Pietta .45 reviews

[halfmoonclip]

What the OP is describing is what the Smith .44 Mountain Gun was made for, but they are pricey and uncommon.
How concealable must this handgun be?
Moon

 

[NeroM]

Limited experience with Pietta.
Good experience with Uberti, mine have worked well - none are in 45 Colt. The current SAA clones are a nice firearm value.
Lots of experience with bear encounters, both in New England and Kodiak, AK areas - sometimes distance to bear was just a few feet.
While some were very close encounters, never a real problem - we each went our own way. Have to admit, did have the gun drawn a couple of times, just in the event something went sour. I know there is a theoretical advantage to a DA revolver, however I carried a SA revolver, in an easy to access shoulder holster. It is a gun I shoot well, easy to carry, has been 110% reliable, handle it well, and shoots a pretty effective load. In an urgent need, getting this gun into action needs to be second nature. My gun is a plain old Ruger BlackHawk with a 4.6" barrel, I installed the ugly but effective Hogue grips. Shoot a handloaded 255 gr SWC at 1000 fps, Buffalo Bore and UnderWood offer a similar loading. While a little pricier than the Pietta, the RBH fit my hand better and I like the sight picture better than SAA clones I've seen, plus it is safe to carry with 6 vs. 5 of the SAA clone. Especially think about the sight picture in the event of dim or uneven lighting.

 

[Csinn]

Eastern Oregon parks n trails I believe are mostly open carry so size doesn’t matter too much

 

[OrangePwrx9]

S&W M69 Combat Magnum......or get the version with the 4" barrel if you don't like snubbies.

 

[Csinn]

Would there be much benefit going to a 5.5-7.5” barrel in a 44mag or 45?

 

[Tallinar]

Would there be much benefit going to a 5.5-7.5” barrel in a 44mag or 45?

The theoretical advantage you gain from a 7.5” barrel are longer sight radius, slightly more velocity, and better recoil control. And it looks cool.

But REALLY consider the practical aspects of carrying a 7.5” revolver. Works fine when you’re on foot or on a horse, but less so when sitting in a car.

I have a 7.5” Blackhawk which I carry in a cross draw holster from time to time, but it can start to seem like a chore after awhile. Meanwhile, my 4 5/8” New Vaquero rides well in a pancake holster.

There’s a reason why the 4 5/8” barreled SAA won out in popularity into the modern era while the other barrel lengths saw decline.

 

[dickydalton]

I have a pair of nickle Pietta 1873's in 45 Colt.

No issues with them at all. Except the bottom one has 4 clicks of the hammer with a hammer mounted firing pin. The top only has 3 clicks w/ a transfer bar safety.

Theoretically you can carry 6 rounds in the one with the transfer bar safety. I believe in only carrying 5 in SAA style revolvers.

As far as sub $700 DA 45 Colts - the Taurus Judge and Charter Arms come to mind. I don't care for either company.

I have a Ruger Redhawk in 45acp / 45 Colt:

I have one of those 45ACP/45 Colt Redhawks too. Not made anymore and I saw one go for $1885 plus shipping etc a couple weeks ago!

 

[red rick]

Would there be much benefit going to a 5.5-7.5” barrel in a 44mag or 45?

I would carry it in a chest holster , you won’t feel the weight as much and it will be easier to sit down . You also gain some velocity with the longer barrel and you might be more accurate with the longer sight radius . If you like the style of a western looking revolver . I would get a Ruger Vaquero , but I understand budgets and it would cost about $200 dollars more . You should price those 45 Colt and 44 magnum cartridges if you don’t reload . I started reloading when I bought a 45 Colt revolver . But reloading is hard to start now , you can’t find primers and brass is hard to find , not to mention the price if you find it .

 

[drobs]

I had to go look at Gunbroker. Someone buy this 2 tone Pietta in 45 Colt for $329.99 so I don't have to.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/982827814

I really don't like the brass trigger guard but at under $400 that is a steal.

 

[Tallball]

The Italian 1873 clones are mostly nice. I like mine a lot.

According to Google, about 2.5 Americans per year are killed by bear attacks. Not kidding at all when I say that taking a shower is FAR more dangerous than seeing a bear. It really is.

 

[thirty-eight]

wild country protection from bears and cougars

That means you're being attacked and you'll have to shoot to kill. An emergency. This is the place for double-action .44 magnum.

 

[CraigC]

I've got two Pietta .45's and they work just fine but the favorite is the convertible. If I couldn't adequately defend myself with a sixgun, I'd stay home.

