Pietta 1858 Review

[Hylander]

This is my new unfired Pietta 1858 in .44 made in 2011, originally sold by Cabelas.
I purchased it new/unfired a couple of weeks ago.
Well it was new/unfired :grin:
Bluing is very nice, I would say not as nice as most Uberti's but close.
Metal fit and finish is great, the brass to steel fit is near perfect with no sharp edges.
Wood fit is pretty good but could be a bit better, wood is a little proud.
Trigger pull is heavy, maybe #4+ with much creep, actually has a little bit of creep then stops and then creeps until it breaks. For caps, Remington #10 fit perfect, CCI #10 are to tight and do not seat all the way down,
CCI #11 fall right off. Initially the revolver shot 4" low @ 25yds, a bit of filing on the front sight and elevation is dead on, however it shoots 3.5" left. I will have to have the barrel indexed proper or have the barrel cut
for a dovetail front sight. Cylinder locks up frog butt tight and timing is pretty darn good but not perfect.
Grooves Slug .451
Chambers Mic .446 for all 6

This Bad Boy can shoot :guntootsmiley:
At the range other shooters where just amazed that a BP revolver could shoot such good groups, this thing makes me look good.
Overall I am one Happy Camper.

Load:
.454 RB, home cast from a LEE mold.
30gr. 777 FFF
Wonder Wad under ball



This is the very first group fired at 25yds.
This was 6 rounds @ 1.45"

This is the last group fired at 25yds.
This was 8 rounds @ 1.27"

 

[pargent]

:thumbsup: That's a keeper , are you sure the chambers are .446 and not .456 ?

 

[Hylander]

:thumbsup: That's a keeper , are you sure the chambers are .446 and not .456 ?

Yes .446
This is the norm for Pietta.
I was going to open up the chambers to .450 but it shoots to good to mess with

 

[pargent]

:hmm: Not in any of mine.

 

[swathdiver]

Yes .446
This is the norm for Pietta.

None of mine either. Mine come out .447 to .449 and grooves vary from .448 to .4515 depending on the gun. Some are 2012 vintage, other date back to the 1980s.

 

[BGRooster1]

Goes to show the inconsistency of these low price copies

 

[pargent]

On all of mine the groove measurement is smaller than the chamber measurement .

 

[dcriner]

CCI #11 fall right off

Best to replace the factory nipples with ones for #11 caps. #10 caps are hard to come by.

 

[George T.]

Right now most are! However Gander Mountain has Remington 10's. In Texas anyway.

Geo. T.

 

[Hylander]

CCI #11 fall right off

Best to replace the factory nipples with ones for #11 caps. #10 caps are hard to come by.

Wanting to try the Slix Shot nipples, but do they come sized for #10 or #11 ?

 

[M. De Land]

What often happens is some folks try to mic inside diameters with a caliper and their readings are usually short of actual diameter. They must be either slugged and cross mic'd or use a plug gauge which is probably more accurate as they are precision ground perfectly round and the chambers often are not.Mike D.

 

[M. De Land]

Nothing broke with that gun and I'd leave it alone!
I would like to slug and cross mic your chambers for myself though. Mike D.

 

[swathdiver]

On all of mine the groove measurement is smaller than the chamber measurement .

You shootin' .36s by chance?

 

[Hylander]

What often happens is some folks try to mic inside diameters with a caliper and their readings are usually short of actual diameter. They must be either slugged and cross mic'd or use a plug gauge which is probably more accurate as they are precision ground perfectly round and the chambers often are not.Mike D.

I used my digital calipers, don't have anything else to measure them with. Wish I had some plug gauges to get a more precise measurement.

 

[M. De Land]

You can load a dry ball into the chamber and then pull it with a sheet rock screw and cross mic with your calipers. I do so routinely as well as with my one inch mic.
I pull the cylinder and put it in a padded vice, center and screw the sheet rock screw into the ball and pull it with pliers.
The screw in the ball makes a handy handle when you are doing your mic'ing.
You might want to lube that chamber a bit so the ball will come out more easily. MD

 

[WV MZL HUNTER]

Great gun! I posted on the 7th about this same gun in .36 cal. I picked it up today. It's older but looks new. I also picked up a CVA .45 cal. single shot cap pistol. I got them both for $160.00 I don't remember how to post pictures, I have not posted for a while but my "new to me"gun looks just like this one.
I hope it shoots as well as yours! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Hylander]

You can load a dry ball into the chamber and then pull it with a sheet rock screw and cross mic with your calipers. I do so routinely as well as with my one inch mic.
I pull the cylinder and put it in a padded vice, center and screw the sheet rock screw into the ball and pull it with pliers.
The screw in the ball makes a handy handle when you are doing your mic'ing.
You might want to lube that chamber a bit so the ball will come out more easily. MD

Hi M.D.
I will do that tonight and report back the findings.

 

[Hylander]

You can load a dry ball into the chamber and then pull it with a sheet rock screw and cross mic with your calipers. I do so routinely as well as with my one inch mic.
I pull the cylinder and put it in a padded vice, center and screw the sheet rock screw into the ball and pull it with pliers.
The screw in the ball makes a handy handle when you are doing your mic'ing.
You might want to lube that chamber a bit so the ball will come out more easily.

I did this tonight.
Chambers measure .446

 

[BowerR64]

I cant believe it shoots that good with chambers smaller then the barrel.

Imagine how good it will shoot if the chambers were larger.

You might have 1 hole after all 6 shots.