Want to purchase an Uberti 1851 Navy, but have some questions

[FluorideInMyWater]

I'm interested in getting into black powder and have always wanted an original colt navy, but i would never shoot a collectors item.
I found a place called Long Hunt that sells Ubertis with custom work done to them before shipping.

COWBOY ACTION FIREARMS - LONG HUNTER SHOOTING SUPPLY

here is what you get for $640

1. Hone, and rework all internal parts
2. Replace springs with high quality U.S. springs (Lee's "Gunslinger Spring Kit")
3. Rebuild and harden single tooth hand.
4. Rebuild and harden bolt cam as necessary
5. Drill frame for Coil type Hand Spring and install.
6. Correct Bolt engagement and position
7. Rework sear and hammer for crisp 2 1/2lb. trigger pull
8. Re-cut forcing cone to 11 degrees
9. Square and smooth barrel face
10. Correct Cylinder gap for fouling
11. Correct timing and advance or delay bolt drop as necessary
12. Install Slix-Shot Stainless Steel Nipples
13. Correct Arbor Length in Frame

you can also get the muzzle angle cut to 11-degrees for an extra $100. i've read quite a few articles about pros/cons/uselessness of having a crown cut into the bore. mostly it seems like hype and it does not produce consistent shots. with each shot, the gas blows out in different ways so no 2 shot are really the same. as to weather it tightens the grouping at all is unknown?

question 1 - Is this gun worth the $640. i know they put about $100 in nipples and springs into it, so the gunsmithing looks to cost around $200, give or take.
question 1 - does anyone feel that getting a 11-degree muzzle crown is worth it or just nonsense?

 

[Stantheman86]

I'm honestly interested, given that the gun itself is about $400 . It's worth it in my opinion.

99% of people who own percussion revolvers don't shoot them enough for these mods to matter

 

[hawkeye2]

If you want a smooth and reliable revolver then the gun is worth the price. If your goal is to shoot tin cans at 25 feet then you don't need any of the above. If you are an experienced handgun shooter you might not be satisfied with an out of the box Italian gun though. The 11 or any other degree crown is not worth it. I haven't found any problems with the factory crown on any revolvers.

 

[Campbell]

I own several of the “F” series 2nd generation Colts (Army, Navy, Police) that I shoot. The fit and finish is top notch, as is the timing. You may be able to find one at a price comparable to the Uberti. Just a thought. However, if this place you found does good work then that sounds like a fair price.

 

[cynthialee]

I think you would do better to get a good second hand pistol and then send it to Goon.

 

[Dances With Coyotes]

Is that $640 with or without the gun?

 

[denster]

I think you would do better to get a good second hand pistol and then send it to Goon.

While Longhunter is a good guy I will second cynthialee's post you will have less in it and more done to it.

 

[concho7]

I only ever had 1 gun to recrown had Navy arms stamped on it was a 3 rd Quality junk gun Italian or Spain ? barrel was not 90 Degrees at muzzle had 2 forcing cones in barrel frame was not bored and threaded 90 Deg to barrel, bolt slot was not in proper place to time cylinder .
worst piece of junk to be called a gun I have ever worked on .36 caliber Navy arms importer .

 

[Joemolf]

Is that $640 with or without the gun?

That includes the gun check out there website. I didn’t know they did the spring behind the arm mod.

 

[Joemolf]

I'm interested in getting into black powder and have always wanted an original colt navy, but i would never shoot a collectors item.
I found a place called Long Hunt that sells Ubertis with custom work done to them before shipping.

COWBOY ACTION FIREARMS - LONG HUNTER SHOOTING SUPPLY

here is what you get for $640

1. Hone, and rework all internal parts
2. Replace springs with high quality U.S. springs (Lee's "Gunslinger Spring Kit")
3. Rebuild and harden single tooth hand.
4. Rebuild and harden bolt cam as necessary
5. Drill frame for Coil type Hand Spring and install.
6. Correct Bolt engagement and position
7. Rework sear and hammer for crisp 2 1/2lb. trigger pull
8. Re-cut forcing cone to 11 degrees
9. Square and smooth barrel face
10. Correct Cylinder gap for fouling
11. Correct timing and advance or delay bolt drop as necessary
12. Install Slix-Shot Stainless Steel Nipples
13. Correct Arbor Length in Frame

you can also get the muzzle angle cut to 11-degrees for an extra $100. i've read quite a few articles about pros/cons/uselessness of having a crown cut into the bore. mostly it seems like hype and it does not produce consistent shots. with each shot, the gas blows out in different ways so no 2 shot are really the same. as to weather it tightens the grouping at all is unknown?

question 1 - Is this gun worth the $640. i know they put about $100 in nipples and springs into it, so the gunsmithing looks to cost around $200, give or take.
question 1 - does anyone feel that getting a 11-degree muzzle crown is worth it or just nonsense?

