Spiller and Burr Mystery

[Allison]

Just this past weekend I passed the "200 rounds fired through it" mark on a
new Pietta Spiller and Burr. My problem is this: I've not had a single misfire
or cap jam with this pistol. You don't even have to flip the barrel up to
remove spent caps. They either stay on the nipple or disappear. What am I
doing wrong???
This thing is built like a (brass) tank. Everything's well aligned. There are no
safety notches on the cylinder. I think some other brands may have these.
When loading, the ball is stopped by the frame at the precise point that
aligns with the rammer. If you bury the tip of the front sight in the bottom of the V
on the rear sight (hard to do with bifocals) it shoots POA at 25 & 75 ft. The
cylinder is a bit tricky to reinstall. Press the hand down with a small screwdriver, however, and it rolls right in. It's very easy to forget to lock the
cylinder so some care is needed here.
It seems to blow a bit more debris out the back and in your face than my
other guns.
No regrets on this one.

 

[BHP FAN]

To my mind,these are the very best of the brass framed clan,waaaay stronger than they need to be for a .36 caliber.they are like little brass frame Ruger Old Armys!

 

[NobleSniper]

I sure wish you guys would quite saying that...............I have always been leery of brass framed revovlers but the more and more I hear that and see them posted here.................... :banghead:

 

[Ginormous]

Having had one only fleetingly in my possession, I would have to agree with BHP Fan. They are a neat little pistol, with a fine feel in the hand. I didn't get to shoot that one, but I understand that they are quite loud for their size and caliber due to their unique construction.

I enjoyed that one so much, even if for only a few days, that I have offered to give SG's Spiller & Burr a vacation to the East Coast away from the hot dry air of the Mojave desert. Kind of like the Pet Rock bed and breakfast vacations offered at the peak of that 70's rage. Pics will be provided of course, breakfast will be served, consisting of bacon, eggs, grits, toast and coffee. Followed by an exercise routine, including multiple expressions of Second Amendment Rights in a Free State (Georgia), at a posh local shooting club. We'll fatten that puppy right up. I can't wait actually.

 

[Smokin_Gun]

Ginormous did I tell you that the S&B comes with gunhandler, field smith, loader for 30 days...and will do windows :O)

 

[Ginormous]

Wow, what a deal! But if you saw the number and size of windows in this place, you would absolutely not say that SG!

The Spiller & Burr will have its own spot in the safe too. Climate controlled of course, with desiccant cannister nearby. These brass framed guns really like a low relative humidity I hear.

 

[Das Jaeger]

Allison

you'll notice on my review of the Spiller and Burr Range post I made recently that my experience was exactly the same . I have shot many hundreds of rounds out of mine , notta hic-up one . That day I put 60 rounds threw it also .
The only other gun I have had this FORTUNE with is the Rogers and Spencer .
I never viewed cap fragmentation or caps falling into the works of a cap and ball gun to be a real issue anyways . It is inherent of the design , I accept this to be truth . The Rogers is probably the only one that had designed their gun specifically to deter it from happening though , and it works .
I think the Spiller just happens to be MAGIC ......Atcually I atribute allot of it to the main spring being so strong , it generally seats the cap onto the nipple well , after fireing , and tends to roll them out the recoil shield easilly.

Jaeger

 

[BHP FAN]

they sure are stout little fellows!

 

[Allison]

Jaeger...You've come up with the right word...MAGIC....! I'm standing at the range, blazing
away, and the Spiller's holding up it's end like a cartridge revolver. Had I known, when I
started out shooting these things, of the S&B's magical qualities it would have been the
first one I would have acquired.
Do I dare stick my neck out and suggest that this pistol may be the answer to the cap and ball concealed carry posts that appear from time to time? I think this one is going to replace a Remington .31 pocket for woods carry. There are a lot of wild dog packs where
I live. Also LOTS of deer that have lost their fear of humans and are (believe it or not) becoming aggressive.
You're right, it really does have a manly main spring.
Hard to tell with my old eyes but it also looks as though the nipples are canted out slightly???
Have you done a review on the Rogers and Spencer?

 

[Allison]

Double post, sorry.

 

[StrawHat]

Can anyone post a close up of the of the gun that shows the cylinder in the frame?

