King of smack
Inactive
Ok, I've finally decided to pull the trigger and buy a pair of cap and ball pistols. My question is should I buy Ubertis or am I giving up a significant amount of quality by buying a pair from cabelas?
Uberti or cabelas
- Thread starter King of smack
- Start date
Fingers McGee
New member
Quality wise, Uberti's and Cabelas (Piettas) are pretty much equal now days IMNSHO. Main difference is grip shape, cosmetics, and authenticity. Colt never made brass frames or 44 cal '51 Navies; and Navy standard barrel length was 7 1/2 inches, not 5 or 8.
FM
FM
Never one to permit ignorance to silence me....
I would go with two 1860 in steel frame .44 from Cabelas. Or perhaps two steel frame Remington in blued steel...Again stick with .44.
I like the looks of the 1860. But I just got back from shooting my steel Remington from ASM. It is a dream to shoot and to clean up afterwards.
Either way..you can't lose.
I would go with two 1860 in steel frame .44 from Cabelas. Or perhaps two steel frame Remington in blued steel...Again stick with .44.
I like the looks of the 1860. But I just got back from shooting my steel Remington from ASM. It is a dream to shoot and to clean up afterwards.
Either way..you can't lose.
It depends on your gunsmithing ability. You do give up a significant amount going with Pietta over Uberti. That said you can make the Pietta into the equal of the Uberti if you don't mind smoothing all of the internals and reshaping the arbor wedge slot and the wedge so it works properly which is allready done on the Uberti. With the Uberti you may have to do a little work to get it as smooth as you like but not nearly as much and the wedge itself may be good from the box, at worst you may have to remove a few thousandths from the tapered edge towards the muzzle.
Right now Colt 1860 Army Revolvers are $199 at Cabela's. (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...&parentType=index&indexId=cat20817&hasJS=true)
You can get a Colt 1860 Army by Uberti at Dixie for $295 (http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_92_187_189&products_id=1028)
Here's another option..You can get a Pietta Colt 1860 at BP Stuff, Inc. that's been worked over and refinished for $315. They even put Treso nipples on it (http://www.bpstuffllc.com/capandballrevolvers.htm)
You can get a Colt 1860 Army by Uberti at Dixie for $295 (http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_92_187_189&products_id=1028)
Here's another option..You can get a Pietta Colt 1860 at BP Stuff, Inc. that's been worked over and refinished for $315. They even put Treso nipples on it (http://www.bpstuffllc.com/capandballrevolvers.htm)
King of smack
Inactive
Why the army caliber over the navy caliber?
Several reasons the army caliber is better in my opinion.
The main one is finding a good assortment of round ball.
Locally, or even on the net I generally only see .375 for the 36. You can find .380 on the net, or get a .380 mold (which I did), but for the 44 it is much easier to find .451, .454 and even .457.
this gives you better options to tailor the ammo to your gun to make sure balls neither jump forward, nor are too difficult to load.
The bigger hole of the 44 makes target shooting a bit easier as far as being able to see where you hit.
Accuracy can be made a bit better as there is more room for powder (or powder and filler) which can allow for light loads or hunting loads with a broader range than the .36...again you can tailor it to your needs better.
The main advantage of the .36 IMHO is the slightly reduced amount of lead
Don't get me wrong I really do like my Navy, but I tend to take the .44 more often.
Recoil isn't all that different one to the other, nor really is the amount of powder used...some difference of course, but it's not like you will be burning tons compared to a .36.
On the other subject, I will say my Peitta navy .44 brass framed sheriff certainly did not come out of the box high quality. It took a decent amount of work to make it a nice gun that I do really enjoy. At the price I got it ($120), I would certainly do it again...I do enjoy the working on them though, so I wouldn't in good conscience recommend them to someone unwilling (or unable) to put some time into it.
I have looked at their Remingtons (steel frame) and plan to get one, they do seem high quality in the store (local cabelas), I haven't had a chance to hold one of their steel frame colts
The main one is finding a good assortment of round ball.
Locally, or even on the net I generally only see .375 for the 36. You can find .380 on the net, or get a .380 mold (which I did), but for the 44 it is much easier to find .451, .454 and even .457.
this gives you better options to tailor the ammo to your gun to make sure balls neither jump forward, nor are too difficult to load.
The bigger hole of the 44 makes target shooting a bit easier as far as being able to see where you hit.
Accuracy can be made a bit better as there is more room for powder (or powder and filler) which can allow for light loads or hunting loads with a broader range than the .36...again you can tailor it to your needs better.
The main advantage of the .36 IMHO is the slightly reduced amount of lead
Don't get me wrong I really do like my Navy, but I tend to take the .44 more often.
Recoil isn't all that different one to the other, nor really is the amount of powder used...some difference of course, but it's not like you will be burning tons compared to a .36.
On the other subject, I will say my Peitta navy .44 brass framed sheriff certainly did not come out of the box high quality. It took a decent amount of work to make it a nice gun that I do really enjoy. At the price I got it ($120), I would certainly do it again...I do enjoy the working on them though, so I wouldn't in good conscience recommend them to someone unwilling (or unable) to put some time into it.
I have looked at their Remingtons (steel frame) and plan to get one, they do seem high quality in the store (local cabelas), I haven't had a chance to hold one of their steel frame colts
Poodleshooter
New member
You can find plenty of .375 or .380 round ball in the for sale forums here on TFL (shameless plug). 
