Uberti/cimmaron 1873 reloading help

[Bowtie747]

Not sure loading data is allowed so Im just asking for general advice. 
 

Bought a Uberti/cimmaron 1873 clone and I bought 158SWC bullets to reload and now I’m reading that’s not a good idea. So to help me not waste more money what are you guys using? Is it a cartridge overall length issue aswell or do u just need to use a round pose style bullet?

 

If so where are you guys getting all your bullets from? Thanks!

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

The toggle link rifles "bounce" a feeding cartridge around, since the carrier is more like a tray than a clamp as it moves cartridges from the magazine to the chamber.

 

That lack of positive control means a semi-wadcutter bullet with it's sharp land just behind the nose can catch on the sharp edge of the toggle link guns' chamber.  Jam.

 

Now then, a full round nose (RN) bullet, might seem like a great idea, but it can (rarely) result in a round firing in the magazine, if the round tip can contact the primer in the cartridge ahead, and there is some sort of strong jarring motion that builds some inertia in the stack of cartridges.  Like dropping a loaded rifle, or letting the Win 1860 rifle's spring loaded cartridge follower loose through carelessness when loading. 

 

So, two bullet designs are real practical for toggle link rifles.   The Round Nose Flat Point (RNFP) bullet design has a lot of fans.  A blunt tip for safety, no sharp land to catch on the chamber.  Has been the conventional shape for bullets used in a lever rifle for ages. But, it's got a shorter nose design than the other practical competitor.

 

The Truncated Cone (TC) bullet is the other design that works well.  Also has a blunt tip for safety, and no sharp land on the bullet.  It can have a longer nose than the RNFP does for the same weight of the slug.  Longer nose?  Why does someone want that?   As bullet weights get driven lighter and lighter (a popular weight now for .38 special is the 105 grain bullet), it becomes necessary to pay attention to the overall length of  the loaded cartridge, because each toggle link gun has a minimum length of cartridge that it can feed without jamming.  Due to the design of the carrier (and no moving cartridge stops to keep upcoming rounds in the magazine), too short a cartridge length lets one cartridge into the carrier, and part of the second cartridge into the carrier, too.  But, shearing a cartridge into two pieces by a carrier which has an upward shear motion as it raises the first cartridge up to the chamber - would be a real bad idea.  So, real light bullets benefit from using the TC design since the bullet nose can be tapered more, putting less lead in the nose and more lead in the body of the slug, giving the bullet more length, letting you make a longer cartridge in a .38 special case..

 

And, the bullet weight you started with, 158 grains, may have been realistic for defense ammunition in revolvers back in the 1920s, but it's way too heavy for use in SASS matches which reward accurate-enough shots fired at maximum rate of fire.   A 125 or 105 grain slug makes a lot of sense right now, both in rifles and revolvers.  And most bullet casters can supply those.  (I assume you are interested in shooting cowboy matches, since you posted to our forum).

 

I'll leave it to others to tell you of suppliers around the Northeast.   I'm a "fur piece" from there, and cast my own anyways.

 

good luck, GJ

[Boggus Deal #64218]

As Joe said, 105 or 125 grain round nose flat point or truncated cone are what you want. @Scarlett can supply you with fine bullets that have won plenty of matches.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

53 minutes ago, Bowtie747 said:

Not sure loading data is allowed so Im just asking for general advice. 
 

Bought a Uberti/cimmaron 1873 clone and I bought 158SWC bullets to reload and now I’m reading that’s not a good idea. So to help me not waste more money what are you guys using? Is it a cartridge overall length issue aswell or do u just need to use a round pose style bullet?

 

If so where are you guys getting all your bullets from? Thanks!

Have you even tried those bullets you bought?

[Bowtie747]

6 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Have you even tried those bullets you bought?

Sure did. No luck.  

[Rance - SASS # 54090]

Like Joe and Boggus has already mentioned the two favorite bullet types for 38’s...

I shoot 1873’s.. I have used 105 grain TC, 110 grain TC and I'm currently

reloading 125 grain TC because of availability..

I reload my pistol rounds with 3.0 grains of powder for lower recoil and my rifle rounds with 3.7 grains of powder..

I reload my ammo for both at 1.435 in overall length..
I reload with Trail Boss.. I bought it back when it was readily available.. hard powder to find now..

You will get different opinions here  but they’ll more than likely all be OK..

 

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

Load data is allowed on this Wire.  Just check any load offered against published information in reputable loading manuals or powder distributors.  Scarlett is a quality East Coast bullet caster.  Ask at a local club if there is someone who delivers to local matches.  Shipping is a big part of the cost of cast bullets.  Go ahead and shoot those SWC bullets in revolvers.  125 grain bullets are versatile for CAS.  Loaded in 357 mag cases and crimped into the crimp groove will probably give a round that feeds well in your 1873.  Some casters sell sample packs of their bullets, so you don't get stuck with a box of 500 bullets that don't work in your gun.  Ask and we can tell you casters who sell sample packs.  Also, before you ask, there is no perfect, favorite powder for target loads in your 1873.  There is just many that work well and most of those are currently unavailable.  Fortunately, there are a few available that meet the needs of CAS reloading.  Check your loads for high primers and avoid loading nickel-plated cases.

[Rance - SASS # 54090]

51 minutes ago, Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 said:

Check your loads for high primers and avoid loading nickel-plated cases.

Like he said.. be sure and check yer reloads fer high primers..

and the reasoning to avoid nickel plated cases is because they will split and need to be replaced with a lot fewer reloads than brass cases .. 

Just sayin’..

