Pietta Colt 1851 Navy Range Report

[fishmusic]

In a previous post I was excited to start my adventure in cap and ball revolvers. Today I went to my local indoor range to fire off the pistol's maiden voyage. I used 20 grn fff3g, a lubed Oxy-yoke wad and .380 ball. The target was at 7 yards.

The first 6 shots grouped better than I expected and I felt kind of cocky. The next six were dismal failures. They ranged to the left and were not as tight. That is purely my inexperience with shooting the pistol because I think the gun shoots better than I do.
Summary: I had FUN! This was a pleasure to shoot, only one cap hitch in 18 rounds and that was probably my fault.

 

[Stantheman86]

I just got a pair of Pietta Brass frame .36 Navies in the mail today, I have 4 of them now plus my Uberti .

 

[PastorB]

"The next six were dismal failures. They ranged to the left and were not as tight."

Did you clean the barrel between cylinders? I have a bunch of revolvers, and they all lose accuracy after a cylinder or two. I run a spit patch through the barrel as a routine part of my reloading process, and I maintain great accuracy throughout my shooting session. My favorite revolver, a standard, unmodified Pietta 1851 .36 Navy shoots 6 shot groups at 25 yards (from a rest, I'm not that good!) right around 1", give or take. Shooting a second cylinder, without barrel cleaning, will open up substantially. It is no longer a group, but a pattern. I don't spend a lot of time cleaning, just a tight fitting, wet patch (spit, always handy) rammed through the barrel once does the trick. Give it a whirl. Attached photo is a 6 shot, Fifty (50!) yard group with my Pietta .36. I shoot clay targets at 100 yards, and average 4 out of 6, again from a rest.