That said, the .451/.454 ball has very little recoil. My '58 Remington has less apparent recoil than my wife's .38 Taurus 85,IMO.
I'll add that I had to perform some significant modifications to my Pietta,however this was 10 years ago,and I understand that their quality has improved somewhat.
That said, the .451/.454 ball has very little recoil. My '58 Remington has less apparent recoil than my wife's .38 Taurus 85,IMO.
I'll add that I had to perform some significant modifications to my Pietta,however this was 10 years ago,and I understand that their quality has improved somewhat.
Kadmos plus 2
Three sizes of ball for the .44 as opposed to only one easily available for the .36. Also I think shooting a .44 is more emotionally rewarding than a .36. I think the .36 is more of a scientist's caliber.
Of course,I have no explanation for the last statement. Just a feeling.
Three sizes of ball for the .44 as opposed to only one easily available for the .36. Also I think shooting a .44 is more emotionally rewarding than a .36. I think the .36 is more of a scientist's caliber.
Of course,I have no explanation for the last statement. Just a feeling.
1836SixGun
Inactive
If it has to be a new re,v then Cabella's would be the most appropriate choice. If you want true Uberti quality at an affordable price, you may want to consider an older Uberti production, as Uberti's reputation is deservedly tarnished by their current problems with quality control. .
Fingers McGee
New member
King of Smack said:
Cause some people think bigger is better. It really depends on what you're planning on doing with the revolver. One is just as accurate as the other; and, unless you're planning on killing something with it, the .44s is overkill - as well as being more expensive to shoot in the long run.
.380 roundballs are not hard to find on the internet, and can be had a lot cheaper than retail .375s from well known manufacturers.
I find shooting the .36 New Model belt pistol of Navy caliber (aka 1861 Navy)to be very rewarding. Splitting playing cards and eliminating the X on a bullseye target is very rewarding with a .36
First time I've been called a scientist Doc - Usually they just call me a crotchety old retired Warrant Officer
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King of smack
Inactive
Ok guys, I think I get it. If you're a man you shoot a 44. If you wear a pettiecoat then you shoot a 36. Fellas I'm looking to shoot compition not kill a buffalo. (although that would be fun) I shoot a lot of F.O.P. combat matches and most people shoot .38 not 50 AE. The colt 1851 colt navy remained popular long into the closed catridge era because it was so well balanced and handled so well. I guess what I'm trying to say is if it was good enough for the man who rode Traveler, a blonde lawman in Kansas, and a dentist from Georgia then it'll probly work for CAS.
Fingers McGee
New member
I'll have you know I only wear petticoats when the stage instructions call for it. Then, everyone wears one.
As you said. If the 36 was good enough for, and you know the rest.............................
FM
As you said. If the 36 was good enough for, and you know the rest.............................
FM
I'm going to end up with Colts and Remingtons in both calibers from both Pietta and Uberti when I get around to wanting to get .36x" molds.
If the Colt Navy has a grip like the Dance and Brothers, I'll be holding it with two fingers with my pinky hanging loose..So I'll be sure to hold it out like at a tea party. Pass the petticoats, seevooplay?
If the Colt Navy has a grip like the Dance and Brothers, I'll be holding it with two fingers with my pinky hanging loose..So I'll be sure to hold it out like at a tea party. Pass the petticoats, seevooplay?
I think what I said got misconstrued.
There is nothing wrong or wimpy about the .36
However, using the .44 isn't any more "manly" in my opinion...both seem to have pretty comparable recoil from what I can tell.
The big thing is 3 out of 4 stores (that carry such) around here will have the ball in stock for .44s maybe 1 in 4 will have .36 an if I want .380 (and don't want to cast it for some reason) than I am SOL. Only one store had a box and he said it was sitting on that shelf for the better part of 10 years or so.
If you want the .36, then by all means go for it...I have one, I really like it...I'll probably get another some day
Although I am more likely to get another .44 first
There is nothing wrong or wimpy about the .36
However, using the .44 isn't any more "manly" in my opinion...both seem to have pretty comparable recoil from what I can tell.
The big thing is 3 out of 4 stores (that carry such) around here will have the ball in stock for .44s maybe 1 in 4 will have .36 an if I want .380 (and don't want to cast it for some reason) than I am SOL. Only one store had a box and he said it was sitting on that shelf for the better part of 10 years or so.
If you want the .36, then by all means go for it...I have one, I really like it...I'll probably get another some day
Although I am more likely to get another .44 first
King of smack
Inactive
I first asked about the 1848 dragoon, and that was before I had done any research. Now that I am much wiser, (thanks to y'all and Thomas at bpstuffllc.com) and I've handled the weapons, i'm going with a pair of 51's. Besides, Doc freaking Holiday carried one! But seriously, in compition it's all about comfort. The 51 felt the best. Now if I could only afford an 1874 sharps with a 34 inch barrel in 45-110.
madcratebuilder
New member
I well recommend Cabela's because of their return policies. Uberti or Pietta? It's luck of the draw. Both produce good and not so good revolvers. Expect both Uberti and Pietta open tops to need minor fitting out of the box. The only open top that was almost perfect out of the box was a Cimarron Dragoon (Uberti) The worst fitting open top I have ever bought was a Uberti. Pietta's are generally very close but have short arbors.