Older Navy Arms Carbine

[Skiddsteer1]

This is chambered for .357 mag. I have had this rifle some time with no problems. Now it will fire only one round (10 rounds in magazine tube) and lock up with the carrier block midway in the receiver and the next round down behind the third round coming from the tube. I am wondering if it is possible that I need a new magazine tube spring? Please advise. Thanks, Skid.

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

Is this  '66 or '73?   It sounds like maybe the stop tab on the loading gate is bent or broken, allowing a cartridge to go too far back in the action.  That is a common problem on 1866's after Uberti went cheap on the loading gate.  If the serial number starts with a W then it would probably have the poor design loading gate.  But you said .357 and the '66 is chambered in .38.  1873's rarely have that same problem, but it can happen.

 

Ammo that is too short can lock up a rifle but that doesn't sound like what is happening.

 

edit: (unload the rifle) - with the lever open and the carrier all the way up, look into the carrier opening from underneath and you can easily see the stop tab to verify its condition.

[Skiddsteer1]

It is a 73. Thanks I will check the stop tab.

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

Reading again your description, it does sound like it could be rounds too short, even though the first one cycled.  What is the ammo, especially the OAL?  There is a ramp on the front of the carrier to push the rear of the next cartridge back into the magazine when the carrier rises.  If the next round on the carrier is too short then the rim of the round partially in the magazine is sitting too far back, on the flat part of the carrier just behind the ramp and it can't be pushed back into the tube.  1.44 or so is usually okay on a modern gun, but it varies.  Mine will cycle 1.42.  Now, you said yours was an early gun.  If it is one of the earliest, one with a lever safety like a '73, then I'm not sure, but I know the earlier Uberti '66s has a shorter ramp then newer ones (and '73 since they are the same).  So yours may need to be even longer.  Measure the distance from the rear of the carrier to the beginning of the ramp, and that (plus a tiny bit) is your minimum OAL.

 

Or it could be a bent tab.