Showing off my C&B revolvers

[drobs]

Just showing off my Cap & Ball Revolvers. These are all Pietta's.

Newest addition - 1851 Navy. Picked this one up during the last $50 off sale at Cabela's. Finally got a chance to shoot it a couple weeks ago while I was home on vacation.

I mostly shoot at a 25yd steel gong in my backyard but wanted to know where this was shooting on paper. I'm blaming the 2 flyers on sweating hands.

Groups were shot at 21ft with 20grs of FFFg Goex, .375 Hornady ball, and Remington #10 caps. I note the gun shoots closer to point of aim than my 1860 Army Pietta's below. Didn't need to compensate for elevation as much as my 1860's.

Here's my pair of Pietta 1860 Army Revolvers. 1 was bought new from Dixie Gun Works the other bought used from Gunbroker. The used one came with a conversion cylinder but was missing the percussion cylinder, which I ordered from Cabela's.

21ft group using 30gr of Graf's FFFg, wonder wads, Hornady .454 ball, and Remington #10 caps:

Lastly a pair of Pietta New Model Army revolvers.

Spent a little time shooting the short Sheriff, 2 weeks ago, while I was home on vacation. I put a Wolff reduced power mainspring in both of them and note the actions seem significantly smoother.

Groups weren't worth showing off and I figured out why. My homemade lube is too sticky. I was finding felt wads under my gong, meaning they are sticking to the ball as they travel down range.

 

[drobs]

One more.

This is a combination of an 1860 steel frame bought from ebay and a fantasy brass frame 1851 style 44 Navy. It's non-functioning right now.

I think the hand needs shortening but I really need to just try swapping hands / parts with my other guns to see if I can get it working.

Maybe I'll play with it on my next vacation, 4 to 6 months from now.

 

[ZUG]

That must be a bear to load with that short rammer :hmm: :grin: :v

 

[azmntman]

Cheater bar for a revolver :hmm:

 

[Gee Dog]

Hey Drobs - lookin good there.

When you installed those Wolff Springs on your Remington’s did they drop in ok or did you have to fit them some?

Using a piece of garden hose over the rammer, a glove, with a pistol stand for leverage and just about anything can get loaded, eventually.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

A most handsome assortment of revolving pistols indeed! I commend you, sir!

 

[drobs]

The Wolff mainspring (part # 32280) dropped right in on my pair of Pietta 1858's.

I read Uberti Remington 1858's use the same spring but have no 1st hand experience.

The springs reduce the hammer tension allowing 1 hand cocking + I think they make the whole Pietta Remington action feel better / smoother.

Link to the springs: https://www.gunsprings.com/COLT/SINGLE ACTION ARMY - COWBOY ACTIONS/cID3/mID1/dID96

Link to a discussion on the $15 Pietta 1858 improvement:
http://1858remington.com/discuss/index.php/topic,5248.0.html

 

[drobs]

If I get that shorty 44 working, I think I can fab up a copy of a Slix Hand (cheater bar) using short piece of copper pipe and a dremmel tool.
http://www.longhunt.com/storelh/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=256

 

[drobs]

Thank you Sir.

 

[drobs]

A quick note. I bought the full size Pietta NMA back in 2001 w/ a Kirst conversion cylinder on a whim. At the time I was living in Illinois and got a laugh out of assembling a cartridge revolver out of items delivered through the mail - no FFL/4473/Foid card required.

I shot the gun a couple times at an indoor range, found the action to be horribly gritty, and shelved it for 13 years.

In 2014, I pulled it out of the gun safe, got some instruction from experienced BP shooters on another forum and fired it for the 1st time with Pyrodex pellets, Hornady ball, and CCI caps. I was hooked.

The rest of the above guns were bought in the years following 2014. I now find I enjoy BP more than my cartridge guns. I think there is something in that BP smoke that is addicting.

 

[Redstick Lee]

 

[MSW]

these posts should come with a drool warning!



nice collection

 

[drobs]

Just don't tell em I like Colts better than Remingtons!

 

[drobs]

I want 1 more 36 Cal 1851 Navy.
Possibly one of these short barrel Sheriff's on that GB auction site.

I should buy one of those Uberti Colt Walkers that are on sale for $275 right now on GB but just am not that interested in them at the moment.

I'm sure I'll be kicking myself in a few years for not buying one.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Those that buy a '58 Remy and immediatly throw in a conversion cyl. need to introduce themselves to a '75 Remy and leave the smoke chooglers as they be mmm hmmm.

 

[azmntman]

:hmm: indeed

 

[Redstick Lee]

i've never understood the reasoning behind that......in the original configuration the revolver pictured is my most accurate revolver, of 10 (7 of which shoot modern cartridges)......it's even more consistently accurate than my .357 El' Patron Competition SAA from Taylors.

 

[Gee Dog]

I've been wondering that very thing, for years.

 

[drobs]

For what I paid for the C&B revolver and conversion, I could've easily bought a used to new Ruger Blackhawk back then.

In my case I was trapped in suburbia. The nearest outdoor range, that allowed Black Powder, was at least an hour away. Most, if not all, close by indoor ranges in the area forbade the use of BP.

I think being able to walk outside the house and shoot, without the police being called, is more conducive to BP.

Generalizing, I think those that grow up in the country are more likely to have BP experience as a 1st or 2nd firearm. City / suburban dwellers, born and raised, aren't likely to have any BP experience.

I do agree these guns are far more accurate and more enjoyable in the original configurations.

 

[nkbj]

Doesn't look like much.



But it shoots these very well.