1st bp pistol - what to buy?

[Brik847]

What are your recommendations if I went to Cabela's to buy a bp revolver?

 

[jdixon]

Any of the Uberti Colt models. The 1858 Remington by Uberti is nice as well, my only complaint with that model is getting the caps on the nipples. I have not found a capper that works on Remington and you have to cap the thing by hand, real pain. Shop around, you probably would not have to look long to beat Cabela's prices.

 

[Don]

I started with a brass framed Colt clone. It was the price that attracted me initially but I soon found that it was a lot of fun and the cleaning regimen though tedious, didn't bother me too much.I have since gone on to purchase 8 more revolvers including steel framed guns. If your not sure if you'll enjoy the cleaning as well as the shooting of these guns than I wouldn't recommend putting a lot of money into it at first.I suspect you will do as I did and end up with with several revolvers.

Don

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

What are your recommendations if I went to Cabela's to buy a bp revolver?

Tell me a little more about YOUR history with handguns in general (be brief) so that I (we) can better answer your question. For example, if you own & shoot a .44 Magnum already, you're a canidate for a Walker (like Me!). If you've never owned a handun of any type, perhaps something a little smaller would be better.

Also, is this revolver going to have adjustable sights or fixed sights...narrow it down some and we'll be better equipped to give you the info you're looking for.

Dave

 

[Brik847]

I have never shot a .44 magnum, but have shot.357 and 9mm. I would like the idea of being able to adjust sights, but that's probably not a deal breaker over reliability, etc. This should be a pistol that could be loaded for my wife and two adult children at the range. The Walker is impressive, I'll have to admit by reading about it, etc.

 

[rebel727]

I think it'd be hard to beat Cabela's prices. For a first gun I'd go with the Remington which incidently is on sale in the new catalog for 169.99 I don't think it shows the sale price online tho.

 

[Rebel]

I would go with the Pietta '58 Remington with adjustable sights if you just want a good accurate shooter.

 

[cougarmagnum]

I agree with Rebel, 58 Remmy, adj. sights. Got one, not authentic, but great shooter! Also have a 58 Rem. Navy .36 and a 51 Navy .36. What's my favorite? The one I have with me at the time!

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

For unmatchable balance, I would get a '51 Colt Navy .36. They are also very cheap to shoot. For nearly the same balance, but a lot more power, a '60 Colt Army is a very nice choice. And my personal, all time favorite, never to be equalled revolver is the Walker Colt. Due to its weight recoil is nonexistent, and its power and range are superb. Just don't try to carry one in an ankle holster!

 

[Poor Private]

If it's something your wife and kids will shoot as well forget the Walker: too big, too heavy, just to to much. Take a 5 Lb pipe wrench and hold it out arm length 1 handed for 8 to 10 seconds while you sight down it for the bullseye. Now imagine your wife and kids holding it out there and trying to fire it. if they will be firing it as well try a smaller framed pistol like a 36 caliber pocket pistol.
A Remington you can exchange the cylinder very quickly as well. While your family is firing the pistol with one cylinder you can be reloading a 2nd or 3rd to fire.
Watch Clint Eastwood in High Plains Drifter there at the big gun fight see how quick he can change his.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

I have never shot a .44 magnum, but have shot.357 and 9mm. I would like the idea of being able to adjust sights, but that's probably not a deal breaker over reliability, etc. This should be a pistol that could be loaded for my wife and two adult children at the range. The Walker is impressive, I'll have to admit by reading about it, etc.

I second Rebel's opinion! The 1858 Remington New Model Army with adjustable sights and a spare cylinder. A 25 or 30 grain charge will get the job done and be accurate too, without much recoil at all. The loading lever is heavy-duty enough for several people to use it without a problem breaking and it snaps into place and stays there quite well!

Dave

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

If it's something your wife and kids will shoot as well forget the Walker: too big, too heavy, just to to much. Take a 5 Lb pipe wrench and hold it out arm length 1 handed for 8 to 10 seconds while you sight down it for the bullseye. Now imagine your wife and kids holding it out there and trying to fire it. if they will be firing it as well try a smaller framed pistol like a 36 caliber pocket pistol.
A Remington you can exchange the cylinder very quickly as well. While your family is firing the pistol with one cylinder you can be reloading a 2nd or 3rd to fire.
Watch Clint Eastwood in High Plains Drifter there at the big gun fight see how quick he can change his.

