NGD: Pietta 1858 Remington New Army

[wiscoaster]

New Gun Day

Pietta Remington "1858" New Army .44 caliber.

When I learned from a fellow forum member that Dixie Gun Works offered a larger grip / larger frame version of the Remington 1858 New Army I knew I was going to own one. And when the credit card payment could be deferred until August, why not now? So, arrived today from Dixie for $395:

I haven't shot it yet, just cleaned it up, but it functions perfectly with caps. First impressions (if this sample is representative, and compared to my Uberti Colts):

Pietta's bluing finish beats Uberti's hands down.
Pietta's action required less polishing to make it run smooth.
Uberti's wood grips are far superior to Pietta's.
The Pietta doesn't have a short arbor.
I prefer Colt's load mechanism.
I prefer being able to completely remove the Colt barrel for cleaning.

 

[Ballshooter]

I would citristrip the grips and hand rub an oil finish bet the wood would really look better. I almost got that same gun but ordered a uberti 1851 Navy, I plan on citristriping my grips when I get it.

 

[wiscoaster]

I would citristrip the grips and hand rub an oil finish bet the wood would really look better.

Thanks, you're right, I might do that.

 

[Ballshooter]

BTW your new blaster looks amazing.

 

[wiscoaster]

First shots report:

My Remmie shoots low; about three inches below point of aim at about eight paces. Remmy does NOT like #11 caps. I had two failed to fires because the caps fell off the nipples before the cylinder got around to their chambers. And that was after being sure to seat them well. It does like #10 caps, but they're more difficult to seat on the nipple. But once there, they stayed, and don't tend to jam up the cylinder.

So, I suppose, another order going in to Slixprings.....

 

[tgfrench]

Your Remington may need work done to the hammer or nipples or both.

I purchased a used one that had beat the nipples flat and flared the hammer face.

Perhaps you won't have that issue but you are hereby informed that it can be an issue to be addressed.

Buy a couple hundred round balls at a time. In 1 afternoon you can go through a hundred before you are done.

 

[PluggedNickel]

New Gun Day

Pietta Remington "1858" New Army .44 caliber.

When I learned from a fellow forum member that Dixie Gun Works offered a larger grip / larger frame version of the Remington 1858 New Army I knew I was going to own one. And when the credit card payment could be deferred until August, why not now? So, arrived today from Dixie for $395:

View attachment 234539

I haven't shot it yet, just cleaned it up, but it functions perfectly with caps. First impressions (if this sample is representative, and compared to my Uberti Colts):

Pietta's bluing finish beats Uberti's hands down.
Pietta's action required less polishing to make it run smooth.
Uberti's wood grips are far superior to Pietta's.
The Pietta doesn't have a short arbor.
I prefer Colt's load mechanism.
I prefer being able to completely remove the Colt barrel for cleaning.

As to the short arbor. None of the Uberti Remingtons have one. Only the Colts. You can replace the ram with one made for a Uberti. Uberti’s are made for RB or Conicals.

 

[wiscoaster]

As to the short arbor. None of the Uberti Remingtons have one. Only the Colts. ....

Nice distinction made. It's a Colt v. Remington issue, not a Pietta v. Uberti issue.

 

[Frontstuffer070]

Even though I'm a little late to this revived thread. Nice cap buster Wiscoaster!!

Nice distinction made. It's a Colt v. Remington issue, not a Pietta v. Uberti issue.

There is not a handgun made that is prettier or points (for me that is) better than a Colts design 1860 Army. Love them things. I own a bunch of revolvers. Like them all, but that '60 is my favorite. Just my .02
As far as Pietta vs Uberti. I buy Pietta Open tops, and Uberti top strap cap and ball revolvers.

 

[RiverRat]

Beautiful revolver. I have a newly found love for Remington revolvers because I have a new one myself.

 

[PluggedNickel]

Nice distinction made. It's a Colt v. Remington issue, not a Pietta v. Uberti issue.

In this regard yes, indeed it is. My two favorite things the Uberti Remington NMA has over the Pietta is windage adjustment on front sight, and a rammer that is shaped to load round balls or conicals! The internal parts may be rough from the factory and need slicking up on either gun. At least Uberti doesn’t use MIM parts. The price difference is negligible when you add up the benefits. The Pietta is slightly larger framed than the Uberti if one has large hands. It is nice to have a choice.
In this case I give the edge to Uberti, but I’m not hating on Pietta. I have them too. And in the case of Colt replicas Uberti may have the edge for those who don’t want to bother fixing the short arbor on Uberti.
As others have said at least two NMLRA Champion shooters use the Pietta. It may be the “Shooter” version, or just the regular one they have slicked up themselves or paid a gunsmith to tune for them.