Hello fellow MS shooters.

I was all set to buy a Uberti 1873 lever action in 357 action but several people have advised me against this since the action is not as strong as the 1892 and others and advise me that I may not be able to load ammunition to maximum loads.

Is this the case or are they just starting trouble? I was interested in shooting factory ammunition as well as loading my own. There seems to be a little variation in the loading data but some have claim 357 magnum loads to be loaded at 35,000 some say 37,000 psi. While some of the older data lists up to 47,000 psi.

Can the Uberti be safely loaded to these pressures or is it best to reduce these loads or would it be best to buy an 1892 type action to potentially use maximum pressures.

Many thanks in return.

Cheers Craig.

Craig,

I can't answer your question regarding the strength of the Uberit 1873 vs. the 1892 but no matter what the answer you may be wasting your time if you plan on using the rifle for pistol caliber animals. Many clubs here in the US will not allow full house .357 magnums because of the potential target damage to the pistol caliber animals. I'd check with the clubs where you plan to shoot before you spend a lot of time and money on a gun you may not be able to use for its intended purpose. Most folks that use the .357 have to significantly download the cartridges to avoid target damage and if you do that then either gun will probably work just fine.

Now if you're planning on using the rifle in the rifle caliber then ... NEVER MIND, I can't help Ya.

I load 8 gr of Blue Dot under a 125gr. cast and haven't lost anything it hits. No target damage or leading in my gun. Others in our club are loading 10gr. of 2400 under a 125 gr cast or 14 gr of 2400 under a 158 gr. cast. Most of us are shooting Marlin 1894's and a couple of us are shooting Rossi 1892's.

We are shooting Pistol caliber with these, not rifle caliber!

try shooting either the lead 357's or 38's neither will harm the targets. I think buffalo bore loads 357's for cowboy action in a few bullet weights. The 357 will work for CLA but you will lose a ram or two from time to time. The Uberti actions are strong and should handle any full power load. They couldn't sell them if they didn't.

Thanks for your replies. They do allow us here in Australia to use 357 full powered loads for the pistol animals, even the 44 magnum. They don't seem to damage the animals, perhaps they are using a thicker plate. Everyone in the club using 44 magnum or 357 magnum loads is using an 1892. No one is using an 1873 so I can't really ask for their advice. The 32/20 is very popular here.

Anyhow thanks for the advice. It looks like I will just have to see what loads I can load up to that are powerful enough to knock over the targets. I was only planning on shooting out to 100 meters, not the 200 meter targets.

I guess that I was just curious if I could load the full power loads without any concern for the action rather than the animals.

Kind Regards,

Craig