Handling the 1858

D

dyl

New member
So I've been handling my new 1858 Pietta. It's very different than handling my other DA and DAO revolvers.

Are you all able to: cock the hammer, shift to a grip with finger out of the trigger guard, then shift grip to place trigger finger on the trigger - using one hand only?

The grip is shaped in such a way that by the time I would place my finger on the trigger, my hand has scooted up so high on the grip that it's awkward getting the trigger finger back down into the trigger guard.

So far, using a second hand fixes that, or raising/lowering the revolver to let gravity reposition my grip helps too. Also keeping my trigger finger inside the trigger guard to push upwards helps, but that's not exactly the safest practice.

Thoughts?

edit: duplicate words
 
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I've never cocked a single action with my finger outside the trigger guard til just now. I keep my finger against the front of the guard away from the trigger. I've used single actions since I was 10 years old and never had an accidental discharge cocking one that way and I'll be 63 this month.
 
I can cock the piece, find the target and trigger the gun without changing the grip at all. Maybe you could modify the hammer to accommodate the size of your hands?
 
I wonder if the shape / design of single actions were meant for folks to just leave their finger inside of the trigger guard.
 
Try establishing a firm grip , firm enough so that your hand does not scoot up and you can't get your trigger finger back down into the trigger guard .
After establishing a firm grip where your trigger finger can reach the trigger , don't scoot it around... if you have trouble cocking the gun with your gun / trigger finger hand simply use your off hand to cock the trigger . Yeah , shooting two handed may not look like the old western movies ...but you have to do what your fingers will let you .

I never thought about it but I just strapped on my Ruger Blackhawk and did a few draws from the holster . I establish a firm grip , trigger finger inside the trigger guard at the top front but not on the trigger ,clear leather and aim in direction of target thumb hammer back and place finger on the trigger while sighting .
Remember the gun is safe until it comes to full cock ... it's OK to place your trigger finger in the upper front part of the trigger guard to aid in keeping the gun from scooting up / down .
Don't try any fast draws , establish a FIRM grip and if you can't thumb cock it with your gun hand...use your off hand for cocking .
Two handed shooting helps me and cocking with my off hand helps me maintain a constant steady sight picture .
Just try different methods and find what works ,
Gary
 
gwpercle,

Thanks, it works, as long as I keep my finger inside the trigger guard. Then I can reach everything. But this heavy 8 inch barrel does require a *firm* grip like you say. Whew, now I can do like they do on TV. Within reason.

I find this really interesting because contemporary instructors teach to keep the trigger finger out of the trigger guard when not in use, but of course that's with Double Action designs and semi-autos. Interesting grip design that needs to allow for hand movement to cock the hammer.
 
Like Hawg said !! The Pietta Rem. is slightly over size Uberti and Euroarms match original dimensions.
The Colt Navy fits. cocks and points like no other.
 
I picked up a copy of the Colt 1862 Pocket Police in 36 cal.
5 shot with a 4 1/2" barrel , for a compact belt revolver and it is very nicely sized .
Balances well and for someone with small hands it's a hum dinger .
If you want a compact cap & ball check them out.
A lot more svelte than a 1858 Remington or even the 1851 Navy Colt .
Gary
 
It’s a bit of a stretch for me, though it handles ok. I’ve wanted to modify the hammers to be something like a Bisley for ease. But I have smaller hands and short digits.
 
The ASP/Euroarms Remingtons are even lighter than the Ubertis and have even smaller grips. A Pietta Remington to an ASP is like the difference between an 1851 Colt Navy vs an 1860 Colt Army in grip size. For some undetermined reason my Euroarms Remingtons will shoot a 6 stage SASS match without gumming up whereas my Ubertis need a drop of oil between the cylinder and front of the frame every other stage.
 
The ASP/Euroarms Remingtons are even lighter than the Ubertis and have even smaller grips.
Click to expand...

They're the same size as originals where the Uberti is a tad bigger and Pietta even bigger.
 
It is my understanding that ASP got a hold of a Remington Beals model and copied that, hence the mostly covered barrel threads.
 
I wonder if the shape / design of single actions were meant for folks to just leave their finger inside of the trigger guard.
Click to expand...

Howdy

Good grief, who is recommending keeping your finger out of the trigger guard between shots?

I have been shooting single action revolvers since 1968, double action revolvers since 1975. It would never even occur to me to keep my finger out of the trigger guard between shots.

Talk about awkward.

You keep your finger off the trigger as you cock the hammer.

Just practice it.
 
It’s a habit for some who are used to drilling with modern firearms. Current doctrine etc. frankly it’s not a bad habit if you shoot modern firearms much at all... But for our purposes cocking the revolver should indicate an immediate readiness to fire, no matter what Marshal Dillon did back in the day.
 
on the hand that holds the grip, curl your little finger under the grip. i sold my buerti remington as i didnt like the grips. i have only uberti colts now and always curl the little finger under the grips. i sold one to a friend after he kept asking me to sell it to him. he didnt know about the little finger under the grip. when he did that he really felt comfortable shooting the gun.
 
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