Pietta vs. Uberti: Which Is Better?
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- Опубликовано: 11 окт 2024
- In this video, I compare Pietta and Uberti, which are both popular Italian manufacturers of black powder firearms. It’s not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison because I’m limited to just showing the models that I have, but I think you’ll see that both companies make both high-quality and low-quality guns. Be sure to subscribe to my channel for more videos. Thanks for watching!
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There's just something about that click when you pull back the hammer of a single action.
I agree! Thanks for watching!
Definitely not the sound you want to hear behind you. That and "chuck chuck"
I'm planning on getting a pietta confederate colt navy as my first ever "firearm" as an open carry. In getting it online from cabellas.
I will only go for pistols with hammers because I love that dramatic affect of cocking back the hammer and hearing that metallic "click, click, clack"
I bought my Pietta brass frame 1851 navy in .44 way back in '78. Still a good shooter, even loaded with 200gr swc bullets.
I've always bought Uberti for the fact that the brand and disclaimer are always under the loading lever. I have never had a problem with any of them and the fit and finish has always been superb. In my area, Pietta is always just a tad bit less than Uberti. But, not enough less to warrant dealing with the wording all down the side of the barrel.
Words don't bother me as much as having a firing pin that gets horny when you pull the trigger. Instead of just staying where it is.
We make our choice, and have different criteria
"Be not afraid of any man, no matter what his size, just call on me in time of need, and I will equalize"! Samuel Colt
Bullshit, he never said that.
@@D5quared91 I very much doubt he did. The origin of the saying is, like all things related to the mythology of American West, one part rumour, one part truth, one part misinformation, and one part outright invention.
www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/be_not_afraid_of_any_man_no_matter_what_his_size_when_danger_threatens_i_wi
It was said in the Old West: "God created Men, but Sam Colt made them equal."
@@D5quared91 Yes he did! - I heard him my own self, except they mistook Woman for Man.
"Colt .45 and two zigzags, Playa that's all we need." - Teddy Roosevelt
I also own about 30 BP pistols and you are very correct. Don't worry about the manufacturer. Doesn't matter.
Thanks for watching!
30? Really? You are living life right my friend.
DukeFrazierProductions
lol, well said
Except the rest of them are out of business.
who dies with the most toys wins...You win hands down pardner and don't even need to die.
I've owned many examples of both brands. That being said, I'll take a Uberti. Fit and finish is better, along with a general "feeling" of quality.
- My Uberti Cattleman .22 x 12rd snapped the trigger spring after only 3500 or so rounds.
@@1ndomitusyou did that because you're a flaming moron who should not be playing with any firearms but I'm not suggesting that you stop no no because maybe, just maybe.....
@@kirkwatstien6979 thank you for letting the planet know your an imbecilic dolt.
@@bruceclark5627 you're a tiresome lymie bore with nothing better to do but to try to try to stalk and harass me? I'm sorry was in supposed to take a lonely internet clown seriously? Keep trying so far you've proven to me all you can do is to say the se.thimg over and over again using different adjectives thus far you've proven to the world that you're nothing but a one dimensional silly man off of his meds. Hopefully you can do much better, so far you've managed to bore me ...yawn
@@kirkwatstien6979 I don't think you understand the definition of "stalking"........or lymie.Thank You for proving my point,by the way....learn to spell.
I just bought a Pietta 1851 navy. The store had a selection of piettas and ubertis. They looked similar in finish but the ubertis had a higher price tag. I'm brand new to black powder so I was looking for something basic. I live in Buffalo, the weather sucks right now so I haven't got out to the range yet. My brother located some caps where he lives. First break in the weather I'll get to smell some black powder burning. I have plenty of modern guns but I barely take them out with the ammo shortage.
I have Uberti / "Colts" and my son bought a couple of Pietta /"Colts". The Piettas were distinctly inferior to the Uberti pistols and one broke a spring at the range. We replaced all the springs in the Piettas (some filing was necessary) with Uberti/Colt springs from Dixie Gun Works and the Piettas showed a marked improvement. They fired extremely well after that.
I'm 50 years old and been collecting Firearms my entire life and I've just now discovered what I've been missing. There's is no going back now! this is simply the most fun I've had shooting in my life. If anyone else is on the fence about this I say go for it. there's something just so rewarding about Cap and Ball Black Powder : )
I'm 61 and I shot an original Starr revolver less than a week ago and I couldn't agree more. Cap and ball is loads of fun. I put it up there with skeet shooting. Big bang, lot's of smoke, the smell, the grime, the process. What could be better?!
I have been carrying cap and ball revolvers since I was very young, for hunting as well as defense from human threats. A properly loaded and maintained black powder revolver meets and exceeds the killing power and range of many modern service semiautomatic and revolver cartridges. I am also a gunsmith who have tuned and repaired single action revolvers for quite some time. My current EDC is a Pietta 1851 Navy in .36 caliber. It is an extremely well built firearm. My preferred load is 20 grains of Swiss 3F and a 80 grain ball and a Remington no. 10 primer. The primer is also sealed in place with a neoprene sleeve in order to avoid cap fragment jams and water contamination of the propellant. Over the course of years, I have found Pietta to be the far more robust and reliable manufacturer of handguns. All of the Pietta firearms that I have owned or tuned have been consistently high quality. Their quality is actually on par with the most stringent of American gun manufacturing standards. The action parts seem to glide on oil when operated and parts have exact tolerances. The Ubertis that I have handled seemed to have more lemons, and some of them even possessed potentially dangerous defects, such as a cylinder that is too tight on a pin and binding upon cocking. If someone were to use the gun in a defensive situation where speed of firing is essential, bad outcomes can result. I have NEVER experienced such issues with Pietta guns. Uberti's strong point seem to be in their rifles, and they build long arms with consistent quality. Pietta does a far better job at manufacturing handguns.