Comparing a Walker to a pipe wrench is heresy! For shame. It is wise to remember that Clint's quick change took place in Hollywood. Most Remingtons are half way to seizing up after a cylinder load has been run through them. At least mine are. Before that speedy cylinder change can take place it is usually necessary to wipe the gun down and re-lube the cylinder arbor. I can't really think of a situation where a rapid swap would be needed anyway. Seems like Clint swapped cylinders in Pale Rider and the gun was a cartridge conversion as well.
There is no reason why you can't load up a couple of extra cylinders for a Colt, too. The notion that it takes too long to swap cylinders in a Colt is rubbish. If you are in that big a hurry either a very large animal is about to have you for lunch in which case you should be shooting a rifle anyway or you really need to cut down on the coffee.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Dave, take a look at that little stamped link in the ramming mechanism of the Remington. Note the tiny pins that hold it in place. Compared to the mechanism on a Colt, it is a bit weak. Admittedly, I have only had one let go on me, and that was a pin that failed, but I have never had a Colt let me down. Colts seem to be less affected by fouling too. Many people find that the Colt belt pistols have a much nicer balance and a better relationship between the grip, hammer and trigger---Victorian ergonomics at their very best! :thumbsup:

 

[Brik847]

The Remington has the top strap and the Colt does not. Obviously, no adjustable sights on the Colt. If I forget about the sights issue, is it just a matter of personal preference between the Colt and Remington? Or is there something else I need to be thinking about?

 

[Snakebite]

My favorite is the 1851 Navy with the square trigger guard. I've had two Uberti, never had a problem with either one, they are fun to shoot, balance well, and of course the Texas Navy battle scene on the cylinder is nice.

 

[mykeal]

The choice between a Colt and a Remington is personal choice - nobody can make it for you.

BTW, the Colts come in a variety of sizes and grip shapes, so the choice isn't so much between Colt and Remington as it is between 1851 Navy, 1858 New Army, 1860 Army, 1861 Navy, 1847 Walker, 1848 Dragoon, etc.

First bp gun, you can't go wrong with an 1858 New Army. If you're interested in shooting for fun, get the adjustable sights; if it's period authenticity, get fixed sights. The gun has drawbacks; they all do, but they can be dealt with. The idea is to have fun.

You also can't go wrong with an 1851 Navy or 1860 Army as a first bp gun. They don't have the adjustable sight option, but they are just as much fun to shoot, perhaps even more if they fit your hand better.

And that's what it comes down to - fitting your particular combination of bones, muscles and nerves. The hand, wrist, arm, shoulder, neck face geometries, the muscle development, eye-hand coordination - all those combinations play a part and to predict in advance the exact gun to fit best is impossible.

So get thee to a dealer, hoist a few choices and go with the one that feels best. If you have no nearby dealer, roll the dice, because in the end you won't make a bad choice anyway - they're all great fun.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Dave, take a look at that little stamped link in the ramming mechanism of the Remington. Note the tiny pins that hold it in place. Compared to the mechanism on a Colt, it is a bit weak. Admittedly, I have only had one let go on me, and that was a pin that failed, but I have never had a Colt let me down. Colts seem to be less affected by fouling too. Many people find that the Colt belt pistols have a much nicer balance and a better relationship between the grip, hammer and trigger---Victorian ergonomics at their very best! :thumbsup:

Thanks for pointing the pin situation out to me. I've never thought much about it since my Dad had a Euroarms clone '58 about 30 years ago. Lots of shots through that revolver and never a problem!

I and my Son currently have a Walker, an 1858 New Model Army Remington, a 1860 Army, a 3rd Model Dragoon and a Pietta stainless '58 Buffalo with 12" barrel and adjustable sights. We like them all! I might get another Walker for the weak hand :shocked2: so I could put-on a real show at the Range .

Only problem we ever had with a revolver was with the loading lever teeth on the Colt 1860 Army. To be completely fair, we did buy the gun used, but it looked like it had never been fired. The last tooth got mashed a little and the female receiver on the barrel needed some work too. Haven't taken it back out to the Range yet for a test to see if the fix works. This 1860 is a great light gun, the smallest in our collection. It fits small hands quite well and is an excellant "pointer"! But after going through the tooth problem, I'm at odds with recommending one as a first BP revolver, especially one in which an entire family will be using at an extended range session. That's why I said the '58 Remmy--it's a compromise between weight and sheer durability. The Remmy guns need "aimed", and the Colts only needed "pointed". Perhaps that's why some of the famous Gunslingers liked the Colts---balance, feel and that "pointability" factor :wink: .

Dave

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Dave--who made the '60 Army?

 

[Poor Private]

I have never had a problem with the my Uberti Millenium Remington "freezing" up. I have 2 spare cylinders and and load and fire all 3 without a bit of trouble exchanging them. Same with my sons SS Pieta Remington. I do civil war reenacting and go the whole weekend with out cleaning it We fire up to 6 cylinders worth of powder thru em and they work just fine. Of course I use 777 and it does keep the cylinder rod cleaner.
Yes shame on me for using a pipe wrench for wieght comparison. But everyone has a pipe wrench, but not everyone has a Walker.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Dave--who made the '60 Army?

Uberti, and it came in the original Uberti box. My Son shot several boxes of balls with the revolver---it was his first. Part of the problem could have been a little too much pressure on the loading lever trying to seat the balls. From day one, it was never what I would call "smooth" when operating the loading lever, especially without the white grease that Chuck Dixon sold me. The grease made the revolver "shootable".

Dave