Piettia Police revolver

[ZVP]

I have had about 11 months to get used to this revolver and I have to admit that I am hooked on it! The .36 caliber revolver is just about sized perfectly, with it's 5 1/2" barrel and Navy sized frame/ The frame allowsPiettia to take a large step away from the actual Colt Police and it uses a 6 shot cylinder rather than a 5. The larger Navy frame is a boon over the smaller (origonal) .32 caliber frame. No owner mods are needed to make it shoot reliablly as is often needed by the little .31's. No frame opening or filing to open cap clearance.
You just open the box and take the Piettia out shooting! a heck of a deal for Cabela's $249 price!
Since the new has worn off I have settled on a 22gr load of Pyrodex some filler to bring the balls closer to the forcing cone, a greased felt wad, capped with # 11 Remington caps pinched in place. The load gives adequate power with good GP accuracy. Groups run around 2 1/2" @ 21 ft which translates to good combat accuracy. No the Piettia isn't a tackdriver as My Uberti/Colt London is, but it shoots about as good as I do when plinking or at the range. I have yet to try Conical .36's in any of my small revolvers and I wonder if they might aid accuracy? Factory Swaged Ball ammo seems to shoot best. I haven't yet gotten into casting my own ammo.
Generally speaking the Piettia Police is a short barreled 1861 Colt copy that is a real fine shooter, very well made and finished, with it's steel frame, able to handle full powder charges. Priced right for anyone to afford!
If you are into .36 revolvers and aren't afraid to veer away from exact copys you ought to give this one a try I think you'll be as suprised as I was!

BPDave

 

[Patocazador]

I just got a Pietta .44 "Navy" Sheriff's model with a 4 7/8" barrel. I was surprised how well it shot with .451 round balls and 20 grains of 3FG. Good groups at 15 yards. It only cost $149 at Cabela's with $5 shipping.

 

[Pancho]

I'm so happy that you all are happy with your purchases. My only wish is that the italians would get the names of their fantasy guns more accurate. A 44 cal. navy indeed.

 

[BHP FAN]

The .44 ''Navy'' may have never been made, but I submit that it should have been. I also think that if you tossed a loaded Pietta brass framed .44 Navy out of your time machine onto an 1860's Civil War battle field, no one would cry ''farb''. They'd scoop it up, and use it.

 

[Pancho]

As I understand it a "Navy" 44 was not made because the Navy never considered having to kill horses during naval engagements. The 36 cal. was adequate enough to kill humans.

 

[StrawHat]

The 44 was not made on the 1851 frame but there were several 40 or maybe 41 caliber revolvers made. Colts was trying to up the caliber of the revovler and made some experimental model. They were also experiment with the new Bessemer steel (I think) or Silver steel and with that new alloy the 1860 was possible to make. With the outbreak of the war and Military contracts, the decision was made to drop the 40s and proceed with the 1851, the 1860, and the 1861. There was no need nor ability to design, produce and promote a 44 caliber 1851.