is there something like the best beginner percusion revolver

Handling is going to be subjective, based on what feels good in your hand. Most would say the 1851 is one of the best-pointing firearms of all time. However, I offer this: the 1858 is probably the easiest to take apart for cleaning.

When in doubt................do some more home work. Opinions are at time helpful but biased as well.
Leaning before buying usually leads to ......".that`s the one." J s/n.

I have a strong opinion that the steel frame 1858 Remington is overall the best black powder gun, as well as the best starter BP gun. If you buy multiple cylinders and pre-load them you can reload it in 5 seconds easily.

Ruger Old Army, hands down the most reliable, most accurate and durable smoker available, but I guess over inflated prices, and somewhat limited availability negate that somewhat. Second would be the Rogers and Spencer, same limitations as the ROA, which leaves the 1858's New Army by any importer. As much as I love the Colts, and I own several models, I would not recommend as a first gun, too many quirks unless set up by a competent smith. As SAV.250 points out in reply three, biased opinions abound, mine own also, but based on first owning a Traditions 1860 Army, back when they were $99.00, which I still have and shoot, and a ROA second, also back when they were under $250.0, which I still have and shoot. Did not get a Remington style until many years later. Except for the fouling issues regarding cylinder rotation a good choice, a second cylinder or loading off gun addresses that issue quite nicely. If you are anything like the average shooter on these pages, one will not be enough.

I would suggest the full length barrel '58 Remington.
I have the short barreled version too. I like it, but the short loading lever makes reloading a bit tougher.

Yes. In my own, obviously unbiased, opinion, it's called the Remington New Model or 1858. In all things it is superior to the contemporary Colt designs with their weak, fiddly barrel wedges and jam-omatic, cap wedging cylinders. It feels like a proper revolver and has a rear sight that actually bears some relevant relationship to the front sight. The Rogers & Spencer is even better but they are rather sparse these days. And, as noted above, the anachronistic Ruger Old Army is the best of the bunch, but they are quite expensive these days, whereas Cabelas offers Pietta 1858s at sub $300 from time to time.

The Colt fanboys will be along shortly, spouting nonsense about their inferior toys in impotent rage. Humor them, the poor sods.

RPRNY said:

Yes. In my own, obviously unbiased, opinion, it's called the Remington New Model or 1858. In all things it is superior to the contemporary Colt designs with their weak, fiddly barrel wedges and jam-omatic, cap wedging cylinders. It feels like a proper revolver and has a rear sight that actually bears some relevant relationship to the front sight. The Rogers & Spencer is even better but they are rather sparse these days. And, as noted above, the anachronistic Ruger Old Army is the best of the bunch, but they are quite expensive these days, whereas Cabelas offers Pietta 1858s at sub $300 from time to time.

The Colt fanboys will be along shortly, spouting nonsense about their inferior toys in impotent range. Humor them, the poor sods.

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yep I am a pure colt fan! and I will stand on that and I suggest a 1851 colt navy they are super great!! I own two and want more!!

Another vote for the Remington New Model Army in .44 cal. In my opinion, Uberti makes the best copy.

I don't know what the gun laws are in Austria, but cartridge conversion cylinders using the .45 LC cartridge are available without restriction in the States.

The Ruger Old Army is the strongest and most reliable. While it is the most expensive by far, you will be able to sell it for at least as much, and probably more than you paid for it, if you keep it for a few years. You will lose money buying any other percussion revolver and then trying to resell it later on.

For a starter, I would recommend a Remington 1858. No cap jams or barrel gap issues Colt's can get. My Remington cylinder doesn't bind, it runs pretty smoothly. Someday I will send it to Goons Gun Works to get it perfected. The Colt's do handle better and have a great feel to them, but they get cap jams quite often. Replacing the nipples with Slix Shots and/or smoothing the hammer face will reduce cap sucking, but the way to eliminate it is to have a cap post installed in the frame to block the spent caps from coming back into the workings of the gun.

I'm a little confused about one part of your post, do you mean you're not sure how to load a black powder revolver? If so, it's quite simple. First, set a powder measure to your desired charge, (if it's a .44 let's say 30 grains for example), and pour that charge into a chamber. Next, place a lubricated felt wad on top of the powder, and then place a round ball over the chamber mouth (for a .44, .451 or .454 diameter) and rotate it under the loading lever, and push it down. then place a percussion cap on the nipple and you're ready to go.

