foolzrushn
New member
I've had an old Naval Arms 1851 steel .44 Pietta for 30 years or so. It was rescued (missing some parts that I replaced) from a gunsmiths junk box. I finally took it out and shot maybe four cylinders of .451 Hornady balls with 25 and 30 gr of Pyro P, home-made Gatofeo #1 over the Durofelt wads. I also found a tin of antique Italian Leon Beaux caps which fit the standard cones.
Nothing like an initial shakedown to find a host of irritations. The balls cut a ring mostly, There may be some size differences in the chambers, but I have a Cabella's replacment cylinder that I didn't try yet. I really wanted to try the old one first. The bore may have some minor pitting but looks pretty shiny. The arbor is tight.
The accuracy however was not good. I may have not wedged tight enough. The wedge was one of the things I had replaced from Dixie many moons ago.
I would like to know where to get a new one because I fear that I may have filed it too narrow back when. I could also use a primer on fitting a wedge. How far should it stick out and how firm should it stick when pounded in. I have seen where you back it up slightly if there is not cylinder/barrel clearance. Wouldn't that make it loose in the slots? Perhaps my wedge angle is wrong.
Also wondering about Cabella's 1851 repair kit parts. Is that the best option for internals?
thx
Nothing like an initial shakedown to find a host of irritations. The balls cut a ring mostly, There may be some size differences in the chambers, but I have a Cabella's replacment cylinder that I didn't try yet. I really wanted to try the old one first. The bore may have some minor pitting but looks pretty shiny. The arbor is tight.
The accuracy however was not good. I may have not wedged tight enough. The wedge was one of the things I had replaced from Dixie many moons ago.
I would like to know where to get a new one because I fear that I may have filed it too narrow back when. I could also use a primer on fitting a wedge. How far should it stick out and how firm should it stick when pounded in. I have seen where you back it up slightly if there is not cylinder/barrel clearance. Wouldn't that make it loose in the slots? Perhaps my wedge angle is wrong.
Also wondering about Cabella's 1851 repair kit parts. Is that the best option for internals?
thx
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