Opinions on Uberti 1858 New Model Navy (.36 cal)?

[01KLR650]

I've got a .44 Pietta 1858 that is a pleasure to shoot. I degreased it with rubbing alcohol, re-lubed with Ballistol, Bore-Buttered the arbor pin, and installed the Wolff mainspring that Drobs posted, along with a set of Track of the Wolf S.S. nipples. No misfires and no binding, even after 6-7 cylinders using 30 grains of Graf's 3F, Wonder Wads, and a .454 ball. It's more accurate that I am (which doesn't say much).

I like it so much I was thinking of getting another 1858, specifically the Uberti 1858 New Model Navy.

I've read that the Uberti's are slightly smaller than the Piettas, and have dovetailed front sights and loading lever latches, which is nice. At $320+, it's about $100 more than the .44 Pietta on sale at Cabelas, which isn't so nice.

I have not seen one in person. Anyone have one or any experience with one?

Thanks!

 

[troy fairweather]

I've got a .44 Pietta 1858 that is a pleasure to shoot. I degreased it with rubbing alcohol, re-lubed with Ballistol, Bore-Buttered the arbor pin, and installed the Wolff mainspring that Drobs posted, along with a set of Track of the Wolf S.S. nipples. No misfires and no binding, even after 6-7 cylinders using 30 grains of Graf's 3F, Wonder Wads, and a .454 ball. It's more accurate that I am (which doesn't say much).

I like it so much I was thinking of getting another 1858, specifically the Uberti 1858 New Model Navy.

I've read that the Uberti's are slightly smaller than the Piettas, and have dovetailed front sights and loading lever latches, which is nice. At $320+, it's about $100 more than the .44 Pietta on sale at Cabelas, which isn't so nice.

I have not seen one in person. Anyone have one or any experience with one?

Thanks!

the uberti is worth every pennie more then the piettas fit finish the uberti are of the real size of the original guns u can use the cylinders out the old guns to. the dovetail is very nice to have. uberti have a very good trigger to the new 1858 44 i just got brakes at 3lb with no creep. i did a post a mounth ago with it the first 6 shots at about 35 yard off hand is just over 3in more like 1.5 if u dont count the little hagfire i had.

 

[midland man]

the uberti is worth every pennie more then the piettas fit finish the uberti are of the real size of the original guns u can use the cylinders out the old guns to. the dovetail is very nice to have. uberti have a very good trigger to the new 1858 44 i just got brakes at 3lb with no creep. i did a post a mounth ago with it the first 6 shots at about 35 yard off hand is just over 3in more like 1.5 if u dont count the little hagfire i had.

well now what about the arbor fit issues on the uberti its been discussed on here many times as the pietta arbor fits perfect! talking about the colt's of course!

 

[paul harm]

I have a couple of Piettas and think the fit and finish is very good and they shoot just fine. I don't use original cylinders so that isn't a issue. And so far the guns shoot spot on so a dovetail doesn't matter, but might be nice. I'd have to see and shoot both before I'd say one was a 100$ worth more than the other. We have people that like one and some the other. Good luck.

 

[noelf2]

well now what about the arbor fit issues on the uberti its been discussed on here many times as the pietta arbor fits perfect! talking about the colt's of course!

I think the discussion is only about the remi's, not Uberti's in general.

I have an Uberti NMA carbine, and a Pietta NMA with short barrel. The Uberti is, hands down, a prettier gun. Both fit and finish, it is nicer than my Pietta. Regarding Colt replicas, I prefer the Pietta's for the arbor fit and the overall gun finish is on a par with the Uberti's. I have Uberti and Pietta colt replicas.

 

[Tommygunn]

Deleted by author. Oooops , misunderstood a post, made silly response. Nothing to see, move along.

 

[01KLR650]

Thanks for the replies. Not trying to start another Pietta vs Uberti thread, I'm wondering specifically about the Remington Navy version from Uberti. They seem to be a bit rare.

I think Uberti uses the same frame as their .44 NMA, so, despite the navy having a slightly shorter barrel, it's bound to be heavier than the NMA. But maybe the longer cylinder allows for a heavier charge?

Also interested in knowing if the Uberti would be happy with the .375 balls I use with my Pietta 1851.