Hello I have been trying to find some info on the pietta 1851 navy in .44. I was just wondering about the longevity of these revolvers. I want the one with the walnut/brass finish. How long can these last? I've heard about them "stretching " would you happen to know how long they will last before that happens?
@@sebastianlightell8864 Do NOT get a brass framed revolver. And I mean do NOT. Not only the frame can stretch, the forces from even normal repeated firings can warp the cylinder pin pocket and cause the pin to loosen and come out over time. That is the nature with brass. Those who have used brass frames and had them last a "long time" had been using loads so tiny that they are barely pushing the ball out of the muzzle. It is not worth it. A steel framed gun on the other hand, is a duty grade gun and will last you for as long as you properly maintain it. On another note, the "1851 Navy .44 caliber" is a historical misnomer. It did not exist at all. The Confederacy NEVER built any brass 1851s in .44 caliber. They reproduced the .36 caliber Navy in their Griswold and Leech & Rigdon factories. And they were not brass, but a deep colored bronze alloy that was far stronger than brass. If you want a .44 and prefer the open top Colt design, go for the Pietta steel frame 1860 Army. You can shoot full power loads through them and they can easily kill a large feral hog. Colt style revolvers are also VERY easy to point and acquire the target. They are extremely well balanced and designed very well. You will not be disappointed.
Thank you so much for the information. Now I'm stuck between the 1858 new army and the 1860 lol
@@sebastianlightell8864 Hey man, you're welcome... Now with these two, it is basically go for yer' heart's desire. Off hand, I'll lay down the bare bones for ya'... The Colt's got aesthetics, sweet grip angle, and spot on point, aim, and shoot interface. When you reseat the barrel wedge, do not seat it too tight. That way, one tap with something or thumb pressure and you can instantly take it apart in the field to clean or change cylinders. The Remington got the solid built one piece frame. Changing cylinders is a slight bit trickier than a Colt but practice makes perfect. With the Remington, you also got a massive steel war club, or an extension of your fist just in case shit gets too close. I would not advise using the Colt as a club or steel knuckles... The entire gun rests on that central pin and you don't want to stress it too much. However, as a shootin' iron, you can fill it up with a maximum powered charge and shoot it all you want. Both guns can take a 35+ grain powder capacity easily and both will take down medium to large game with proper shot placement. More Colts were sold than Remingtons because Colt has got a more aggressive advertising campaign. However, when Civil War veterans and cowboys were interviewed by Elmer Keith in the 1900s, most of them said that they preferred the Remington when they could get their hands on one. Just a few days ago, I took delivery of a .36 caliber Remington Navy made by Uberti. To my relief, it is a top of the line gun that is just as good as my Piettas... I sighted the thing in at the range and placed all 6 on a 120 yard gong...Incredibly high velocity with 30 grains of FFFG and the trajectories were almost as flat as a laser...
I've never understood carrying a revolver for defense. If you care that much about protecting yourself with a firearm, get a semiautomatic. Revolvers are outclassed in everything except style nowadays.
But this is coming from a fudd that would never carry a gun outside of a case, and never somewhere except the shop and the range, so what do I know?
I cannot believe that this has a mere 1,200 views. I have wondered this question for years. And as an American living in France the Italian reproductions are practically local. I REALLY appreciate this comparison. And I'm sure more people should see this.
Thanks for watching!
I live in Poland and I was planning to buy a Pietta 1961 Navy. Had some doubt if Uberti would be a better choice, but your video cleared it out for me. Thanks :)
MsAmigo1990, I’m glad it helped. Thanks for watching!
How's France going?
@@schleybailey I'm french, living in France…….. My country is begining a shithole….
I know that some people are not too bothered by the Pietta barrel markings that you showed, but it is a deal breaker for me. I have two Ubertis, an 1851 Colt London Navy and an 1858 Remington Army.
Nice video.
Thanks for watching!
Same for me. I won't buy a Pietta for that very reason, plus the blueing on them looks almost like gloss paint to me.
I love this guy. I entirely trust his every word. Such a informative individual. I’m new to the cap & ball revolvers but definitely want a piece of history. I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the thoroughly detailed videos. God bless your soul buddy
Thanks for watching!
I've got 2 in my area that are driving me crazy and I'm trying my best to just be patient.
The first is an Uberti Cattleman .45 just over $500 but the action is a bit rough almost like a .22. Personally, I love the smooth action of a .45 Ii felt on a Colt Peacemaker once.
The second is a Pietta Cattleman .45 with a smooth as silk action like I was describing, but almost $600. I just can't justify the price.
Just trying to be patient until my gun comes around. It's killing me. It's the last gun I ever wanted for my collection. I have all other guns I ever wanted. There's nothing like the old western guns.
I can sweeten up any single action pistol no matter how gritty they are, and you can too if you learn how. They are quite simple guns, they are made as cheaply as possible by limiting the hand fitting of each part. Hand labor is expensive, but simple and satisfying when you sweeten up your own gun. The hammer spring is ALWAYS way too strong. Narrow it with a grinder, smooth it with a file. The improvement of just that alone will be huge. Take your time--use your head.
One of the springs broke on my Colt 1851 Pietta clone. I replaced all of the springs on the pistol and I was amazed at how much it improved its overall operation.
I had to have that done myself. When researching it I found it was a common problem and the replacement spring was of higher quality from an aftermarket source.
@@teej783 where did you find springs at?
I just ordered my first cap and ball revolver. A Uberti 1851 London navy. Can't wait till it gets here.
Nice videography and commentary, thanks. I like how all the pistols remained in frame for most of your work. Balanced review too. I have four of these cap and ball revolvers and love shooting black powder rifles as well. I have always wondered about the quality between Uberti, Pietta, Pedersoli, and others. Thanks again! By the way, Uberti is pronounced “ooh-berti” (just take off the y from “you” and you’re good. The Italians will nod in appreciation).
Yeah, I know the correct pronunciation and I get it right about half of the time. LOL! Thanks for watching!
