1851 Navy Uberti vs Pietta

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 1851 Navy Uberti vs Pietta

Posted: 2/6/2018 5:25:33 PM EDT

Looking at my first black powder revolver and decided on the 1851 Navy in .36 with the steel frame.

The uberti runs $50 or so more than the Pietta copies.

Can anyone make a recommendation between the two?

Posted: 2/6/2018 5:57:39 PM EDT

[#1]

I’ve found that Uberti is better in many ways over the Pietta. YMMV.

Posted: 2/6/2018 6:15:22 PM EDT

[#2]

Have had both. Hands down IMHO the Uberti products are just that much better and more than justify the added cost over the Pieta. My Colt Clone 44-40 guns that I used in Cowboy Action Shooting were Ubertis. They saw close to a 300-400 rounds a month for several years with zero malfunctions or breakages. Do not recall seeing any Pietas on the line but that may be a regional thing. Do not have any experience with either Uberti or Pieta cap and ball guns, but I would expect that the QC ofeach company would carry across the majority of their products.

Were I in that market, I would buy Uberti.

Posted: 2/6/2018 6:24:45 PM EDT

[#3]

Uberti > Pietta

That said Pietta has come a long way in the last few years quality wise but they aren't quite up to Uberti yet.

$50 ain't nothing brother. Once you turn to the Dark Side your wallet has met its doom.

Posted: 2/6/2018 6:44:24 PM EDT

[#4]

Thanks for the replies fellas. Seems like a consensus.

Posted: 2/6/2018 11:21:43 PM EDT

[#5]

I have a Uberti Hombre 357mag revolver that is one of my favorite guns to shoot. Bought it off gunbroker brand new a few years ago for $250 + Shipping/Transfer. The seller had a ton of them at that price in 45 Colt and 357 mag. I should've bought a pair in each caliber.

The Problem that most, if not all, Uberti open top Colt revolvers have is a short arbor (aka cylinder pin). Easy fix is shim the arbor hole in the barrel assembly.

Details on the Short Uberti Arbor here:

http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Tuning_the_Uberti_Open_Top_Revolvers_Part_3.pdf

Start with the Pietta Open Top Colt Tuning articles as they are referenced in the Uberti Tuning articles:
http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Tuning_the_Pietta_Part_One.pdf
http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Tuning_the_Pietta_Part_Two.pdf

Uberti Open Top Colt Tuning:
http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Tuning_the_Uberti_Open_Top_Revolvers_Part_1.pdf
http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Tuning_the_Uberti_Open_Top_Revolvers_Part_2.pdf
http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Tuning_the_Uberti_Open_Top_Revolvers_Part_3.pdf
http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Tuning_the_Uberti_Open_Top_Revolvers_Part_4.pdf

Personally I like Pietta's I mostly fit the bolt to the cylinder lock notches with a few swipes on sand paper but will also go over the internal parts as well. Regarding prices - Cabela's frequently has Pietta revolvers on sale for $200 with free shipping.

If you find that you don't want to tune the gun yourself or fix the short arbor problem, this gentleman does some nice work:
http://www.goonsgunworks.com/services/

Posted: 2/7/2018 4:48:46 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
I have a Uberti Hombre 357mag revolver that is one of my favorite guns to shoot. Bought it off gunbroker brand new a few years ago for $250 + Shipping/Transfer. The seller had a ton of them at that price in 45 Colt and 357 mag. I should've bought a pair in each caliber.

The Problem that most, if not all, Uberti open top Colt revolvers have is a short arbor (aka cylinder pin). Easy fix is shim the arbor hole in the barrel assembly.

Details on the Short Uberti Arbor here:

http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Tuning_the_Uberti_Open_Top_Revolvers_Part_3.pdf

Start with the Pietta Open Top Colt Tuning articles as they are referenced in the Uberti Tuning articles:
http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Tuning_the_Pietta_Part_One.pdf
http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Tuning_the_Pietta_Part_Two.pdf

Uberti Open Top Colt Tuning:
http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Tuning_the_Uberti_Open_Top_Revolvers_Part_1.pdf
http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Tuning_the_Uberti_Open_Top_Revolvers_Part_2.pdf
http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Tuning_the_Uberti_Open_Top_Revolvers_Part_3.pdf
http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Tuning_the_Uberti_Open_Top_Revolvers_Part_4.pdf

Personally I like Pietta's I mostly fit the bolt to the cylinder lock notches with a few swipes on sand paper but will also go over the internal parts as well. Regarding prices - Cabela's frequently has Pietta revolvers on sale for $200 with free shipping.

If you find that you don't want to tune the gun yourself or fix the short arbor problem, this gentleman does some nice work:
http://www.goonsgunworks.com/services/

View Quote

Thanks for the detailed reply. I understand this is a $300 gun, but what is the likihood it will need work right out of the box just to be functional?

I might shoot a couple dozen rounds a year out of the thing. No competitions or anything like that. I really just want a reproduction civil war revolver for fun.

Posted: 2/7/2018 5:39:07 PM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:

Thanks for the detailed reply. I understand this is a $300 gun, but what is the likihood it will need work right out of the box just to be functional?

I might shoot a couple dozen rounds a year out of the thing. No competitions or anything like that. I really just want a reproduction civil war revolver for fun.

