Looking for BP pocket revolver advice

I'm considering buying a new or used BP pocket revolver with no decision on if it should be a 1849 or Wells Fargo. Additionally, whether it should be a Pietta or Uberti. I have even thought that the Pietta 1863 spur triggered pocket Remington would be interesting but it appear that it is discontinued. I load my BP revolvers with a cylinder loading press. Any thoughts on which model and manufacturer would be preferable?

One week of pocket carry sent me permanently to holsters. The exception being my flight jacket. Had a small inside pocket that I replaced with leather for a small .22 unmentionable.

For pocket revolvers, I have the Colt 1862 Pocket Police and the 1862 Pocket Navy. Both are beautiful. They can be difficult to load if you have big hands or large fingers. I load the cylinders off the frames. They are both available from Uberti.

Are you looking for a fun plinker or personal defense? For fun shooting the 1849 is nice - the Remington is a bit too small. For a BP personal defense revolver, I'd go with the 1862. You can just buy a 1862 and use it for both

With pocket models your only choice is Uberti. Unfortunatly Uberti does not produce the same quality in the pocket models as they do the belt models. The pocket models will require some tuning generally to be useful. This adds to the cost but the finished product is well worth it. Two places I can recomend is Mike Bracket at goonsgunworks.com or Dave Yeager at cochisemuzzleloaders.com

denster said:

With pocket models your only choice is Uberti. Unfortunatly Uberti does not produce the same quality in the pocket models as they do the belt models. The pocket models will require some tuning generally to be useful. This adds to the cost but the finished product is well worth it. Two places I can recomend is Mike Bracket at goonsgunworks.com or Dave Yeager at cochisemuzzleloaders.com

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Excellent advice.

Pitta makes the 1860 army and '51 Navy snub nose revolvers. The one pictured is very accurate out to 30 yds or so. You can get either .44 or .36 cal.

jdn262 said:

Excellent advice.

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Excellent advice. I have several of the full-sized and pocket models.
The difference in quality is such that I wonder if the two sizes are even made at the same facility. Maybe the new hires are trained on the smaller guns. The pocket models are pretty bad. The full-sized ones are pretty good.
At least in my experience.
Even with modern unmentionable revolvers, the smaller framed models are more problematic for manufacturers to get things right than larger models. Has to do with loss of mechanical advantages in how smaller levers, cams, and springs interact with each other.

One of those little NAA revolvers would be easy to carry but you would probably be better off throwing it at the threat if it ever came to it.

go with one with a ram rod. no sense in taking the gun apart every time. I had not heard that pietta is no longer making the 1863 pocket.

The 1849 Pocket Model was Colt's best selling revolver of the percussion Era for good reason.

Uberti over Pietta any day. Have fun

I have the Wells Fargo, Havent shot it in 30 some years… heck I can’t remember how to even load it since it has no loading lever. But it’s cute and well made little 31.

My 1849 Pocket Model (4 inch barrel) will drop into my jeans pocket with just a small bit of the grip sticking out. A 4 inch Pocket Navy or 1862 Pocket Police in .36 offer a step up in power over the .31 of the 1849's. YMMV

jdn262 said:

I'm considering buying a new or used BP pocket revolver with no decision on if it should be a 1849 or Wells Fargo. Additionally, whether it should be a Pietta or Uberti. I have even thought that the Pietta 1863 spur triggered pocket Remington would be interesting but it appear that it is discontinued. I load my BP revolvers with a cylinder loading press. Any thoughts on which model and manufacturer would be preferable?

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Have or still have owned a shot and tuned all these small bp pistols. After proper tuning like them all. Loading cylinder off gun in not needed for .36 cal. and under for non-match use. Like most repos, some tuning is needed if you expect a reliable shooter...c

What size ball and conical bullet is best for an Uberti 1849 model in .31 caliber?

Wolfman0125 said:

What size ball and conical bullet is best for an Uberti 1849 model in .31 caliber?

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My .319 lee RB mould works great in my .31 revolver repos...c

Don't forget about the Pocket Navy. It's virtually the same as the .31 Pocket but it's a 5-shot .36

Check on buckshot but first mike your guns cylinder bores. You can get a lot of buckshot for low cost. Yes, buckshot is a little harder than pure lead, but it will work if your chambers are not too undersized.

31 cal 1849 on the left and 36 cal 1862 Police on the right! I'd choose the 36 over the 31 every day.