Ive only owned Pietta Remingtons and now Uberti 3rd mod Dragoon BP revolvers. Its my opinion that Uberti is well worth the price. Pietta is like a Taurus and Uberti is like a S&W. I bought a pair of Uberti 3rd mod Dragoons recently and the actions and trigger are like something from a custom shop. Maybe I just got lucky but the difference is night and day.
Worth the price for a retractable firing pin? I think not. Maybe at one point that was true. But it isn't anymore. Every since they changed the way they made them.
I agree with your verdict I just wish there would be a company that had pieta actions and uberti finish and markings that would make them perfect but like I always say nothing is perfect
Hey Dustin: Thanks for doing this video. I have a couple of points that I think should've been addressed. First...I think new people to the repro game should know that of the two makers...Uberti makes the most historically accurate repro. So much so...that Uberti parts are usually interchangeable with the original firearms. For some reason Pietta altered the dimensions of virtually every part of their guns. For me this is a deal breaker. Why would I buy a "repro"...that isn't even a repro??? Adding to that their spotty QC...makes the extra $50 you'll spend on the Uberti...a darn good investment. Now don't get me wrong...Uberti has it's issues. But at least the parts are all original spec. I know of several gunsmiths who absolutely refuse to even work on a Pietta...now that says something to me!!!
The second point I wanted to make. I think it's important...that if you plan on buying more than one firearm. That you buy from the same maker. For instance...many of the internal parts for the Colt revolvers are interchangeable from the 1873 Model P...back at least through the 1851 Navy. I couldn't even guess the innumerable times I've had to scavenge parts from one revolver to make another one run for the weekend!!! It reminds me of the scene in..."the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly"!!! But...if you mix and match brands...you can't swap ANY of the parts. For me...these were two of the most important considerations when choosing between brands. Anyway...I just wanted to add my 2 cents.
I own a Cimarron 1873 Old Style, a Pietta, just like the original Colt Peacemaker, and I love it. It's not perfect finish, but that it's the most historically correct is why. It is very smooth and tight action.
I have preferred Piettas for quite awhile now. I've had 3 Ubertis that had problems with the arbor coming loose. ( The arbor is the rod that the cylinder slides onto) I've never had arbor issues with any of my Piettas, and I own 23 black powder revolvers. I have had broken hand springs on both models though.
I beg to differ on the cost. Ubertis are quite a bit higher priced than the Piettas.
Excellent comparisons! Interesting to see that some of the fit and finish in these guns aren't quality controlled.
@knock HEY!
I just watched this again because it came up in my feed. You're absolutely right in that each firearm is it's own beast. I recently bought a Cimarron Colt open top 1872 in 38 Special (made by Uberti). Compared to my Uberti made Walker, my Uberti 1863 in 36 caliber, and my Uberti 1858 Carbine, it is way "back of the bus" compared to the three just mentioned. I have 6 Piettas (3-1851's, 1-1860, 2-1858's) Every one of these is fine and of varying quality and fit. There is no real difference. So, you are right in that it all depends on the individual firearm. Great video by the way.
Interesting vid! I've always seen people praise Uberti's over Pietta, generally speaking. I have 12 Italian cap and ball revolvers, the first since 1977 and all Pietta. I have noticed that over the years that the actual mechanical function, lock up, trigger pull etc., has dramatically improved. Even to the point that I have used conversion cylinders on a few and with perfect results. The action on your single action army was superb by the way. Beautiful piece indeed!
I have an Uberti 1871 opentop in 45 Colt, from Cimmaron. Beautiful! BUT, it had a couple of issues :
2 of the cylinder chambers had tight throats, and it consistently shot left.....
What I can say is, Cimarron stands behind what they sell! I sent the gun back and they checked everything out, including the timing, and got the cylinder throats (free of charge, including shipping) perfect! I spent another $50.00 with a gunsmith, and it came back shooting exactly on center in windage. All I needed now was load development and wow does this thing shoot! I LOVE THIS REVOLVER!
Look, yes, there may be certain issues with Italian guns, but I feel the work and small extra cost was more than worth it.
My Son has a Uberti Mason Richards conversion Colt Navy Open Top replica in 38 special. It came perfectly regulated at 25 yards for a standard 158 grain 38 Special load. It is as accurate at 25 yards as my Colt Python firing its most accurate loads...We couldn't believe it but were very happy.
@@MW-bi1pi
Excellent! So glad you have a fine revolver there!
My first BP pistol was a Pietta brass frame 51 .44. Was the late 90's. After about 50 shots the bolt had almost rounded out the cylinder stops. After about another 30 the bolt broke... Replaced it and no more than 12 rounds later the main spring broke. Just a couple years ago I got a Pietta .44 London model 51 and WOW. The quality was WAY better, as good as my Uberti 1858.
Thanks for watching!
Chris Collins j
I only have an Uberti 1860 Army but it is made very well. Accurate and functioning, smooth action.
thanks dude great channel, as I am starting my journey into BP. I am about to get a Pieta 1858 Sheriff model Inox version. I can't wait. :)
Welcome to the hobby! Warning: It’s addictive. LOL! Thanks for watching!
My Uberti Cattleman Charcoal Blue ,Black Powder Frame in 4 3/4 barrel has very smooth action. Beautiful blue blued finish.
Ubertis, during the early pre-Beretta years, were tight and beautifully handcrafted. Aldo Uberti made great Replica percussion masterpieces. This was due to the fact that the men who imported these guns insisted upon historically accurate revolvers and Uberti reverse engineered them from original antiques. Over the years Pietta has improved quality and historical accuracy---- and the Pietta barrels seem the most accurate to me--not by much, as both are tack drivers. Both brands of revolvers are rewarding to own and shoot. Both brands produce revolvers that will out shoot most modern revolvers in experienced hands. The black powder sportsmen/women should support both brands,and Pedersoli who makes a pricey but awesome 1958 Remington New Army. Love these old-school guns. Thank you Dustin for re-illuminating these exciting pistols from our past.
