New remington navy shooter-HELP

[TheShadow]

Well, I got a Uberti Remington Navy (36 cal) revolver, and it is a beauty.
Only problem is, it isn't all that accurate and I'm wondering what I'm doing wrong!
I have been shooting 20 grains of FFF(3f)g Goex. When I load, the ball goes about halfway down the cylinder. I have read about the cornmeal trick to fill up the cylinder and I haven't tried that yet-does it really make a huge difference?
Anyway, I'm a pretty good pistol shot so I don't think it's me (although that is ALWAYS possible!). I just don't seem to get good groups with this gun.
In the real world, what kind of range should I be shooting at? I was hoping to use this gun for small game but now I'm wondering...
Any suggestions?

 

[Blizzard of '93]

unaware of any Remington 'Navy' model but yes filler to bring the ball closer to the chamber mouth helps accuracy when using low powder charges. you might give felt buttons a try also.

 

[mykeal]

I have a Pietta 1858 Remington Navy:

It's a .36 cal with a 7 1/2" barrel as opposed to the New Army in .44 cal and 8" barrel.

I have not had problems with accuracy; I shoot a little heavier load (22 gr 777 fffg, which is about 26 gr fffg Goex, under a lubed felt wad and a .375 rb) I would suggest a little heavier load.

And I can't help but think the sights are not optimum. They are better than Civil War era Colts, to be sure, but they take some getting used to in my opinion.

I generally shoot percussion revolvers at 25 yards max, sometimes moving in to personal protection distances of as close as 7 yards. They perform as well as my Ruger .22 cal Single Six. However, others have had good success at up to 50 yards.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

I see, perhaps it's designated 'Navy' by Pietta due to the .36 caliber. I'm unaware of an original Rem. Navy model. Zonie are you watching?- weigh in here?

 

[Zonie]

Actually Remington made two "Navy" pistols during the Civil War.
The first was patterened after the "Old Model Army" .44 but were slightly smaller. About 8,500 of them were made in 1862.

When Remington came out with the "New Model Army" they also created a new Navy pistol with the same design features. Between 1863 and 1865 they produced about 22,000 of these .36 cal guns.
(Ref "Flayerman's Guide")

zonie

 

[Poor Private]

Whats the price on this bad boy? and where did you get it? I love my "58" Remy by Uberti.

 

[mykeal]

Whats the price on this bad boy? and where did you get it? I love my "58" Remy by Uberti.

Cimarron imports the Uberti .36 Remington and it's available from them directly, from their outlet at Texas Jack's and from Arms 2 Armor:[url] http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/BlkPowder/CA110-58RemNavy.htm http://www.texasjacks.com/BlkPowder/TJ-CA110-1858Navy.htm http://arms2armor.com/store/product15.html[/url]

Midway, Taylor's and Thunder Ridge all sell both the Pietta and the Uberti versions:[url] http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=311355 http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=377590 http://www.taylorsfirearms.com/products/bpRemingtonCollection.tpl http://thunder-ridge-muzzleloading.com/revolvers.htm#remarmy[/url]

Arms 2 Armor also sells the Taylor's Uberti import, as does October Country:[url] http://arms2armor.com/store/product349.html http://www.octobercountry.com/products3.php?productid=919[/url]

The Possible Shop sells the Uberti also:[url] http://www.possibleshop.com/uberti.htm[/url]

 

[Blizzard of '93]

first time I've checked 'the possible's shop' link. my,my, I wish I wish!
like the looks of that revolver carbine.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Welcome to the Forum!!

You may want to try using 22-24 grains of 3Fg and a wonder-wad over the powder to fill-in some of that empty space in the cylinder. Uniformity in everything that you do in BP is the key to success! Even the same amount of compression on the charge in each chamber helps to control the spread on the groups. Measure each charge before you even get to the range with a good powder measure and then put the Goex into some sort of plastic tubing like I bought at Dixon's Muzzle Loading in Kempton PA.

When you get to the range, simply pour in the powder from the little tubes and now you've taken away another variable in the BP game: Bad charges thrown in haste, not the same from chamber to chamber.

Let us all know if this helps, and good shooting!!

Dave

 

[arquebus]

I have one of the (Pietta) Remington .36 revolvers that I bought from Cabelas a couple of years ago for $179. Once I got the trigger pull down to a manageable level it's been a heck of a shooter. I do all my shooting at 25 yards or meters & use 22gns Goex 3Fg with a little CofW between it & a Hornady .375 RB & a smear of Wonder Lube over each chamber. From a two-hand benchrested hold it'll put a cylinder full of balls into a sub 2" group. However, I do all my competition shooting one handed, but it'll still hold the 9-ring on a B-19 (ISU 25yd Slowfire) target.
When developing a load I would certainly recommend using a benchrest. Also, eliminate as many variables as possible. I use pre-measured powder charges, stored in vials, that I load in the chambers via a small funnel to make sure it all goes in. I think using the CofW over the powder certainly helps by bringing the ball up close to the chamber mouth, thus reducing the amount of free-travel before it contacts the rifling, plus it helps me seat the balls to a more consistent depth.

 

[TheShadow]

Thank you all for the help. I will be getting out there and shooting as soon as I can, and I'll try out your tips.
Thanks again!