Colt Open Top 38 six shooter meets new companion!

[fortyshooter]

Have been looking at the Uberti/Winchester 1866 Yellow Boy rifles for a good while and happened to find one that would match up with my 1872 Colt OT chambered in 38 Special and my custom load 38 Long Colt loads which I use in my cowboy guns. Found it on Guns International looked good so placed the order. A short rifle with 18 inch octagonal barrel and chambered for 38 Special the brass matches nicely with the Colt Open Top. After picking up the new rifle and checking it out it looked to never being fired but stored and moved around a lot over 16 years of time. Since it was sold thru Taylor's and Co. I called them and they said it was a 2008 model that was sold in late 2008.
The action was bone dry and clues of it not being fired a spotless chamber and no brass marks from loading rounds on the side gate ladle!
Lubed it up a bit and took it and the Colt down to the range on a nice 45 degree afternoon today. Cycled and shot my 38 Long Colt loads perfectly and not bad target results from 25 yds shooting into the afternoon sunlight glare with my old eyes! Finished up the target with the Colt OT and then spent some rounds on the steel targets. Glad to add it to the collection and the price much less than a new one too!

[Ernie]

Good looking rifle. Nice day for shooting, good job.

[daytime dave]

Congratulations on a very nice find. Good shooting and photographs too!

[Hatchdog]

Great addition to the collection, great shooting but most of all GREAT photography. Almost vaquero-ish in presentation.

[fortyshooter]

Almost vaquero-ish in presentation.

Yes all about presentation!

[fortyshooter]

First thing I need to fix on it is beef up the loading gate ladle at that 90 degree tab with JB Weld. The tab is known to bend or break off from stress of stopping next round in the mag tube. Had fun plinking with it and I setup my Magneto Speed unit on it and see about 1100 FPS from my 38 Long Colt loads with 158 gr RNFP Missouri Bullets..

[daytime dave]

1100 fps is pretty good isn't it for those loads?

[Vaquero]

Very nice addition to the collection forty.
Some good pictures, too. Congrats on another fine looking lever gun.

RP

[Vaquero]

Great addition to the collection, great shooting but most of all GREAT photography. Almost vaquero-ish in presentation.

Thanks Hatch. He took some mighty fine photos.
Good job forty, on the acquisition and the pictures.

RP

[fortyshooter]

1100 fps is pretty good isn't it for those loads?

Yes and about what I expected. Basically it is a 38 Special load in 38 Long Colt brass with the bullet seated out into lube groove to have a 38 Special COL and standard pressure level. Works out great!