Shooting Pietta's 1861 Navy Revolver

[Lefty Dude]

Thanks Mike;

Keep up the good Video's, they are enjoyed very much.

[Bruce W Sims]

Just a question to one side:

When you folks are exchanging technical information back and forth is that because you
all tweak your own firearms or are these things you have done for you by somebody else?

I remember how proud I felt when I first learned to work on my own auto, and sometimes
wonder just how hard these BP pieces are to work on. Thoughts?

Best Wishes,

Bruce

[Lefty Dude]

I do my own C&B Revolvers, as others here I am sure do also.

[Coffinmaker]

Well ......... I use to be what some would call a "Professional."  Made most of my living working on CAS guns.  Then I retired.  I much prefer being Professionally Retired.  I digress.  After I retired, I was bitten by large, black, venomous spider.  that "bite" caused an uncontrollable desire to switch to Cap Guns.  What technical skills and knowledge I didn't already have, I stole from others.  Reinventing the wheel seems ....... silly.  So, If you, or anyone else has the better idea, rest assured, I will steal it.  If it works well, I will tell others about it.  If it doesn't work, I'll also tell others about it.  Oh, the original question:
Nope, the technical information I share, good or "almost" good, I have gleaned from long hours over a hot work bench.  I feel the knowledge I do have is useless beyond me, unless I share it.  It's also useless if I take it with me.  Sharing is caring ya know.

Coffinmaker

[45 Dragoon]

 Howdy Coffinmaker!
Bruce-

Yep,
I do my on  . . . . . and a few others.

I share a lot of what I do and help when I can.  

As far as easy, it all depends on what you're after. Are you trying to get through the next match (easy) or set up something that will last a lifetime (not so easy)?
I strive to make them last a lifetime knowing there will be the occasional "Romp!!" (if you will).  To do that, I make everything a close tolerance, well fitted, and trouble free and easy to use as I can.

Most S.A.s are wrecked because so much more force is needed to overcome overly tensioned springs!!
Fanning for instance, the set up is critical but when most folks try it, they are putting WAY too much force into it just to overcome the tension of the main spring! All that "too much force" is translated to the action parts which culminates in a destroyed S.A.!!

Watch a C.A.S. shooter (a really good one) thumb the hammer back with the off hand in quick succession - that's not too far removed from fanning. It's all about setting up a machine to do what you want it to do.

Sorry, a little long winded.

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com

[Bruce W Sims]

Thanks to everyone for the grant responses.

Since I don't shoot CAS I probably would not need a revolver that was "highly tuned".
All the same, if its possible to make it a bit more "comfortable" to use I wouldn't
mind getting some coaching. I keep an eye on YOU TUBE and have a reasonable idea
of which end of the screw-driver to grab. Absent signing up for a Gunsmithing Course, is
the learning curve for working on my own piece a long one?  Thoughts?

Best Wishes,

Bruce

[Coffinmaker]

Hi Bruce.

The prime directive, is to NOT have to fight your toys.  It will, in short order, become not fun.  When playing with you toys is no longer fun, you don't want to play with them anymore so you throw them in the toy box, or throw them away.  I try to provide information so folks can address problems to make their toys fun to play with.  Oh, your question.

Sure.   There is an awful lot you can to, on your own, to make your guns more user friendly.  I find Pietta Cap Guns the easiest to set up without owning a machine shop.  My first recommendation is to visit "The Open Range" and read the tutorial put together by Pettifogger.  A lot of what he shows you is fairly easy to do. 

As a beginning, the OEM Springs have got to go.  They belong under a truck, not in a gun.  New springs will run you between 17 and 25 bucks.  VTI Gunparts or Brownells for "lee's Gunsmithing gunfighter spring kit."  With a Pietta, you don't ned the wire Trigger/Bolt spring.  The Pietta OEM T/B spring is just fine.  Pull the OEM nipples and get a set of SlixShot Nipples from Longhunter shooting supply.  Those two things will really increase the fun factor.  I also recommend APP powders.  It's a Substitute for real BP, makes it's own lube so you don't need a lot of different greases or lubes.  Cleans up with water.  Don't use petroleum based oil.  Mobile 1 is synthetic, plays well with BP and subs.  A quart will last just about forever.  Oh, THE MOST IMPORTANT PART.  Go to Brownells and get a good set of hollow ground screwdrivers.  Parts are readily available so you can fix your screw-ups at reasonable cost.  Just remember, make changes to the cheapest part.

Coffinmaker

[Bruce W Sims]

Fantastic! And just to flesh it out......

is there any area I should know beforehand to leave to the experts?

Seems like the moment someone starts talking about "close tolerances"
I start to get a little nervous. Thoughts?

Best Wishes,

Bruce

[Coffinmaker]

One of my cohorts in crime is one of those who is a purveyor of tiny close tolerances.  Me???  Not so much.  Normally, Pietta comes out of the box with good Barrel/Arbor fit and reasonable barrel/cylinder gap.  Sometimes, the breach end of the barrel needs to be squared to the cylinder face.  You'd be amazed how close you can come with the 'ole Mark 1 eyeball, a nice new machine file and care. 
Then you get into basic rubbin and buffin to make things smooth.  Then you dump the OEM springs and nipples and replace with nice after-market goodies.
Then, when your ready to shoot, invest in a good cylinder loading stand.

