Really have an urge for a Black Powder Revolver. Top of the list right now is the Remington 1858. Obviously a modern replica. What manufacturer and options would you guys recommended ? - I cut and pasted this from where I posted earlier in the general forum.
New to Black Powder - What Revolver?
- Thread starter Milamber
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Legionnaire
Contributing Member
Hard to beat the Piettas from Cabela's. Just checked: currently on sale for $179.99 for either the 8-inch or 5.5-inch model. The 8-inch is more historically accurate, of course. Order today and get free shipping, too.
Hoof Hearted
Member
Don't forget that if you have issues, like poor quality control or are unhappy with the grips, or poor polish or damn near any regrets, you can call Cabela's and they'll ship you another and issue a call tag for the "defective" pistol!
Hard to beat that.............
Hard to beat that.............
Armored farmer
Member
Definately the best deal going is Cabela's Pietta '58 Remington. The 8" is correct as Legioneer said. I think the 5 1/2" may not be historically authentic, but man is it a great gun. I have one of each, and much prefer the 5 1/2".
Fingers McGee
Member
To put it succinctly:
Easiest way to get started is with a '58 Remington clone - brass, iron, 8", 5 1/2", doesn't matter. Colt copies can have issues and take a little more work to get running reliably.
Easiest way to get started is with a '58 Remington clone - brass, iron, 8", 5 1/2", doesn't matter. Colt copies can have issues and take a little more work to get running reliably.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
Agree with kbbailey. I have one of each, too, but if I were going to keep only one, it would be the 5.5". I bought a nice cross-draw holster from Dan Brooks and it's the cat's meow. Gratuitous picture below ...
Ultravox
Member
I love my 1858 Remington with the 8" barrel, but I plan on buying an 1860 Army as soon as funds allow.
MCgunner
Member
I own both. The Colt points better, but the Remmy shoots better and to point of aim, or mine does anyway. I think the Remmy makes a better starter. You'll want both eventually, and probably an ROA, too. 
tom e gun
Member
the 1858 is a remmington with a top strap that many see as strengthening the revolver and the 1860 is a colt open top design. completely different weapons, though they both come in .44 calibor and various barrel lengths. i currently own an 1860 pietta colt clone and am curious about the 1858 remmies to be honest. they seem like an interesting gun to try out with quite the large fanbase on here
and yes, the steel frame version of any BP firearm is prefered for using cartridge conversions due to the fact that steel is stronger than brass though there are some that have claimed that the modern replicas arently truely brass and are a stronger alloy but this i dont know for sure. to be safe if you are planing on using cartridges at some point, just go with the steel frames. (plus i believe the manufactures of the converters all say steel frame only just in case)
and yes, the steel frame version of any BP firearm is prefered for using cartridge conversions due to the fact that steel is stronger than brass though there are some that have claimed that the modern replicas arently truely brass and are a stronger alloy but this i dont know for sure. to be safe if you are planing on using cartridges at some point, just go with the steel frames. (plus i believe the manufactures of the converters all say steel frame only just in case)
robhof
Member
If you're like many of us, you'll end up with at least one of each or more, also check out the ROA(the Hummer of B/p pistols). They stopped making them, but there's many NIB's floating around.
Indy4570
Member
The simple fact that the barrel does not come off an 1858 Remington makes it a better starter gun. The colt versions rely on a wedge to hold the things together. That being said, I LOVE my Walker and shot it today. My 1858 remmy with a 5.5 barrel is supposed to be in tomorrow, I hope so! Many of us are waiting on Cabela's to get our 58s back in stock.
Hoof Hearted
Member
Buy one of each but don't leave them un-attended.....they tend to multiply!
FreddyKruger
Member
J-Bar
Member
I agree, handle before buying. The Remmie just does not feel nearly as comfortable in my hand as the open top Colt.
MCgunner
Member
I don't know why "how it feels in your hand" should take precedent over how it shoots. If you can't hit squat cause it shoots 8" high at 25 and does good to hold a 6" group from the bench at that distance, so what if it feels good to hold. :banghead: The Colts do point better for point shooting, but the rudimentary sights and zero sight in at 75 yards (or so they say) add to reduced effective accuracy for plinking in my experience. Yeah, my Navy is wonderful to sit around the house and hold, but when plinking at 25 yards on 8" falling plates, the Remmy is the one to be shooting if ya wanna HIT one....well, except that the ROA has 'em both beat.
Don't misunderstand, I love the Colts for what they are, but I'd definitely get the Remmy first....or an ROA except that ROAs ain't cheap and aren't made anymore. I ain't sellin' mine, I can tell ya that!
arcticap
Member
Every Remington manufacturer produced different size grips each having their own fit and comfort level. The Pietta grips currently made may be among the largest, and if uncomfortable then try some of the other Remington clones that have been made over the past 50 years. Some of the makers even changed their own grip size over the years. Look at how Kwhi43 adapted Pachmayr Presentation grips to fit his customized Remington target model which was originally a .44.