 

[madcratebuilder]

 

[Das Jaeger]

Allison

Haven't done a review , I think that's getting done all by itself right now though
The Main Spring , the timing , and the style of Hammer ( Not Colt , its a Whitney-Beals style ) all attribute to the design and help this revolver function well . I do wish they would ( Palmetto ) bring back the Whitney version ( the first model and the model the SPiller is based upon ) as it has a steel frame . I like that this is Southern gun oriented and all , but a steel frame version would be the cats meow , prrrrrr prrrr
I was extremely reluctant to even buy this gun because I hate brass guns , but did it anyway on sale several years ago . Glad I did too . I think it was only $180 ? They are getting up there now about $250 . Worth it though anyways , just the fun factor of its size and power . I realize it can only take 20 grains of REAL BP , but it sure wizzez um downrange in a hurry ,
accurately too . And it can handle it , tis built like a smalll Sherman Tank . I aint worried aobut stretchin this one , it doesn't hold enough powder, not even Tripple 777 will hurt it any .

Allison as much as I love the Remington little guns , this gun definately is allot more serious for carry and protection . I would only feel mediocre at best comfortable fending off a deer attack ( although very rare ) witha Pocket Remington . But then again I have two ! Although the Spiller is a much better choice in my opinion for kickin around out for a walk gun .
These are cute , but the Spiller has a seroius advantage to killin a Dog pack .



But the Spiller aint handy small either like the Remingtons ? It's a much larger revolver , but still smaller than a standard Colt or Remington .



I guess it is a personal choice if your wanting to holster or not mostly . Hands down the Spiller is going to kill better though , much better .
I also think I would want the Spiller if a Cougar attatcked me too .

The little Remingtons don't jam either , or it is not MY experience that they ever have , yet , but I have not fired them much either .

I would say though if you can stand Brass guns more than me , give the Spiller a try , you'll love it more than likely . I do And from what has been written lately about them , it seams to be a mutual admiration with anyone that ownes one . For good reasons too , they are a sweet handlin , shootin , dependable revolver .

Jaeger

 

[Allison]

Madcratebuilder...Thanks for posting the closeup photo of the Spiller. Enjoyed comparing mine to the real thing and finding out that it's a fairly faithful reproduction. Is the barrel
really tipped down at an angle so that it no longer lines up with the frame or is it a perspective thing?

 

[Allison]

Jaeger...Now that you mention it, the Remington doesn't give me any problems though I
abused it something terrible. Even to the point of practicing gun browning on it. I'll get the wife to help me post a photo of it. Good for a laugh!
I bought the Western-style open holster from Cabela's for my '51 Navy and it fits like it was wet-molded to it. It was $18 and I wasn't expecting much but it really grabs the gun and holds it. The leather is over 1/8" thick. Here's the good news. The Spiller also fits in there (not at the same time) in similar fashion.
You mentioned Palmetto. I have a Palmetto horror story that I'll try to write out when I get time.
Did you make those grips? Just beautiful looking on that gun.

 

[Das Jaeger]

Allison

I should have clerified that if Palmetto never goes back in bussiness it would be too soon anyways
Problem is they were the only maker that produced the Whitney Reproduction to my knowledge . Being a Tinkerer I tend to over-look minor flaws in these guns machining and suck it up and fix them and carry on instead of whining about them too much , unless it's bad CCH , then I whine allot .
And yes , I make all my grips on any guns of mine you see . Thanks.
Yes, you get allot of bang for your buck with those inexpensive Tripple K holsters . Nothin fancy just stout leather to keep them protected at a fair price . I have a couple kickin round too . I try to buy better or have better built , but sometimes I just don't care to put a $200 revolver into Bianchi Leather , or Ross or Galco , and definately not in Custom leather . But , I have done it , just not allot of them wear good stuff . Its no problem putting more money into a Rig than the revolver on these Reproductions . Especialy when you start adding Conchos and such , buckles , etc, etc ....
What do you mean you can't fit your Pocket Remington or the Spiller in the same 51's holster at the same time Now what kind of design is that !
Guess you'll just have to put um in your waist tucked into the belt so you'll be armed enough from the wayward Ferril Dog attacks and those ruthless packing carniverous Venison herds .
Darn squirrel is just outside this window inmy oak tree, teazin me, " lookee at mee jerk humanoid I am a protected species , hee he hee " .......Where's my Beagle when you need her, probably asleep ? Easy shot too , 15 feet max

Jaeger

 

[Tommygunn]

I should have clerified that if Palmetto never goes back in bussiness it would be too soon anyways.

Palmetto went out of business? When did THAT happen?

 

[Das Jaeger]

Been awhile

ask Mad Crate Builder , he knows more than I do on this kinda stuff .

Jaeger

 

[Das Jaeger]

Tommygun

its been a few years I beleive , Dixie was selling whatever remaining stock of the Whitney a couple years back, but they had long since been not an operating company , obviuosly from bad mangement and sloppy QC .

