Recommendations for first black powder revolver?

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Jean-Louis

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As the title states, any seasoned recommendations for starting out as far as black powder revolvers?
 
It's good to know the subtle differences between the different models and their designs.
I generally recommend the Remington 1858, and a Pietta 1858 at that.
Even though the cylinder pin requires more frequent lubrication, it does offer many other advantageous features over the Colt design.
Being able to rapidly change cylinders for a quick reload and reliability right out of the box without cap jamming are a couple.
It's also easier for using a reloading press for loading cylinders off of the frame at the shooting range.
Pietta seems to offer better prices for the gun and for extra cylinders and parts.
Traditions Piettas come with a one year Traditions warranty for piece of mind and can be found at competitive prices.
The main complaint about Remingtons are the shape of their grip handles not being as roomy or as comfortable as the Colts.
Try to handle one before you buy if you have large hands.
Dixie does offer a Pietta Remington model with a larger and roomier grip and grip frame.
Pietta Remingtons also offer an optional adjustable rear target sight.
IIRC Uberti Remingtons have a drift adjustable front sight.
 
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It's good to know the subtle differences between the different models and their designs.
I generally recommend the Remington 1858, and a Pietta 1858 at that.
Beside the cylinder pin requiring more frequent lubrication, it offers many other advantageous features over the Colt design.
Being able to rapidly change cylinders for a quick reload and reliability right out of the box without cap jamming are a couple.
It's also easier for using a reloading press for loading cylinders off of the frame at the shooting range.
Pietta seems to offer better prices for the gun and for extra cylinders and parts.
Traditions Piettas come with a one year Traditions warranty for piece of mind and can be found at competitive prices.
The main complaint about Remingtons are the shape of their grip handles not being as roomy or comfortable as the Colts.
Try to handle one before you buy if you have large hands.
Dixie does offer a Pietta Remington model with a larger and roomier grip and grip frame.
Pietta Remingtons also offer an optional adjustable target rear sight.
IIRC Uberti Remingtons offer a drift adjustable front sight.

Awesome, thanks for the helpful insights!
 
Great advice above.

Today's models of percussion revolvers are generally of much higher quality than they were when I touched off my first chamber full of black powder in a FIE copy of the .36 caliber 1851 Navy. The 70's era reproductions suffered from numerous quality problems related to fitting, metal softness, spring tempering, and rifling depth. What you have to choose from today is night and day better.

Hard to go wrong with either Uberti or Pietta. Good luck on your decision.
 
I agree with all of the above, even though I prefer the 1851 Navy .36, preferably Pietta.

I would advise you to stay away from brass framed revolvers even though they are less expensive than the steel framed counterparts. You can get away with heavier loads with a steel frame.

Enjoy! Let us know what you decide to go with.

Regards,

Jim
 
For accuracy, reliability and future sale ability the ROA, Ruger Old Army is a good purchase. Out of production and no ready source for parts is a downer but the design, Ruger Quality and just boiler plate toughness makes it a good buy even at today’s inflated collectors prices.

If your gonna own one cap gun, make it a ROA. Of course if your like the average joe here you will wind up with a a mixed bag.
I’m still working on the “one of each” approach.
 
Pretty much any of the .36 or .44 options readily available.
You wont be disappointed in the Remington 1858, Colt 1860, Colt 1851, Rogers and Spencer or Ruger Old Army.
Stat away from the Patterson, or any of the smaller mouse fart guns for your first taste.
 
The reasons I favor the Pietta 1851 Navy "type" guns are pretty much two-fold.

Pietta rarely has issues with the arbor-to-arbor-recess fit. Uberti has had this problem for many years. While the Uberti guns can easily be fixed with shim washers, out of the box guns can have problems with wedge fit, altering the barrel/cylinder gap depending upon how far the wedge is driven in.

Since ~2001, Pietta has utilized CNC machining for production of their guns. That means that they are like Legos when it comes to swapping parts between guns. I have 9 variations of Pietta 1851 Navy guns, primarily Confederate guns, only two of which have brass frames (Griswold & Gunnison and Schneider & Glassick), and they don't get shot. The rest are steel frame revolvers.

OP, you will just have to take your best guess as to what you want as a first BP revolver.

Regards,

Jim
 
Great advice above.

Today's models of percussion revolvers are generally of much higher quality than they were when I touched off my first chamber full of black powder in a FIE copy of the .36 caliber 1851 Navy. The 70's era reproductions suffered from numerous quality problems related to fitting, metal softness, spring tempering, and rifling depth. What you have to choose from today is night and day better.

Hard to go wrong with either Uberti or Pietta. Good luck on your decision.
My first cap gun was made by Uberti for Navy Arms in 1968. A fantasy gun that was never made by Colt it’s a 5.5” barreled 1860 Army. It’s been just a stellar performer and while I agree that the 61 Remington is usually better for beginners, it really depends. I wanted the Colt. It’s worked out pretty well. It has the short arbor and I’ve never bothered to correct that, after shooting many many thousands of rounds it’s been dead nuts reliable and accurate.

Edited to add a picture. I can only recall this one dropping a cap into the works once or twice and the action has been smooth and crisp since day one. I’ve only handled one or two Pietta’s and I am sure they’re fine but this is the gun that sold me on Uberti.

BB7397BE-0E00-4B3C-AB0A-422C9C19F313.jpeg
 
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ruger old army if your not into perfect traditional. if you want traditional go with uberti, they are well worth the little extra money over pietta. the reminginton is the strongest frame buy but if you want a gun that points its self and feels good in the hand a uberti 1960 army in 44 cal. nothing feels like that one in the hand, the remingington is a little awkward. the 1860 army uberti colt feels better in the hand than even the colt ssa.
 
Pietta 1858 metal. The most versatile one of them all. Tough as nails. Accurate. Affordable.
 
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Who would you like to be? A civil war Calvary Officer Colt/Remington .44's. Wild bill hickock? Colt 1851 Navy .36 caliber. Allen Pinkerton Protecting President Linclon Colt 1862 Pocket Police/Pocket Navy .36 Caliber. Black Powder Hunter needing a backup Ruger Old Army. Johnny Reb after the civil War 1851 Brass Frame .36 or .44 caliber.

As you may see, I believe that these are mostly fun guns

Me? James McParland - Pinkerton Agent 1862 Pocket Police .36
 
As the title states, any seasoned recommendations for starting out as far as black powder revolvers?
The Remington 1858 will be the way less of beginner headaches. Open top colt style can have tuning issues, cap jams and more to changing cylinder.
You can get the standard model or the better target, my pick. The target will hit inside door knob at 25 yards all day. As far as lube on the cylinder pin. I just experimented with permatex 81343 anti sieze 1600 degree and it work fantastic. Takes the heat. Doesn't just blow out and remains slick as silk. Good enough I now use it on the internal parts too.
 
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