 

[doubleh]

If I lived where they was danger of some type of wild life trying to eat me I would want something with some oomph to carry. My choice would have to be in a single action because my wimply old wrist will no longer tolerate that in anything else. It's a long way to bear country and I have never seen but one in the wild and he was getting out of the area in a hurry. There have always been rumors of mountain lion sightings in the sandhills under the caprock just 25 miles west of me. I have walked a lot of that area extensively in the past and never saw even a track. Then one late Sunday afternoon several years ago as we were returning home from a 4 wheeler outing one ran across the road about a hundred yards in front of us and quickly disappeared into the bushes. My take is if either species become aware of you they want nothing to do with you at all. Suddenly encountering one with no avenue for it to escape would probably be different but those conditions just don't exist in my part of the world. The most dangerous critter I ever encountered in my hiking there was a rare rattlesnake and they are easily walked around and let be.

 

[Csinn]

Yea it’s true they are rare but not too long ago there were two instances, both cougars,out here fairly close together. a hiker was stalked by one, it’s on YouTube I believe he filmed it, it was ready to pounce n he cut loose warning shots at it with his 9mm and it didn’t scare until he actually hit its foot (I wouldn’t have wasted bullets, it would be kill shots if I couldn’t scare it and it was in pounce position). The other was two trail bikers, one made himself bigger and it ran from him but his buddy ran into the trees and it caught him and killed him. Both happened on trails I’ve been on. I’d just like to be prepared to protect myself or my wife if it ever did happen. Bears are very rare but it has happened too, usually in cub season though. Plus I’ll be honest I’ve always wanted a .45. Protection is the best way to sell my wife on it.

 

[InTheSwamp]

My Pietta is 38/357, a good shooter. For protection I'd go DA; the Ruger Redhawk or Super Redhawk in 45acp / 45 Colt (454 Casull) are the ticket.

 

[sobrbiker883]

I’ve read that you don’t want to go over 1000 fps in the clone saa. Would this still make it adequate?

255gr Keith SWC at 850fps is what I feed my Cimarron (Pietta 4-click) Pistolero, and it gets carried when I get nostalgic.
Absolutely not a powder puff load.

However, for woods protection (I’m more concerned in my area about 150lb lions than bears) my choice is one of my 10mm autoloaders pushing 200gr SWC’s at 1200fps.
If I do want a DA wheel gun for bears (or any other predators) it’s my 629-4 Mtn Gun with 240SWC’s at 1150…decisions, decisions.

biggest thing is to carry whatever you can put accurate fire on target, under duress, from whacky field positions-if that’s a 9mm so be it-hits will still play out better than strong misses.

 

[WestKentucky]

If you’re set on a revolver then you’re looking at some sensible options. If you wanted to go semi then there are plenty 10mm options available. For your intended purpose I would look at the Rock Island double stack Ultra model. They are around 700 and put a lot more rounds on tap.

 

[ontarget]

I had to go look at Gunbroker. Someone buy this 2 tone Pietta in 45 Colt for $329.99 so I don't have to.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/982827814

I really don't like the brass trigger guard but at under $400 that is a steal.

Damn, I'd buy that in a half second, but.....
I just grabbed exactly what @Csinn should be looking for. I finally scored a S&W 25-7.
It's a 5 inch barrel, unfluted cylinder, 45 Colt.
Paid a bit more than that for it though.
I will post it in a different thread so I don't hijack this one.

 

[Csinn]

I’ll see if I can find any good used name brand. For some reason I’m much more accurate with SA revolvers and it’s not close. At the range with a revolver at 15 yards I can put them all in a fairly tight circle, with an auto I tend to shoot too fast (working on it). With Sa I tend to take my time and make it count. Plus something about the way they recoil I think. I really don’t want .44 mag kick. The guy next to me had a DA in 44 mag and 357 mag both with 3” barrels and his first shots were ok but his follow ups were pretty far off. I’d rather have a 45 that’s less power and kick but still flinging a chunk of lead that I can reliably throw out accurately with each shot. Just me I think if I had an auto in a stressed situation I’d flinch n be apt to flinch and make the 2nd miss. But maybe I’m thinking totally wrong.

 

[Sacramento Johnson]

Go with what you can shoot accurately and fast, including one-handed. It sounds like the SA works for you over a semi, but remember, you won't have a lot of time to 'make it count'. If you go with a SA, I would suggest a sturdier SA like the above mentioned Ruger Blackhawk or a first gen Vaquero over Italian colt clones. I've owned a number of Uberti colt clones over the years and they aren't as sturdy or durable as the Ruger SAs.

Rugers with transfer bars also allow carrying six as opposed to the colt clones as mentioned above; an important aspect.

