1858 Bore Specs ?

[Hylander]

I can not find an answer anywhere, my Google-fu must be week.
I want to know the Land and groove specs for Uberti and Pietta 1858 in .44
Also chamber specs would be nice also
So has anyone here actually slugged theirs to find out ?

 

[Leatherbark]

If you have access to a Dixie Gun Works catalog they usually have the bore/groove speces for the guns they sell including revolvers.

Bob

 

[FishDFly]

Send each maker your request.

Taylors can help you with Uberti.

 

[Hylander]

I tried Dixie, no specs.
Tried Beretta, Guy gave me a couple numbers but was not sure himself.

 

[BGRooster1]

The Dixie flyer has them listed. Go to the Dixie home page and click on the flyer it is located just below the online store menu.

 

[M. De Land]

I'll spec my Pietta 58 for you after supper. MD

 

[Hylander]

Looked at Dixies site.
Shows a bore of .440 and grooves of .460 and a chamber of .450 :shocked2:
That's .020 of difference between bore and groove.
Also a chamber of .010 smaller then the grooves.
So the ball is riding only on the lands and never touching the grooves, that would seem to allow a lot of gases to blow by the ball.

 

[Zonie]

That is typical of most of the Italian reproductions.

There are (or used to be) some "target" grade reproductions that have chambers that are very close to the rifling groove diameter but they usually bring a higher price.

This is the reason some folks ream their C&B's chambers to a slightly larger than stock size.

The problem with doing this is the standard size balls won't be forced into the chambers so special diameter balls are needed.

There are also some revolvers where the existing chambers are so close that enlarging the chamber mouths leaves very little material to withstand the pressures.

 

[M. De Land]

.58 Pietta
bore- .440 checked with precision plug gauge
chamber- .450 plug gauge check
groove- .4483
.60 Pietta
bore- .437
chamber- .445- These need reaming!
groove- .4501
These barrels have seven lands and grooves requiring a tri-mic or Powelly gauge to measure groove diameters correctly. I used a Powelly guage.
All chambers and bores were checked with precision plug gauges. Mike D.

 

[Wes/Tex]

The 'good book', namely their catalog says:

Pietta:
New Model Army: lands-.440'; grooves .446'; chamber-.446"
(same w/ oversized grip & frame); lands-.440"; grooves-.450"; chamber-.445"
(same, target version): lands-.440'; grooves-.450"; chamber-.447"
"Shooter" version w/ progressive rifling: lands-.440"; grooves-..456"; chamber-.456"(also has dovetailed front sight)

Uberti:
New Model Army: lands-.440"; grooves-.460"; chamber-.450"
(same but stainless): lands-.440"; grooves-.452"; chamber-.450"

Hope this helps.

 

[M. De Land]

The trouble with any production revolvers, modern as well as cap-n-ball is that they gang ream the chambers on a turret lathe. I have never measured any production revolver with perfectly even chamber diameters. They have a tolerance standard and the reamers are re-growned until they are out of spec and then replaced resulting in slightly differing diameters, chamber to chamber. Mike D.

 

[Hylander]

Thanks guys, that was the info I needed.
Now with Ubertis specs being what they are, I'm thinking Pietta has a big accuracy advantage.
.460 is just to big to try to match the chambers to and then have a special mold made for proper fitting balls.
I was leaning toward the Uberti because I have read that their overall nicer and have stronger fordged frames, but the issue with the grooves being cut so big is not appealing.
What are your thoughts ?

Uberti:
New Model Army: lands-.440"; grooves-.460"; chamber-.450"

 

[Wes/Tex]

The "shooter" version would be the way to go if you want an accurate revolver. With correct barrel & chamber work and 'progressive' rifling is certainly the ticket...too bad the extra care bumps the price up to $750.

 

[M. De Land]

Any of the re- production guns are vastly superior in strength to the originals wither cast or forged.
I think the current Pietta's are the best bang for the buck and most any of them can be made into guns capable of far better accuracy than most shooters can take advantage of.
I have never seen a factory gun though that could not be improved with a good going over of smoothing, cylinder uniforming and a trigger job. Mike D.