Folks find these grips to be quite comfortable with very little modification needed from the original ROA/Blackhawk Pachmayr Presentation grip to make them fit.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=7502671&postcount=1
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=7756348&postcount=3
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=7502671#post7502671
Folks find these grips to be quite comfortable with very little modification needed from the original ROA/Blackhawk Pachmayr Presentation grip to make them fit.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=7502671&postcount=1
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=7756348&postcount=3
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=7502671#post7502671
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MC, being able to shoot both guns and compare would be ideal, as I said. Failing that, holding both guns in the shop is next best. It can give you at least some idea of how well the grip(s) fit your hand, balance, where it "points" etc. It's better than buying blind.I don't know why "how it feels in your hand" should take precedent over how it shoots. If you can't hit squat cause it shoots 8" high at 25 and does good to hold a 6" group from the bench at that distance, so what if it feels good to hold. :banghead: The Colts do point better for point shooting, but the rudimentary sights and zero sight in at 75 yards (or so they say) add to reduced effective accuracy for plinking in my experience. Yeah, my Navy is wonderful to sit around the house and hold, but when plinking at 25 yards on 8" falling plates, the Remmy is the one to be shooting if ya wanna HIT one....well, except that the ROA has 'em both beat.
Don't misunderstand, I love the Colts for what they are, but I'd definitely get the Remmy first....or an ROA except that ROAs ain't cheap and aren't made anymore. I ain't sellin' mine, I can tell ya that!
And I'm glad you prefer the Remington NMA, that's fine and dandy. But it feels incredibly awkward in my hands. Natural point of aim aside, I feel like I am holding some amorphous blob. The only thing I've held that was worse is the ROA. I don't know about you, but I tend to shoot guns better when the ergonomics are better. I shoot mine (1860 "Colt" Army) better than I shoot my autoloaders, and I was pretty happy with the accuracy I was getting from them. But just because they happen to work well for me, doesn't mean that meat-mitts-Matt or petite-paws-Pam will find them equally well fitting (and useful).
There is a reason there is so much variety in the world of guns. One flavor isn't for everyone.
Cheers.
MCgunner
Member
My point is, that unless point shooting is your prime concern, how the gun "fits" your hand is superfluous to how it's going to shoot. It ain't like it's going to fall out of my hands, that I cannot grip the thing well enough to aim and fire it. What's important is that it's accurate.
Now, if we were talking defensive firearms, you MIGHT have a point, but I can get used to anything, frankly. I don't particularly like Tokarev grip angles for point shooting, but I can hold it without it falling out of my hands. I can even fire one and hit what I aim at. I shoot all manor of autoloaders and DA wheel guns, worlds apart in grip and grip angle, not a problem, I adapt, don't need to adapt the gun. Practice makes perfect even point shooting.
But, BP guns don't need to point fast and well, they're not about self defense. They should, however, be accurate. I have been shooting handguns for over 40 years and BP for over 35 and I haven't really found the handgun I cannot grip well enough to aim and shoot well with it. There is no instance that a gun was not useable for me simply because of the grip or "feel". Edit this, the NAA mini revolvers need a larger grip. I can't even get a finger around one to hold it steady, but I have folding holster/grips on my 3.
People have this same complaint about Glocks. Well, ya know what, I can shoot a Glock. Don't really like 'em for other reasons, but I never had one slip out of my hand due to the feel of it.
And, one of the absolute worst FEELING guns to grip for me is a 1911. Yet, I've won shoots with 'em. I can improve 'em with fatter grip panels, too. If "feel" is important to you, all I can tell ya is you'd better pick some gun models up to compare, because everyone's hands are different and what one shooter prefers another scorns.
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MC, I don't know about you, but I don't make a habit of buying things I don't like. After picking one up, a person may just not like the Remington.
Choosing between the ubiquitous families of C&B's pretty much falls down to preference, unless you are going to tell us that one is undoubtedly superior. I don't see any advantages that are tangible enough to make a difference to most people.
But happy shooting to ya, no matter what you happen to make smoke with.
Choosing between the ubiquitous families of C&B's pretty much falls down to preference, unless you are going to tell us that one is undoubtedly superior. I don't see any advantages that are tangible enough to make a difference to most people.
But happy shooting to ya, no matter what you happen to make smoke with.
MCgunner
Member
I agree, no Glocks in my house. Might get a G36 someday, though, with personal trigger mods to make it more DAO.
I do have a '51 colt, couple of Remmies, and a ROA, though. I own each for different reasons. It's all good, hard to make a truely BAD black powder choice IMHO. I want a Howdah and a LeMat someday, but they're a little pricey and Cabela's don't seem to want to put those on sale.
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arcticap
Member
I bought a Rogers & Spencer and found that the grip is one of the most comfortable, and it naturally points great.
But I rarely ever hear anyone recommend for a first timer to buy one even though they are among the most accurate models.
That was true even before Euroarms closed their doors and were then bought out by Pedersoli.
Even though they share some of the same features, when compared to the popularity of the ROA the R&S isn't even on the map!
But I rarely ever hear anyone recommend for a first timer to buy one even though they are among the most accurate models.
That was true even before Euroarms closed their doors and were then bought out by Pedersoli.
Even though they share some of the same features, when compared to the popularity of the ROA the R&S isn't even on the map!
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