brass framed pistols???

[smokeblower]

Some sellers advise against using brass framed Remington and Colt patterned pistols. I have the Remington reproduction with a twelve inch barrel and theColt 1860. both are reproductions in the .44 cal. I have great accuracy with the Remington and so-so with the Colt. I fried 30 g charges or Goex with a roundball for years and have noticed no warping problems. Is all this hype or is there a real danger in using brass framed revolvers.
Have also been told the same line about two banded Euroarms Remington 63 Z's. Perhaps some sellers are feeling the pressure of the under 100 dollar revolvers cutting into their sales, perhaps the danger is real? comments?
Smokeblower
West Tennessee

 

[Ohio Joe]

I really couldn't say for sure if it's hype or not? I have seen brass open top "Colt" framed revolvers that the barrel is warped downward away from the cylinder and no matter how tight you push the barrel wedge in, then cock it, will the cylinder come tight against the breech of the barrel like it should to prevent shaving and spraying of lead when fired. I think heavy recoil in either open top frames or closed top frames would eventually loosen threads in any tapped brass thread hole. They do recommend shooting lighter loads from brass framed revolvers... I think I would follow those recommendations if it were me. Remember, in the Civil War, the southern soldiers discarded their brass framed revolvers at the first chance of getting a steel framed Colt, Remington, Starr, or any other steel framed revolver available from the battlefield.

 

I don't beleive there is or was ever any "danger" in the brass framed revolvers. The problem is and always has been that fed a diet of full house loads they will "shoot loose". So will a Mod. 19 S&W 357 Mag. if fed full house 357 loads and it certainly isn't brass framed. Brass is softer than steel, (boy that took a rocket scientest to figure out huh...hehehe), and the recoil of the harder steel cylinder against the frame will eventually loosen the fit. I would expect the Remington style revolvers to stay tighter longer due to the top strap. It's interesting to note that the first Colt SAA's in 45 Colt submitted to the US Army for trials in 1872 were open top frames and the Army told Colt they required a top strap. Thus was born THE classic Single Action cartridge revolver. Obviously the issue with open top revolvers isn't anything new. Shoot 'em if ya got 'em! They'll tell you when they're loose.

Vic

 

[gordy]

Would have to give You the same opinion as Sharps!I know several people who have the Colt and Remington revolvers in the brass frame models."none" have had a problem with strech or wear.As was said!don't use heavy loads all the time and thease guns will last for many years of good shooting.The Rem. style would tend to be a little better at grouping the shots,just because the rear sight notch is not on a moveable hammer nose.I've seen some brass framed colt models do quite well.The brass casting is much improved over that made durring the Civil War era.The mixtures of metals in the new brass being made is much more consistant and controlled than under the conditions that existed in the shops and foundrys of the 1860s.If You would like,send them to Me and I'll test them for a few years to make certain I'm right! :winking: All kidding aside, go ahead and enjoy them. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Don]

Like the others I've not heard of these pistols being inherantly dangerous. If it is well maintained and you inspect it from time to time it should be fine. I have a brass 51 navy colt in .44 that groups pretty well at 15 yards though a bit to the left but a little work with a file ought to help that. To help extend the life of my pistol I load the cylinder off the gun to spare it the pressure of pressing the ball into the chamber. I also keep loads at 27 grains or less. Even with a load of 26 grains you've got a gun with the same Taylor K.O. scale numbers as a .38 special. I use mine for casual shooting and plan on using it as a back up in the woods. Should bring down most of the dangerous critters in my area. Now if I was worried about big bears I'd be carrying something a lot bigger and probably modern as well although, the walker is plenty powerful as is the Ruger old army. Have fun and don't worry about your pistol.

 

Don - I'll bet you don't cap it until it's on the gun?please? Some guys have tried carrying them they way they were carried way back when, loaded AND capped. If dropped, that cylinger is a derringer that will go off if a cap hits first, or perhaps second. It's then pointed up, perhaps toward the fumbler or sideways. Close-up, it would be deadly.
Daryl

 

I have a half dozen brass frames, as well as steel frames, and have owned a couple of dozen more over the years. Experience has shown me that they take more wear, and show more "warp" from using wheel weight metal instead of lead for the required oversize balls and the need to press them into the chambers. Use pure lead that shears easily on the cylender face and moderate loads and you will preserve the gun. The only cap&ball I ever warped beyond use was a steel frame that I warped during the LOADING process, not through actual shooting. (Yes it was in the days of young and dumb! No wonder the 70s were hell on the social structure, that was our universal young and dumb decade!!!)20-25 gns of whatever you got for .36 and a soft lead ball
25-35 gns of the same in .44 with a soft lead ball.
they'll shoot anything. Pyrodex-p,rs, about any of the subs or real black in whatever grade you have, don't sweat it. These are the fun guns of our sport so don't get complecated and mess the system up. Plus, they're still cheap!! Show up at a cowboy shoot with a half dozen of them hanging wherever you can find room and have some fun and you still probably paid less then the second place finisher did for just one of his pistols, and he was still top looser!

 

[Don]

Daryl, you are correct to remind us of the safety issues. I never cap the gun until the cylinder is on the gun. When carrying I only load 5 chambers and rest the hammer on the empty one.

Don