Nearly, but no prize... yes the bore is SPOTLESS!!Looks like someone tried to make a lamp out of it by putting a light bulb inside the barrel. Too bad. Looks like it would have been a very nice original.
Marstar still sells the steel frame Pietta Buffalo Model in Canada
BP pistol hunter said:You can get 1000 + fps (313 ftlbs) with a 141 gr .454 ball and 35 gr of 777 in an 8 inch Pietta 1858 revolver and over 1200fps (450 ftlbs) if you go up to the 12 inch version. I have them both and that is what I have chronographed them on both my chrony and my hunting buddies as well.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=6908070#post6908070BP
BP pistol hunter said:I have been hunting wild hogs and deer in Florida for many years. I use a Pietta stainless 1858 Buffalo revolver with a 12 inch barrel. My typical loads are 37 to 40gr 0f 777 3fg, a wad and a .454 ball. This combo chronograhs at 1250fps/450ftlbs.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=7499703#post7499703
If you wish to hunt big game you must only use 777 or Swiss any other powder just does not develop the pressures needed. Only use steel frame revolvers no brass models please as these cannot handle the high pressure created by these powders. I am getting 1250fps/450ftlbs with 37gr of 777, a wad and a .454 ball out of my 12 in stainless Pietta 1858. I get an honest 1000fps with 32gr of 777 and a 240 flat nosed conical which translates to over 530ftlbs of energy. This my friends is in the 41 magnum ballistic territory but with a bigger diameter and harder hitting projectile. I have been hunting with this gun for over a decade and have taken many deer and hogs out to 50 yards.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=606998&page=2