Cimarron

[George T.]

Well I really want to say up front that I bought a Cimarron 1860 Army Civilian last month and these are my opinions. I do not claim to know everything but I do know Quality when I see it. I have CVA 1860 that has been a great revolver. It has some tool marks and a utility blue job and the case is holding up well. When I saw that Cimarron offered this revolver without stock cuts that for some reason bug me I just had to have one.

It cost $350 but I managed to find one in a small Gun Shop near me so that I could hold it and get a good look before I bought it. Long story short it was stunning. The case is very nice and the charcoal blue is so pretty that I just had to have it. When I got it home I took it apart and gave it a cleaning while looking at it very close. All six nipples are very well made and I have not had a single misfire. The chamber mouths are chamfered slightly that aids in loading.


i have shot this pistol quite a bit so I have had a chance to notice tool marks and any flaws in polish and casting. There are none period! It's timeing is flawless there are no drag marks and the trigger pull was 3 1/2 pounds with just a hair of creep. I am a trigger nut so the fact that I have done nothing is really something.

It shoots 2 to 2 1/2 inches at 25 yards. I have deepened the notch in the hammer so it should be easier to see and not shoot as high. The groups will get smaller if I can see the hammer notch better.

If there was anything that I could change it would be standard blue since the charcoal blue is somewhat fragile. Does it shoot much better than the 125 dollar CVA that I got on Gun Broker? No not really but it's fit and finsh sure draw a crowed. If pride of ownership is important to you I suggest that you strongly consider the Cimarron's! When I contacted them they got back to me in a couple of hours. Their web site shows a complete stock of parts! Whats not to like? Geo. T.

 

[ian45662]

I have a uberti 1860 army that does not really group that well at all. What is your secret?

 

[aeatwood]

I cut group size by more than half on my guns when I went up to .454" balls from .451", and went to 2F bp from 3F. I've got a pietta '61 navy that will shoot < 1.5" if I'm having a good day.

Recipe: full load of 2F, greased felt wad, and a pure lead ball that shaves a health ring when seating. The maximum load that will be accurate is one that will just let the ball center itself in the chamber without interference when the wad is seated on the powder. Your very best load may be 0-5 grains less, depending on the gun.

 

[ian45662]

I will give it a try. Thank you

 

[George T.]

I have been useing both 38 cases and 357 cases for powder measures. The latter is 28 grains of 3F. I also use the 454 and I am useing the ox-yoke felt wad. I have only used Remington #10's. The new ones that claim to be 40% hotter. I am currently useing Schultzen 3F. I am sure that my next trip to the range with the wider and deeper hammer notch will result in smaller groups.

This pistol is so well made and fits so well that the ocassional shot that opens the group from the 1 1/2 it's trying for is on me. By the way this is hand held with my forearm rested on bags. Over the years I have found that if a handgun is rested directly on the bags it will shoot much larger groups than the way I described.

I have used Hornady and Speer swaged balls both do as well as the other. Good luck. By the way the CVA shoots very near as well. Geo. T.

 

I returned one Cimarron because the finish was so poorly done. Lots of scratches and machine marks not removed before polishing, among other things. It took a few weeks but Cimarron shipped me a replacement gun that was better but not great. My first Cimarron is as perfect as one could ever expect an Italian replica to be and one of my favorite sixguns.

 

[aeatwood]

+1 on what Geo T. said about sandbags. Resting the frame is bad, and resting the barrel is much worse. Not only does it open up groups, but it gives you no idea where the Point of Impact is for firing unsupported.

And never ever rest the grip directly on a solid object. or on your supporting hand on a solid object, although that will only take one shot to get the point across. It might even result in a trip to the emergency room, depending on the gun.

 

The frame should be nestled into sandbags for bench testing.

 

[FishDFly]

+1 on what Geo T. said about sandbags. Resting the frame is bad, and resting the barrel is much worse. Not only does it open up groups, but it gives you no idea where the Point of Impact is for firing unsupported.

And never ever rest the grip directly on a solid object. or on your supporting hand on a solid object, although that will only take one shot to get the point across. It might even result in a trip to the emergency room, depending on the gun.

Pistols are meant to be shot one handed, not off a rest.

 

[jaxenro]

I have 5 Cimarrons at present. Over the years I have bought and sold 75 to 100 revolvers, Uberti, ASM, Pietta, yet I only own the 5 today. They seem to be the ones hardest to part with.

 

Pistols are meant to be shot one handed, not off a rest.

Maybe so but if you're testing for accuracy and developing loads, bench testing is the best way.

God also gave me two hands and I use `em.