1858 Navy Arms questions

A

adkmountainken

Inactive
picked up a Pietta made 1858 Navy Arms .44 i am wondering how old it is? will post picks of the markings and it has a 6 digit serial # that i can post. in very good shape and i only want to do some light shooting with 20 grains of fff goex.

 
yikes looking like around $40 to replace them which i will definitly do shortly. i ran 12 caps through after i cleaned the pistol up just to dry the oil and it all seemed fine. would really like to burn some powder this weekend, would it be safe to run 20 grains of fff goex through and use the existing nipples that are on it now? i have the wonder wads for over powder and ball, bought some .454 Hornady rb's and i have bore butter but if it is a tight fit like i have been reading i would not use the bore butter. any suggestions? again i will order better nipples but would like to burn some powder soon, ya know the whole kid at Christmas thing!
 
I wouldn't go over 20 grains with the brass frame. Why do you think you need new nipples? You don't need the Bore Butter with the wads. The wads go between powder and ball not over the balls.
 
i just read that it is a good idea to replace the stock nipples with stainless steel? just want to do the safest thing unless i am off base?
 
I have never replaced a set of factory nipples. Never had a reason to and I've been shooting them for 45 years.
 
I agree with Hawg - I would not bother replacing the nipples unless the existing nipples were damaged. I've only been shooting BP about 3 years but I've never had trouble with factory nipples on repro revolvers.

Steve
 
and that my friends is why i joined THIS site after looking at many online forums, the knowledge here is what i'm after! the nipples on it are fine but on many other forums people suggested replacing them with the ss nipples, just saved myself some $$, thank you.
 
With that Remy you won't have cap jam problems or blow back issues that $40 nipples might help with.
I have even spun damaged nipples in a drill and cleaned up slight mushroomed ends.
What you need to do is take them out clean the threads and use some anti seize or choke tube grease before they get stuck and then the flats round off trying to get them out as they are softer than those expensive ones.
Forty bucks should get you about 2# of FFF bp! Lot better investment!
 
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is my motto on nipples. If you get reliable ignition, no cap jams and good nipple fit. Leave it alone! I've got about 2/3 of my 15 guns with stock nipples and they run fine. I replace nipples if they won't take the Remington #10 caps.
 
FYI: Those older Piettas use a slightly smaller frame then the newer guns, fits small hands better, the bolt and bolt notches in the cylinder are thinner so adding a new cylinder should work but won't lock up so tight. If you changed the bolt to a new one, then the old cylinder won't work unless the bolt is thinned.
 
The nipples in my 1858 SS pietta are kind of squashed and misshaped on some of them. I ordered the ones off eBay and they will not screw in. ( metric)? Going to try and clean the old ones up somehow.
Edit: Needs the 5.5mm x 9mm or 12x28 size. Now to decide if its the .250 threads
 
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The newer Pietta take an M6 x .75 threaded cone. I would not bother with oem cones but order Slix Shot or Treso Ampco or cones from Track of the Wolf.

My experience with the latter has been excellent both in fit finish and TOWs customer service in helping me get the right ones for an old Walker.
 
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