Are Pedersoli revolvers worth the higher prices? Anybody have one?

[Widows Son]

Compared to Uberti and Pietta, Pedersoli revolvers here in Australia are very expensive.

A new 1858 Remington Army by Uberti or Pietta are about AU$600 (US$425-ish). Pedersoli’s cost another thousand dollars on top.

Considering how much better Uberti and Pietta are nowadays than in the past, and the relatively low cost of upgrading nipples and polishing/fitting the innards, I can’t see how anyone would pay so much money for a reproduction revolver from a different Italian factory

BTW, I‘m a fan of Pedersoli’s long guns and own two of them, so I’m not bad-mouthing the company.

Any experiences?

 

[FishDFly]

I always wanted one, but the cost is just to much. I really don't think they would change the average shooter into a top notch line shooter over a Uberti.

 

[64Springer]

NO! and NO!

Revolvers made decades ago are better than the sharp cornered, easily breakable, chewing gum soft, junk being produced today.

All in all, it seems you've answered your own questions.


P.S. The biggest piece of BP crap I ever bought had Pedersoli on the barrel.

 

[FishDFly]

All of my Pedersoli's are top notch.

"Revolvers made decades ago are better than the sharp cornered, easily breakable, chewing gum soft, junk being produced today."

Not sure I would put the Pedesoli revolver in that group.

Have you handled one?

 

[vintovka]

Never seen a pedersoli revolver here in rural OR and would love to. I do however view all Italian made stuff since 2019 with some concern. 2 recently made products i saw really drove point home.

 

[Hawk54]

Never seen a pedersoli revolver here in rural OR and would love to. I do however view all Italian made stuff since 2019 with some concern. 2 recently made products i saw really drove point home.

I do not believe I have ever seen a pedersoli revolver around here either. I do agree that post covid (2020) quality seems to have slipped noticeably in lot of things. That could be also be another one of the reasons why people like and collect the early repro revolvers. None of them are perfect and you get good and bad ones like anything else.

 

[vintovka]

I looked at Pedersoli site and see only 1858 Remington's. Wonder if they are really made by them or rebranded others. With such a wide offering of traditional high quality MLs makes me wonder why they would tool up to make revolvers. Wouldn't existing competition alone would be a deterrent??

 

[FishDFly]

The may have made them to go with the Charles Moore and LePage pistols.

Pistol shooting on the other side of the pond has a following.

 

[Bunk]

Over he past several years I have acquired several. The only problem I have had with them is a soft bolt cam oddly enough on one of a sequentially numbered pair. New cam was installed and it is back in business.
It would appear that the soft cam issue happened on several Pietta guns.
I like them.
Think I will go shoot one.
See ya
Respectfully submitted
Bunk

 

[user 43911]

I looked at Pedersoli site and see only 1858 Remington's. Wonder if they are really made by them or rebranded others. With such a wide offering of traditional high quality MLs makes me wonder why they would tool up to make revolvers. Wouldn't existing competition alone would be a deterrent??

They are made by Pedersoli, they make a blued and stainless one, both are patterned on the 1858 as it has the top strap, barrel is in fixed position (no wedge to change barrel fit) , they have produced this revolver for many years. Dixie GW still has Pietta's that were produced for target shooting "Shootist" and run about 1K, they have Remington with address on top of barrel and some have grain twist.
If I were to drop that kind of money it would be the Pedersoli, if you are not a target shooter go with the Uberti, new production (22-23) are good with bore and cylinder charge holes the same (.450-.451).

Every time I see the word Pietta my mind automatically removes the e and t from the middle.

 

[45D]

They are made by Pedersoli, they make a blued and stainless one, both are patterned on the 1858 as it has the top strap, barrel is in fixed position (no wedge to change barrel fit) , they have produced this revolver for many years. Dixie GW still has Pietta's that were produced for target shooting "Shootist" and run about 1K, they have Remington with address on top of barrel and some have grain twist.
If I were to drop that kind of money it would be the Pedersoli, if you are not a target shooter go with the Uberti, new production (22-23) are good with bore and cylinder charge holes the same (.450-.451).

Every time I see the word Pietta my mind automatically removes the e and t from the middle.

The wedge doesn't change "barrel fit" in a correct open-top revolver. The arbor length is the defining factor. Correct that and you'll have a tack driver".

Mike

 

[user 43911]

The wedge doesn't change "barrel fit" in a correct open-top revolver. The arbor length is the defining factor. Correct that and you'll have a tack driver".

Mike

Only trying to give the simplest answer or statement without getting into arbor, arbor length between Uberti , Pietta and original, was trying to point out that the 58 type was chosen because it does not have that issue and is the most chosen type for competition shooting, a wedge can shake loose and change barrel to cylinder gap and point of impact, a wedge by nature of being a wedge is tapered, if not installed exactly the same it will/can change the position of the barrel assembly , my original Colt's are set with heavy thumb pressure to be spot on but still need checking after a dozen shots, also the issue of caps getting in the works (no mods/pins), it can still happen in the Remington but not as frequent, my 61 Navy has run 200 shots in one range session with no cap problems or wedge adjustment but is the only one I have ever had that does it . If I was shooting a competition I would run a .44 Remington.

 

[Widows Son]

Thanks for your replies gentlemen.

I found a couple of videos on YouTube about the Pedersoli revolver, including an older one from the esteemed Dr. Nemeth.