I had a Uberti SSA it was giving me so many issues thar I traded it off for a HI point 😜 I have had no issues with the Hi Point..... so far iv never had issues with my Piettia.
I am getting a Ubberti 1860 Army C. MASON. 45 colt conversion, I pray it works good as its beautiful.
I bought one last year and absolutely love. As you said it is a beautiful firearm and shoots dead on at 50 yards.
Love my piettas. 2 1860 Armys and 2 1851 Navies. Bought them right inseam from Cabellas. Never had the pleasure of firing an Uberti but that 1847 looks pretty cool
I prefer Pietta's current offerings over Uberti, in both cap and ball and (especially) in cartridge revolvers.
My (Pietta) Cimarron Thunderball .45 is, in factory stock form, almost the equal of my TUNED (Uberti) Taylor's Smokewagon Deluxe .45.
Plus, I haven't personally been able to find a new Uberti Cattleman without the 3-click Cattleman II retracting firing pin system. My 2017 Smokewagon has it. It works, so it's not a functional liability, as far as I can tell from my experience, but I prefer a true 4-click action.
Pietta is still building models with a straight up, 4-click, true Colt clone fixed firing pin. Any future new 1873 Colt clones I buy will be 4-click Piettas...without deviation.
With that said, I do like Uberti's Open Top Colt clones, "conversion" clones, and their Schofield....all of which I plan to add to my collection. I have Cimarron's (Uberti) Man With No Name "conversion" , and I really like it.
If Uberti gores to adding "safety" gizmos to their actions, I'll pass.
[Any future new 1873 Colt clones I buy will be 4-click Piettas...without deviation.]
Exactly.
I can't believe Uberti would screw up the 4-click Single Action that literally names this gun.
Only buying in person is great advice.
I called Cimarron last week and they confirmed that Uberti made the change to the Cattleman II system and that there was nothing they (Cimarron) could do about it. I repeated my intent to buy only Piettas from that point on and told him that my Pietta Cimarron Thunderball was near as light and smooth as the tuned Uberti I own, anyway.
The person on the phone agreed with my opinion on that point.
I then bought a new Cimarron Uberti Saturday.....but it's a 7" Schofield .45 Colt, so it wasn't in any danger of having Cattleman II buggery.
Uberti is now building pistols that compare to Ruger Vaqueros instead of Colt Single Action Army. Pietta is the only Italian company still making a 4 click Colt copy.
It depends. I have a brand new Uberti 1860 Army with 4 clicks. My Uberti 1851 Navy though has 3 clicks. I have no idea why. I think it depends on the hand spring fit.
@@rezlogan4787 3 clicks = Click #1 is the trigger overrunning the half-cock notch. Click #2 is the stop bolt seating into the cylinder notch. Click #3 is the trigger sear settling into the full-cock notch.
On a 4-click SAA, the additonal click comes before Click #1 from above: It's the trigger riding over the 'safety notch'.
Now, a Colt 1860 doesn't come with a safety notch. If you're getting four distinct clicks, something is off.
On my Uberti 1860 Army, I discovered that the 'fourth screw' was protruding into the frame and messing with the hand (remember, it's nothing more than a mounting lug and shouldn't go all the way into the frame). Soon as I began disassembling the gun, a loud snap came when I loosened that fourth screw. It was me releasing the tension the screw was putting on the action since it was a tad bit too long and pressing against the hand. I took a file and shortened the end just enough so the end of the fourth screw was flush with inner wall of the frame, just half a millimeter or so.
@@BogeyTheBear That 2nd click depends on how the gun is timed. Mine drops the bolt in the round cut out prior to the bolt stop and rotates into the notch on the 3rd click simultaneously with full cock. It works great, especially with the bolt spring lightened to the minimal effective weight.
That’s a good idea on the 1860. I’ll consider doing that, especially since the 4th screw does nothing other than fit a stock I don’t use.
@@rezlogan4787 no it depends on when each were made. Your 4 click is an older production model. Your 3 click has a retractable firing pin safety BS system.. don't believe me. Give it a look.
*LIKED* the video and overview between these two popular brands ... makes me want to get back to the range. *1st Minnesota Sharpshooters*
Thanks for watching!
The pleasure is mine. I'm in workshops today getting my shooting and cleaning supplies ready for an upcoming Civil War event ... enjoy listening to your videos while I work. *1st Minnesota Sharpshooters* channel
That sounds like lots of fun! Thanks again!
Well I can't say you are wrong on any of the points you bring up. BUT (you knew it was coming) ;) I already know I'm going to de-burr which ever brand I buy. It is not difficult, I use popsicle sticks and emery paper. Anyone can do it, there are step by step videos. You have to learn to tear down the guns to the frame for a proper cleaning every time you shoot them. I am not going to try to give a how to here as Blackie Thomas from Shaman's Forge is one of many great teachers. I will say I like using rubber cement to stick the emery paper to the popsicle stick cut to the shape I may need to get in a particular part to remove a sharp edge. Now cleaning, done right takes at least a half hour. Very hot water is the main ingredient. I mix it with Balistol. Again these same guys will walk you through it. So save money, do it yourself so it is done right.
Great video, thanks for all of your videos and hard work.
When I bought my first .22 I learned how to take it apart and maintain it. Later, when I became old enough to drive, I found there was a real advantage in knowing how to change oil, do tuneups, etc. All of that prepared me for when I got my first black powder revolver that really needs to be thoroughly cleaned.
fit and finish is PERFECT on my Uberti 1851 Navy, very impressed.
Thanks for watching!
Good points here. I have two uberti 1873s. They're identical models. One is a 4 click model the other is their new retracting firing pin. The fit and finish on the guns is day and night even between identical guns. The actions while heavy are smooth. I also had a pietta frontier and while it was nice with excellent fit and finish the cylinder would hang up, two trips to Cimarron and I sold it. Now I have a pair of pietta pistoleros, they're cheap and they shoot great. Out of the box actions on them are worlds above the actions on the ubertis but the grips aren't fit quite as well and the finish isn't as good. Guess so far I haven't found a reason to get one over the other.
