1875 Remmies

[Dusty Morningwood]

I really like the look of these revolvers, but have never held one.  I have kind of small hands  and currently shoot Navy grip Open Tops.  I have had a couple of 58s (Euroarms) that had slightly smaller grips than the Uberti and Pietta models.  Would these be too bulky for me?  Thinking .44-40 to match up with a 73 rifle. 

[BlaiseNSaddles]

I have smallish hands and the ones I tried in the shop seemed to work well.  The only thing I did not like was the hammer spring was way stiff.  That is minor I think but other then that (these were 7.5" jobs as well) I could pretty well hold them steady duelist style.

[Grapeshot]

The 1875 remingtons do have a rather stiff main spring.  You can get lighter ones from VTI or have a good smith lighten them up for you.

I took mine and thinned them down with a dremmel tool and a mug full of cold water so I wouldn't over heat the spring.

[Dusty Morningwood]

So, with lighter springs you think I could get used to these and handle as well as the Navy grip OTs?  Hate to sink a wad of cash into pistols I will just have to turn around and sell at a loss.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Here's my take on the 1875's. I like all Remington pistols over any other brand/type for how they point when I aim. That said, I prefer the 1858 design over the 1875 for two reasons. The 1858 is somewhat lighter and easier to move around (acquire targets) and the hammer action is shorter, much like a short-stroked Ruger. I prefer the 1875 because there is a little more room for your fingers behind the trigger guard and for some, that is a big issue. My hands are just the right size for the 1858 so that isn't a problem. I know shooters with hands larger or smaller than mine that find them uncomfortable because the trigger guard slams into their finger or knuckle. The 1875 trigger guard doesn't bonk anyone I've heard of. As to appearance, I think the 1875 is the best looking pistol available but that's a subjective opinion. You may want to run down to the local gunshop and see if they have one you can hold.

As to mainsprings, they ALL are too stiff and need to be lightened, no matter what kind of pistol it is. You can lighten yours easily by taking a little off both sides. Scroll down a few posts on this thread for a good discussion on the after market springs and to see how I did it: http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,13008.0.html Bear in mind that although the mainspring is the same part number on the Uberti versions, the retainer screw on the 1875 doesn't work the same way so you have to be a little more careful to not take too much off.

[Dusty Morningwood]

Thanks, Pards.  I am going to trot over to the big Tulsa show on Sunday and handle as much hardware as I can in six hours.  Maybe then I can form a better idea of where I want to go with this.  Maybe the new 58 conversions could be an option.  Do those come in .44-40 or just .45 and .38?

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Maybe the new 58 conversions could be an option.  Do those come in .44-40 or just .45 and .38?

I suppose you can have anything fitted if you want to do a little work. I don't know of a 44-40 because the 45lc is such a close match. The 38's require heeled bullets or sleeving the barrel. I chose to have mine sleeved by Kenny at R&D. He did a great job and they are outstanding. My .45's didn't need anything other than the cylinder to work right. As I recall, the sleeving for the .38's was only about $60 per pistol so the cost isn't too much of an issue. I really like my conversions. I did one gated and one drop-in. They're a little bit of a fiddle to load and unload, but they shoot better than anything else I have. When Kenny offers his gated conversion, I'll round one up for my other one.

[Dusty Morningwood]

This is the new factory gated one I am talking about.  Click product info. and it does show a .44-40.  But unlike the .45, it is not set up to go back to percussion.

http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/Conversions/58NewModArmyConv.htm#

[Galloway]

I lightened my mainspring by removing the tension screw completly and bending the spring by hand a little. It made a world of difference for the better.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I lightened my mainspring by removing the tension screw completly and bending the spring by hand a little. It made a world of difference for the better.

Of the 6 I've had over the years, only one would function without the tension screw in it. All the others needed it in just a little to function. Probably your bending the spring made a difference in that because it would change the arc of it much like the tension screw does.