Coffinmaker

[Bruce W Sims]

I'm already nosing around for the loading stand. I saw an inexpensive one (~ $30USD)
at a nearby Cabellas, but everyone raves about Dick's "Tower of Power" that I will
probably go that way. Also saw a neat little rifle/pistol rest for about the same amount.
Keep this up and I'll need a panel-truck to get me to the range! 

Best Wishes,

Bruce

[45 Dragoon]

Cohorts? !!! I thought we were friends! !!!!!!

Don't mean to make you " nervous "! It's  just the way I do it. My background is auto engines and airplanes.
My setup for my service came directly from setting up my cartridge converted  open tops for shooting smokeless powder. Smokeless is harder on the guns so tighter tol. are called for for long life. So, a little overkill is insurance for b.p. shooters. Sorta like just because my car can go 150mph doesn't mean I have to . . . (but it's fun if I want to!!)

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com

[Coffinmaker]

Now wait just a second here Mr Mike ...... Iffn we wazant friends, I wouldn't pick on ya   
I personally think tight tolerances are pretty OK.  My only problem with it, since I retired, I sold off all my machines.  My primary weapons are a Hacksaw and a nice new Bastard file 
My other consideration, is I use a cylinder loading stand and that affords me the opportunity to wipe down the cylinder face and breach face every stage.  Along with a little spritz of Mobil 1 on the arbor and I am ready to go.  Guns run like Swiss Watches the whole match.
I must admit, when I ran Open Tops as my main match guns, my thought was .001 end shake and .003 barrel/cylinder gap with .004 head space.  Gutten Snug.
My last point.  When you've got a precision instrument, set up to go 160 Miles an Hour, there is no excuse NOT to find some empty freeway and let it all hang out.    After all, I can personally attest my John Cooper Works Minni Cooper will exceed 145 (ran out of empty freeway).  Not that I would ever really DO that 

Coffinmaker (who is just a little crazy)

[45 Dragoon]

Hey!! A Mini fan!! My son has a 2013(?) Countryman. He is always talking about the John Cooper Works stuff!
He  enjoys his drive time!

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com

[Coffinmaker]

Fast cars and fine guns.  Take em out and RUN em.  My sweetheart runs a 2015 Cooper Works Countryman and I run a 2012 Cooper Works Clubman.  Gun carts fit just fine (mandatory requirement).

A little thread drift here!!  But, what's a little "drift" among friends, Hey Hey!

Coffinmaker

[Lefty Dude]

The only other Car lover worse that a Copper lover, is a Jeep fanatic.

My Shooting Pard, who lives in Michigan (Summer) and Arizona (Winter). His Bride drives a 2013 Mini, and He just bought a 2015 Jeep  Willys Wheeler fully loaded.
All I hear all Winter is Mini, Mini, Mini.

Oh, Oh I think we better talk 1861 Navies before we are accused of Hi-jacking this thread.

BTW;
If I did not have my 1851's I would be shooting 1861's. To me they are the best C&B Revolver for our sport.

[Coffinmaker]

I hafta agree wid Lefty.  Well, almost.  Personal opine, the '61 was the sleekest appearing gun Colt ever built.  Almost.  I fell deeply in lust with the old ASM conversions at one time.  ASM built a never never gun, Richards conversion of an 1861.  Pure sex in steel.  Too bad they were such crap.  But ..... Back to the 61.
Nice thing with Pietta, everything starts with an 1851 frame so there is extensive commonality of parts.  You can have the appearance of an 1851, an 1861 and an 1860 (on some) and never change frames.  One action job, three "different" guns, 2 different calibers.  FUN!!

Coffinmaker

Ah PS:  44s still rule the roost 

[Crow Choker]

Love the 61' Navy I bought not long ago, nice shooter. Interesting bullet comparison Mike, all I ever shoot are round balls, but I did try some conicals once in my 51 Navy. The rounds are easier loading, hit what I'm aiming at- guess I'll stick with them. The 61' I bought I got from a shooter/collector who had bought it from another shooter/collectors estate and was down sizing his stable. It is a early 70's made Uberti Navy Arms that was fired so little it was a hair from being NIB. Beautiful/excellent condition, bluing, caseharding, grips, and action.  Only problem was the hammer pull. Harder than any Cap n' ball I've ever had. Harder than even my big Walker and Dragoon which are a lot bigger chunk of iron than the Navy. It is the Navy I posted about last March in the Gunsmithing section titled "61' Navy Main Spring Replacement". I replaced the original with a Wolfe spring that I bought from Navy Six and it did wonders. Detonates the caps every time, doesn't fragment the caps, and has a nice light, but firm 'pull-back'. Use the stock nipples and #10 Remington's. The Navy Arms 'Navy' also has a 71/2" barrel vs the 8 incher Mike was posting about the Peitta. Good shooter, but I'll always be a devoted 44 caliber cap n' baller-my 2nd Model Dragoon being my favorite, if I could only have one.