Perfect revolver?

[nkbj]

There's an extra .36 Pietta 1858 in the fun room. Over the years, after having the .41 made to experiment with, I'd thought about a .43 to use the off the shelf supply of modern day .429"-.430" molds and of course the ever available .440/.445 round ball. A little extra cylinder strength compared to the .44 Pietta, better for full charges of the more energetic powders. Rifling recut to suit heavier .43 bullets. Perhaps have the chambers stepped to provide initial alignment when loading. This is just something I've thought about but the potential is there for a favorite if not perfect piece.
If I had some 1860's style breech loading carbine that used the same bullets then yeah, maybe that could be pretty dang close to perfect.

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Jim,
Thank you for the clarification. Very good of you.
My middle finger is all arthritic, so it has a hard time with a conventional trigger -guard these days. It gets whacked, whereas with the double trigger it is safely out of the way!
Best of times and shooting for you Jim.

Richard.

 

[smoothshooter]

Hi All and Happy New Year to each and everyone!

What is the perfect revolver for you? I've pondered this a bit as I've acquired a number of percussion revolvers, mostly Colts, but some Remingtons, and a single action Starr; all but one are reproductions. I have nearly completed my Colt collection - I have to find a Paterson, but I have every other model, from the Walker to the .36 pocket models. I do have an 1855 Root, my only original, which I have not tried to fire. I have fired all the others, most more than once. All this is to say that my experience is largely limited to the post-Paterson Colt models, plus the "1858" Remington and SA Starr. My first revolver was/is an Uberti 1861 Navy, and since that purchase I've acquired some number north of 50, but I've also traded or sold many of those. I still have around 37 or 38 (who counts?) and some are obviously duplicates.

From my limited experience I would have to say that for me, the 1851 Navy is the "perfect" revolver. I like the feel in my hand, the weight is manageable (unlike the Walker and Dragoon models that preceded it) and I think it's a handsome firearm. I like the 1849 pocket model, but I also like the extra "oomph" of the larger caliber. The 1860 Army, while only slightly heavier, nonetheless is a bit clunky for my stubby fingers. Some prefer the more streamlined look of the 1860 Army and later 1861 Navy, but I like the direct, form-follows-function of the 1851. I can easily understand why the 1851 Navy was so popular. (I've attached a pic of one of my 2nd Gen 1851s, acquired recently from a fellow forum member.)

I especially like my Uberti 5-inch 1851. I have read that there is some documentation that Colt produced a few 1851s with a 5-inch barrel, so this is not an Italian fantasy gun. It is about three ounces lighter with the shortened barrel, but the feel and handling are also very different with the shorter barrel. I highly recommend it. (Pic also attached.)

So, what do y'all think? What percussion revolver or other handgun do you think is "perfect"?

Where is the nozzle for that powder flask?

 

[kh54]

Where is the nozzle for that powder flask?

I’m surprised you noticed. That case was made to fit an original Colt flask, which I understand would be a bit smaller than the reproductions. Rather than redo the partitions I just took off the spout. It’s in the case. I may yet change the partitions or find an original flask, but the only ones I’ve seen have been in the thousands of dollars. Too rich for me.

Thanks for looking.

 

[Stantheman86]

These are pretty much perfect, since I can shoot them out to 100 yards like hand-held revolving rifles

 

[Ed C.]

I only have 3 BP revolvers to compare but they are good representatives of the basic models of the time. The Walker...the most fun to shoot and accurate at long ranges, but always have to be fiddling with removing caps from between the cylinder and frame to keep it rolling. And it doesn't take long before I'm using both hands to shoot it. 1858 Remington...also very accurate, feels much better in my hand than the walker, a little barrel heavy, but a dirty gun to shoot. I put some very light groves in the cylinder pin which helps to keep the cylinder from binding up. 1851 Navy...this would be my carry gun back in the day. Feels great, a gun that lends itself to point and shoot, and very rarely do I ever have to stop shooting other than to reload.

