1851 out again, AKA, what the heck is the matter here?

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armoredman

armoredman

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I really like this Pietta 1851 Reb revolver. Yeah. it's the cheapest you can get but it was a gift, and it's just plain fun.
I also had to try out some new toys in the picture, a plastic powder flask and a brass powder measure. Last time it was me loading with a plastic Lee dipper - took forever...this took less time. Still took a while.

12 15 2020 2.jpg
So you will notice that today I was using #10 caps. Why? I had them and I wanted to see how they would work...the answer is TERRIBLE. I could not force them all the way on and in just 11 rounds I had MANY misfires, that fired the second time. The caps are just way too tight. However, I was also watching my son learn to shoot next to me, with a professional teaching him, so I didn't shoot all that much....obligatory photo, professional face blacked out as I don't have, and never WILL have permission to post his face. Son had a BLAST - hooked! SCORE!
Ricky professional 1.jpg
Second target at ten yards actually didn't look too bad, as I was more concerned with getting the dadgum thing to FIRE than be slow fire accurate. Go figure. I also lowered the powder charge to 15 grains of the Holy Black, Goex FFFG.
12 15 2020 1.jpg
Even though it was only 11 rounds, I still cleaned the ever lovin' daylights outa this thing. I will go back again with the #11s and see how it goes. I really, really, really want an 1858 now...but in the meantime this is my Biden proof revolver.
 
armoredman said:
I really like this Pietta 1851 Reb revolver. Yeah. it's the cheapest you can get but it was a gift, and it's just plain fun.
I also had to try out some new toys in the picture, a plastic powder flask and a brass powder measure. Last time it was me loading with a plastic Lee dipper - took forever...this took less time. Still took a while.

View attachment 962944
So you will notice that today I was using #10 caps. Why? I had them and I wanted to see how they would work...the answer is TERRIBLE. I could not force them all the way on and in just 11 rounds I had MANY misfires, that fired the second time. The caps are just way too tight. However, I was also watching my son learn to shoot next to me, with a professional teaching him, so I didn't shoot all that much....obligatory photo, professional face blacked out as I don't have, and never WILL have permission to post his face. Son had a BLAST - hooked! SCORE!
View attachment 962945
Second target at ten yards actually didn't look too bad, as I was more concerned with getting the dadgum thing to FIRE than be slow fire accurate. Go figure. I also lowered the powder charge to 15 grains of the Holy Black, Goex FFFG.
View attachment 962946
Even though it was only 11 rounds, I still cleaned the ever lovin' daylights outa this thing. I will go back again with the #11s and see how it goes. I really, really, really want an 1858 now...but in the meantime this is my Biden proof revolver.
Click to expand...

Ya know...you can have them slicked up to be way smoother than most cartridge guns and just as dependable. Put a torsion spring set up to replace the stamped steel trigger/bolt spring...adjust the cam and bolt timing, add a cap post and hammer sheild, tighten up the cylinder gap....and you will have a gun that is super smooth, never jams, and the brass frame will be able to handle stiffer loads. Lemme know if interested...i do the work and have done a few members guns here on the forum
 
TheOutlawKid said:
Ya know...you can have them slicked up to be way smoother than most cartridge guns and just as dependable. Put a torsion spring set up to replace the stamped steel trigger/bolt spring...adjust the cam and bolt timing, add a cap post and hammer shield, tighten up the cylinder gap....and you will have a gun that is super smooth, never jams, and the brass frame will be able to handle stiffer loads. Lemme know if interested...i do the work and have done a few members guns here on the forum
Click to expand...
I wish I could afford such work, amigo. Poor state slave. It would be awesome.
 
There is some good posts on here on how to put a cap rake on an 1851.

I have put one on my 51 36 cal and one on my 44 cal.

On my 44 I opened up the shield with a dremel and the spent caps just roll off, added slix shot nipples, and use Rem 10 caps with 454 balls. It is Bad A$$ now. 20200923_195309.jpg
 
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Some places sell them as much as tresos but if you shop you can get them cheaper. I got mine for 20 shipped and shared it with the forum and some folks ordered them at about the same price.
 
armoredman said:
I wish I could afford such work, amigo. Poor state slave. It would be awesome.
Click to expand...

