Is it just me? Pietta rant

[CoyoteJoe]

Aw heck Joe I can find a lot more to complain about. You are correct that you do get a lot for $200. As to more machining than a Ruger Blackhawk. I don't know about that. Both companies use a lot of mim (metal injected molding) parts and cnc machines for the machining so I doubt there is a great if any difference."

It would certainly seem easier to bore a cylinder straight through than to bore it part way from the front, part way from the back and cut threads in between. It would seem much easier to turn a round barrel and screw it into a one piece frame than to machine the front of the frame as part of the barrel, bore arbor and alignment pin holes, cut the wedge slot and fit the two parts together. There is certainly a lot more machine time in making a loading lever assembly and fitting it to the barrel than to make an ejector rod and housing.
The Ruger Old Army sold for double the price of the cap & ball imports yet Ruger discontinued it because it was a looser for them.

"Anyway it does make for an interesting discussion and I wonder how many C&B revolver shooters were under the impression that the way Pietta fit their wedges was the way it is supposed to be?

Yes, I'm sure few people never really thought about it. I've encountered quite a few people at the range having very noticeable hangfires at every shot who didn't realize anything was wrong, they thought that was just the way muzzleloaders work. :haha:

 

[gjr902]

Gun Touch up, update. 20 seconds with some sand cloth, removed 2 tiny burrs, and the barrel slides on and off just like its suppose to. 20 seconds, probably took them longer to pound the barrel on than it would have to de-burr it. Its all good now :thumbsup:

 

[Norinco]

The barrel on mine could just be pushed on with some force, but to remove, you need to half cock and then use the loading ram.

 

[Big Iron]

For what it's worth, I just wouldn't buy from Pietta. If enough folks did this, they would clean up their act. Of course, if you get an 1858 Remington.......no wedge!

BI :grin:

 

[Norinco]

That's what I'm getting next.

I wonder if anyone has actually contacted Pietta about this problem? I think it's one of those "someone else will do it" problems.

 

[Poor Private]

For what it's worth, I just wouldn't buy from Pietta. If enough folks did this, they would clean up their act. Of course, if you get an 1858 Remington.......no wedge!

BI :grin:

I agree, we keep on buying substandard guns and then wonder why the quality is bad. As long as they sell them as is, and people keep buying them, they aint gonna change.
Also with all the returns back to the stores like Cabelas' and such it would seem they would start throwing a hissy fit at the manufacturers. I mean it must cost the stores a pretty penny in labor for all the returns and restocking and price reduction to "as is" pistols. I have read here of certain people returning up to 3 guns of the same model by the same manufacturer because of quality-how many times do you have to do that before you get the idea that that model is a piece of manure? Thats why I only purchase what I can handle. If I can't pick it up and go through it for quality manufacturing I don't buy it.
It seems to me that manufacturers would be smart and send a rep to monitor BP forums like this to get picture of what the public wants, and thier complaints- but if no-one is complaining I guess they feel they are on the right trrack.

 

[Sharps1863]

I bought a NEW uberti Open top conversion in 45LC When it came home from the dealer, I went to take it apart to clean the oil off of it and could not get the barrel off. It would not budge. So back to the dealer it went, and his response was "I would have to ship it back to the company, he just sold them. Last time I bought from him. So I contacted Uberti. Gave them the serial number and they said that the revolver was 2 years old "new never fired in the box"and it was not covered under warranty anymore. Last Uberti I bought. Ended up taking it to a Gunsmith and He got the barrel off. It had a big long Burr Jammed between the barrel assembly and the cylinder base pin. After this was smoothed up, The barrel went on and off with ease. So its just not peitta brand that has problems. For Myself I now prefer 1858 Remington's.

 

[gjr902]

I have learned quite a bit about these guns over the past few weeks. As these were my first two, I just assumed that they were going to be "prefect" out of the box. Silly me. I feel I have a decent gun at a decent price. You do get what you pay for. And for what I payed, I'm doing ok. Most of all I have learned to take my time at the counter. Not just open the box, but take the gun out, work it, take it apart, check it over completely. Cabelas had a dozen of these guns on the shelf. I should have done my part too.

 

[Sharps1863]

One thing about Cabalas they will stand behind the product if you have a problem with it for the most part. Did you try and return it for another one? I ordered a 1858 Remington from Cabalas last month. I have no problem with it. Fit and finish were perfect action is smooth and crisp. It is as good as my $400 single action. For half the price. Like anything you can get a lemon sometimes, I know I have in the past.It also helps to know alittle about gunsmithing sometimes.

 

[ebiggs1]

I stopped buying Pietta's all together. Just the amount writing they put on them is annoying. I only get Uberti’s now. Around here Uberti's do cost more so maybe there is a reason.

 

[nkbj]

One thing about Cabalas they will stand behind the product if you have a problem with it for the most part. Did you try and return it for another one? I ordered a 1858 Remington from Cabalas last month. I have no problem with it. Fit and finish were perfect action is smooth and crisp. It is as good as my $400 single action. For half the price. Like anything you can get a lemon sometimes, I know I have in the past.It also helps to know alittle about gunsmithing sometimes.

