Loading 1873 cattleman

T

turkeybuzzard

New member
My wife bought me a uberti 1873 44cal cattleman. It has not arrived yet! It is my first black powder revolver but not my first black powder gun. Since it doesn't have a ram, I have been looking at the cylinder loaders for one. It seems that ones made like the 20 dollar traditions ones are all junk. I guess I will save up for a powderinc press. In the mean time how can I load it without a press? Can I use a bullet starter then a wooden dowel to finish seating. Any body have plans for a homemade one, it would have to be out of wood, I am not a machinist. Thank you for any help.
 
I was confused at first because the 1873 is a cartridge gun. Evidently they make a cap and ball version.

The cheap swing-arm $20 loaders are junk, but they will suffice.

I've seen some people use a pair of large washers and a through-bolt and nut to load all 6 chambers simultaneously.

I have the powderinc loader and it's great.

Steve
 
Thanks, I will use smokin joes 3 ball press till I can get a powderinc one. I will need a wood dowel to finish loading, guess I will make a fixture to hold the cylinder while I seat the balls. Is powder inc closed down, their web page has not been up in a while?
 
i did some mods to my powder inc press. i added a wood block to raise the handle when the press engages the ball, otherwise it was at the bottom of it's stroke. then i had a length of 30 cal barrel i added for a better feel.
 
No they ( powder inc ) ain't closed , just updating their web page.
I E-mailed them about a month ago and they said they should have it up and running sometime this month.
Oh, if I recall right their loader is $88 and change. SHIPPED ..:)
 
People who carried those rammer-less revolvers in the olden days were folks who didn't expect to need more than 5/6 shots or be very far from a spare cylinder or tools.

Jim
 
People who carried those rammer-less revolvers in the olden days were folks who didn't expect to need more than 5/6 shots or be very far from a spare cylinder or tools.
Click to expand...

True but the 73 C&B is a whole new ballgame. It looks like an 1873 cartridge gun with an ejector and loading gate but it's a percussion. Calling it a Cattleman isn't right. The cattleman is a cartridge gun.
 
Howdy

This is an Uberti Cattleman.

cattleman02_zps83fdbdd2.jpg


I believe this is what the OP is talking about.

https://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_92_187_189&products_id=879&osCsid=s2kd4ph7tt9cj25b7v9c002bj3
 
A spare cylinder or two increases the utility of the revolver for field use. I usually load everything up, and then only reload the 60 Colt or the Remington 58 in the field. The cylinders change out in a minute, and it probably takes longer to cap.
It still isn't something you would do well under fire.
 
IF you are committed to using the Cattleman as a BP gun, then you will likely need the loading tool available from Uberti, yet you CAN load the chambers without a tool if you understand the process!

On the other hand, I tend to think Uberti built the 1873 Cattleman BP specifically for guys like me who instantly converted it to chamber the .45 Colt. By fitting a .45 Colt cylinder and fitting a centerfire firing pin, the BP model can be made to function quite well with the low pressure .45 Colt factory load.
I took the "conversion" a bit farther and fabricated a steel insert for the recoil shield and drilled a new firing pin hole...
The actual bore diameter of a .44 BP is .451-2" which is WHY this conversion is possible.
 
Loading the 1873 Cattleman BP Only

I know this is an old thread...

I have purchased the Black Powder Only version of the Uberti 1873 Cattleman.

I found a special price for a new one and am very pleased with it. This is a special make by Uberti and is intended for markets that do not allow a replica of the REAL Cattleman cartrige gun. I live in the US, so I am sure that people will think I am crazy--but I love Black Powder revolvers.

This particular gun (not sold as much in the US) is really cool and has some interesting features. (I won't go into all the details now)

It was designed specifically so you could NOT use a cylinder from a REAL Cattleman revolver. Not even a talented Gunsmith would want to alter it to make it work for cartridges (At least one has tried--proved to me that it would not be worth the effort).

Loading it

The cylinder must be removed to load this BP revolver.

I purchased Dick Dastardly's "Tower of Power" loading tool. This tool is pretty universal and will work with this cylinder. I need to get a couple of thick washers (outside diameter of 1.5" to 1.75" and Inside Diameter of about .64") to support the cylinder well so I can load .457 round ball.

I hope other BP enthusiasts are able to find this interesting revolver at bargain prices in the US!
 
Edwin,

Welcome aboard. Start a new thread and post up some pics of your BP guns.

While I understand the BP addiction I just can't bring myself to buy a BP 1873. At least not till I see a deal on one I can't pass up.

Here's my Uberti 1873 Hombre 357mag.
Was about $280 with shipping and transfer a few years ago.

24061096970_5bffbcca53_b.jpg


24061096930_6f866d4823_b.jpg
 
I saw an Uberti Hombre about 4 months ago for similar money, They probably function just fine. The finish on the bp cattleman is beautiful, but the Hombres just look unfinished to me. The convenience of a cartridge gun is obvious. I still prefer the good looking bp cattleman. They shoot great as well. I have 2 model 73 cartridge guns. They just don't deliver enough smoke to suit some days.
 
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