Henry Rifle Forums

Ok, the range report...

My new Uberti 1885 High Wall 45 Colt. Shooting 7.5 gn Universal and 200 gr LFN.





First 2 shots, 100 yds on a 5" target. Not bad except after that the 2nd casing would not extract. At all. Went home and out to the shed to see what's what. I had previously read that the extractor is a bit of an issue with these rifles with straight wall cartridges. I pushed it out from the muzzle end with a cleaning rod and it just popped out. Tried some dummy rounds and they popped out. Tried some cleaned up empty brass and they come out. Extractor moves properly, no mechanical failures. Apparently the fired brass experiences some blowback, and that dirty stuff is enough to hang it up sometimes.
Both rounds shot great and the first case popped out fine. Sooo....I will use the rifle and hope that this issue starts to resolve itself after break in and lots of rounds. I may have a local gunsmith take a look but really it looks like the rifle is working like it was designed to. Clean cases pop out just fine. Anyhow, it is what it is. I will likely take it back to the range tomorrow (with a cleaning rod) and just shoot it.

Hang in there, RR. Has to be a little disappointing after such a long wait.

Couple things. Make absolutely sure there is no dried grease or oil in the chamber left over from the factory. Scrub it good. If the gun has been sitting around a lot, that can be the culprit. Has happened to me.

Have you tried factory ammo? Might have to start with fresh brass on this one and keep separate from your 1860.

Keep us updated.

Thanks for the report, RR. Two shots at a hundred yards into a five inch hole and within two inches of each other is awesome shooting. As for the stuck case, you will figure it out soon enough.

Yes, I was just thinking about shooting a bunch of factory ammo. I did clean again today and there certainly was a lot of crud in that barrel, even after the cleaning the other day. So may just scrub it down again later as well and shoot it tomorrow. I can easily see what is going on, the little extractor just can't pull the case out. I have lots of factory ammo. I am sure this rifle was standing idle for a long time.

At least you got to fire a couple shots. Ive been all the way to the range and forgot the ammo. No problem its only a 50 mile round trip

North Country Gal wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 31, 2020 4:39 pm

Couple things. Make absolutely sure there is no dried grease or oil in the chamber left over from the factory. Scrub it good. If the gun has been sitting around a lot, that can be the culprit. Has happened to me.

BINGO ..... a while back I took our 300 WBY mag out of the vault for the first time in several years .... she shot fine but like you mention, couldn't get the fired cases to eject ..... again like you, had to drive them out with a rod inserted in the barrel .... ended up taking it to a gunsmith I trust in Texas earlier this year .... he said there were 2 problems .... one was oil residue that formed during years of it sitting in the safe .... it took some real cleaning to remove it .... the second thing was the cases I was firing were silver colored ... he said that after being fired a few times the metal would get soft to where it would really expand from the powder exploding .... he said to switch to regular brass colored cases ... I pulled the bullets out of all of the remaining silver cases and crushed them .... no issues since

Thanks all. I actually just got back from the range again. 2nd trip. Had to try again. I gave the rifle a deep clean this afternoon again; scrubbed and scrubbed the barrel. It was incredibly dirty! I don't doubt there is stuff built up in there. I could not believe how much still came out on patches when it was cleaned twice before already. Tomorrow it will get cleaned again.

Shooting factory ammo, Winchester 250 gr LFN. Always liked this stuff, very consistent. This was a little better outing, there were a few that the extractor actually extracted. The rest I pushed out with a brass rod. Tomorrow I will pick up a wooden dowel to use instead until hopefully don't have to anymore. At any rate it's not a deal breaker, while I wait for my muzzleloader to show up in next month or so, I have a muzzle-unloader to shoot. I will not let it stop me from enjoying the rifle.
It is a real treat to shoot. No recoil at all, like shooting the Red Ryder. But certainly more velocity out of the 30" (not 32") barrel. Those rounds really hit hard even at 100+ yds. You can hear the wood splintering. Accuracy? Judge for yourself...

100 yds, shooting from 1 knee, all the rounds I shot are on the paper. 5" target. Pretty happy with the results for a first outing. I have no idea what I am doing with the rear tang sight but it seems to help focus in on the dot.




200 yds, shooting from 1 knee, went to a 12" target and again just raised the rear tang slightly with the screw adjust. All rounds on the paper. Wow, rifle is accurate I think. A hit with the Henry at 200 is a Hail Mary shot.




Happier than I was this morning, may shoot it again tomorrow. RR

RanchRoper wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 31, 2020 4:24 pm

Ok, the range report...

My new Uberti 1885 High Wall 45 Colt. Shooting 7.5 gn Universal and 200 gr LFN.



Oct 31st 2020.jpeg




First 2 shots, 100 yds on a 5" target. Not bad except after that the 2nd casing would not extract. At all. Went home and out to the shed to see what's what. I had previously read that the extractor is a bit of an issue with these rifles with straight wall cartridges. I pushed it out from the muzzle end with a cleaning rod and it just popped out. Tried some dummy rounds and they popped out. Tried some cleaned up empty brass and they come out. Extractor moves properly, no mechanical failures. Apparently the fired brass experiences some blowback, and that dirty stuff is enough to hang it up sometimes.
Both rounds shot great and the first case popped out fine. Sooo....I will use the rifle and hope that this issue starts to resolve itself after break in and lots of rounds. I may have a local gunsmith take a look but really it looks like the rifle is working like it was designed to. Clean cases pop out just fine. Anyhow, it is what it is. I will likely take it back to the range tomorrow (with a cleaning rod) and just shoot it.

Nice shootin' right out the box RR ! A little windage adjust and it will be right on. That target would be good for a 50 yd. first shots!
Hope you get the extractor issue sorted out. Was the same brass being used for those shots?

This was factory new ammo, this morning were my reloads.

Your 2nd outing is incredible with those 200 yd shots and iron sights!!!!