pietta 1851 navy

[DanWalker]

Hi guys,
Just picked up a brass framed 1851 navy cap n ball revolver at the gun show.
It'a a pietta in 36 caliber. It was in pretty rough shape. The brass frame was tarnished so badly it was green, and the cylinder was missing some nipples. I checked the bore though and it was clean, with sharp rifling, and looked like very few rounds had been fired through it. The cylinder locks up tight and indexes properly. I got it home and buffed the brass parts till they shined, and detail stripped the pistol and scrubbed all the little pieces and parts. I don't expect great things from this piece, but if it holds "minute of cottontail" at 25 yards I'll be happy.

[44man]

Nice find, let us know how it shoots. It sounds like it was kept in a leather holster. Fastest way to get green brass.

[mooman76]

Those guns will surprize you how well they shoot some times!

[lastmanout]

I have nipples, hammer, trigger, pawl hand, springs. etc. for the Pieta 1851 if you need parts. reasonable prices.

[DanWalker]

Well, I took the little charcoal burner out today and was very pleasantly suprised.
I stuffed it with around 25 grains of pyrodex P under a felt wad and 36 caliber roundball, and proceeded to shoot some 2" groups at 20 yards offhand.
It's hiting about 3 inches left and 1 inch high at 20 yards. Just need to file the rear notch a bit to get it dialed in properly.
All in all, I'm quite tickled with it. Anyone know why the loading lever keeps dropping down every time I shoot it?

[Mk42gunner]

Dan,
The loading lever latch should be spring loaded; given the condition you described I would bet the spring is rusted in place. There is a solid pin at the end of the lever that holds the latch in place, the spring is behind that. If it is broken you should be able to find a spring at a good hardware store that will work.

Make sure you stake the retaining pin in when you replace it.


Good luck with it,


Robert

[DanWalker]

I have nipples, hammer, trigger, pawl hand, springs. etc. for the Pieta 1851 if you need parts. reasonable prices.
Got any barrel wedges?

[lastmanout]

Sorry Dan, no barrel wedges.

[Joey]

I fire Cap&Ball regularly, Ruger Old Army .45, and Uberti 1858 Remington. I have read that the brass frame will not stand up to a lot of firing.

[shooter575]

Here is a place that has parts for most of the italian guns.I have had good luck with them in the couple times I have needed them.
http://www.vtigunparts.com/ab2240000Equick/
Most of the guys I know that shoot the .36 in comp use 15-20 gr fff with a filler to make up the diffrence.COW or gritts seem to be the favorites.A wimpy load like would make the brass frame last a bunch longer

[DanWalker]

I got a wedge from VTI and a hickock holster from Cabelas for it. Now all i have to do is get some time off to go shoot it.
I wonder how many rounds a brass gripframe can take? i wouldn't think the 36 caliber would generate enough pressure to hurt it.