 

[troy fairweather]

ether way they are nice guns and a easy on the hands

 

[bannockburn]

01KLR650

I have a Pietta Remington NMN and have found it to be a well built gun. Overall fit and finish are very good though I don't have any Uberti black powder revolvers to compare it to. I do have another Pietta, a Colt Model 1860 Army, that is also extremely well put together, both with it's finish and with it's action. I also like that I got great deals on both of these guns, getting them from Cabela's when they were on sale.

 

[Eyrie G. Dogg]

My three Pietta Remington’s are a pleasure to own and shoot. To just look at the good fit and finish makes me happy. But an Uberti Remington is all of that plus elegant and the aspect of that slightly reduced overall proportion relative to the Pietta version gives them a streamlined look. A thinner grip makes them more ergonomic, too, I think. Being able to drift the front sight on an Uberti is worth some money. Pietta welds theirs in place. I sincerely hope my next gun will be an Uberti NMA.

I have that 6.5” Pietta NMN version; built like a tank. It’s a fine shooter.

 

[Venom007]

The Uberti 58 Navy is larger and heavier than the originals.

I bought an Uberti 58 .44 Army a couple weeks ago. Fit, finish and function are flawless. It is properly sized as per the originals. The Piettas are larger and not historically authentic.

But, two nipples were absolutely seized. Gun is on its way back to Uberti to get them out. Should not be that way on a new gun. Other than that I'm very pleased, just watch out for seized nipples if you get one and once they're free use anti-seize or choke tube lube so they won't get easily stuck in place.

 

[paul harm]

I don't know why you'd say Piettas are not historically correct because you can mic the difference in size. To me, that's a little nic-picking. I'm not a 100% sure, but I believe Pietta presses their front sight and rammer latch in the barrel. I once had a original NMA and don't remember the front sight being dovetailed in - I think it was just pressed in but could be wrong .

 

[Venom007]

I don't know why you'd say Piettas are not historically correct because you can mic the difference in size. To me, that's a little nic-picking. I'm not a 100% sure, but I believe Pietta presses their front sight and rammer latch in the barrel. I once had a original NMA and don't remember the front sight being dovetailed in - I think it was just pressed in but could be wrong .

The Uberti is MORE historically authentic.

 

[grter]

My problem is although the Uberti makes their 1858 Remington New Army .44 caliber close to original specs while the Pietta version is obviously oversize. Uberti when making their Navy version follows the same pattern as Pietta by simply drilling a smaller bore and chambers in their full size New Army model.

One of the selling points of these guns in the old days was the fact that these guns were lighter and more streamlined than lets a say a huge musket pistol and I doubt they would choose to buy a .36 caliber if it was the same size and a tiny bit heavier than a full power .44 caliber version.

So Pietta Remington Navys are grossly oversized made from their already oversized .44 cal army and Uberti although smaller is still oversized because the original New Model Navy actually had a smaller frame and cylinder than the New Model Army .44 thus was more streamlined and lighter.

I think Uberti makes a great reproduction 1858 New Model Army which I wish I brought. I wish their Navy was smaller like the original.

I think Pietta makes great cap and ball revolvers these days but know that they are not always as faithful a reproduction as the Ubertis.

I do think Uberti does make both their Army and Navy Colt open top cap and ball revolvers to proper size spec despite the stubby arbor. Someone can chime in if I am mistaken. I might be since the Colt Army I think was made with a modified Colt Navy Frame. I am a little foggy in memory on this.

Those are my thoughts.

 

[Steel Hayes]

So Pietta New Army Navys are grossly oversized made from their already oversized .44 cal army

The Pietta NMN are far from grossly oversized as it comes standard(only one barrel length) with a 6.5” barrel and slightly smaller frame size, hence the difference between.36 and .44.

 

[Steel Hayes]

I like the Uberti’s finish, but for the price, I went with Pietta’s NMN

 

[Venom007]

My problem is although the Uberti makes their 1858 Remington New Army .44 caliber close to original specs while the Pietta version is obviously oversize. Uberti when making their Navy version follows the same pattern as Pietta by simply drilling a smaller bore and chambers in their full size New Army model.

One of the selling points of these guns in the old days was the fact that these guns were lighter and more streamlined than lets a say a huge musket pistol and I doubt they would choose to buy a .36 caliber if it was the same size and a tiny bit heavier than a full power .44 caliber version.