Underwood and Buffalo Bore both make 45 colt rounds in 250 grains going around 1000 FPS. (Underwood tends to be less expensive and they use nickel cases which won't cause verdigris if you store them in bullet loops, unlike the brass Buffalo Bore rounds).

For carrying, 4 5/8 to 5 1/2 inch barrels are much easier to deal with than 7 1/2 inchers. Chest holsters or strong side OWB are both good options.

If recoil is a problem, look into Hogue or Uncle Mike's rubber grips for a Ruger SA; another option would be a Bisley grip Ruger; all these grips may help with control and follow up shots.

Practice safely drawing and firing at targets at different distances and also while moving, two handed and one handed.

 

[45 Dragoon]

Of course if you have a 90's or newer Uberti SA it's fine with 45C +p ammo so if that's what you're comfortable with, no sense in learning a new comfort level with a "new to you" SA.

Mike

 

[Tallball]

I shoot SA revolvers better, too. The Italian clones and the Rugers are all nice.

To sell it to the wife, I'd definitely go with the SA revolver of your choice. If you want a Ruger, get it used. They are difficult to break or wear out.

On the one hand, you're over 100 times more likely to be struck by lightning than killed by a bear or cougar.

On the other hand, black bears sprint at up to 35mph. I would assume mountain lions are faster. For actual protection against those animals, I would take a DA revolver every time. If you manage to get off a second shot, it will be while you are being mauled. A SA revolver would be harder to operate and a semiauto would likely be knocked out of battery.

 

[Csinn]

So the new ubertis can handle +p? I keep hearing that none of the clones can. Would I be better with say a Taurus 66 or similar larger frame DA even if it’s .357 in a situation than a .45 SA?I’ve thought about .44 special in DA too. Maybe I can beg for a .45 SA and a DA too.

 

[45 Dragoon]

So the new ubertis can handle +p? I keep hearing that none of the clones can. Would I be better with say a Taurus 66 or similar larger frame DA even if it’s .357 in a situation than a .45 SA?I’ve thought about .44 special in DA too. Maybe I can beg for a .45 SA and a DA too.

Yessir, Brian Pearce has a nice article in the current Handloader magazine about 45C+p with recipes. He also recommends revolvers that are suitable.

I had a Taurus 66 in the late 80's . . . wish I still had it!!! ( nothing wrong with begging!!)

Mike

 

[35 Whelen]

Got my eye on one for $525 out here. Are these decent quality and decent shooters?

It's good that you realize you're better with a revolver than semi-auto. Stay the course and ignore the shoot-faster, reload-faster mentality that inevitably permeates these type threads.

I've owned a single Pietta and several Uberti clones. It may have been the fact that I'd spent a lot of time shooting Uberti's before I bought a Pietta, but the latter just didn't shoot as well for me. The Uberti's, possibly because of their slightly larger frame, seemed to balance better than the Pietta.

The Pietta 45 Colt-



The Uberti 45 Colt(well, the one I wound up keeping for hunting)-




As to barrel length, I've tried them all. A 7 1/2" is really nice for deliberate shooting from a rest and when one isn't dragging it out of a holster. The 3/4" difference in a 4 3/4" and 5 1/2" is pretty much moot, but I prefer a 4 3/4". A 4 3/4" Uberti or Flat Top Blackhawk in 45 Colt will weigh a bit over 2 lbs., somewhere around 34-36 oz. so they're not bad to carry. DA revolvers are typically close to a full pound heavier.

If you're a handloader the Uberti's will handle what's referred to as "Tier 2" loads which means a 250-260 gr. cast SWC @ around 1100 fps. My 45 Colt hunting load for my Uberti is a 288 gr. cast SWC at just under 1000 fps. If you're not a handloader, Buffalo Bore's offering of a 255 gr. SWC at 1000 fps would be great. I've shot a fair amount of game with such loads in .44 Special and 45 Colt and penetration is substantial. If one is so inclined they can order from VTI Gun Parts a 45 ACP cylinder for either a Uberti or a Pietta.

Bears and cougars? Meh.... I've run across bear sign while elk hunting and it was always obvious they were in get-outta-Dodge mode. Three years ago while piddling around in the canyon above our cabin in NM I managed to slip within about 35' of a bear that was feeding along the creek. It scared the **** out of him and he hooked it up the side of the canyon.



On the return trip out of the canyon an hour or so later I came across the same bear only this time I quietly watched him and took a few pics-



At the time I was wearing my 4 3/4" Uberti .44 Special loaded with 260 gr. SWC's @ ~950 fps and wasn't worried in the least about whether I had enough gun.

35W