[Tex Jones, SASS 2263]

Even though SWC type bullets are problematic in a rifle, they can be used in the pistols.  Recoil may be more than you want; don't throw them away.  Which clubs re near you?  Plenty of knowledgeable shooters at Boot Hill Regulators and Circle K Regulators, among others who can help you out.    

[Bowtie747]

3 minutes ago, Tex Jones, SASS 2263 said:

Even though SWC type bullets are problematic in a rifle, they can be used in the pistols.  Recoil may be more than you want; don't throw them away.  Which clubs re near you?  Plenty of knowledgeable shooters at Boot Hill Regulators and Circle K Regulators, among others who can help you out.    

Yea that’s what I need to do! I guess im near the Circleville Ohio club. I haven’t been to a match yet but I need to get on that

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

17 minutes ago, Bowtie747 said:

Yea that’s what I need to do! I guess im near the Circleville Ohio club. I haven’t been to a match yet but I need to get on that

You really should attend a match before you buy any more stuff.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

1 hour ago, Bowtie747 said:

Sure did. No luck.  

Did you use .38 Special or .357 Mag cases?

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

1 hour ago, Rance - SASS # 54090 said:

Like he said.. be sure and check yer reloads fer high primers..

and the reasoning to avoid nickel plated cases is because they will split and need to be replaced with a lot fewer reloads than brass cases .. 

Just sayin’..

And when cases split in an 1873 they lock up the action.  You have to eat all the unfired rounds as misses or all the time it takes to get the split case out of the chamber.  This won't necessarily put you in last place in the match.  Someone might get a match DQ and finish dead last.  Anyway, it doesn't make for a fun day.

[Sedalia Dave]

1 hour ago, Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L said:

You really should attend a match before you buy any more stuff.

 

THIS ^^^^

[Blackwater 53393]

Like Tex Jones said, you should save those SWC bullets to use in your pistols. That way you won’t be getting nothing for your investment!  They will shoot just fine and there are no cycling or feeding issues in a revolver!!

 

And yeah!! Get yourself out to a match or two!! You’ll be amazed at what you can learn and how helpful the folks can be!!

[I. M. Crossdraw, SASS# 8321]

On 6/27/2025 at 8:53 PM, Bowtie747 said:

 

 

[Texas Maverick]

I have shot this load for 7 years now without any issues.

 

38 case

3.2 grains of Cleanshot for smokeless loads (can get from @Scarlett)

1cc Lee dipper for my APP blackpowder loads which you can also get from Scarlett

125 grain bullet (can get from Slippery Bullets - https://slipperybullets.com/product/38-357-125-tfp-ht/)

Federal SPP primers

OAL 1.45

 

This load is shot in my NMV and my Uberti 1873. This makes it easier, one load for revolvers and rifle.

 

I load my smokeless with either the red or green lead bullet and my black powder with the black lead bullets.

 

Nice clean reload and not a lot of kick.

 

 

TM

[Texas Maverick]

disregard

[Bowtie747]

Not sure how someone came up with I’m from New York. I’m from Ohio thanks though!

Okay so what are average minimum COL for a Uberti 1873? Are average guys getting away with using .38 cases? 

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

12 minutes ago, Bowtie747 said:

Not sure how someone came up with I’m from New York. I’m from Ohio thanks though!

Okay so what are average minimum COL for a Uberti 1873? Are average guys getting away with using .38 cases? 

 

I load in 38 Special cases for my wife's 1873 carbine. (It won't hold ten, .357 mag rounds.)  I crimp at the very top of the lube groove and not in the crimp groove for an OAL of 1.55 inches.  These feed well in her rifle.  Many of us load in 38 Special cases.  They can be bought inexpensively as once-fired brass on online auction sites.  When some of these cases disappear at a match in the props or the weeds, I don't worry much about them as I bought them for the cost of a small pistol primer.

[Rye Miles #13621]

125 gr bullet with an overall length of around 1.48 

[Tex Jones, SASS 2263]

1 hour ago, Bowtie747 said:

Not sure how someone came up with I’m from New York. I’m from Ohio thanks though!

Okay so what are average minimum COL for a Uberti 1873? Are average guys getting away with using .38 cases? 

Your location according to SASS is New York.  Best to change your profile information.

[Texas Maverick]

1 hour ago, Bowtie747 said:

Not sure how someone came up with I’m from New York. I’m from Ohio thanks though!

Okay so what are average minimum COL for a Uberti 1873? Are average guys getting away with using .38 cases? 

Change your profile info. It is in your profile as NY. Not sure if that is a default or what. You can see it on the post you made.

 

TM

[Scarlett]

Many of the Ubertis are .357 and like a bit longer OAL.  The ammo I sell and load for myself is 1.484.  I’m only aware of one person for whom this OAL wasn’t good - a Marlin shooter who needed a 1.42. 
 

The Ohio Cowboys and Cowgirls are fabulous and would be willing to do whatever they could to help you get going! @mean gun mark @Boaz  @Loco Leadslinger, SASS #66868 @Blue Eyed Drifter @The Cumberland Kid @Sixgun Seamus

 

Welcome to the MOST FUN EVER!!

 

Hugs!

Scarlett Darlin’

SASS 96680

[Texas Maverick]

1 hour ago, Bowtie747 said:

Not sure how someone came up with I’m from New York. I’m from Ohio thanks though!

Okay so what are average minimum COL for a Uberti 1873? Are average guys getting away with using .38 cases? 

See above to answer your question.

 

TM

[Eyesa Horg]

1 hour ago, Bowtie747 said:

Not sure how someone came up with I’m from New York. I’m from Ohio thanks though!

Okay so what are average minimum COL for a Uberti 1873? Are average guys getting away with using .38 cases? 

Because it's posted in your profile!

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

I guess he fixed it.