2 Questions re Pietta & Pedersoli 1858 Remmys

[NoJacketRequired]

First post here in a long time. Got started on this site several years ago and picked up so much useful information that made my muzzleloading rifle experiences safer and more rewarding. Hoping that with my new interest in pistols I will similarly be able to draw on the great knowledge and experience of the members here.

So here goes, with two questions.

1) Davide Pedersoli Remington Pattern (1858) - has anybody held one in their hands and been able to verify if it has regular or progressive (or "gain twist") rifling?

2)I'm also considering a well-used Pietta "Shooters" model. Since I don't really know what I don't know about these pistols, I'm wondering how many shots they're good for before needing serious updating with things like barrels, cylinders etc. I'm prepared to replace the smaller parts like hands, springs, screws but don't want to buy a pistol that's essentially worn out. I'll take any guidance you might be able to offer on the durability of the Pietta 1858 Remington's.

Thanks for your well-considered replies.

 

[mazo kid]

1) Can't answer you there as I don't have one.
2) If the "well used" gun has been "well cared for", then I don't think you should have any serious problems. Check the bore for pitting, rust, etc. If the gun functions properly and the price is good, I'd say go for it.

 

[Naphtali]

Pietta makes/made two completely different 1858 Remington revolvers. Most parts do not interchange.

The version that nearly everyone recognizes and owns, the "standard" version, has non-progressive rifling. These are good, general purpose revolvers, for the most part comparable in quality of manufacture with Uberti cap lock revolvers in the same price range.

Pietta makes/made (I bought three direct from Italy in the late 1990s) a revolver intended for use in competition. Its barrel has progressive rifling. Lock work, fit, and finish are comparable with my Freedom Arms revolvers and the Python I owned at the time.

"What's the catch?" you might reasonably ask. When I bought mine - stainless version, although a non-stainless version was also available - cost was approximately three times the standard version's.

Somewhere in my archives I have the model numbers and a parts list specific for this revolver.

Hope this helps.

 

[Leatherbark]

My Pietta Shooters model needs a .460 ball. 457's are loose as a goose in the chambers. Still shoots good with a .457

Bob

 

[Naphtali]

Thank you for reminding me. I left out some information. The progressive rifled barrels are also choke or taper bored - I cannot identify which, though. And chambers have larger diameters than standard Pietta 1858s. I use Lee's mold for Ruger Old Army revolvers. When I first tried loading my 1858s, I used Speer .454-inch swaged RBs. Not a good choice. RBs were loadable with finger pressure. First shot caused several remaining RBs to jump from their chambers and jam the revolver. . . . Oops.

 

[aeatwood]

IIRC, the Shooters also has a dovetailed front sight. the standard is a press-fit pin.

Uberti uses dovetail front sights. I makes a difference if you want to tweak the windage.

 

[NoJacketRequired]

Thanks to all for the helpful info you've supplied.

The International competition rules allow the use of a dovetail front sight so that's an advantage I'll be wanting to use.

So far there haven't been any comments on the Davide Pedersoli revolver - has anybody even seen one of these beasts?
http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/sc...ttern-remington-pattern-pedersoli-target.html

 

[NoJacketRequired]

Interesting points on ball diameter... Pietta seems to recommend .457 for the "Shooter" model. Pedersoli recommends .454 for their Remington Pattern pistol.

Of course what's recommended in the literature is not always based on fact, and sometimes manufacturer's literature is pure fiction... :grin:

 

[NoJacketRequired]

Very helpful info - thanks!

The international rules don't allow the use of stainless since it's nothing like "period correct", otherwise I'd be leaning in that direction. My blued rifles aren't rusty, but a pistol used in competition might go longer between firing and cleaning, thanks to limitations on where the two activities take place. Stainless would be a slight advantage. But then again, the non-glare aspect of bluing sure makes for a nicer sight picture.

 

[NoJacketRequired]

As a follow-up to my original question about the Davide Pedersoli Remington Pattern revolver, I can now attest that it features a barrel with progressive rifling. The unit I have in my hand features excellent workmanship, fit and finish. Hopefully a range report will be forthcoming in the not-too-distant future!

As a side note, the chambers are a uniform 0.450 (if I could measure to the half 'thou I would as they're just a wee tad bigger than .450...). Bore diameter appears to be .449. Trigger is light and crisp. So far I'm quite impressed.

 

[phoenix511]

Regarding the Pedersoli Remington:

Some say the "groove" diameter should be the same, or slightly less, than the cylinder. Makes sense in a way as the ball needs engagement with the "groove" to impart the spin needed for accuracy. But if the ball comes out of the cylinder over the "groove" diameter, some distortion is likely as it goes through the forcing cone ... and that may adversely effect accuracy.

Measuring bore & groove diameters are tricky, even if you push a soft lead slug through the barrel, more so if there are an odd number of grooves. A digital mic is OK for the grooves on the slug, but you'll need calipers with slender jaws to fit in the bore dimension on the slug.

Thinking about the cylinder/bore/groove & ball diameters can seem pointless. Likely there is an accuracy issue if a cylinder-diameter ball will roll through the barrel.

Maybe there has been some testing done and data collected, but I'm not aware of it. I'd just shoot it and see if you like the results.

Best of luck!

 

[aeatwood]

Any revolver needs to get tighter toward the muzzle. It doesn't have to be a LOT tighter, but .001 transition from chamber throat to forcing code to muzzle seems to work really well. Doesn't matter whether C&B or suppository gun.