Lol yes it can be expensive, i dont charge much as i dont do it for a living...i do it as more for a hobby to help forum members out with an affordable tune up... and to pay extra therapy sessions for my autistic daughter as shes 5 years old and only gets so many sessions covered by insurance. So i do this on the side...its a win/win situation for me and the customer...i get extra therapy for my daughter and the customer gets an affoedable slick up job on their gun to make it a whole lot more enjoyable. The difference is night and day when you use a tuned gun.
 
I understand and can relate - my best friend in the whole world has two autistic adult children. I will have to see if I can squeeze the nickle until the Indian screams.
 
sorry you had a frustrating time, it can happen. My worst even was last time I put lube over the top of the balls, and it was way too liquid. Forgot now what I used, but it was a warm day. Each shot sent showers of liquid into the empty neighbor chamber, and of course I didn't know this until I loaded them all again....and no bangs. I mean the back of the chambers were flooded with goo. Had to bring it home, pull the nipples, and put some water in chambers to make me feel safe, then use a small wooden dowel to drive out the balls from the back.

My rule is, that even if I just fire one round, it will get the full cleaning!
 
armoredman said:
I wish I could afford such work, amigo. Poor state slave. It would be awesome.
Click to expand...

Dont get discouraged. My 1851 44 was my first. It was a major disappointment for me. A heck of alot of trial and error, a ton of reading on here and endless hours watching you tube. I almost gave up on BP guns. There was a few times I would chunk it in the parts box. But I kept going back to it.

The cap rake, Stainless nipples Rem.caps fine Emery cloth on all of the internal parts, it worked pretty good. But when I opened the gap on the sheild... that was a turning point for me and the difference between a trout line weight and a shooter.
 
The caps kept binding after being fired. Not each time but very often. They would expand just enough to keep the cylinder from rotating.
So I opened it up making the " exit ramp" for lack of better terms..alot bigger. I read about it somewhere or saw it on youtube.. I figured it sucked as is, so taking a dremel to it won't hurt anything .

This isn't the best picture . I'll break it down and get a better picture tonight.
20201218_051233.jpg
 
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Ahhhhhhhhh the spent cap port! Yes, you can also add those to the models that didn't come with them.
Thanks.

Mike
 
All these modifications can be done "easily" by a lot of people...trick is to know what and where to modify. I always encourage others to DIY but some folks are hesitant and understandably so....a little tweaking in the wrong area or over tweaking can make the gun a paperweight until a new part or gun tuner/smith fixes it. It took a whole lot of experimenting on my own guns, many ruined replacement parts, tons of research and getting help and feedback from others that know what theyre doing...such as Mike (45 dragoon). So if you are going to do modifications on parts inside...be sure to buy some spare parts just in case.
 
Pocket said:
The caps kept binding after being fired. Not each time but very often. They would expand just enough to keep the cylinder from rotating.
So I opened it up making the " exit ramp" for lack of better terms..alot bigger. I read about it somewhere or saw it on youtube.. I figured it sucked as is, so taking a dremel to it won't hurt anything .

This isn't the best picture . I'll break it down and get a better picture tonight.
View attachment 963540
Click to expand...

Is that a brass-framed '62?
 
armoredman said:
I really like this Pietta 1851 Reb revolver. Yeah. it's the cheapest you can get but it was a gift, and it's just plain fun.
I also had to try out some new toys in the picture, a plastic powder flask and a brass powder measure. Last time it was me loading with a plastic Lee dipper - took forever...this took less time. Still took a while.

View attachment 962944
So you will notice that today I was using #10 caps. Why? I had them and I wanted to see how they would work...the answer is TERRIBLE. I could not force them all the way on and in just 11 rounds I had MANY misfires, that fired the second time. The caps are just way too tight. However, I was also watching my son learn to shoot next to me, with a professional teaching him, so I didn't shoot all that much....obligatory photo, professional face blacked out as I don't have, and never WILL have permission to post his face. Son had a BLAST - hooked! SCORE!
View attachment 962945
Second target at ten yards actually didn't look too bad, as I was more concerned with getting the dadgum thing to FIRE than be slow fire accurate. Go figure. I also lowered the powder charge to 15 grains of the Holy Black, Goex FFFG.
View attachment 962946
Even though it was only 11 rounds, I still cleaned the ever lovin' daylights outa this thing. I will go back again with the #11s and see how it goes. I really, really, really want an 1858 now...but in the meantime this is my Biden proof revolver.
Click to expand...