Just a (repeated) word to the wise...
Cabelas will honor the sale to the person they sold to. Cabelas does not stand behind their merchandise (even if new in the box and unfired) if they did not sell it to you personally.

It's a darn shame TC doesn't make a percussion revolver. Preferably one that would take a .530" ball.

 

[Sharps1863]

Most places won't stand behind the same product bought from another store. I know I would not.
But like one of the other forum members stated Pietta has come up along way in their quality of product, but they still have some work.You have to remember too these are mass produced guns not hand made and fitted so you will not have the best tolerance in metal to metal fit. Like I said it pays to know a little about gun smithing. They are some good books out there about basic gun-smithing and metal and wood working. a good set of smoothing stones an a good file will work wonders to an action, as long as you go slow and take off what is needed. I found too the more you work the action the better it will get. It will wear itself in just by setting in front of the T.V. working the action on your "UNLOADED gun this will help a slightly tight action and stiff trigger.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

One thing about Cabalas they will stand behind the product if you have a problem with it for the most part. Did you try and return it for another one? I ordered a 1858 Remington from Cabalas last month. I have no problem with it. Fit and finish were perfect action is smooth and crisp. It is as good as my $400 single action. For half the price. Like anything you can get a lemon sometimes, I know I have in the past.It also helps to know alittle about gunsmithing sometimes.

Just a (repeated) word to the wise...
Cabelas will honor the sale to the person they sold to. Cabelas does not stand behind their merchandise (even if new in the box and unfired) if they did not sell it to you personally.

It's a darn shame TC doesn't make a percussion revolver. Preferably one that would take a .530" ball.

If T/C made a revolver it would cost two grand and I still wouldn't bet it will work! :haha:

 

[brubincam]

-----YEAH--BUT--you get the lifetime warranty-----

 

[wolffeone]

I bought a Uberti 1860 Army 2 years ago when I was at Dixons. I asked Gregg, an owner, to take a look at it, check the action, etc. Before I knew it, he had the pistol in pieces, put it back together and said it was fine. Incredible customer service. Thats why I go to Dixon's 3 or 4 times a year, even though its a trip from my house. Can't wait till the 23rd.

 

[Leatherbark]

I just picked up a Navy Arms Reb 60 in 44 that was made in 1979(Pietta).......I've been smoothing things up on it and I have noticed how different it sounds when cocking it..............I wonder if the older machined parts are the reason. It sounds more like a real Colt when cocked compared to todays Piettas. The clicks are crisper and just sound better if that makes any sense?...............

Well this old Pietta had about 1/16th inch of play in front of the cylinder pin when it was placed in the barrel.......I found a brass washer and drove it into the barrel hole to take up the slack but the end of the hold is tapered(from the drill bit i guess)so I believe I'll cram so JB into there to level things off also as the washer bent to match the end of the hole.........Still it seemed to take out the slack. This gun was fired very little if any.....................

One thing I noticed is that the forcing cone on this 1979 model looks much better than Piettas now.........I've got a couple of 36 Navies from Pietta that absolutley never had a forcing cone whatsoever..........Bob

 

[nilo52]

The reason I Bought My Uberti Dragoon (wich by the way worked Perfect out of the box ) Was Reading All The Bad "stuff" (used as a noun) Wrong With The Pietta Products. In This Economy $200.00 Is A Real Cunk Of Change For Some Of Us. :shake:

 

[CoyoteJoe]

In This Economy $200.00 Is A Real Cunk Of Change For Some Of Us. :shake:

And incredibly cheap for a brand new revolver. It is perfectly natural to want Smith & Wesson quality at Iver Johnson prices but that's not at all realistic.

 

[Sharps1863]

My 1858 Remington "pietta" Is a very slick actioned pistol for $200.00, shoots good, no problems with it what so ever. When I get the money I'm getting the 5-1/2 inch barrel model to go along with it. Myself I prefer the Remington over the colt style. But others shoot the colt better. but far as quality they have come up since they 1st started.

 

[Leatherbark]

Well I just got a wild hair and took advantage of Cabelas $20 off coupon and along with some points I had bought a Remington in 36 caliber........I've had boo-koo's of 44's in this model but never a 36.

That 36 Remington Pietta is the best Pietta to date. The cylinder bolt was polished and perfectly timed to drop directly into the cylinder slot without any drag whatsoever.

After filing down the front sight I"ll swear that gun will shoot nice round 2 inch groups at 25 yards with 25gr of 3f Goex and a .375 cast ball with an occasional flier or two that will open the group up more, but there will be 4 or 5 of the shots touching or close to so maybe that is probably my aiming. But dang if a squirrel gets withing 15 yards of me I believe I can head shoot it with this gun.

Now Pietta Colts are a different matter in the bolt locking. I bought a steel frame 60 Colt Pietta last year and it started buggering up the cylinder notches immediatly. The bolt barely entered the notches and slapped the sides of the notches peening them.

I wonder if it is just different workers at the factory doing different levels of workmenship?

Bob