Cap; and Ball revolvers

jashoffa · 12-25-2007, 03:25 PM

I have been thinking about adding one of these historical guns to my collection for a while now. Sometimes I think it is a great idea and would be fun and cheap to go shoot. Other times I think I would be much better off just paying a little more and getting a single action cartrage revolver in .357 or .45LC. Of course then the evil gun horder inside of me says buy them both.
Does anyone have one and what do you guys think of them? I already understand the safty issues of loading them and understand how to do that and how to clean them thanks to cabela's "how to" videos.
Many times when I think about getting one I tend to put it on the back burner casue I figure these are the last kind of firearms that would be banned and I figure I should focus on getting other guns I want that might fall to the gun ban socialist!

JBS · 12-25-2007, 03:37 PM

I've got two of them. Both Pieattas from Cabelas. Both .36 caliber and very accurate. They're a hoot to shoot. I cast my own bullets and ball.

Big Dog · 12-25-2007, 05:22 PM

I have three Piettas, all .44 caliber brass framed.
1) 70's production 1851 Navy
2) 80's production 1860 Army
3) New 1851 Navy

The oldest one is quite different in manufacture than the later two. But . . . parts do not interchange between any of them.
Accuracy is good, best in the newest gun - 2" group at 15 yards. I fitted all with blade front sights, adjusted for elevation. Factory cap&balls often shoot high.
I have become a believer in the new "Triple Seven" powder - far better than Pyrodex, though more expensive. It is far easier to clean the gun too!

For the modest cost, go ahead and try one.

I think you'll like it!

12-25-2007, 03:25 PM	#1
jashoffa Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 411	Cap; and Ball revolvers I have been thinking about adding one of these historical guns to my collection for a while now. Sometimes I think it is a great idea and would be fun and cheap to go shoot. Other times I think I would be much better off just paying a little more and getting a single action cartrage revolver in .357 or .45LC. Of course then the evil gun horder inside of me says buy them both. Does anyone have one and what do you guys think of them? I already understand the safty issues of loading them and understand how to do that and how to clean them thanks to cabela's "how to" videos. Many times when I think about getting one I tend to put it on the back burner casue I figure these are the last kind of firearms that would be banned and I figure I should focus on getting other guns I want that might fall to the gun ban socialist! __________________ "I don't go shooting without my guns and they don't go shooting without me!" Member NRA

12-25-2007, 05:22 PM	#3
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,219	I have three Piettas, all .44 caliber brass framed. 1) 70's production 1851 Navy 2) 80's production 1860 Army 3) New 1851 Navy The oldest one is quite different in manufacture than the later two. But . . . parts do not interchange between any of them. Accuracy is good, best in the newest gun - 2" group at 15 yards. I fitted all with blade front sights, adjusted for elevation. Factory cap&balls often shoot high. I have become a believer in the new "Triple Seven" powder - far better than Pyrodex, though more expensive. It is far easier to clean the gun too! For the modest cost, go ahead and try one. I think you'll like it! __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

12-25-2007, 03:37 PM	#2
JBS Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 761	I've got two of them. Both Pieattas from Cabelas. Both .36 caliber and very accurate. They're a hoot to shoot. I cast my own bullets and ball.