Blind Squirrel Posted August 20 Share Posted August 20 I did a search and didn't come up with anything. Is there some way to lighten the loading gate/spring cover on 1873s or does anyone know where to buy a lighter one? The one on my gun is fine but the one on my wife's gun is stiff. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted August 20 Share Posted August 20 Shotgun Boogie Gun Works 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene, SASS # 27489 Posted August 20 Share Posted August 20 You can hourglass the long straight part (that's the spring) of the loading gate to lighten it. Shotgun Boogie sells a "66 style" gate for the '73 that makes it easier to load, also. 4 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blind Squirrel Posted August 20 Author Share Posted August 20 Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted August 20 Share Posted August 20 (edited) https://sbgwllc.com/shop/66-style-uberti-1873-loading-gate-all-calibers/ Edited August 20 by Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 5 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted August 20 Share Posted August 20 A BIG PLUS ONE for Pettifogger and Abilene. The '66 "style" Ladle (loading gate) from Shotgun Boogie is the Beez Kneez you betcha. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G W Wade Posted August 20 Share Posted August 20 C&I makes one too. Available at Online Outpost, Durango, Colo GW 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paradiddle Posted August 20 Share Posted August 20 2 hours ago, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said: Shotgun Boogie Gun Works This is what I installed and it works like a dream. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erasmus Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 Another Shotgun Boogie '66 loading gate user here. Well really my wife, but sometimes I use her rifle. Between the gate and a new mag spring and mag liner she absolutely does not mind loading the rifle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Spade Mikey Wilson Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 19 hours ago, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said: Shotgun Boogie Gun Works +1 Bought the 66 style for the Uberti 73 and it works like a champ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Maverick Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 the only problem getting the one from Shotgun Boogie is you will need to buy two, you will be jealous when you put one on your wifes rifle. They are great. TM 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bingo Montana Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 (edited) Another recommendation for the @Shotgun Boogie, SASS #67870 ‘66 style loading gate, they are “fantashtisch”!! All SBGW parts are very high quality, expertly designed and manufactured. Edited August 21 by Bingo Montana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pb Mark Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 Just take the picture of the modified loading gate from SB shown in the picture from Larsen and modify your stock loading gate to closely match. Use blue Loctite when putting the little screw back in. Take that $49 saved (now earned) and put it back in your pocket. Just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 (edited) 5 hours ago, Pb Mark said: Just take the picture of the modified loading gate from SB shown in the picture from Larsen and modify your stock loading gate to closely match. Use blue Loctite when putting the little screw back in. Take that $49 saved (now earned) and put it back in your pocket. Just a thought. A basically non-workable idea. For those thinking about buying one of the Boogie gates here is why it works. The stock gate, on the top in this photo, has a dish in it and the top of the gate touches the bottom of the side plate. The green arrow shows where the stock gate touches the side plate. On the Boogie gate, on the bottom in the photo, the cartridge guide is recessed all the way to the front of the side plate and is below the level of the side plate. This is shown in more detail by a photo of the front of the two gates. The stock gate on top and the Boogie gate on the bottom. The green arrow shows where the stock gate contacts the side plate. The Boogie gate is well below the side plate. The stock gate has to be pushed fully into the gun to load a cartridge. The Boogie gate is already about the equivalent of 1/3 depressed. The stock gate installed in the side plate. In order to load a round it has to be pushed into the dish and the gate fully depressed into the gun before the round will slide into the carrier. With the Boogie gate you can already see into the carrier before a round is even started. Plus the spring steel in the Boogie gate is not nearly as stiff as the stock gate. Just push a cartridge into the large depressed guide in the gate and it slides into the carrier. This is not something you can go out into your garage and take a hammer to the old gate and produce satisfactory results. Edited August 22 by Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 10 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skullbone Willie Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 I removed the loading gate and carefully ground the width down to around .180” wide. Being very care to not overheat to spring steel, and lose the temper. 2 years later it’s still working perfectly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pb Mark Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 Here is my stock Uberti 1873 loading gate lightened to preference by modifying it. Due to design (tight on each side of the channel), it will not rotate like a Boogie design, i.e. no need to stake it. Yes, it will last as long as an unmodified one due to no stress risers. Copied the shape from an old SASS Wire article. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erasmus Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 I imagine if you were handy with a torch, hammer, and file you could massage the stock loading gate into something like the SBG loading gate. I would guess you need to move enough material forward such that when you file or hammer out the front lip on the stock gate it still hits the right overall length. Then you have to make sure the spring part didn't get too hot and/or re-treat and temper. Are these things most people could do? I think so. But it would take time and patience; and for $50.00 bucks and a few minutes of time the SBG gate is great. Mine came in the white, I hit it with cold blue before installing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom, SASS #54973 Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 On 8/21/2024 at 1:15 PM, Pb Mark said: Just take the picture of the modified loading gate from SB shown in the picture from Larsen and modify your stock loading gate to closely match. Use blue Loctite when putting the little screw back in. Take that $49 saved (now earned) and put it back in your pocket. Just a thought. Or you can support a guy that has put in a LOT of R&D time...is a SASS shooter and supporter...just a thought. Phantom 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pb Mark Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 15 hours ago, Phantom, SASS #54973 said: Or you can support a guy that has put in a LOT of R&D time...is a SASS shooter and supporter...just a thought. Or I can supply an accurate answer to the first half of the question posted as was provided. Definitely agree the Boogie made 1866 stye gate with thinned out spring will provide an easier bullet entry into especially a tube especially with a liner where the bullets are not canted. A replacement spring and hollow metal follower helps also, etc. Simply stated, my choice of build which is also used a bit for small game hunting, does not use a 66-style loading gate. Enjoyed your forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom, SASS #54973 Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 14 minutes ago, Pb Mark said: Or I can supply an accurate answer to the first half of the question posted as was provided. Definitely agree the Boogie made 1866 stye gate with thinned out spring will provide an easier bullet entry into especially a tube especially with a liner where the bullets are not canted. A replacement spring and hollow metal follower helps also, etc. Simply stated, my choice of build which is also used a bit for small game hunting, does not use a 66-style loading gate. Enjoyed your forum. You can do whatever you want...that wasn't the point of the post I made. Coming on here and basically trashing the value of SBGW product..."Take that $49 saved (now earned) and put it back in your pocket"...pathetic behavior in my opinion. Now am I and others supposed to feel pity because your post ended with "Enjoyed your forum"? Never understood these kind of responses. If someone thinks I've done something wrong...and I realize that I have, I apologize. We all make mistakes. But to then pile on more bull to try and save face...better to just put the shovel down. Phantom Enjoying this forum...rarely...but sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Bill Burt Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 My son and I both have SBG loading gates and are very satisfied with them. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene, SASS # 27489 Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 I will mention that I had an issue with installation of the SBG gate. The first nine rounds were super easy to load, the tenth was a bear. The gate wasn't pushing in far enough. Turns out there was a humongous burr inside the frame, around the edges of the opening for the lifter arm. The stop tab on the loading gate was hitting the burr. A little filing on the burr and all was well. Interestingly, I do need to push the last round into the gate further (or use a push stick) than I did with the old gate, to get that last round fairly straight on the carrier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blind Squirrel Posted August 24 Author Share Posted August 24 On 8/21/2024 at 11:57 AM, Texas Maverick said: the only problem getting the one from Shotgun Boogie is you will need to buy two, you will be jealous when you put one on your wifes rifle. They are great. TM Two are on the way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Devil Dale Posted August 26 Share Posted August 26 (edited) On 8/22/2024 at 3:35 PM, Phantom, SASS #54973 said: Or you can support a guy that has put in a LOT of R&D time...is a SASS shooter and supporter...just a thought. Phantom My 75 years has seen a lot of good design engineers and vendors disappear either because cheaper but inferior products appeared, or their products were copied, or DIY band-aid solutions to problems came along and were popularized, eliminating their market. But when that happens, ALL of their products silently disappear, including those that you cannot easily or economically DIY. So I've learned to appreciate by patronizing, wherever I can afford to. $49 is 1/3 the cost of a tank of California gasoline. Not such a big deal for most CAS people, I suspect. Edited August 26 by Dusty Devil Dale 4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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