Pietta 1858 cutting forcing cone

[Capt. Augustus]

I'm going to be working on a pair of Remingtons soon, I'm considering cutting a forcing cone on them, since I have the Brownell's unit.  I was wondering if the 11 degree forcing cone would be right.  Anyone out there tried this?

[Cimarron Lawman]

My gunsmith recut the forcing cone on my '75 to 11 degrees. It shoots great. Not sure about the 58s.

Are they cap & ball? Or conversions?

[Capt. Augustus]

They are cap & ball.

[Pettifogger]

See my response on your other post.

[Flint]

I cleaned up, and cut the forcing cone on several '58 Remingtons, the Ubertis needing the least cleanup.  The Piettas I have didn't have a forcing cone to start with, just a radius (at least it wasn't square) at the throat.  I figured that a harder and heavier cartridge fired bullet would not go well through that, it's hard to believe a pure lead roundball was expected to go through it.

Anyway, 11 degrees is a decent cone angle, just don't overdo the maximum diameter of the cone.   The alignment bore centering spacers provided with the Brownells cutter kit don't match the bore of the cap & ball as well as they do the cartridge bores, and I've had to use tape to get the fit tighter to prevent chatter on some calibers.

A new fitted spacer plug would be better, but I don't have a lathe to make one with anymore.

[Wolfgang]

Just took a look at mine, . . it shoots so great that I've never even thought of doing anything to it but shoot it. It has a forcing cone.  Don't know what era of manufacture it is. . .  is there anywhere to check serial #s for manufacture histrory ? . . . mine is  R254168.   Good shootin', . . . . 

[Flint]

Here is a listing of several country's date codes.  The Italian date code should be on the receiver near the proof marks, the codes after 1974 are 2 letters in a box.

http://www.hallowellco.com/proof_date_codes.htm

[Wolfgang]

Flint, . . thanks much for the link.  Good shootin', . . .      The BL proof mark on mine shows it to be made in '98.  The very bad burr on the bolt stop that was badly scratching the cylinder indicates that it sure didn't have any custom work, . . so by that I figure the forcing cone must have been factory done. 

[Montana Slim]

I've seen a few Uberti C&B forcing cones that didn't look bad...On most Pietta's the forcing cone is nearly non-existant, or rough as a cob. I've re-cut many to the 11 deg using Brownells kit. All-around a great improvement....accuracy picks-up nicely too.

Slim

[Flint]

Be careful cutting the Pietta cone, keep your eye on the progress as the Pietta barrel is SOFT.  Softer than the Uberti and much softer than a cartridge gun.

[Wolfgang]

I dug out my other Pietta Remington and had a look at it.  Made in '99 and it has a forcing cone also.   Good shootin', . . .  .   

ps. . . Mine shoot sooooo good that i have trouble with how anyone would make 'em shoot better or how the "target" model could shoot any better.  Maybe I just got lucky ? . . . Don't know, . . but I love 'em !   

[Flint]

The Pietta Target Model is a completely different gun, with a true Remington sized frame and gain twist rifling, and apparently has been used to win a lot of target matches.  I have looked at them (yes, a dealer actually had one) and it is much better made and finished than the run of the mill Pietta.

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

I believe that the Pietta Target Model has a Walther (German) bbl also. that is one reason the price is so high. I understand that they are great shooters.