Pietta/Navy Arms Stainless Remington - Opinions?

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Riot Earp

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I handled one of these (not a Navy Arms, but a Pietta/Traditions) at the local Gander Mountain and was impressed by the fit and finish -- better than the Uberti Remingtons I've seen. I'm a little worried about the steel though. I've read that Uberti's cap & ball stainless is about as soft as brass, that it will scratch by glaring at it. And so I'm concerned about Pietta's stainless, and the hardness of the internals. Does anyone own this gun?

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=3511
 
The Pietta Remington I last handled SUCKED compared to my Uberti Remington when it comes to the trigger and the overall feel of the action. Finish was actually incomplete with rough machine marks all over the triggerguard.

I was surprised. Rumor has it that a lot of new Piettas are great, and I've seen some with excellent fit/finish.

Tough to say unless you handle the actual gun in question, I guess.
 
True, Ubertis used to be better than Pietta, but now, it is exactly the opposite.

I ordered an Uberti from Dixie a while ago, trusting Uberti's quality. But when I got the gun, first, it's cocking was as stiff as a board. The tolerances between the cylinder and the cylinder frame was so tight that it took the pawl a very hard time to turn the cylinder, and it was going to scratch the pawl too, if I had kept on playing with it. Also, getting the cylinder out and back into the frame was a MAJOR problem, since the frame is so tight.

Nevertheless, I returned the defective Uberti and ordered a pair of Piettas. Simply the best revolvers I have ever handled. Superb fit and finish, functioning is smooth and flawless just like a well oiled precision machine, and is an absolute great looker as well as shooter.
 
True, Ubertis used to be better than Pietta, but now, it is exactly the opposite.
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I'd suggest that this isn't a rule that can be trusted, either. I don't know what to tell you, given what I saw recently. But I've seen really, really nice Piettas, as well.
 
I'd suggest that this isn't a rule that can be trusted, either. I don't know what to tell you, given what I saw recently.
Click to expand...

What happened recently? Was it the Remmie that you mentioned in your previous post?
 
Yes. New shipment to the gun club where I'm on the board. I was unpleasantly surprised.
 
Wait, do you mean all those nicks and scratches all over the triggerguard?

I have that on my Piettas too! I didn't even gave it one thought though.

And the trigger, does it feel kind of tight when you pull it without the hammer being cocked? The trigger on one of my Piettas feel the exact same way, but haven't gave it a single thought either.
 
Now I'm scared to order the Navy Arms sight unseen. I've read that Navy Arms is a good importer, that they demand better than mediocre quality. But I don't know if this is true.
 
I do have a SS Uberti 1858, one of the best Pistols I own. I'm not a Uberti fan, I'm a Colt Man. The Uberti I have is as good as my Colts. I bought my first Pietta/Traditions pistol 2 months ago, it will be my last Pietta. Maybe their SS guns are better, I don't know.
 
Well, from what I've seen of Italian cap & ballers, the blued steel is even crappier than the stainless.
 
I have 3 Pietta revolvers.

26 year old 1860 Army.
23 year old 1858 New Army.
6 month old 1858 New Army w/ 5.5" barrel.

Now comparing my 19 year old Uberti 3rd Model Dragoon to the 2 older revolvers then I would say that Piettas quality wasn't the best but with what I know about these arms & how to tune & treat them my Piettas have been very reliable, accurate & smooth shooters with only minor failures "springs & what not" but my latest piece from Pietta "Cabelas" has proven that they have turned over a new leaf & is making some fine weapons today especially since I now preferr to carry my 5.5" barreled 58' more so than my M1911A1 when out on the club property where a Stump or Yote is the only culprits that need taming & it's fit, feel & accuracy make that job an easy fun chore.
 
To whoever it fits:

One gun is not proof of a quality standard, whether good or bad. Making a buying decision (either to buy or not buy) about an entire manufacturer's line based on one unit greatly narrows your choices needlessly.

Do you decide that all humans are good (or bad) because of one person you met and liked or disliked?
 
I took the blueing off this Remmie with white vinegar ..what do ya think ..it never rust ..I wipe it down with WD40 after cleaning... s147sj.jpg
 
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Sundance thats exactly what i was thinking. My 1851's look just like that. even better when they are polished out.

Now back to the Uberti Pietta debate.

From what i hear and what i have seen and have. Pietta right now makes a good quality revolver. Maybe even better than Uberti. However it just depends on what is on stock where you purchase your gun. A lot of places have old stock on hand. So you may be looking for a top quality Pietta but the brand new revolver you are looking at was made in 1995. So there for its probably a good idea to have a copy of the proof marks so that you can quickly identify what year the gun was made. Sometimes the box that it comes in may tell you a little but then that just depends on weather or not the box is oe.
 
"One gun is not proof of a quality standard, whether good or bad."

It may not be proof, but it's valuable evidence.
 
Mr. Earp,

Please answer the question in my earlier post, and apply your 'valuable evidence' to that as well.

Can I say, because I've met one or two truly evil people in my life, that is 'valuable evidence' that all human beings are evil?
 
proof marks

Scrat, is there a link to an up-to-date page that sets out the date codes? I believe they are in MEC's book, but as I recall that is a few years old now and wouldn't have a current list.

Thanks.
 
One gun is not proof of a quality standard, whether good or bad. Making a buying decision (either to buy or not buy) about an entire manufacturer's line based on one unit greatly narrows your choices needlessly.
Click to expand...

I would agree -- either direction. Sorry if I wasn't clear. What I was trying to say is, don't assume.

I've seen a few Navy Arms guns. They were all perfect. That's probably what you pay for; Navy Arms guns cost a good deal more than the "same" gun without the Navy Arms brand.

I wouldn't be reluctant to buy one of their guns sight-unseen.

And the trigger, does it feel kind of tight when you pull it without the hammer being cocked?
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No, it felt like crap when I pulled it with the hammer cocked. That's what matters to me.:)
 
mykeal,

A better analogy ...

It only takes one or two bad apples to make me suspicious of the whole barrel. The rest in the barrel might be fine, but I'm going to be wary and dig deeper.
 
In other words, no. You are willing to dig deeper - you haven't given up on the entire population.

I made no statement nor drew no conclusions regarding your state of mind, which is a personal issue outside my ability to comment. I simply pointed out that a broad conclusion about an entire brand based on a single experience was unwarranted.

The principle is preserved, whether you use apples, people or guns - a generalization about the entire population based on one single example is illogical.
 
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