They do seem to be built with target shooting in mind, instead of simply being a historical reproduction.
I’d like to have one, and they’re quite good quality, but considering I could buy 3 serviceable Piettas or Uberties for the price of 1 Pedersoli, I don’t reckon I’ll buy one.

 

[Bad Karma]

They are made by Pedersoli, they make a blued and stainless one, both are patterned on the 1858 as it has the top strap, barrel is in fixed position (no wedge to change barrel fit) , they have produced this revolver for many years. Dixie GW still has Pietta's that were produced for target shooting "Shootist" and run about 1K, they have Remington with address on top of barrel and some have grain twist.
If I were to drop that kind of money it would be the Pedersoli, if you are not a target shooter go with the Uberti, new production (22-23) are good with bore and cylinder charge holes the same (.450-.451).

Every time I see the word Pietta my mind automatically removes the e and t from the middle.

I’ve had a half dozen or so of the Pietta “Shooters” Model. They were without exception excellent pistols capable of finer accuracy than 90% of the people shooting them. Using full charge loads the progressively rifled version will group with many a modern pistol. They’re the only Pietta pistols I have not regretted purchasing. The price is the price. I haven’t seen the Pedersoli available in quite a while. If you need a target Remington you should prob find a custom smith. Charlie Hahn can sort them out…

 

[Stantheman86]

You may be better scouring GunBroker for a Santa Barbara 1858 if you need one that's "extra good".

 

[45D]

Only trying to give the simplest answer or statement without getting into arbor, arbor length between Uberti , Pietta and original, was trying to point out that the 58 type was chosen because it does not have that issue and is the most chosen type for competition shooting, a wedge can shake loose and change barrel to cylinder gap and point of impact, a wedge by nature of being a wedge is tapered, if not installed exactly the same it will/can change the position of the barrel assembly , my original Colt's are set with heavy thumb pressure to be spot on but still need checking after a dozen shots, also the issue of caps getting in the works (no mods/pins), it can still happen in the Remington but not as frequent, my 61 Navy has run 200 shots in one range session with no cap problems or wedge adjustment but is the only one I have ever had that does it . If I was shooting a competition I would run a .44 Remington.

Yes, I read your original post too fast. Y'all were discussing Remingtons. My apologies.

Your ideas about the wedge don't apply in a revolver with a correct setup though. There's plenty of discussion about this subject in this forum as to why that is.
Your wedge gets loose because you put it in with heavy thumb pressure.

Mike

 

[user 43911]

Again I was attempting to bullet point what I was posting.
In part the key words would be properly fitted, as next to no mass production repro Colt's are hand fitted the average person will be plagued with wedge related problems even though it is not the root cause (wedge that is), I know a correct length arbor is key in conjunction with barrel foot (two pin location).
Over doing the pressure on wedge insertion is also not good as wear to it and all related contact points can/will be aggravated and work counter to fitting it in the first place, I use thumb pressure or a light tap with a half inch dowel, if all else is fitted correctly the wedge becomes the key stone in locking the barrel on the frame but does not/should not be knocked in with heavy force, this part is removed (slid over not removed and not remove the screw) frequently and is subject to more wear already, I would say that most owners are not completely familiar with their Colt's or clone's engineering.
A loose wedge is also a problem as other damage can occur , two forces of recoil first forward then backwards as the bullet leaves can have a hammer effect if loose and all components get worn.

Aside from cap issues the above leads to many unhappy Colt/clone owners, Remington is less problematic for most people and that was the start of the post, but mostly about value/cost of Remington copy.
Also I said "my original Colt's are set with heavy thumb pressure to be spot on but still need checking after a dozen shots" most times they are fine but I do not want a loose wedge.

 

[Uncle Miltie]

The Pedersoli 1858 Pattern Remington is currently the best percussion revolver you can buy: head and shoulders above all other currently available replicas. European shooters are generally not averse to paying good money for high quality. Pedersoli revolvers are rarely seen in the US because shooters here are not willing to pay for them.

 

[SPQR70AD]

NO! and NO!

Revolvers made decades ago are better than the sharp cornered, easily breakable, chewing gum soft, junk being produced today.

All in all, it seems you've answered your own questions.


P.S. The biggest piece of BP crap I ever bought had Pedersoli on the barrel.

are you on the ruger forum?

 

[Rfp10000]

The Pedersoli Remington pattern Target model in the right hands might be worth the price but I’m really not qualified to make the determination.

I think this target is the first time I used it at 10 yards off a rest. It has beryllium nipples ( whatever that means) that had holes on the chamber side so small a nipple pick would not fit through until after using the gun quite a bit. Whether other aftermarket nipples would be equal to these I don’t know.

Sadly I noticed that it came with the deformed “ear” on the bolt pictured below. I was pretty upset to find Midway referred me to a support line and it took months to get a simple replacement for a part that should never have left the factory. I got an Uberti bolt which fit with a little adjusting as I recall to the screw hole. The point of a purchase like this is that you expect hand fitting and quality control to the few simple parts involved. This bolt was very disheartening.
I also had the dove tail front sight come loose but that might have been me.
It is very smooth and light action compared to Uberti & Pietta models I have but accuracy falls off after shooting a bit just like my others either because of fouling or me.
I think the right customer who carefully examines the gun right out of the box and is sufficiently dedicated to getting the most from it will find it to be very good but probably for most of us an Uberti or Pietta is more practical.