My 51 pietta is just like yours. Matte grips that don't fit super great and some sharp corners. It shoots well and the action feels fine. I got it on sale at Cabelas and had some Cabelas bucks as well, so it was a good deal.
Mine was a Cabela’s but too. Thanks for watching!
I missed the Father's Day sale at Cabelas when the Pieta 1851 Navy was reduced from $199.99 to $149.99.
I am hoping it goes on sale again for Christmas.
There is a simple fix for 1851, 1861 & 1873 revolvers for those that want something they can hold on to. The trigger guard, backstrap and grips from the 1860 will fit them, and lengthen the grip. Depending on your particular gun, there may or may not be a little fitting and finishing required. As for the wood, since it will come unfinished, you have the option of making it a bright, dull, or whatever finish. I get my parts from Dixie Gun Works, but there are probably other sources. The only thing to remember is that if you are working on a real Colt, the Italian guns use metric threads on the screws.
My Pietta Remington new army is just stunning, not a flaw and beautiful wood grips. It's just amazing they can make this beautiful gun a this price.
Actually, the French adopted smokeless powder for their military ammo in the 1880s. 1886 if I remember correctly.
I watched a "How it is made" on Ubertis and there was an artist doing ole timey engraving. So I suspect your "judge the individual gun" approach is exactly right for their production methods.
The interesting thing about that is that the shallow machine engraved battle scene on Pietta's 1851 Navy cylinder is more historically accurate, the original decorations were done by a machine and tended towards shallow scratches than well-defined crisp engravings.
There is enough space under that Walker loading lever to write the complete book "Gone With the Wind" but fun to shoot.
Good review and good advice, I do not have experience with Pietta, but the 1851 Navy Ubertti I have is awesome, fit and finish is great and it works great. I would by it again in a heartbeat. my $.02
I enjoyed your video as always. I have to agree with you on it doesn't matter what brand you go with. Even with big name companies like Colt, Winchester, Glock,etc. there is a difference from one gun to another, you can get one that is perfect and turn around and get one that's not so good. Just like with cars, every once in awhile you get a lemon. My last 2 gun purchases were Henry rifles. One a 44 mag. and the other a 22 LR. I couldn't find anything wrong with the 44 but on the 22 there were a couple of burs. Just shows that even with a big name company not every gun will be perfect. I used to hear Piettas weren't as good as Ubertis but I've seen comments the last few years that Pietta has really improved. I have an 1858 .36 cal. made by Pietta and am very pleased with it. It's a very nice revolver. I also have a Cimarron model P 45 LC revolver, which I believe Uberti actually makes. no complaints about that one either. I know I got lucky on both, because I purchased them online without getting to check them out in person. Keep up the great videos.
I have two Pietta Confederate 1851 Navy brass frame 44s. I have an issue with one pistol where one trigger guard screw threaded hole in the frame is not fully enclosed. It is only a small bubble and I have no doubt it will continue to hold after all the lead I have put through it. The other issue I have is with Cabela's where I mail ordered them. Included in the boxes was a warning not to shoot full power loads in them. This was not disclosed before I opened the boxes. I may have ordered the steel framed versions but I have owned and shot brass framed 1851 Navies since 1964 with no issues. The issue seems to be cylinder pins shooting loose. In my experience, more force is exerted on that pin by loading excessively large balls than by shooting full power loads. I use balls of a size where the smallest full circumference ring is cut off the ball when loading. When I have used larger balls where large heavy rings were cut off, extreme force must be used on the loading lever transferring extreme force to the ball, the cylinder and finally the cylinder pin. I think they recommend using 12-15 grains max.
Thanks for watching!
I have three uberti's and four pietta's. They both require work out of the box. I like the pietta's because they're usually a little more robust but the uberti's are just better fit and finish hands down.
What kinda work you do? I have a Pietta 1851 Navy in .44 (Rebel version). What could I do to upgrade? Getting some Slix nipples here soon.
@@ShellShock11C the main thing I've seen with pietta is that they use an oversized bolt but don't fit the bolt to the cylinder lugs so instead the the gun going into lockup from the bolt dropping into the cylinder lug it ends up with one side of the bolt being pressed up against one side of the lug and held in place by the hand being fully extended. It's not dangerous but it causes unnecessary wear on the gun and sometimes makes it seem as if the timing is off. I just take the bolt out and remove material until it has a nice fit to the cylinder before putting it back together.
I have a old Armi San Marco 1858 steel frame Remington. It has always been a good shooter!
I’ve heard great things about those. Thanks for watching!
Your old rough, plain Uberti 1873 appears to be the "Hombre" model which is probably the least expensive version available. That's why the fit and finish was not up to par.
@SHUR SHOT And some of the literature even spells out that you're getting a rougher, cheaper model.
The "Old Silver" Navy that I recently got for my dad's birthday is miles ahead in fit and finish from my '60 Army (both made by Pietta). I appears that the more you pay, for either brand, the better gun you will likely get.
Thanks for watching!
It should be noted that the uberti "Cattleman" is marketed as a reduced cost working gun so obviously finish cannot be fairly compared to the upper level guns.
Not only that, but the model he showed was the Hombre model, the cheapest cattleman Uberti makes. Gross matte finish.
That case hardening on that saa is soooo beautiful
Thanks for watching!
Any steel framed that is colored case hardened is beautiful, but some goes beyond. The colors just burst off the frame when light hits it.
I had a uberti 1875 outlaw, chambered in 44-40, best gun I owned, it was stolen from me, still working on replacing it, I hope my next one is as reliable, and I hope I can still get the 44-40...