I see you have a flask with a spout, and a measure on the bench there. Are you pouring your charge from the flask, into the measure? As you know, if you just trim that spout down to throw the right charge, you can cut your reload time about in half. With a capper, lubed bullets, and a flask with the right spout, you can cut that down to about 1/4 time, or shorter. Of course there are combustion-cartridges, fastest of all, but that's a whole other story.

When out in the field hunting/hiking/trekking/exploring, I carry a small horn with spout, lubed bullets in a civil war cap-pouch, and a inline capper around me neck, when packing a cap-n-ball revolver. Just like the Natural Man. If I'm packing a flintlock, then I use the pistol horn with spout to prime my pan. Eliminates my packing my priming horn. I also carry six combustion-able cartridges, just in case I'm in really dire straights, and those extra seconds would save my life. !!!!

Wow, at first I thought that instructor had gone full on, mad-dog mask crazy. Covering up his eyes too, so that no kooties could get in. !!! :) Oh yeah...it may be biden proof, but it won't pass the Harris test.
 
Oh and by the way, nothing wrong with that Reb. My first C&B revolver was the "Yank". It was a good reliable pistol. Don't know who made it, but probably if yours is a Pietta, and it's a "Reb", then they probably made the "Yank".
 
armoredman said:
I am liking the hobby, and want more, when I can. That snub 1851 is quite awesome looking, sir.
Click to expand...

That was my first, and boy was I discouraged. I remember taking it completely apart the first time and had to watch You Tube to learn how to put it back together.
If it wasn't for this forum I probably would have given up.
I paid $149.00 for it so I figured I would use it to learn on and I wouldnt be out much.

This one has become my favorite.
 
armoredman said:
I really like this Pietta 1851 Reb revolver. Yeah. it's the cheapest you can get but it was a gift, and it's just plain fun.
I also had to try out some new toys in the picture, a plastic powder flask and a brass powder measure. Last time it was me loading with a plastic Lee dipper - took forever...this took less time. Still took a while.

View attachment 962944
So you will notice that today I was using #10 caps. Why? I had them and I wanted to see how they would work...the answer is TERRIBLE. I could not force them all the way on and in just 11 rounds I had MANY misfires, that fired the second time. The caps are just way too tight. However, I was also watching my son learn to shoot next to me, with a professional teaching him, so I didn't shoot all that much....obligatory photo, professional face blacked out as I don't have, and never WILL have permission to post his face. Son had a BLAST - hooked! SCORE!
View attachment 962945
Second target at ten yards actually didn't look too bad, as I was more concerned with getting the dadgum thing to FIRE than be slow fire accurate. Go figure. I also lowered the powder charge to 15 grains of the Holy Black, Goex FFFG.
View attachment 962946
Even though it was only 11 rounds, I still cleaned the ever lovin' daylights outa this thing. I will go back again with the #11s and see how it goes. I really, really, really want an 1858 now...but in the meantime this is my Biden proof revolver.
Click to expand...
If you want some muzzleloader supplies that are great to use(wads, bullets, anti-rust & patch lube, custom made powder horns: go to https://www.bs-bp.com (BUCKSKINS & BLACK POWDER). I got a custom Bison Powder horn there and it is gorgeous! Got some lube there too!
 
Pocket said:
That was my first, and boy was I discouraged. I remember taking it completely apart the first time and had to watch You Tube to learn how to put it back together.
If it wasn't for this forum I probably would have given up.
I paid $149.00 for it so I figured I would use it to learn on and I wouldnt be out much.

This one has become my favorite.
Click to expand...
I have a repro 1847 Colt Walker .44! That thing is a blast to shoot. It is now my favorite.
 
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