Jim Finch and his son are the real deal they provide excellent service and know what they are doing. I blame them for using nothing other than Swiss Caviar. I bought my first 1873 rifle from them.

 

[Bad Karma]

Jim Finch and his son are the real deal they provide excellent service and know what they are doing. I blame them for using nothing other than Swiss Caviar. I bought my first 1873 rifle from them.

Second this, one of our local cowboy action shooters has nothing but Longhunter guns. They are very nice. He has a brace of 1851’s and another of the 1860’s. They have crowned muzzles and shoot very well. None of mine are crowned and shoot every bit as accurately.

At one point I considered buying one but sent one of my good guns to John Zimmerman instead. Jim is very responsive and easy to communicate with. Good people.

 

[Treestalker]

I think you would do better to get a good second hand pistol and then send it to Goon.

When you experience the difference between a factory issued revolver and one that has been tuned by a master, the difference is stunning. Kind of like Juliet singing to Romeo -or- braying like a *******, LOL!

 

[Old Hawkeye]

Unless you intend to shoot "competitively" the only thing you "need" to do (& I use the word "need" loosely) is correct any arbor length tolerances. That pretty simple to do by yourself. Not saying that the mods you reference are not beneficial, it's just that the casual or recreational shooter is not going to know any difference or care one way or the other. Depends on how serious you are & if you "need" the mods for the type of shooting you intend to do. Unless the crown is damaged or mis-cut, redoing it is a waste of money, IMHO.

 

[fireman1]

Hmmm.....I have a Uberti Dragoon that would benefit from tuning. This might be the guy to ship it to.

 

[Stantheman86]

Unless you intend to shoot "competitively" the only thing you "need" to do (& I use the word "need" loosely) is correct any arbor length tolerances. That pretty simple to do by yourself. Not saying that the mods you reference are not beneficial, it's just that the casual or recreational shooter is not going to know any difference or care one way or the other. Depends on how serious you are & if you "need" the mods for the type of shooting you intend to do. Unless the crown is damaged or mis-cut, redoing it is a waste of money, IMHO.

I have Pietta navies that have the correct arbor length, they shoot accurately enough and I mitigate cap jams by "flicking" them when I cock the hammer.

All of my Ubertis except my London Navy have the short arbor. Arbor fit is, like you said, all I really care about.

 

[Bad Karma]

I have Pietta navies that have the correct arbor length, they shoot accurately enough and I mitigate cap jams by "flicking" them when I cock the hammer.

All of my Ubertis except my London Navy have the short arbor. Arbor fit is, like you said, all I really care about.

There are at least 10 things I care about before arbor fit.

 

[FluorideInMyWater]

If you want a smooth and reliable revolver then the gun is worth the price. If your goal is to shoot tin cans at 25 feet then you don't need any of the above. If you are an experienced handgun shooter you might not be satisfied with an out of the box Italian gun though. The 11 or any other degree crown is not worth it. I haven't found any problems with the factory crown on any revolvers.

so, does the gun come with a crown already? if they "square" and polish the crown, does that mean you have to re-crown? or is square just fine? i'm probably over complicating this.

 

[FluorideInMyWater]

Hmmm.....I have a Uberti Dragoon that would benefit from tuning. This might be the guy to ship it to.

his website is a bit weird. navigation is a bit broken, but his top of the line service is $270, not including crown, cylinder reboring, or.....1 other thing that escapes me. you have to click on his top logo to begin navigation. the side links are all empty so it looks like there is nothing in stock from that point of view. just and FYI

apparently they make thier own proprietary swagged .380 balls. i know what that mean in the reloading world, but a swagged ball? no idea.

 

[FluorideInMyWater]

I think you would do better to get a good second hand pistol and then send it to Goon.

OK, so that begs the newbie question.....WHO IS GOON??? website? contact info?

 

[FluorideInMyWater]

Is that $640 with or without the gun?

that is WITH the gun. $30 shipping. a bit high, but...