Uberti 1849 Pocket Range Day, with Chrono Results.

[Juice Jaws]

Took my rarely used Uberti 1849 to the range today. When you read my results and trials and tribulations with it, you will understand why it is rarely used. I have made all the mods recommended, heavier mainspring, after market nipples, etc. I know as I write that, someone who is more knowledgeable than me is going to criticize my methods and results, and tell me how to fix my problems. I have been doing the cap and ball thing since 1977, more than most, less than a few. If you are here to tell me how ignorant I am, and how you would do it better, let's just save time and I'll admit that you are vastly superior to me in every facet of life. With that being said, I'll now share my observations about my gun, and my results. If you get better results, you are blessed.

All loads were shot with .330 round ball (the factory recommended size for my gun) I cast from pure lead in an ancient single cavity Lee mold. I know about factory .330 buckshot, it is made with a hard alloy that is exceedingly difficult to load with that stubby lever. My 1849 Pocket has a 4" barrel. I used black powders subs, Pyro P and RS, and Triple 7 3f. I have shot real black in this gun before, but now I save that diminishing supply for my flinters. For the record, Goex 3f is weaker than Pyro RS in my guns, and Pyro P is equivalent to Swiss 3f over my chrono in just about every gun I test. Today, as usual with this gun, I had many cap jams, despite all the mods. Very rarely was I able to fire two consecutive shots. Yes, I am aware of the "Colt Flip". This gun, and it's litter mate, the Uberti 1862 Police just plain suck in this regard. With many of my shots today, the loading lever also fell. I so desperately want this guy to work. I like the look and feel, and it would be a great little gun for hiking, fishing, etc. if it would just work! Maybe the original Colts were better in this regard, or maybe they sold a ton of them just because they are handy, and a gun is better than no gun. My 1849 is an accurate little gun, I can place lethal shots at 50 yards with it, one handed, when it decides to fire. I used CCI #11 and Remington #10 caps with equally dismal results, so it is not a cap issue. With all that being said, I will just copy and paste the raw data from my field notes. I also brought along a Pietta 1851 Navy in .44. Firing that big reliable gun is a pleasure after suffering through the trials of the Pocket Model. Zero malfunctions with it. All loads were lubed with my standard, Crisco, over the ball.

1849 Pocket .31 4" barrel .330 rb. CCI #11

15 gr. 777

800
820
808
839
803

18 gr. 777 CCI#11

957
932
905
1005
943
975
961
963

18 gr. Pyro P Rem. #10 caps

856
895
904
889
889

15 gr. Pyro P. Rem. #10 Caps

759
753
740
743
764

15 gr. Pyro RS. Cci #11

748
731
722
729
726

18 Pyro RS. Cci #11

933
902
884
856
849

You were doing it all wrong

 

[CaptainVane]

I fixed my cap jams in the Uberti 1849 by using a mainspring from a Pietta 1851 Navy. Had to do a little fitting, but now cap jams are rare. My little gun was always accurate, and now it is actually a fun gun without a cap jam every shot, which is what happened with the Uberti factory mainspring, no matter what I tried. I can get 18 grains (volume) of 777, or any other powder in, and still load a round ball. Even with that load, cap jams are infrequent since my mainspring replacement. I usually just shoot 12-14 grains however.

How you fit 18? I can pack 15 tops without wad and won’t do without wad for fear of chain fires.

 

[CaptainVane]

Firing that big reliable gun is a pleasure after suffering through the trials of the Pocket Model.
I always finish with my Navy .36 to get the bad taste out of the frustration with my .31 pocket pistol.

 

[CaptainVane]

You were doing it all wrong

Want to expound on that? We’d love to hear.

 

[CaptainVane]

Just to finish thread on a good note- I have moved target to 25 ft. Within the range this lil pistol was meant for. And it hits very well on point. Very happy with it. I was asking it to do things it was never intended for.
Its a fun pistol when used in the proper parameters.
Also almost never get a cap jam after filling the sharp edges off the hammer gap. It like both Rem, CCI 11. Does not like RWS.

 

[Rustyloader]

I don’t know much about the 1849 (shopping for one now) but I wonder if this would help?