Jaeger

 

[wurfless]

Problem is they were the only maker that produced the Whitney Reproduction to my knowledge .

ArmiSport did for a while, fair gun, guts were soft like Palmetto, got one

 

[Tomahawk674]

I've been yearning for a good Whitney navy replica for a long time... I've passed up on palmettos because of what I hear about quality, and that finding spare parts would be a pain.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Is the barrel really tipped down at an angle so that it no longer lines up with the frame or is it a perspective thing?

Camera lens I think, here is the same revolver.

 

[Das Jaeger]

Wurfless

Hey, if you ever want to part with that Whitney , let me know, I gots lots of trade material I am willing to caugh up for one , and the technology to change those innards out to good ones too . And no I am not interested in doing the work on yours to make it good for you , nice try ... I just want the gun man , hee hee hee , I aint bashfull , but I am honest about it .
What say you , want to off that hummer for trade ?
Whats you lookin to have in your arsenal ? I am quite positive mine will come with custom grips !
I alwasy thought Armi Sport was an Improter not a manufacturer anyways , makes me think yours is Palmetto too , hence the crappy gutts .

Das Jaeger

 

[Allison]

Speaking of Palmetto...A couple of months ago, in a sort of ongoing quest for the perfect
woods carry pistol, I ordered the 1849 Hartford .31 revolver from Dixie. Open the box upon receipt and am looking upon one of the most beautiful firearms I've ever seen.
A 1/2 size '51 Navy with flawless CCH and fit. Immediately I did what I think all of us do
with a new gun. Take it apart! Out comes the wedge. Nice fit there. Off comes the barrel.
One of the two barrel to frame alignment pins is missing. No big deal. Stuff happens. I
can make one. Then I notice I'm bleeding all over the gun. I deal with that then discover that the forcing cone has a healthy, razor sharp burr on it. That's cool. I can stone it off. Off comes the cylinder. It fights me but I'm thinking OK just a tight fit.
Things start heading south at this point. The cylinder pin looks like it was shaped with a wood rasp. I start thinking maybe I should return it but, what the heck, I can make another pin and it's such a beautiful gun. I put it back together and shine a flashlight down the barrel. Two of the chambers are misaligned with the barrel about 1/16". I
disassemble the gun again. The two chambers are drilled out of concentricity and the flash hole in one of the nipples measures .078". I'm still optimistic here because the thing looks so nice. I'll just remove the bad nipple and use the space as a safety. As I'm thinking about this, I notice that the nipple slots are milled really wide and the hammer strikes to the extreme right of the slot on the two offending chambers. Trying to make the best of a worsening situation, I take it to the range and fire it about 6 or 7 times.
Can't even get on paper at 25 feet. It's shooting to the extreme left. Laugh if you will but I'm still hoping I can work this out. After all, this thing just looks so cool. Take it home, take it apart to clean it and I notice that the bore is drilled at an angle to the barrel which explains the inaccuracy. Also while cleaning, I look down the end of the barrel and see that the octagonal cuts are totally out of whack. None of the flats measured the same or were even close. By this time I've had enough so I call Dixie and return it in exchange for a Uberti .36 pocket Navy which is a great gun but doesn't look nearly as nice as the Palmetto. If Pietta or Uberti ever offer this model I'll probably be first in line to order. Just a really sweet looking and handling piece.

 

[Das Jaeger]

Funny stuff there Allison

, oh the perpetual optomist , I do the same thing , till I am beat into the dirt , of my own accord no less , nobody forcing me to beat myself mind you .
I was going to order that same gun so many different times , just hopeing I might get lucky and get a good one . Problem is that is one of their better weapons they made , the Hartford Series ... Now that's a scarey thought huh . ......My common sence , which I have little of when it comes to wanting or aquiring guns , always told me don't do it Jaeger , don't do it ......I dont care how pretty a gun is , it still has to shoot . Same goes with Uberti , generally terrible CCH but fine triggers and timing . Pietta runs the oposite way, terrible triggers , Awsome CCH .
Now if someone would make one that actually runs the entire gammut of what a gun ought to do and look like out of the box , they would have MARKET SHARE all by themselves . I would also certainly be willing to pay more for one too , and so would allot of other people , but they just aint out there, yet . ..So were STUCK hoping that one of those two companeis hears us . And belive me, I have personally whined to both of them to do soemthing about each problem , to no avail . :banghead: ..Have another galss of wine Tony , go on vacation for a month Tony . I feel my voice means little , and it does mean little .

Das Jaeger