1858 Pietta or Uberti

Eloy Santa Cruz · September 03, 2012, 01:31:20 PM

I am going to purchase my first 1858 Remmington and would like some feedback on the differences (good and bad) between Uberti and Pietta. I understand the Pietta is slightly larger and the Uberti is true to scale. How are both makers in terms of reliability, fit and finish?

Major 2 · September 03, 2012, 07:33:16 PM

Both are good,
I like the Uberti for several reason

Slowhand Bob · September 04, 2012, 07:21:43 AM

I have been a fan of the Pietta Remingtons for many years and they were the one quality spot for Pietta even back when. They were excellent shooters, even before the appearance/finish was up to par with Uberti. One of their big pluses, for me anyhows, was that one could get the extra cylinders for them through Cabellas at such good prices. I have personally used at least 25 to 30 or slighty over of those cylinders and all have worked well right from the box (including nipples). Amazing that so many new revolvers, cylinders and Kirst Conversion Units have all been so closely timed right from the boxes as to never need extra work. Not sure about the Uberti grip but I will say that the biggest downside on the Pietta, for me, has always been thet tight spot that the middle finger must squeeze into, right behind the trigger guard. This might not be as much a factor for those without big fat fangers! Never heard a complaint on the Uberti product and price was the only reason I strayed, as they were always a favorite from the beginning!

Eloy Santa Cruz · September 04, 2012, 04:31:23 PM

Thanks for the info Slowhand. I know that Cabella's carries the Pietta pistols and cylinders, are Cabella's cylinders interchangable with Uberti pistols?

@ Major2,
What are some of the reasons that you like Uberti?

Major 2 · September 04, 2012, 06:04:16 PM

Dove Tail front sight (Uberti) Pietta uses a pinned pinched post

The dictionary Pietta see fit to roll on the barrel
I KNOW it's BP ONLY

<Filli Pietta> Made in Italy is also a known.

Uberti places thier Logo "U inside a octagon" and made in Italy under the rammer, far more discreet.

and the Pietta has a large Target Grip profile, which I find unsightly and as mentioned it's pinching ...
and the screw which is at the base, to firm up or lighten the Main spring is non-fuctioning.

The screw is practical on a Uberti.

Eloy Santa Cruz · September 04, 2012, 09:48:38 PM

b
Between the two, are the frames cast or forged?

Slowhand Bob · September 05, 2012, 07:39:22 AM

I do not think the cylinders are interchangeable between brands, at least conversion cylinders are listed separately by Kirst? The newer Pietta cylinders are even different from the ones of a few years back and mate to a redesigned bolt. The price differences are shrinking between the Pietta and the Uberti but Cabellas has been the only outfit I know of that offered a substantial discount on the spare cylinders. Just posted elsewhere that I will take some pictures of my Kirst conversion '58s with a new holster I am working on, will post here also. I do want to add a standard length pair to the mix also and might try for stainless on those, if funds ever permit! I missed out on the short barl stainless version with checkered grips due to exhausted funds but they were beaut's.

Uberti does often strive for a more accurate representation of originals, appearance wise, while Pietta actually seems to go out of their way to offer things that are different. My favorite set of guns are a good example of this, the Pietta 44 caliber Navies with a short barl. These along with their representation of a Colt '62 model that has six shots and a short barl are guns that never existed but I do enjoy shooting them.

Major 2 · September 05, 2012, 11:54:53 AM

I can tell you my Uberti Remington is the Forged Frame Factory conversion.

rickk · September 18, 2012, 07:19:26 PM

The cylinders are NOT interchangeable between the brands. If you plan on getting more than one, and spare cylinders too... the best time to decide is now.

I went with the Uberti's. I have three so far.

Dovetail front sights are a nice thing if you have more than one... no need to memorize where each one drifts.

Halfway Creek Charlie · September 22, 2012, 09:44:20 PM

Of the two my choice would be the Uberti. They are close enough to the originals to use Uberti innards in Originals, Pietta's parts will not interchange.
Also Euroarms/Armi San Paulo guns IF you can find them, are great and will use Uberti Cylinders/parts. Uberti Conversion cylinders will work in the Euroarms/Armi San Paulo as well.
Unfortunately Euroarms sold out to Davide Pedersoli and the 58 Remington made by Euroarms is no longer made. Armi San Paulo was Euroarms before they moved to Bressica.
I have a brand new in the box Euroarms 58 being shipped this week.

What better way to say "I'm Back!!

Major 2 · September 23, 2012, 01:52:23 PM

HOLLY Grap !

there a blast from the past... welcome back

Where you hanging your hat these days... did you come back East like you said you might ?

Halfway Creek Charlie · September 23, 2012, 08:25:52 PM

Furthest east I got was Leona Valley on Elizabeth Lake Road. north of Palmdale, CA. Which is about due north of where I was. Palmdale is North east.
Back in Acton and have been for about 3 yearrs. Working with old Mercedes S Class cars and horses.

Thought of you the other day.
Had sold all my guns, but kept all the leather.
Hauled out the Cantenas (sic)the other day and cleaned them. They're calling for a couple 1860 Armies, or 58 Remy's..will probably be Remy's.

Hope this finds you well. I had a scare in Jan. Had a blood clot in my leg. Done with horses for a year at least. Doing well other than that.

Golly I miss you guys and I'm glad to be back.

Major 2 · October 01, 2012, 05:30:21 AM

Glad you kept them, and glad your back too....

rickk · October 01, 2012, 06:41:55 PM

for what it's worth... Ubertis are sometimes hard to find. They come into the country in batches. You may luck out and find one at a decent price in stock, but you also may have to put your name on a list and wait for a phone call.

I found that when DGW's gets a big batch in, they go on sale for a few days... great time to buy one.

Rick

Gaucho Gringo · November 07, 2012, 10:35:58 PM

Funny, I have 2 Pietta 1858 Remingtons and the mainspring adjustment screw works exactly as it should on both of them.

Major 2 · November 08, 2012, 04:09:07 AM

That may well be true of Pietta's these days as it was probably not to much of deal to have them funtion.

hellgate · November 30, 2012, 11:18:07 AM

I like the Ubertis for the following reasons:
-The first 3 SS Piettas I had did not line the chambers up with the barrels well enough causing the cylinder to jump beyond the bolt and jam occasionally when fired. Reaming the forcing cone helped. One was a comemorative "Chief of Police" from the 1980s, beautiful but not made to be fired.
-The Ubertis are lighter weight and are much better wielding. To me, Piettas are klunky and too heavy
-The mainspring adjustment screw is functional on the Ubertis. I backed out my two out and it was like an instant "action job".
-Ubertis have a driftable dovetail front sight. I had to twist the barrels on my Piettas to get them to hit POA
-They look more original with the smooth transition from the frame to the barrel. Piettas have a bigger step down on the top of the frame to the barrel due to their unnecessarily massive frame.
-The Uberti grips feel smaller to me than the Piettas.

A plug for Euroarms Remmies: They are even lighter and more pointable than the Ubertis. They come with dovetail front sights. Their much smaller grips and lighter frames give them the feel much like a '51 Colt Navy feels compared to a '60 Colt Army. To me, it's almost a tossup between the Ubertis and the Euroarms with the Ubertis having higher quality control.