Navy 1851 or Remington 1858?

[M. De Land]

I have always liked the one piece frame of a Remington including the grip.
The cylinders in the two I have owned come out with nothing but finger pressure.
I also much prefer the rigid head spacing and overall strength advantage in them.
I also prefer an adjustable rear sight on the back of the top strap rather than a notch in an hammer nose that is not adjustable.
Truth is the Remington is a superior design in just about every way imaginable but I still won't give up my 62 police or 60 Colt replicas. Mike D.

 

[Chilidog]

I prefer the Colt 1851 and 1860.

Their natural pointability because of the grip shape and location just feels better to me.

Yep :thumbsup:

 

[William O.]

Remingtons all the way, the Colt design as well as the grips don't point naturally for me. Back when I was doing the CAS thing I had a brace of blued and SS Remingtons with the 5 inch barrels and was competing in the gunfighter category; blaze away and ring steel all day with those, when I was loaned a Colt (1860?) cap and ball I had to slow down and take aim and still wasn't as accurate with it. Then came time to load the thing for the next stage! :hmm: I could load all four Remington cylinders on my loading stand before my buddy got just one of his Colts done.

 

[CaptainKirk]

I presently have 8 Remingtons of various makes and configurations, and a couple Navies, plus a number of other Colts. I think (personally) the Remington is a better designed, stronger, and more innovative design.I also think the Colts look sexier, and point instinctively like nobody's business. Try them both out and see which feels better in your hand,if you have the opportunity before making a decision.

 

[crockett]

Thanks for all the input, I think some of you misunderstood my original question. I've shot Colts for over 40 years but never a Remington. I'm thinking maybe it's time for a Remington- they look like big rugged guns. The frame looks strong. On a Colt, I think it is easy to strip the gun for cleaning. How does the Remington compare? As easy or more difficult to take down?

 

[crockett]

The other thing, do Remington's also shoot high like the Colts or to point of aim?

 

[PRM]

Again, it's about as broad as it is long...

Colt: Knock out wedge and pull the barrel and cylinder off.

Remington: Drop the loading lever, pull the cylinder pin and take the cylinder out.

Neither are difficult or time consuming.

The Remington's shoot more to point of aim like a modern revolver.

Since you seem familiar with the Colt...Check out the Remington video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3rj89cqQQ8

 

[Paul_R]

Thanks for all the input, I think some of you misunderstood my original question. I've shot Colts for over 40 years but never a Remington. I'm thinking maybe it's time for a Remington- they look like big rugged guns. The frame looks strong. On a Colt, I think it is easy to strip the gun for cleaning. How does the Remington compare? As easy or more difficult to take down?

Well as for ease of cleaning it kind of depends on your preferred method. I like to clean all my black powder guns in a tub of hot soapy water, rinse, oil & done. Since the action mechanism doesn't need to be stripped and cleaned every time, my method is typically easier with Colts.

There's a couple of videos in this thread showing the basic differences of the two here:

Cleaning Remington & Colt revolvers

Now here's a comment sure to inflame a few though that's not my intent: If I were to go to a store with getting a "big rugged gun" as my only criteria and had a choice of a Colt or Remington, I would not be leaving with a Remington. Colt wins that contest hands down in my hand.

That's not to say there's anything inherently inferior about Remington, far from it. As has already been stated, Remington really is a superior design. It is functionally better. It just doesn't feel like the same solid club of a weapon as the Colt does. At least in my hand. I'll stand by Virgil Cole's comment: "Colt makes a heavy firearm. That's a fact."

:grin:

 

[bpd303]

I found the perfect pistol as far as the point-ability of the Colt & ruggedness of the Remington...The Rogers & Spencer, my new favorite.

 

[M. De Land]

I was just thinking how wonderful that we don't all have the same favorite gun! :grin: :grin: MD

 

[William O.]

Thanks for all the input, I think some of you misunderstood my original question. I've shot Colts for over 40 years but never a Remington. I'm thinking maybe it's time for a Remington- they look like big rugged guns. The frame looks strong. On a Colt, I think it is easy to strip the gun for cleaning. How does the Remington compare? As easy or more difficult to take down?

I think the Remington is easier to clean and maintain plus it's a far more rugged design plus you can get conversion cylinders for them to shoot .45 LC. If that is your cup of tea then go with the Kirst conversion and not the R&D version.

 

[cynthialee]

I was just thinking how wonderful that we don't all have the same favorite gun! :grin: :grin: MD

Oh that would be horrible!!!
Just getting a gun would require a long wait on a back order list.

 

[Pete G]

I agree with the comment about getting both, but if you have to make a choice it might depend on where you are. If you are in one of those places where they own snow removal equipment, the by all means get the Remy; it is historrically correct, but if you are where they serve grits and sweet tea, go with the navy six, which was the preference of almost all Southern gentlemen..

Incidentally, I was 14 years old before I learned that damyankee was really two words.

 

[donniethekidd]

I've read a few opinions that the Colt's suffer damage to the wedge area after a while of heavier loads. Typically I've only read of this issue with the Walkers. There's no telling what powders they used.

eh the wedge can be peened on the sides to elongate the metal so the point of the wedge damage is null and void but it does happen

 

[briantllb]

I like them both. I shoot one then the other. I give them equal time on the range. I just purchased a Colt 1849 and a Remington 1863 (on there way)and can't wait to get them to the range and see how they shoot . :v

I have both the 1849 Colt pocket and the Remington NMA I love them both, but they are not Repros so I rarely shoot them.

 

[Smokerr]

The Remington will be quicker to remove the cylinder and less complex than the Colt.

Still hard to beat the visceral feeling of the Colt, if you can shoot them you can certainly beat them to a pulp with one of them (and more so the Walker and Dragoons!) - I like shooting the Remington but if I get another gun its going to be a Walker.

Incidentally, I was 14 years old before I learned that damyankee was really two words.

Nope, we are all one long swear word. You can get further North than I am but you are getting awfully close to Polar Bears.

 

[45D]

eh the wedge can be peened on the sides to elongate the metal so the point of the wedge damage is null and void but it does happen

Wedges get "beat up" because of an ill fitted revolver. They are generally not driven in tight enough to do their job therefore, the "loose assemblage" is detrimental to the "whole".

Mike