1858 rocks!

Keep it 45, don't bother with small calibers


Actually, reloads with a spare cylinder are faster than a modern revolver.


Also they aren't as loud as modern revolvers, "VvOOOM" rather than "CRACK"

I just got one. Loads of fun!

Attached File


I love mine. It's a hoot but a pain to load and clean. Very fun to shoot, especially on a still day when the smoke hangs and obscures the target. I use the 30 grain pyrodex pellets and a lubed felt wad under a .454 roundball.

As.long as you enjoy cleaning as much as shooting, go for it. And, go big or go home for real fun.

Be certain to use the right size balls.  For example some '44's by one company need a .451 while others need .454.  Rugers use .457  It makes a big difference and also is a safety concern.

The 1858 Remington can be had in both traditional fixed sight and adjustable sight target variants and can be had in both blue and stainless steel.  The top strap design means it is strong, and it is also accurate and easy to clean. Caliber is .44, which is usually .454 in an 1858 replica.  If you're looking for a first percussion revolver, it's arguably the best choice.

The 1860 Colt Army is a Civil War classic, open top revolver. They are fun to shoot and are very nicely balanced.  However, accurate replicas will also shoot to a point of aim about 80-100 yards down range - since they were designed for the tactics of the time with troops in lines about that far apart.   For close range self defense shooting the zero didn't make a difference. As a range toy, you might not  be quite so happy. Caliber is also .44, but this varies from .451 to .454 deepening on who makes it.

The 1851 Navy Colt was normally in .36 caliber but replicas are also made in .44 caliber.   It's an open top revolver with a wedge, like the 1860 Colt.  They are even better balanced than the 1860 and are fun to shoot.  There are often brass frame models, and while they are less expensive, they don't hold up as well.

On the larger end of the scale you have the 1847 Walker, and the 1st through 3rd Model Dragoons.  The 1847 Walker is more common on the replica market, followed by the 3rd Model Dragoon and both are great fun to shoot. The caliber is also .44, which in the Walker replicas I have owned is .457".  The Walker and the Dragoon Models are all horse pistols designed to be carried in a pommel holster by cavalry troops.   You can get a holster for them, but it's 4 1/2 pounds of pistol, so be sure you use a really well made belt if you plan to carry it that way.  

In between the 1858 and the horse pistols you have the Ruger Old Army.   It is arguably the best percussion revolver ever made, and they use a .457" ball like the Walker and Dragoon model pistols. It was built on the Ruger Blackhawk frame and it is very strong, and also very accurate by black powder standards.  They were made in both blue and stainless versions, but sadly they were discontinued in 2008.  They still show up on the used market in very good to excellent condition but plan on spending $500-$600 for one.  

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You tend to get what you pay for, and the major difference can be found in the quality, hardness  and durability of the fire control parts.  I've owned a few Pietta made replicas and I've had very mixed results with them.  A couple have been fine, but one was very poor quality and short lived.

Uberti and Armi Sport both make decent replica revolvers.

You can still find some of the Colt Second generation black powder revolvers and they are highly regarded.  Colt also had their signature series revolvers and they were superbly finished.   They were made using imported Uberti parts that were assembled for Colt by Iver Johnson. Fit and finish is excellent and they are a joy to shoot.  They are available in a number of Colt Models including the 1847 Walker and Dragoon models, the 1851 and 1860 plus some civilian models - but they command about $800 in excellent condition.

Nice, good taste.

Yea they have a charm all thier own.

They are super accurate, and the 45 lead ball is a powerhouse so long as you don't be stingy with the powder.

Just click the link on the page marked "safety data sheet".......it's a PDF with the list of recommended loadings for Pietta BP guns

http://media.midwayusa.com/productdocuments/msds/127/piettaloads.pdf

<--------Whalecum to smokey sulfur addicts annonymous 

before you pull the trigger on one, look up cabelas black powder revolver section. They have sales cycling through their inventory periodically. Same brand "pietta", but you might get a better price. 

I picked up my '58 an extra cylinder and a loading press for 290 including tax from them a year ago. 

My bonus black powder hack for the day, if you don't want to pay for a powder measure, an empty 357 case is almost exactly 30gr of powder, which is the service load for 44cal percussion revolvers. 

They get to be addicting……I have three Pietta 1858's……



And a conversion cylinder for .45 Colt cowboy loads:



And I also have a Uberti Dragoon with a conversion cylinder for .45 Colt:



When shooting BP, I use .457's with a Tower of Power cylinder loading stand. It throws a nice lead ring when seating the ball:

If you can find one - Grab one of the stainless Ruger Old Army revolvers. Not only will it have more modern sights, but it's much easier on the cleanup for new BP shooters.

The same thing applies to the stainless steel target models of the 1858 Remington.  A new stainless 1858 will sell for a couple hundred less than a used SS Old Army.

I took a different route. I load blackpowder 45 colt and 357 mag rounds instead. I have a press and dies for smokless powder so it was an easy transition to load blackpowder. All I had to do was to cast soft lead bullets and use some homemade lube about 50% beeswax, 50% crisco.

I use Ruger single action pistols.

I like the Colts!

Check out Uberti's options. I have an 1858 Remington and an 1860 army. They're both beautiful high quality guns. They work great with black powder and I also have 45 Colt drop in conversion cylinders for both of them. Very much fun.

I've got a 1851 and looking to get a 1860
Get a full size over the snubby, unless you plan on actually carrying it.

They are a lot of fun to shoot and its enjoyable to just slow down and take your time at the range.


Cabelas usually has sales on the pietta 1851, 1860 and 1858 revolvers if you watch for them.

I like the .36 cal guns.  Both of these are Italian copies of Colts 1851 Navy and 1862 Pocket Police.  I also cast out of pure lead .375 round balls.  Use to carry the Navy while backpacking some Federal land as the Feds didn't consider them firearms.  Colt firearms used the frame of the Navy for the 1873 Peacemaker.



CD

Cause the 51' Navy came in .36   Leaves more lead for my .41 Mag bullets

CD

The '51 navy grips are far better than the latter 1860 army grips. CD is right that they copied the '51 grips for use on the '73 SAA. I also prefer the '51 navy .36's

Less lead and less powder, same amount of fun

I first got a Remington 1858 and I think it is a great starter for cap-and-ball revolvers.  It has a "modern" revolver design with the receiver covering the top of the cylinder, and the rear sight is cut into the receiver.  You can also take out the cylinder very easily.

My second black powder revolver was a Colt 1860.  It has an open top receiver and you have to pop out the barrel wedge with tools to take out the cylinder.  The rear sight is also on the top of the hammer, which seems absolutely ridiculous.  I also get more percussion cap debris jams with this revolver than the Remington.  Both are Pietta made.


With all of that said, I shoot the Colt much more accurately than the Remington.

Speaking of the open tops and spent caps, remember those old westerns where the cowpoke would raise his revolver all the way up?  That was done as a habit from cap and ball guns so the spent cap would fall out and not tie up the gun as you cocked it.


CD

Remington pocket top, navy bottom. Found both needing work. I've got $100 in both.

That revolver in the OP looks cool, but it doesn't have a loading lever do to it's short barrel. I own several BP revolvers. My advice would be to get a full sized 1860, or 1851. I also have the short models with loading lever but they hurt my hand to use because you don't have much leverage. A full size model is easy to load and shoot.