Black powder Revolvers

[Dogshirt]

I've always used .454 for my FIE Remingtons. The .451s just slide in the cylinder.

[William]

   That's right, .457 for Ruger Old Army's.  My mind wanders sometimes.....

[flintboomer]

I use a .454 or .457 ball depending on what I can get in the piettas and ubertis. These days the .457 will cost about $2.00 more per hundred than .451 or .454 for some reason.

The quality of the Piettas that I have gotten from Cabelas have varied a LOT and I have had several. The trigger pull is usually terrible without some work and I had an 1851 that I sent back because there were machining burrs all over including the cylinder edges and it was really sloppy all the way through like it was just thrown together from the parts bin without even looking at any of the parts as they were put together.

The Uberti that I have has a beautiful trigger pull but it started out scarey light until I worked on it a bit.

[beowulf]

I must be lucky . I`ve owned 6 colts and a remington made by pietta and bought through cabela`s and never a problem with any of them ! every one one was equal to a uberti piece except for the bluing , and a lot lower in price !

[pilgrim]

      Time for an update.    Since I could not decide which revolver to get, I tabled it.  Then I checked into gunbroker.com.      Bid on item, got it.   Since then I have bid on three.    I am in someway attracted to the Colt.  Could be because there are more Colts listed for sale.   No,  the Colt style has a special look to it.   

     The models I have are 1851  made by F.LLI.Pietta.  1 steel, 1 brass.  The brass revolver feels lighter.  I will need to weigh each to compare.  One, the steel, is NIB, just pre owned.    The brass framed Colt  was born 1992.  It was not cared for real well.  Apparently was shot, barrel cleaned and was stored.  Currently working on getting rust from the cylinder chambers, with success.  I have compared the workings of both.  They both feel and cycle well, lock up tight.  The trigger pull on the brass framed Colt is very light.  But the trigger pull on the steel frame is not bad either.  By next weekend, I plan to go to the range and shoot all.    Will be using 21-22 gr 3f in the brass frame. 

     Another reason I like the Colts over the Remington style.  Colt made more models.  More choice.   With Remington all you have is the 1858 and then centerfire.     But there is something about a Colt.  Almost like preferring a Flintlock over a caplock.    Whatever floats ones boat!     Just feels better. 

[Otter]

Almost any of them are more accurate than a rock, more powerful too! 

[flintboomer]

Looks like you enjoyed the research, "tabled it" briefly and then started making decisions and buying what looked right to you.
My brass frame colt was a good shooter. The brass frames do eventually loosen up on you even with light loads but they look pretty if you keep them shiny. I had mine worked on recently to tighten it back up and it is like new again.
Don't overtighten the wedge when you have them apart and put them back together, just push it in then tap it in place LIGHTLY and you are done. Never hammer it in to make sure it is tight enough. That just damages the gun.

[pilgrim]

     Ok, now I am curious, again. What Loosens up on the brass frames.  As I see it, the only thing that I can see would be the cylinder rod.   Everything else is screwed together.

[Hawken50]

The recoil forces will actually stretch the main frame or loosen the cylinder pin threads in the brass.

[flintboomer]

The recoil forces will actually stretch the main frame or loosen the cylinder pin threads in the brass.

I have had the cylinder gap open to a point that I could only load 1 chamber due to crossfires. I have also had the cylinder pin come loose which makes everything sloppy and also opens the cylinder gap.
The stretching or loose cylinder pin is fixable but the steel frames rarely have the problem so if it will be shot much the steel frame is always better.

[pilgrim]

     I have the brass framed Colt on my desk.  I constantly pick it up and point it at something in room or outside/without aiming.  If the comfortable feel of this revolver means anything., I can see why the Colt was such a success.   I will know more ,at the range.  I intend to play around a bit.  NO aiming, just point and shoot, just to see what the capabilities are.  Then I will aim and shoot.  This Colt, just has a feel about it in my hand.  Like a extension of my hand/Index finger.