They are still building them. Taylor's Firearms in Virginia have them in stock at this current posting. The best thing about black powder cartridge guns is that you can get a rifle and a pistol in matching calibers, and it is very convenient to head out to a hunt or a long journey to carry the exact same caliber ammunition for both your carbine and revolver. Saves a lot of space for other essentials like cookware, first aid supplies, and camping gear.
I have owned several cap & ball firearms dating back to a Navy Arms 1851 .36 caliber Uberti made Navy Colt replica I bought in 1971. Every Navy Arms or Uberti had superb fit and finish. I recently purchased a steel frame Remington .31 caliber pocket revolver made by Pietta, having a brass frame version as well. Both are nice, but the fit and finish is of a lower quality than any of my Uberti examples.
ALL black powder firearms require a level of dedication . To get the most out of them , you WILL have to do homework !
Totally agree! Thanks for watching!
No doubt Andrew. They all seem to have their own little quirks. All mine are Uberti but that's just because Uberti is very popular in my area. You would have to go out of your way to find a Pietta. Anyways, every single black powder I have has needed individual attention to get it shooting well. It is a hobby that takes some dedication. Even though it's made in the 2000's, it's 1800's technology.
Your videos are great! (coming from a first- year BP enthusiast) I have learned a lot from watching your channel; likely saving me time & money. (And also great safety tips) I’m subscribing, keep ‘em coming my good Sir!
-Matt
Thank you, Matt!
Uberti is by far the more accurately made 1851 and 1861 Navy revolvers. Pietta has the wrong shape to the grip on the 51/61 and the 1861 Navy.s barrel is too long. The 1860 Army by Pietta is better but Uberti is the better made with hidden Italian stamps. I agree about the Uberti 1847 Walker it is by far the best made of my BP revolvers except for my 1860 Army made in Belgium in the 1960's it is a near perfect copy of a Colt 1860 made on original machinery with the Colt patent dates and the European Colt stamps. Imported by Centennial Arms in Chicago.
I can second the Pietta SAA. I have the same one in a 5.5" barrel. For the money it's a really nice gun. I figured Dixie Gun Works screwed up and sent me one with a spring kit in it. The action is sweet on that gun. I have the Pietta Navy as well. That one is a different story, but fun to shoot.
Thanks for watching!
Cabelas has started putting trigger locks on them so you can’t test them but I’d say you could get them to take it off so you can check them but still
#screwbeto
They would not under any circumstances take the lock off. I live in a very moronic state which is prob resonsible for this and for all trigger guards for blk powder..i live in CT if you enjoy handguns do not move here that's for damned sure.
Nope tried it.
Is this what we're going to whine about now? Trigger locks inside the store?
Here is what you do at nany C's you look at the one at in the case ask how many they have in the back. Say ill take 5 if they have that many they bring them out you check all actions and take the best. If they only have the one in the case and one other say I want the one in the case do the same take the best trigger lock issue solved
"Black powder only" is a blood rule. Placement is company lawyer decision. You can thank the idiots out there for making this a necessity.
Agreed. Thanks for watching!
I'm sorry to say that this "Black powder only" is something they have to put on, because they export to USA. The only place in she world where you can sue a company because you are stupid, so companies have to protect them self from stupid people :-)
If "there's a broken heart for every light on broadway" than there's a dead idiot for every warning label!!!
Hey, I just made that up. Not bad, aye?!
Ole Christensen
The USA was the worlds manufacturer, now all we make are lawyers and paperwork , we have more lawyers in the USA than the population of some small countries and principalities..
unga Dunga
Your 100% right , funny thing is some of those states you mention , were once the states that I was thinking or . I guess if you can no longer be the best may as well be the worst ...
I have both. A Pietta 1860 Army and a Uberti Colt Walker. Both have always worked like a charm.
I don’t have any experience with pietta but I do plan on getting one eventually. Anyway, I have a uberti (Taylor smoke wagon deluxe 45 colt) the fit and finish are absolutely perfect, the checkered grips are beautiful, the color case hardening looks nice and the action is unbelievably smooth. Now this being a Taylor, it’s a better version of a standard uberti. The deluxe model Taylor’s have a tuned action with upgraded springs. The grips are also made by Taylor. Couldn’t be happier with the purchase! I do want to get a second saa so I’ll probably go with pietta 1. Due to lower cost and 2. Just to compare the two
Solid analysis. Thank you and I agree. I actually have one of each brands...the Colt 1851 and Remington 1858....and an old kit CVA Colt 1851 that I built in the 1980s that I made to look like a Confederate piece.... meaning....brass frame and no bluing being "in the white" so that after all these years it looks really old and is still a great shooter. Gotta love BP revolvers....every gun owner ought to have one or two.
Thanks for watching!
I have a Colt Navy made by uberti sometime in the late 50s. My grandfather bought it new. The case coloring is beautiful and the 60 years of age wear on the grips make it just feel "right". But...does not have the safety pins on the cylinder or notch on the hammer. Shoots great- but wish they would have had the pins and hammer notch back then
Pietta's seem to come with smooth actions, minus sharp edges here and there. Fit isn't an issue much to me. Spring issues not to bad, grips tend to be flaired. Some people remove this flair for comfort. First experience with a new uberti, the action had a hick up on releasing the hammer smoothly, an easy fix. Fit was perfect the grip was not flaired, backstrap, frame appears to be a little less thick. The author of this sight is spot on about the issues of both. But I have come across examples of pietta's , that I knew I would have to lighten up the spring if I bought it just saying.
I've had 4 BP revolvers in my life 3 Piettas and 1 Uberti. Only bad experience was with a 51 navy Pietta where the wedge was impossible to remove. Other than that little problem I like them both although I will say the uberti revolvers tend to "look" nicer but that is just a personal opinion.
I own 7 Uberti's and 0 Pietta's, so I can't compare, but I just picked up a Uberti 1875 Outlaw model that has as good a trigger as any firearm I own. Certainly not true of all my Uberti's, but I love um. I've gotten so into these single action replicas that I rarely anymore shoot my Ruger's. I also own and really like the EAA Bounty Hunter's.