 

[smoothshooter]

I’m surprised you noticed. That case was made to fit an original Colt flask, which I understand would be a bit smaller than the reproductions. Rather than redo the partitions I just took off the spout. It’s in the case. I may yet change the partitions or find an original flask, but the only ones I’ve seen have been in the thousands of dollars.
Thanks for looking.

Makes sense to me. I would detach the spout but keep it in the case as well.

 

[nick_1]

My local gun store that is notoriously for price gouging (#11 caps wrer$18.50 last time they were in stock) has two Ulberti walkers. one with the cylinder engraved and and looks like stainless cylinder? the other blued and case hardened. i just saw the tag on the blued cylinder and it was $650.00

 

[smoothshooter]

I had those pistols when I was a teenager and never thought much of it other than I hope that the origionals worked better than those reproductions did. I loved how they handled but they both stopped functioning after a few thousand rounds. since then i only own remington copys... if you guys really feel that the open top colt repros are solid guns i might have to give another try at them.... just scored 31 lbs of scrap lead today

The steel-framed open tops are just fine as far as staying tight goes.
If you can afford to fire several thousand rounds thru one of those to the point that it gets loose, you can afford to buy another gun to replace it.
We should all be so lucky as to wear out guns.
I do not expect my chainsaw, lawn mower, electric drill, or pickup to last forever.
Why should my guns be any different?

 

[nick_1]

I do expect guns to outlast me. my 1911 has over 250k rounds through it and still works. its a bit loose . you can field strip it by slapping it against your hand... and keyholes occasionally at 50 yards but 25 and under it still hits decent and goes bang ..

 

[springfield art]

Hi All and Happy New Year to each and everyone!

What is the perfect revolver for you? I've pondered this a bit as I've acquired a number of percussion revolvers, mostly Colts, but some Remingtons, and a single action Starr; all but one are reproductions. I have nearly completed my Colt collection - I have to find a Paterson, but I have every other model, from the Walker to the .36 pocket models. I do have an 1855 Root, my only original, which I have not tried to fire. I have fired all the others, most more than once. All this is to say that my experience is largely limited to the post-Paterson Colt models, plus the "1858" Remington and SA Starr. My first revolver was/is an Uberti 1861 Navy, and since that purchase I've acquired some number north of 50, but I've also traded or sold many of those. I still have around 37 or 38 (who counts?) and some are obviously duplicates.

From my limited experience I would have to say that for me, the 1851 Navy is the "perfect" revolver. I like the feel in my hand, the weight is manageable (unlike the Walker and Dragoon models that preceded it) and I think it's a handsome firearm. I like the 1849 pocket model, but I also like the extra "oomph" of the larger caliber. The 1860 Army, while only slightly heavier, nonetheless is a bit clunky for my stubby fingers. Some prefer the more streamlined look of the 1860 Army and later 1861 Navy, but I like the direct, form-follows-function of the 1851. I can easily understand why the 1851 Navy was so popular. (I've attached a pic of one of my 2nd Gen 1851s, acquired recently from a fellow forum member.)

I especially like my Uberti 5-inch 1851. I have read that there is some documentation that Colt produced a few 1851s with a 5-inch barrel, so this is not an Italian fantasy gun. It is about three ounces lighter with the shortened barrel, but the feel and handling are also very different with the shorter barrel. I highly recommend it. (Pic also attached.)

So, what do y'all think? What percussion revolver or other handgun do you think is "perfect"?

My gunsmith is very familiar with BP guns and has shortened a few for me, rifles and at least one perc. replica revolver.

 

[hrt4me]

I do not expect my chainsaw, lawn mower, electric drill, or pickup to last forever.
Why should my guns be any different?

I still fire my 1837 and 1845 pepperboxes; my original Colt 1849, 1851, 1860, 1862; my original Smith carbine, etc. They are not worn out and should outlast me

 

[kh54]

These are pretty much perfect, since I can shoot them out to 100 yards like hand-held revolving rifles

View attachment 195485

Nice pistolas! But tell us about them. How new? Uberti? I like the cylinder in the white. I did the same to my Uberti. I also stripped the bluing on the barrel then cold blued it. It gave it a worn look.

