So... I REALLY want one!

[Charley Hart]

My recommendation is to get a Rem. Colts are fine, but IMO rems are easier for a beginner no wedge pin and stuff to deal with.

Also I always tell people, find someone to go with to help you along. Have them show you how to load, shoot and clean it. This will ensure you don't make the same mistakes they do.

Whatever you choose happy shooting!

 

[dkloos]

Thanks for all the tips. I have decided to go with a '51 Navy revolver, as it comes highly recommended from the unit I am a part of and it is relatively inexpensive. Ideally, I will have a brace of these to accompany my Enfield when dismounted.

 

[RiverRat]

Hangfeyer, The 51 Pietta was my first Colt style pistol and I really enjoy shooting it. The balance and pointability are excellent. The case hardening has some spots, but the blueing is very good. The lockup and timing are good. With 24grs of 3f Goex, I can shoot a 4" group at 20 yds with a two hand hold. I shoot a cast .457 roundball in all my cap revolvers and the loading lever handles that ball very well. I would recommend this pistol.

 

[Legionair]

I have a '51 navy (in .44) from pietta and think it's great. Only problem I've had has been cap fragments in the hammer notch (have to try #10's).

I would reccomend the steel frame over the brass, however. There is some argument as to the authenticity of brass frames and they are not quite as durable (so I hear).

Good luck and let us know how it goes :thumbsup:

Legion

 

[Boomer]

I have a Pietta 1860 sheriff's model. I was quite impressed with there new CNC machineing. Fit & finish are excellant & it appears to be a good shooter to boot (havent found a load it really likes yet).
Overall I like it real well. I dont care for how they mark the sides of the barrel with "Black power only" on one side & Pietta etc on the other. At least Uberti keeps the markings authentic.

Brass frames are authentic especially for Reb guns. There was a major shortage of raw materials in the south during the latter part of the war. They were melting church bells etc to make guns.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Brass frames are authentic especially for Reb guns. There was a major shortage of raw materials in the south during the latter part of the war. They were melting church bells etc to make guns.

I've heard that "shortage of materials" story all my life and I still don't buy it. I don't think it was about a shortage of iron but a shortage of machinery. Iron frames start as a rough forged billet which requires extensive machining where as bronze can be cast very close to final dimentions with little material to be removed and that material is much easier to cut.
Why are brass frames cheaper than steel frames today even though brass is a much more expensive metal? See above. :grin:

 

[Wes/Tex]

I've heard that "shortage of materials" story all my life and I still don't buy it. I don't think it was about a shortage of iron but a shortage of machinery. Iron frames start as a rough forged billet which requires extensive machining where as bronze can be cast very close to final dimentions with little material to be removed and that material is much easier to cut.
Why are brass frames cheaper than steel frames today even though brass is a much more expensive metal? See above. :grin:

I think you're right. I've also heard the church bell story for years, and while possibly true once or perhaps twice the Confederacy's basic problems were lack of industrial machinery and lack of railroad facilities to transport products and personnel. The Spiller & Burr revolvers even have a twisted cylinder line that was a result of twisting the iron blank to add more stability to the metal for strength. Much was make-do at best in the firearms making trade in the South.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

You are correct Joe, the big problem the South had was lack of machinery and trained gunmakers, and ability to transport iron (and make steel from it). When the Feds tore up a railroad track it was difficult for the Corn-feds to repair since tracks (rails) were in short supply.
Also most all the pistols that the south produced came from Atlanta - I think there was one made in small amounts in Texas - which had limited machine shop ability and brass was easier to machine with the tooling available at that time. The south had plenty of raw material to make iron and brass both, just a shortage of foundrys to do so and shortage of shops to make the finished products.
What if the South had been able to produce a steady stream of revolvers and breech-loader guns to arm the fighting man? And also had ability to keep the railroads intact? Most likely an even bloodier conflict for sure. Either way the final outcome, destruction of the South would have been inevitable. The manpower just wasn't there.

 

[cowpoke1955]

If your reenactment unit allows it, the 1858 Remington is worth looking at. The only advantage a Colt type has over a Remington is ease of cleaning. The Remington's solid frame can withstand constant diet of full power loads shooting conicals. The top strap of the Remington's frame makes it much stronger than a Colt. Also, with the solid frames you don't have to worry about spent caps falling off and into the action like the Colts. This causes a heck of a jam. Just my 2 cents.

 

[bob308]

i have bothe colts and remingtons. i would go with the remington in either .36 or .44. they both more powerful then the colt.

i think the rem. is easier to clean take out the cylender and take off the grips put the rest of the pistol in a pan of hot soapy water. take it out dry it spry it down with wd40. and you are ready to go.

 

[FV Rago]

Hangfeyer,

Been lurking on the post, I can tell you from exp. that the Pietta from the Bass Pro shops brass Navy 51 is a great deal. I picked one up bout 4 or 5 years back and have been happy with it.

I did have an older Pietta brass Navy 51 that I was not all that happy with, just seemed too tight.

I also had a Pietta Brass Rem. that was nice and comfy. I have limited myself to two, the first Pietta brass Navy and the Pietta Rem. steel shooters model 45.

If I had to choose between the 70 dollar brass and the 500 dollar steel Rem., prob. go with the Navy Brass, just feels alot better.

Just my buck two fifty.

Good Luck,

Frank

 

[almrl]

I've always heard that the brass frames will shoot loose over time. True or False?

If I had to choose between the 70 dollar brass and the 500 dollar steel Rem., prob. go with the Navy Brass, just feels alot better.

The difference between EMF's brass and steel framed versions is only $40.00 or less.

Old Coot