Personally, I own Pietta in everything I can, but only because they are cheaper and money is just too precious and far too hard to come by today. (It seems like I work for nothing more than gas money, bills, rent and a few bucks to spend, if I'm lucky that week!) I've shot Uberti and don't see any significant difference. To me its the Ford Vs. Chevy argument all over again. They are both cars and both have 4 wheels and get you where you are trying to go. Both have features you can get if you want, but bottom line is they are still both cars. Pietta vs. Uberti = both are black power revolvers!
Good video. To let you know, anyone can slick up the action. Make it like butter.
Companies like Traditions and Taylors import the gun parts from Italy and do the assembly, tuning and finishing themselves.
Best channel i bought your reload kit for black powder revolvers best thing ever you rock great content
The Pietta seems to me to have a heavier action. I like the Uberti myself.
i have a 45 colt peitta 1873 put over 1000 rounds works great i had a few screws come loose little blue locktight and good to go gun still looks brand new its nickel plated easy to clean
Good coverage! I like your videos..just now subscribed. My 1858 Remington buffalo with the cylinder conversion is my favorite. I called it my, “Eastwood”. I was going to call it my, “Callahan” but the time frame is of course off. Starting my collection of firearms of the 1800s. That seems to be my primary interest then will collect the flintlock era. This is a nice hobby.
Every Uberti I've ever had and I've had a few the Uberti guns always had a factory trigger job to them, my 1862 open top conversion in .44 Colt was an awesome gun to shoot, so was the .38 bird head grip 3 inch one I had.
Have both , my Pietta fit and finish is better. The mechanics are slicker. Now 5 plus years ago maybe Uberti was better, but Pietta has really up its game. Better price point also.
My heart sank when you showed the picture of the one you sold....I just bought 2 of the Uberti Cattleman .38/.357. Just fired them yesterday, having problems with light primer strikes. Probably just the ammo though.
Yeah, it could just be an ammo issue. (Hopefully.) Mine actually fired very well. Thanks for watching!
Yes, all I could find. The cases themselves were too small, making the primer too far away from the firing pin. Regular brass shoots just fine. Was looking forward to my first match...rained out.
crazedchef5169 interesting to know... most common thing I have seen with that is poorly primed reloads... basically not seated so it slides and absorbs the impact. competition buddy still hasn't given me credit for being right. The only reason I knew is cause I made the same mistake!
Blazer. Aluminum case. Held up to compare a brass case you can see the difference. The Uberti's are fine, the ammo sucks. Also confirmed at the Cowboy match by a gunsmith who works at Cimmaron Firearms.
I own 4 Uberti 1873 's , fit and finish are pretty darn good and actions are smooth. I own 2 Pietta pistols too, both makers do well but to me Uberti is just a tad bit better.
uberti has much better tolerances, ive had a few piettas and ubertis, pietta tolerances widely vary among the same model (i always by a few of the same, one for display one for shooting and one just in case) and uberti has almost identical fit and finish across all of theres i own so much so that i have way to many uberti revolvers
@@kevinmorrice Well said.
I have a Pietta 1851 Navy confederate. As far as I know Uberti has an actual Colt in possession which it models all it's Colt Peacemaker clones off of. Was presented to them by Cimmaron Firearms.
I just got my first BP revolver, a Colt 18851 Pietta for 186€. Following the advice of this channel and the tutorial, I took it appart before firing. FIRST: it was dirty, black powder residu under a thick coat of oil everywhere, SECOND: the interior finish was horrible, burrs and left overs everywhere, specially on the slot for the hand. THIRD: burrs on the exterior, one where the barrel meets the square section hurt my finger and a little drop of blood came out... another one on the hammer slot next to the cylinder... blueing residu on the bottom of the muzzle (this may influence the bullet as it exits)..awful stuff. I sincerely thank Pietta for making this reproductions at an affordable price but they should add 20 bucks to the price and guarrantee a proper finish... Thank God I'm a tinkerer and that Dustin and other folks are nice enough to teach us. Keep shootin' George.
By 1990 one could buy a Uberti, shoot it for 30 years and still show it off as a piece of art. The other two companies, I found by experience, required new springs, levers, and nipples frequently and broke these parts when you needed the gun to perform most needfully. I still have the Ubertis, still have the Ruger New Army, and still have a bag of spare parts for the others, but not the guns. Sold them cheap with an honest warning that they broke parts as bad as the originals. Next gun, Uberti 1860 rifle in ,45 Colt-- the most elegant rifle ever made (action is not perfectly designed, but still great!). MHO. shooting since 1962.
Nice balanced review.
For my $ ... Uberti, every time.
Ubwrti os a top.contender but ive also gotten crappy ones with nad timimg rough action not wverytime but it does happen I jave a pietta and ecerythimg was near perfect except for tje maekimga neimg on bad xhoice places like bright as day bbl marking but fit and finish jas neen hit and miss on both I domt shop by brand due to that very fact
@@kirkwatstien6979 There's this really cool program called Spellcheck...
@@1ndomitus you're a moron
I own both Pietta and Uberti guns and all work well.
But, I have tried several other Uberti and Pietta firearms
and in both cases, most are great but some were not so good.
I find that the fit and finish of Uberti is slightly better.
One gun that really stands out for Uberti is their 1860 Henry.
I know I love the one I have.
A revolver which is not going to be used in competition or life or death situations, can be timed so that there is no discernible ring from the bolt dragging on the cylinder. However a revolver which is going to be used in competition or life or death situations will usually have some cylinder drag line noted on it. The reason is quite simply that this ensures bolt solid lockup as opposed to possible incomplete lockup or actually skipping over the cylinder notch.
The Uberti Cattleman with a matte finish is in fact an economy priced offering from Uberti hence the roughness and lack to attention to detail. IMO Uberti have superior fit and finish than most Pietta and Armi San Marco guns.
