #87667 said:

Citadel, eh?  Are you in SC now?  Come shoot with us in Greenville on October 28.  Don’t wait until December to attend a match; life is short.

 

I would run what I had.  It might work fine as it is.

 

And welcome!

Thank you for the welcome! I moved back West after living/working in SC for some time. Still have a lot of friends and family out there though.

 

Thank you to all who have responded so far. As I am new to all this I'll probably run with it as is and fix it if I have problems. I think I may have worked myself up over a few negative reviews...

[Tyrel Cody]

11 minutes ago, CitadelGrad08 said:

I saw that while doing my research, not sure if I have the technical know how to take it apart like that. How easy is it to do a full disassembly?

 

I don't have that style hammer myself, but I can't imagine it being very hard. As far as assembly/disassembly of the gun itself, colt style guns are pretty simple; just get some good hollow ground screwdrivers.

[The Old Rat Killer]

Hello, Just getting started myself. I went  out and got me a Uberti El Patrón   in 357mag. with the retractable firing pin. I have shot about 400 rounds playing with loads. My gun shoots some nice groups at 20 yards just 5" to the left. I was thinking well its just me then I went and got my second Uberti El Patrón it shoots dead center. The firing pin works fine about 400 rounds in each and all went BOOM! Is there anything you do about the 5" to the left?

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

25 minutes ago, The Old Rat Killer said:

(Have a new) Uberti El Patrón   in 357mag. with the retractable firing pin. I have shot about 400 rounds.... My gun shoots some nice groups at 20 yards just 5" to the left.....  My second Uberti El Patrón shoots dead center. .... Is there anything you do about the 5" to the left?

 

Quite often single action revolver barrels are not tightened properly at the factory.   If you are shooting your other pistol accurately, and get small groups with this one except they are 5" left, there is a good possibility the barrel needs to be tightened slightly to rotate barrel (and thus front sight) so sight moves to left.  Take a careful look down the frame towards front sight and see if it is sitting off to the right, and not perfectly vertical. 

 

If so, either the problem can be discussed with the importer (Taylors, Cimarron, whoever it was) to see if they will correct it, or with a good cowboy gunsmith to have him tighten the barrel.  Not really a job for an amateur gunsmith - it's too easy to bend the frame while fixing up the barrel fitment.

 

Take a close look at that and decide if that may be the problem.

 

Good luck, GJ

 

 

[J-BAR #18287]

 

Have fun and welcome to the madness.

 

 

[The Old Rat Killer]

I just got off the phone with someone at Uberti, nice to call a service center and get some that you can understand. Was told send it to them and they would fix or send another. 

 

[LostVaquero]

Well let me add a welcome and a big Minnie Pearl style HOWWWWWDEEEE!!!!!

[Ranger Dan]

I have one of the Cattleman II uberti revolvers (retractable firing pin). Have shot several matches with it. At least a thousand rounds without any problems.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

What's all this Whining and tooth Gnashing all about??  Just picked up a new pair of Cap Guns.  Checked em over real close.  Absolutely no hint of a retractible firing pin.  In fact no hint of ANY firing pin.  Really, what is this firing pin problem of which you speak??  (hides smirk behind hand)

 

Uberti.  Humpff.  Ever hear of ..... Pietta??  No retractable firing pins neither (hides 'nother smirk behind hand).  Rather than chasing all these parts, and then the work to make the parts work, why not just vote with your wallet??  Go to EMF and opt for the Pietta built Great Western II.  Very close to 2d Gen Colt in specs,  Nice solid firing pin, Nice removable Cylinder Bushing (needs cleaned up) and just let Uberti die on the vine.

[The Old Rat Killer]

Pietta,  I thought that was some kind of bread. lol

[Waxahachie Kid #17017 L]

Well, I reckon it depends on what you want out of this sport.  People get into C.A.S. for a variety of reasons.  Some shoot Ruger's, with the transfer bar system, which are not to authentic to the period we are portraying.  Some shoot a modern made Henry, which is also not close to authentic.  Some put in short-stroke kits, on their rifles, which are not authentic at all....but the powers-that-be, in S.A.S.S. anyway, allow it.  So, it boils down to how authentic you want to try to be.  No one can be 100% authentic, since we all wear modern underclothing, and use ear and eye protection, and mostly use reproduction firearms, made from modern steels, machined on computer driven equipment.  Most of us use smokeless powder too.  So, where do we all draw the line?  It depends on you, and what you want to accomplish in this sport.  Yes, the new retractable firing pin is not authentic.  Yes, many have had positive experiences with it, but also some have not.  Since we only load five rounds, and mostly anyone that uses a revolver loads five rounds, then Uberti came up with a solution to a problem that never existed.  True, the general public, that may purchase a single action revolver, probably needs the ability to load six rounds, and have this type of safety on the revolver, to keep from shooting themselves or someone else.  I have found out, in my long life, that you simply cannot totally and reliably idiot-proof a product for sale to the general public.  One has to use common sense, and take responsibility for their own actions.  So...perhaps if this trend keeps going, we all may be using virtual firearms some day. 

Personally, I would not knowingly buy a revolver with a retractable firing pin, and I would replace the guts to a traditional firing pin as fast as a cat can lick his behind.  But that is just me.  I want to be as authentic as I can be, all things considered, with clothing, hats, boots, spurs, saddles, and yes, firearms.  I want the experience, and the flavor, and the disadvantages too, of that era, as much as I can get, that is.  Bottom line, you have the ability to leave the retractable firing pin alone, or to change it back to one that is more authentic.  The retractable firing pin may work fine, and shoot forever.  But...is that really the point?  The point is how authentic do you want to try to be.  It is up to you, and your mindset.  The only wrong answer to this retractable firing pin "dilemma"  is if you end up not liking, and being disappointed, in your decision to either leave it be, or to change it back to the original design.    

My Two Bits.

W.K.

   

[Ranger Dan]

Actually the 2 notch base pins on the Italian clones are not "original" either, but they have to have some type of safety mechanism in order to import to US. I hate the 2 notch pins due to "issues" with my very first uberti single action. When you put the pin all the way in "safe" notch and drop the hammer, it "nicks" the pin causing drag and failures to fully rotate the cylinder, hence failure to lock in the bolt and lead flying back into your hand. I actually sent it back to uberti usa and they "filed a burr off the base pin", put the base pin back in (fully on safe notch for shipping) and dropped the hammer. I got my pistol back with a brand new burr on the base pin. Traded that one in on the "new" Cattleman II and could not be happier.

[CitadelGrad08]

Wow this post came back from the dead!

 

Thank you all for the insight, lots of good info posted the past few days. 

 

I put some rounds through her and feel much better. I am new to the sport and got caught up over the negative posts. I’m gonna keep it as is and will report back with any hiccups. 

 

W.K. I really enjoyed what you said. I love how this sport means different things to different people, that’s why I enjoy it so much. 

 

[Too Tall Bob]

My take is this - shoot them and if you like them, don’t worry about what anyone else says. It only matters that YOU are happy with them.   Ot that it matters but I haave a pair of smoke wagos deluxes (cattleman II’s). I have put probably 1,000 rounds through them without a problem.