The Ruger Old Army is more expensive. But unlike the reproductions the ROAs are one of a kind and Unique. Ruger Engineers used the good points of the Rogers & Spencer to create the ROA. The price will continue to increase as they are a serious collector's firearm. There are many changes in the ROA. The price range runs from around $400-$1,200 dollars depending. I have a few model changes in my Ruger collection.

i have both colts and remingtons. i go along with the rem folks as starter revolver. the uberti rem is more $ but you get a dovetailed front sight and ram keeper post. i do run powder, lubed felt wad, ball and add some over ball lard. i find it keeps the cylinder turning, after repeated firings.

I like my EMF Hartford Pietta Remington NMA .44 for shooting and cleaning.

I like all of them for collecting.

In the words of Dickens' Oliver "I'd like some more please!"

The NMA just fits my hand better than the Colt clones.

I suggest you find a brick and mortar gun store and try holding the various styles or, better yet, find a range where the BP shooters will let you try their favorites.

agent00 said:

.. I want to get started in blackpowder shooting, and now I wonder if there is something like a best beginner pecusion revolver, concering the handling, or does everybody handles the same? ...

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In my opinion, the best answer is simply whatever makes you happiest. Ideally that would also be one you can buy in Austria without a lot of trouble, is affordable, and has a good base of users in your area, but if a particular gun appeals to you, it is probably the right choice for you.

I don't have the range of experience some folks here have when it comes to different models, but I have enough experience to think that every one will give you some challenges to overcome. That's part of the fun of them actually.

The first C&B I ever shot was an 1860 reproduction that as a family we bought my father as a gift many years ago. He had never fired a C&B either so we learned the quirks and challenges together. Was it the "best choice"? Maybe not, but we had fun. Nowadays I have Rugers, various reproductions, and even an NAA mini C&B but I still enjoy shooting that same 1860. Maybe your version will be an 1858 reproduction, or a Walker reproduction. None are perfect but if they get you out shooting they are the right choice.

Oh, but not an NAA mini. There is such a thing as too many challenges.

Don't overlook the single shot pistols.

Very fun and FAR less problems than what can happen with the revolvers (cap jams etc. etc.).

Start with an Uberti 1858 add a Pietta 1851 &/or 1860 down the line.
You can't just have one.

Fix for Colt open top cap jams:
http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/colt_cap_and_ball.pdf

If you can get them without the high tariff, the Feinwerkbaugh Remington copy is far and away the best out there including the highly over rated Ruger, and yes I have a Ruger and yes it's good, the Feinwerkbaugh is far superior in my opinion. My $00.02 spent.

The Remington versus Colt situation is kind of like Chevy versus Ford.

I think that the Uberti 1858 (Remington) is a good place to start, but an Uberti 1862 Pocket Police (Colt) is a good place to end up.

Would you be interested in selling the Ruger Old Army? I have one of the Euroarms which made the Fienwerkbaugh, Roger & Spencer revolver. The last time I contacted them on these revolvers, No Parts!! They are good reproduction but not of the Uberti class as quality and finish is concerned. I have shot matches with my Fienwerkbaugh R&S.

I own both the Remington and the colt and love them both, but the 1858 is the best one to get started with. But if your like me you will have several before you know it.

Dog Soldier said:

. I have a few model changes in my Ruger collection.

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<Gulp >

Nice batch of revolvers !

Dog Soldier said:

Would you be interested in selling the Ruger Old Army? I have one of the Euroarms which made the Fienwerkbaugh, Roger & Spencer revolver. The last time I contacted them on these revolvers, No Parts!! They are good reproduction but not of the Uberti class as quality and finish is concerned. I have shot matches with my Fienwerkbaugh R&S.


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My Euroarms R&S is my most accurate pistol. I had it defarbed, all the visible Italian markings removed from the barrel except the serial number, an Uberti dove tail front site installed, the timing tuned, and the gun polished and reblued. It was an absurd expense but it is a remarkably good looking pistol and shoots both cap and ball and BPC in the conversion cylinder with remarkable accuracy. But, as you note, very limited parts availability