Love the Uberti Cattleman! When i get enough money I going to buy it!
I agree. Uberti is also much more historically accurate.
Pietta has many .44 caliber Navy revolvers and several non factory correct handguns.
The trigger guard on their SSA is too rounded when compared to an original Colt.
I like Pietta, but I also appreciate the historically accurate Colt, S&W, Winchester, Sharps, Springfield Trap Doors, etc. revolvers and rifles that Uberti offers (that in many cases no one else does).
My Uberti's, and others I've seen, have all been trouble free high quality firearms.
My only real complaint with Uberti is the colour of stain used on all of their rifles. The red tint doesn't match the colour of the origin walnut butt stocks and forearms at all.
@@DPMConnacht I never had to do any "corrective" work on any of my Ubertis, yet I had to do some finishing touch ups on Piettas and ASM guns. The red tint wouldn't be so much out of place in Winchester replicas as the firm applied alkanet root powder as part of the wood finish up till the 40's I believe. But it might be possible that Uberti goes over board with the red coloring these days.
Thank you for the video,very helpful.for me I really lean more to the ubertis.i think I've probably owned a couple of piettas but that was long ago and don't know what they actually were,being so new to the sport at the time,and being so long ago.but I think the reason I like the ubertis is that my dad had a uberti cattleman 357 he used while he worked at the state farm down in alabama around 1970s.i remember him telling me all he done to the revolver is made it a hair trigger,but that was only a custom job that was said to be done with a hairpin but I don't really know for sure.the other day I noticed some emf bp revolvers for sale at Natchez shooters supply. I might try one. Merry Christmas to you all,and thank you again sir.
The worst part about brass frame is that they look so good, so you want ro shoot them more often, then the warp.
Catch 22
Brass grip frame isn't a problem, though.
Love my Pietta 1858 sheriffs model 45L.C..Nice Video.
Thanks for watching!
I currently have 4 Piettas and couldn't be happier with them. My first Uberti, is due to be here the day after tomorrow (1849)
Awesome! Thanks for watching!
How do you like the Uberti you received ?
To check cylinder/barrel alignment on these blackpowder revolvers, simply cock the hammer & try the loading lever on each of the 6 chambers. If the plunger enters the cylinder smoothly, then your cylinder/barrel alignment is perfect. (considering that the cylinder is precisely made)
Manufacture and ammunition stamp, standard on most guns.
You'll be surprised at the number of chowder-heads tempted by the thought of putting smokeless powder into a black powder weapon.
i own both but my pietta is stock and my ubirties have been reworked by a retired colt gunsmith so they shoot real good
Honestly, I’d say I got lucky when I bought my Pietta 1851 Navy from Cabela’s in 2016. I’ve had no issues except for the off chance that the safety slot in the hammer would grab a cap, which was a rare occurrence for this particular gun, but I eventually took some 400 grit sandpaper and polished the edges of the slot.
The only Uberti I’ve had was a 1862 Pocket Police, and I returned it since the cylinder could be slid back and forth on the arbor over 1/32”, allowing for the hammer to never fully touch the nipples, let alone the caps when fully cocked. It had some other issues, including the wedge being driven in almost all the way which made it loose, a bent barrel pin, and the hole geometry of the barrel, cylinder, and frame just looked off.
From what I’ve read, the pocket models usually tend to be rougher than the other models. I guess I just got a lemon.
I agree, each gun, from either maker, is going to have its own quirks. Some good, some bad, and some ugly.
Thanks for watching!
I've own several Uberti, Pietta, and Colt Blackpowder Arms revolvers. The quality is wide-spread. My Pietta 1858 Remington is a good gun and a good shooter but the cylinder chipped. I've had severe issues my the Colt Blackpowder Arms 1860 Army Signature. But, most disappointing has ben the three attempts to purchasing an Uberti Walker. I've had to return 3 of them for quality control issues. It was only until I purchased a Cimarron/Uberti that I got a good Walker.
I had to return a bad Walker as well. Thanks for watching!
With Uberti & Pietta ,like you said, it depends on the model of revovlver. Euroarms made a good revolver with the Rogers & Spencer. Then theres always the Ruger Old Army, which I hope to acquire some day!
I hear that ruger no longer makes them, a shame. Winchester lever guns are no longer American made. Thompson center no longer makes Hawken rifles, they were,are really beautiful to look at and shoot.
At least Pietta moved the writing down lower, they used to be on the side.
I just bought mine and its loid amd on the side so wjen did they chanhe this 1 week ago nc thats how old mine is
DukeFrazierProductions just got an 1851 pietta last week and the writing is on the side. 2019 is the manufacturing date
I own a Uberti Leech and Rigdon in 36 Cal. I have a Pietta 1873 Colt Copy 357 Mag. Both are made well and shoot well.
Yup. Personally, I get Piettas and don't regret it. I don't need something pretty or historically accurate. I'll customize it anyway and refine it into a practical defensive weapon. I go for function, low cost and that it's capable of delivering the performance I want with little to no additional work. I like the brass .44 cal. Pietta 1851 "Navy" because it does what I'd need it to do. It holds 50 grain powder pellets, .454" lead balls, and performs a lot like a .38 Special, just with about twice the damage and half the penetration of tissue and bone stimulants. As long as I cut the barrel length to a length between 2 and 3.76 inches, it's very powerful and doesn't seem to ever shoot loose. It works for me and it's pants pocket-sized. I do like the hammer tension, too. Goes bang every time as long as I do my part. It gets uglier and uglier with time, and I find a spring made with modified hair barrettes and pliers do and hold up better and longer than the factory bolt and trigger spring, but all that aside, it just works, as any decent tool should. I've BB guns and video games for fun shooting. Basically, I void warranty and do weird stuff that makes better sense to me than it probably does to anybody else. Piettas are decent, though.
I have a 44 magnum Single Action Army Iver Johnson I love that pistol