Pietta Spiller & Burr Question - Good Deal?

Good morning
The brass frame revolvers will last a good while IF the shooter stays away from max chages especially with conicals. RB loads are much less streesful and as you will find max loads seldom give the best accuracy.
If you really want a max load BP revolver save the money and get a Riger Old Army...
Mike in Peru
 
Anyway, all the Italian made weapons are proof tested and therefore safe. Maybe they will have cosmetic defects or will be horrible to fire, but they won't blow away your hand (unless you were doing something seriously stupid, of course).

K.
 
I don't think a person could load a .36 hot enough with holy black to hurt a brass Remington/Whitney frame style revolver. I'd also be willing to bet the Colt style in brass last much longer in .36 with full loads too.

I just hope Pietta gets their Whitney steel frame up and going here soon.
 
I honestly didn't know that. I always figured that .36's in brass, especially ones with a topstrap- would be fairly indestructible. :( I guess I've been lucky buying them used so far then.

I never have shot one "hot"- always for accuracy.

All I know is that my Spiller & Burr is LOUD!!! :D
 
I bought this Spiller & Burr in this condition. Someone used too much powder at some point.
S4020010.jpg
 
At $136 new, I think it's a pretty good deal. I shoot brass at very low loads, just enough to make it make a nice little amount of smoke.
I wanted it for a display anyway, I've got enough other things to shoot.

Guys, if you want a gun to jump up and holler-shoot a .44 mag.
Black powder is for fun.

I would hope by now that most of us know to NOT put maximum loads in a brass frame. At least by the folks that visit this wonderful site.
Great place.

OJW
 
You mean they actually make a revolver with a brass frame? :D I'm shocked!!! I'm gonna hold out for one of the newer BP revolvers with the aluminum frames and polymer grips! :D

On the serious side - I had an older Navy Arms 36 - basically it was a copy of a Griswold & Gunnison with a short barrel. I enjoyed it and it was fine with light loads - a lot of fun to shoot and make smoke with. I traded it off in a gun deal and now wished that I hadn't. The Spiller & Burr looks like a nice revolver and if I add a brass frame to the herd, it would probably be the one I would pick first - I just like the history of it and the looks of it. :)

If someone buys one of these "specials" - please give a report on what you think of it. I could live with a "cosmetic" blemish as I would "antique" it anyway. Thanks!
 
Just got my Spiller and Burr from Traditions. Got here pretty fast.
First revolver from them so I guess I'll add this box to my collection.

It is smaller than I thought it would be, a little smaller handle also.
With the top strap, it feels and looks similar to one of my '73 clones.

It came in the regular greasy bag, and looks totally new with grease on it.

The brass finish has some staining and the backstrap is also stained.
So, that must have been the problem.
I can see that someone might have sent it back because the finish on the brass wasn't perfect. Could have been a counter demo, can't tell.

However, if everything else checks out, I feel like I got a really good deal.
OJW
 
You're going to also find that the action may be rough. This will be a good time to learn about the innards of the gun if you don't already know.

I took mine apart and found rough tool marks on the cylinder bolt and hand. I smoothed both up with files and emery paper and it is now a nice smooth action.

The Doc is out now. :cool:
 
I have a couple and really enjoy the .44Piettia Navy-style! It's a great plinker and target gun. Load them light, use only round balls and keep them lubed and they'll last a long time! There's no reason to try and "Magnumise" a frame material that won't hold up to it.
Light loads give plenty good accuracy and actually can be quite lethal so be carefull!
ZVP
 
Well, I missed a big chance of getting a good bargain. The gun is no longer in stock. It went pretty fast!
 
Well, I guess I'll have to say a big "thank you" for putting this thread together when you did. I got the pistol very quickly from Traditions too.
Great looking little pistol and I'm sure I'll shoot just fine. It's all in good fun anyway.
thanks again,
OJW
 
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