Cabelas (pietta) 1851 Confederate Navy 44?

[GoodOlBoy]

I have been looking at this C&B revolver for quite a while, and it is currently on sale. I am seriously considering spending the money on it ($120), and I was wondering what opinions anybody on HC had. It seems to have good reviews all around, although most people are talking about loading it with 25-30 grains of powder, and Pietta recommends 15 grains as the max (I will be going with the companies max loads until I am sure anything else is safe) load. This confuses me a weee bit since I would not have thought there would be that much variation in it. And most powder flasks I find drop 20-30 grains for it so I don't know what I am going to do about a flask.

Right now I will probably just pick up the revolver (Without a starter kit) to have to handle, fondle, and have around and pickup the rest of the kit when the weather warms up around here.

GoodOlBoy

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Is it a brass frame revolver? If so, that's most likely the reason for the 15 grain maximum.....brass frame (as opposed to steel frame) revolvers tend to 'shoot loose' with heavier loads.
As far as the revolver itself goes: I don't have that particular model, but I do have a Cabela's 1858 Remington by Peitta, and I have been quite happy with it.

[GoodOlBoy]

ah that could very well be it, it is indeed the brass frame confederate model

GoodOlBoy

[GoodOlBoy]

Basically this is the "get me into C&B pistols" starter pistol. I plan to shoot it and hunt with it for a few years and see if I want to upgrade at that point or not.

edited to add : Any idea what size 44s it uses? .451, .454, or .457? I downloaded a copy of the manual and it doesn't indicate

GoodOlBoy

[Adam Helmer]

GOB,

I have a .44 Remington M1858 New Army and suggest you consider the Remington. I have a Colt .44 and use it only for historical discussions as a prop. My Manual recommended .451 Balls. I tried them with poor results and then tried .454 and .457 Balls. The .457 are best with 25 grains of 3F Goex. My .44 shoots to the sights at 25 yards with that load.

The Remington has a top strap, easier take down and is a better buy for the money in my opinion.

Adam

[GoodOlBoy]

Adam, that will probably be the second one I buy depending on how I like using a C&B revolver at all. I have thought about collecting them for awhile (particularly since they are so much less expensive than cartridge firearms and easier to get) and this will likely be only the begining of another obsession.

GoodOlBoy

[dovehunter]

I agree with Adam in that If you want a C&B revolver strictly as a shooter you will be better served with an '58 Rem. Army repro. I had two Ubertis: the Remington in .44 and a '51 Colt Navy repro in .36. Adam was right in that the Remington was typically more accurate and easier to maintain. I sold the Colt repro to a guy that wanted to convert it to a cartridge gun. However, with all that being said, that brass frame Confederate repro is mighty pretty piece and would look well hanging from a plaque on the wall and would probably be a fun shooter too.