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Swamprat's 1851 Colt .44 Pietta


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I took it out to shoot. My number 10 CCI percussion caps were so tight! No. 11 on a revolver? I managed to gets five shots off with double strikes of the hammer to set them off. They have to be the wrong size. Accuracy was fair, but the Remington New Army Uberti that I have is even more accurate. 1851's epitomize the appearance of the old Colts.

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I took it out to shoot. My number 10 CCI percussion caps were so tight! No. 11 on a revolver? I managed to gets five shots off with double strikes of the hammer to set them off. They have to be the wrong size. Accuracy was fair, but the Remington New Army Uberti that I have is even more accurate. 1851's epitomize the appearance of the old Colts.

 

Dang! I don't know what to say. As I told you I never shot the gun just took it in on trade. Maybe the nipples were changed before I got it. The Cabela's catalog say's it takes number 10's. Could it have a weak hammer spring? Or could it be it needs the Cabela brand caps? Let me know.

 

Swamprat

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I bought some no. 11 percussion caps, Remington, and they fit perfectly. Problem solved! I forgot you hadn't shot it George. Thanks again.

 

Glad it was that simple of a fix. Now can you improve the accuracy by changing the load? All else fails you can use that 6 pound beast as a club! LOL

 

Swamprat

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Tony, what kind of lube are you using? Mine shoots better with felt wads microwaved (not too long) with Crisco and sometimes some bee's wax when my wife has it withing reach (hmmm...it seems to have not been within reach recently).

 

Powder, felt wad, then bullet. My Pietta .44 Colt amazes me with this load. Its more accurate than my new fangled 9 mms at the same range with the best loads (that I've found for them so far). The Pietta isn't too bad with just Crisco over bullets either, but the wads are more convenient and I'm convinced also contribute to accuracy. I use 30 gr of Pyrodex pistol. I haven't tried real black and should.

 

Both the Pietta and the Colt Walker that I have and can never remember which Italian outfit made both are more reliable with #11. I tried #10s first too. I have to scrunch the #11s a bit, and if I'm not careful (by pointing the barrel straight-up when pulling the hammer back to advance the cylinder) they'll fall into the action and send me back to the car looking for tools to take it apart.

 

This last weekend I got sent back to the car looking for tools to take apart the Winchester 94 buffalo rifle that I've been working on. I had to take the action completely apart right there at the range (or lose precious range time). It turns-out that a pin that I had made to replace one I couldn't find to hold the ejector in had come loose and locked-up the action. I learned that there's a reason Winchester uses roll pins (forehead slap). I also got good experience taking these actions apart and putting them back together - with the range hot and under fire - it took a couple of tries which is actually better than I did in the quiet shop at home - stress isn't all bad. I think I really have it down now (smiley with hammer hitting head).

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