Opinions on Pietta 1851 Confederate Navy revolver?

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kyron4

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Thinking about getting into a BP revolver and leaning towards the Pietta 1851 Confederate Navy .44 cal.. First a few questions, will cci #11 caps work on this pistol ? I have a good supply of #11 caps but have never even seen #10 caps . Next, some have said the brass frame pistols don't last or hold up and will only handle "light loads". Any truth to this ? Overall, is it a quality pistol as far as durability , accuracy, and maintenance ? Any thoughts or opinions ?
-Thanks

pietta-1851-confederate-navy-revolver-44-cal-REB44_798x267.jpg

 
its not historically correct. it would have been in .36cal. Its a brasser. fine if you just want a wall hanger but if you are interested in a gun to shoot regularly with whatever loads you wish and last a lifetime get a steel frame.
 
Never had a problem with my .44 cal brass, shooting 20 grains mostly. But I don’t shoot thousands of rounds either. If I were to be buying new I would go with steel. Hard to pass up a brass for $50.
 
Id go with steel frame as well. My experience with brass frames has been pretty good with light loads but they do wear. As far as not being historically correct or a fantasy gun i don't really mind. I like having the options, get what you like.

One fantasy gun i bought on a impulse buy, a month later they came out in steel. Gonna get the steel frame sooner or later. This should ruffle some feathers, brass 51 navy .44 buntline 😁
20241101_142737.jpg
 
The 36cal, 1851 London model Uberti, has long been spoken of as being finished to a higher level....not sure if that is true or not, but out of 20 open-top Colts it is the "only" one that shot perfectly out of the box. (An yes the arbor is short on it too.)

Every Remington1858 that I have checked has had bore restriction at the frame threads....but this can be easily lapped out, and it doesn't interfere with the revolver's functions.
 
Remington 1858 will give you a MUCH(!) more enjoyable experience!...just saying.
Click to expand...
1858 Rem vs a Brass Frame or vs Open Top ?

I figure everyone has their druthers, I like my 47 Walker and the open top has been an eye opener., I would not tell someone its better or more enjoyable. It is for me but there are far more not me's out there than there is me.

As long as you are out there enjoying the shooting no matter whats you gots is what counts.

I build up my own target rifles. I sure won't tell anyone my setup is the answer, its is for me, others have their own take.

Flip side is I have a 1911 Swiss Rifle and its a hoot to shoot. The straight pull appeals to me. Not popular to say the least. I have fun with it, others shoot 1903s, 1917s, Garands etc. We all are enjoying what we are doing.

A steel frame whatever will last better than brass, but if you want to shoot lighter loads a brass would do fine. As long as you go into it knowing what you are getting.
 
I have the very same gun and I like it. I shoot it with modest loads and it works great. Probably will stretch eventually but it doesn't get shot often. So that is likely a problem for someone in the future.

Shoots well enough. It is not a 'historic gun', but it does work the same. ;)

If you have the money to go the extra for a steel frame spend the difference. I'd like to be able to run more powerful charges through mine, but it was what I was able to afford the day I got it.
 
kyron4 said:
Thinking about getting into a BP revolver and leaning towards the Pietta 1851 Confederate Navy .44 cal.. First a few questions, will cci #11 caps work on this pistol ? I have a good supply of #11 caps but have never even seen #10 caps . Next, some have said the brass frame pistols don't last or hold up and will only handle "light loads". Any truth to this ? Overall, is it a quality pistol as far as durability , accuracy, and maintenance ? Any thoughts or opinions ?
-Thanks

pietta-1851-confederate-navy-revolver-44-cal-REB44_798x267.jpg

Click to expand...
Had an 'original' brass frame Confederate .36 caliber that I picked up in a pawn shop, for almost nothing, when interest in shooting BP started up again in the early 60s.& C&B, black powder was in its infancy. Fun shooter, though I kept the loads of BP to 20-25 grains of because of its extreme age. at the time. (It was almost 100 years old.) Ended up giving to the Chief of Police where I lived. It needed some work done and 'modern' reproduction parts would work on it. He was a collector, and it joined his other antiques on his wall.
 
you have to have a lot of money and a lot of time to maybe "shoot loose" an 1858 brasser. I have one brass and one steel 1858. shot the brass one for 30 years and it is as tight as the new steel 1858
 
Shot my brass buffalo out. Shot two open top .36 cals loose in the 70s. I bought the rumor going around that modern brass is better than what they used in the 70s so I took a chance on a brass 1858 and I got burned. less than two years old when this revealed itself.
IMG_1752.jpg

IMG_1754.jpg

she is looser than a 40 year old saloon girl.
 
Last edited:
nick_1 said:
Shot my brass buffalo out. Shot two open top .36 cals loose in the 70s. I bought the rumor going around that modern brass is better than what they used in the 70s so I took a chance on a brass 1858 and I got burned. less than two years old when this revealed itself. View attachment 359587
View attachment 359588
she
nick_1 said:
Shot my brass buffalo out. Shot two open top .36 cals loose in the 70s. I bought the rumor going around that modern brass is better than what they used in the 70s so I took a chance on a brass 1858 and I got burned. less than two years old when this revealed itself. View attachment 359587
View attachment 359588
she is looser than a 40 year old saloon
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
looks like a brand new colt steel frame out of the box. brass is a lot better then in the sixties and 70s
 
not sure what that is supposed to mean. This is a 2020 Pietta and if brass is better than it was in the 70s this is certainly not good enough.
 
nick_1 said:
not sure what that is supposed to mean. This is a 2020 Pietta and if brass is better than it was in the 70s this is certainly not good enough.
Click to expand...
there are many grades of brass. alloy numbers 260 272 280 360 385 C53 alpha and beta brass. different % of copper and zinc. the more zinc the stronger. are you sure what it means now? also your 1858 again looks like a steel frame Colt with cylinder shake
 

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