 

[Stantheman86]

Nice pistolas! But tell us about them. How new? Uberti? I like the cylinder in the white. I did the same to my Uberti. I also stripped the bluing on the barrel then cold blued it. It gave it a worn look.

This is a pair of Ubertis I bought together from Sportsman's Guide, they aren't far apart at all with their serial #'s. They're 2021 production.

I saw pics of originals and other repros made to look like originals, with the unblued "iron " cylinder and I loved the look. So I dropped the cylinders in paper cups full of vinegar. Of course Uberti then released those "Lonesome Dove" models with the white cylinders but I liked doing the job myself anyway.

They love 55 grains of 1F and .454 round balls. I can usually hit a silhouette target out to 100 with them

 

[Stantheman86]

The steel-framed open tops are just fine as far as staying tight goes.
If you can afford to fire several thousand rounds thru one of those to the point that it gets loose, you can afford to buy another gun to replace it.
We should all be so lucky as to wear out guns.
I do not expect my chainsaw, lawn mower, electric drill, or pickup to last forever.
Why should my guns be any different?

Putting a few 1000 through a cap and baller takes some dedicated effort. If I was able to get the range time in to start shooting my percussion revolvers loose or wearing parts out, I'd honestly feel pretty good about it

My Uberti London Navy must have over 5,000 through it. I used to go out into the woods behind my parents house when I first got it in 2008, and pop off light loads of Pyrodex, whatever a half full or so 9mm case full is and lead balls. It was a relatively quiet load so I wouldn't bother the semi-distant neighbors as I'd routinely blow through 100 round balls a few times per week after work.

Then I met my future ex-wife and stopped walking around in the woods blasting cans and trees. I still have that gun and shoot it regularly. The .36's hold up pretty well

 

[kh54]

I’ve never shot a pistol more accurately than I did with my Uberti Walker - a three inch group at 50 yards. But I did shoot from a bench. I’m not great offhand with any handgun.

 

[Stantheman86]

I’ve never shot a pistol more accurately than I did with my Uberti Walker - a three inch group at 50 yards. But I did shoot from a bench. I’m not great offhand with any handgun.

I blasted up this target at about 40 yards offhand, just shooting in the pistol pit at my club having fun. Using a tree as a brace, one handed , two hand hold, taking a knee, sitting in a beat up folding chair I found.

They are easy to hit with even one handed, relatively easy , but they get heavy. The big boom rolled across the hills behind the range, and the whole half of the club was fogged up with blackpowder smoke. You can't beat it

 

[Sir Boniface Harrison]

Got my Pietta 1858 Army just over a year ago - very pleased. Out of the box, no additional work needed. I'm told Ubertis are marginally better, but I reckon I have a good one here. I was considering getting a Spiller and Burr, but tales of brass framed revolvers shooting loose has put me off. I will probably get a 1851 Colt Navy, as they seem to be universally popular, and then leave it at that as far as revolvers are concerned, 'cos I do enjoy long guns more.

 

[Stantheman86]

I've been getting away from long guns and shooting more revolvers just out of pure convenience, laziness and the fact that I've always been a revolver enthusiast since I was a kid

It's just easier for me to pack up 1 or 2 percussion revolvers and go shooting. I can always use them in the "rifle areas" of my gun clubs but not Vice versa. They are way more versatile and I can have just as much fun blowing smoke and putting holes in things

I am about to pay off the layaway on my Uberti 1858 18" carbine , so now I'll really be versatile

 

[Stantheman86]

And I honestly feel like I'm doing my best to see if the new brass frame Colts actually "shoot loose". I have 3 brasser .44's that I don't make any effort to keep loads light in, and I shoot 20-30 grains of bp, or pyro , it doesn't matter. Apparently Pietta uses a better brass alloy that actually lasts now