So Pietta New Army Navys are grossly oversized made from their already oversized .44 cal army and Uberti although smaller is still oversized because the original New Model Navy actually had a smaller frame and cylinder than the New Model Army .44 thus was more streamlined and lighter.

I think Uberti makes a great reproduction 1858 New Model Army which I wish I brought. I wish their Navy was smaller like the original.

I think Pietta makes great cap and ball revolvers these days but know that they are not always as faithful a reproduction as the Ubertis.

I do think Uberti does make both their Army and Navy Colt open top cap and ball revolvers to proper size spec despite the stubby arbor. Someone can chime in if I am mistaken. I might be since the Colt Army I think was made with a modified Colt Navy Frame. I am a little foggy in memory on this.

Those are my thoughts.

They're actually just called a Remington New Navy is they're a .36, not a Remington New Army Navy. "Army" means .44 caliber, "Navy" means .36 caliber. Same for Colts.

 

[grter]

No only some of the older Italian imports were smaller framed Remington Navys. Those days are gone. As far as I know all the modern made replica .36 caliber Navys are built on their Remington Army frames.

 

[paul harm]

Grossly oversized - you make it sound like it's a Ruger. All my BP guns were made or bought to shoot and have fun with, not measure to see how historically correct they are. How would one know if something is "obviously" oversized if a original wasn't laying next to it ? But then I guess I'm obviously not a BP revolver expert who can see an obvious over sized reproduction. Just how much bigger, and where is it bigger ? Are we talking .010 of an inch or maybe .500 ? Help me out.

 

[midland man]

so I wonder is my pietta 1851 36 caliber colts bigger??

 

[Tommygunn]

so I wonder is my pietta 1851 36 caliber colts bigger??

I think most Colt's are pretty much correct in the 1851 style. The Pietta 1861 has the 8 inch army length barrel which is wrong, and they use the 1860/61 for some fantasy sheriff & police style guns. The .36 1851 are probably close .... certain styling differences exist between originals and Italian repros.

 

[grter]

Look I am just giving my opinion. I am not saying current replicas of the 1858 Navy are bad, sized like a Ruger, or not fun to shoot, it's just not going to have the same light natural pointer feel, streamlined look, and portability of the smaller (even smaller than the Uberti 1858 Army) lighter old .36 caliber 1858 Navys. Don't you think it would be good if Italy made some models like that.

Compact and portable was a big thing in the old days and the reason why Colts puny .31 caliber was what actually sold better than any other model.

That is what would motivate me to choose it over a more powerful and effective .44 but the fact that the current .36 caliber replicas of the 1858 Navy are a bit overbuilt with a full top strap, thicker cylinder walls and barrel probably makes them able to handle hotter loads which I have to admit I find interesting so it's not a total deal breaker, maybe, but I would want to know the differences so my choice would be an informed one.

 

[grter]

I don't think Piettas .44 are grossly oversized but their replicas of .36 caliber models which in the old days were originally made by colt or Remington as smaller, lighter, and more portable guns, when these are made on a Pietta .44 caliber frame it can be an eyebrow raiser to someone who wants an authentic looking replica of the smaller models with all the advantages.

I think it would be a safe bet that they can handle hotter loads due to the larger frame, thicker cylinder walls and barrel though.

 

[01KLR650]

That is what would motivate me to choose it over a more powerful and effective .44 but the fact that the current .36 caliber replicas of the 1858 Navy are a bit overbuilt with a full top strap, thicker cylinder walls and barrel probably makes them able to handle hotter loads which I have to admit I find interesting so it's not a total deal breaker, maybe, but I would want to know the differences so my choice would be an informed one.

Thanks, grter, for articulating this. This was what I was trying to get at when I started this thread!

 

[01KLR650]

Honestly, if Cabela’s still offered the Pietta NMN, I would probably just buy one and enjoy shooting it, despite it being a bit large and a bit short of barrel. It looks like a well-proportioned, well-balanced pistol. And most parts would interchange with my Pietta NMA.

Since the Piettas seem to go for just under $300 at places like Dixie and EMF, the Uberti is (for once) in the same ballpark, price-wise. It seems to offer a few advantages. I may have to pony-up for one just to see...