View Quote

I've heard the following statement before and I think there is something to it...

"Uberti makes the best Remington 1858 New Model Army clone. Pietta makes the best 1851 Navy Colt and 1860 Colt Army clone."

I'd argue that Uberti has wider range of guns compared to Pietta. You can get some neat historical guns that Pietta doesn't carry.

A shim is pretty easy to do. Grab a pair of scissors and cut up some soda cans to make a shim. Might be able to use a hole puncher.
Most of these Italian guns are 1/2 step up from a kit. Put a little work into them and you'll have a nice shooter.
Working on them is part of the fun.

Maybe it's a sign of old age, I'm 42 after all, but I find I enjoy shooting black powder more than my smokeless cartridge guns.

Posted: 2/8/2018 7:10:55 PM EDT

[#8]

Thanks for the replies!

Posted: 2/10/2018 6:20:46 PM EDT

[#9]

I had an 1851 Pietta and I found the action was smoother than the Uberti, that being said I never had a chance to shoot it so I believe either would be a good choice, I own 3 BP Ubertis and an
1858 conversion and Schofield made by Uberti and they are all fine guns and very accurate.

Posted: 2/11/2018 11:35:05 PM EDT

[#10]

Here's some more discussions on correcting the short arbor.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/fixing-the-deep-hole-syndrome-on-the-colt-walker.832425/
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/what-about-a-crush-washer.741294/#post-9307170

Link to the locator button mentioned in the Pettifogger article.
https://www.dillonprecision.com/locator-buttons_8_48_25280.html

Note you can probably shoot the Uberti with black powder and the short arbor. Your wedge will get battered and eventually need to be replaced. It should be ok for awhile though. If you want to try out a Cartridge Conversion Cylinder - I think you will find the cylinder will bind horribly and the arbor fix will be necessary.

Posted: 2/11/2018 11:51:21 PM EDT

[#11]

Uberti makes a better product

Posted: 2/17/2018 12:32:53 AM EDT

[#12]

Ordered this

Finally placed my order. Most of the ubertis were out of stock at the normal vendors, but this eventually came on sale.

My first BP firearm.

Tips?

What do I need next?

Posted: 2/17/2018 9:22:40 AM EDT

[#13]

Nice.

Now you need to buy all the accessories. See my post in this thread with all the links:
https://www.ar15.com/forums/Armory/1860-Army-Stainless-Steel-Updated-with-accessory-advise-/16-484831/

Edited to add, regarding flasks, spouts, and powder charges. 20gr to 25gr is the powder charge for a .36 Navy.
The flask I linked in that thread has a 30gr spout. You can pour a 25gr charge using an adjustable powder measure into the 30gr spout, mark it with a marker, and cut the spout down to size.

Or you can buy this flask with a 24gr spout:
https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index/page/product/product_id/2212/category_id/331/category_chain/578,348,331/product_name/HA0630+Ideal+Round+Flask

This is a little more traditionally styled flask with 24gr spout but filling this one is a pain. As the top doesn't screw off. To fill it you need to use funnel.
https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index/page/product/product_id/2200

.380 diameter ball is what you want.

Remington #10 caps work best with most C&B revolvers.

Posted: 2/17/2018 3:21:51 PM EDT

[#14]

Well my friend - now you need to get some balls ! .36 cal to fit your revolver, powder, wads, and caps too - I hit fifty this past year and I am also delving into the world of black powder - got an 1858 Uberti and an 1860 pietta - flasks for both too - .44
Now I have to find some leather goods to pack it all in

Posted: 2/21/2018 8:04:54 PM EDT

[#15]

Arrived today!

Attached File

Posted: 2/21/2018 10:04:31 PM EDT

[#16]

Looks good!

Would look better if you had a pair of them...

Posted: 2/27/2018 11:35:37 PM EDT

[#17]

So - how does it shoot?

Posted: 3/1/2018 1:38:20 AM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:
So - how does it shoot?

View Quote

I’ll update this thread as soon as I shoot it...

It sure does feel nice in the hand though.

Posted: 3/30/2018 7:05:03 PM EDT

[#19]

Following the recommended load data I found that these revolvers have very little "kick" to them, even my Walker with 45g FFF was pleasant to shoot(except for the loading lever popping down.

Posted: 5/6/2018 11:57:54 AM EDT

[#20]

@Troutman84

So did you ever shoot it?

Posted: 5/6/2018 12:03:13 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
@Troutman84

So did you ever shoot it?

View Quote

No. It's been sitting in my safe.

Thanks for the reminder though. Do you have an 1851 that you shoot?

Posted: 5/6/2018 12:14:19 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
Do you have an 1851 that you shoot?

View Quote

Nope, I've never owned a cap and ball revolver. Those things are too high tech for me. I prefer more primitive stuff.

But my son is interested in getting one.

Posted: 5/6/2018 1:47:38 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:

Nope, I've never owned a cap and ball revolver. Those things are too high tech for me. I prefer more primitive stuff.

But my son is interested in getting one.

View Quote

I really don't know much about BP revolvers, except that the 1851 Navy has history as both a civil war sidearm, and was used in the wildwest. 36 caliber round ball is the historically correct caliber, even though reproductions are made in .44.