which is the best 1858 Remington Army replica?

I'm looking at buying a replica of a civil war era Remington Army revolver.

historical accuracy is not a requirement. solid construction and the ability to survive a long life of use and abuse is a requirement.

right now, the Ruger Old Army in stainless with adjustable sites is at the top of my list. this is one of the more expensive models, but I have more confidence that Ruger will sell me a good weapon than some of the other manufacturers.

however, I'd like to hear others experiences with this style of gun from current manufacturers (such as Ruger, Pietta, and Uberti). anyone own more than one gun from different manufacturers, that would care to contrast and compare?

I'd also like to hear anyones experiences with replacing the cylinder with a cartridge cylinder.

thanks, Dan Tedrick

# I'm looking at buying a replica of a civil war era Remington Army # revolver. # # historical accuracy is not a requirement. # solid construction and the ability to survive a long life of use and # abuse is a requirement. # # right now, the Ruger Old Army in stainless with adjustable sites is at # the top of my list. this is one of the more expensive models, but I have # more confidence that Ruger will sell me a good weapon than some of the # other manufacturers. # # however, I'd like to hear others experiences with this style of gun from # current manufacturers (such as Ruger, Pietta, and Uberti). anyone own # more than one gun from different manufacturers, that would care to # contrast and compare? # # I'd also like to hear anyones experiences with replacing the cylinder # with a cartridge cylinder. # # # thanks, # Dan Tedrick

If you just want to shoot black powder, then buy one of the Ruger's. The imports can't compare. If you decide to buy the import make sure you at least get a steel frame, not brass frame. As for the conversion, I have always wondered why bother? If you want a pistol in .45 Colt, buy one that is made for it.

#however, I'd like to hear others experiences with this style of gun from #current manufacturers (such as Ruger, Pietta, and Uberti). anyone own #more than one gun from different manufacturers, that would care to #contrast and compare? # #I'd also like to hear anyones experiences with replacing the cylinder #with a cartridge cylinder. # # #thanks, #Dan Tedrick #

I've owned, shot, and handled them all.

Ruger is the best. All modern parts, coil springs, top of the line metallurgy and manufacturing. You'll probably never wear it out. Its based on their ageless Blackhawk SA design.

The Italian copies do wear out, although replacement parts are fairly easy to obtain, and the revolvers are easy to take apart and repair.

I have several revovlers with R&D cylinders. The R&D's are everthing they advertise them to be. They do not make them in stainless steel. For the SS revolver applications, the R&D's are nickle plated. I do not know if they will hold up as long as the Ruger Old Army itself, since they have not been around that long.

They are both expensive. A Ruger OA with an R&D Cylinder will set anyone back at least $650 including shipping and/or tax.

Coop NRA Endowment SASS Life

Dan,

The Ruger is not a copy of an 1858 Remington. It is not a copy of anything original. Bill Ruger wanted to design a neat cap and ball revolver based on the Ruger Blackhawk, and he did. Out of the three BP revolvers you mention, the Ruger would be best, the Uberti next and the Pietta last. That is usually the pricing as well. However, I have owned all and all have shot well once loads were worked up for them. My Pietta likes 18 grains of powder, my Uberti likes 20. This gives me great groups at 25 yards. My Ruger doesn't care as it has adjustable sights. I think I shoot twenty grains out of it mostly. The Ruger and Uberti were the smoothest out of the box but I still found places to polish and make them even smoother. The Pietta's requires more stoning and sometimes crowning the barrel to make them shoot well. I was lucky, my latest Pietta shot well out of the box. I have had others that were terrible.

I have not owned a Ruger Old Army that has shot bad. BTW, get stainless, it is easier to clean up. You can paint it black if you want a dark gun.

Regards,

John from MD

i've had good luck with the pietta cap-and-ball clones.

one point about the R&D replacement cartridge cylinders is that they actually place the rounds at an angle to the bore of the revolver. i never realized this until someone mentioned it at a Civil War reenactment i was at, and sure enough it's true. a lot of people use them, so i guess they work okay, but it seemed strange to me. there is a company that makes a 5-round cylinder that places the cartridges inline with the bore.

andy b.

On Tue, 19 Nov 2002 14:38:55 +0000 (UTC), dtedrick

> ...

the consensus of the responses in both email and here is that the Ruger in stainless is the best gun if your concern is a seriously robust and solid cap and ball revolver. But, it is not an 1858 Remington

if you want the best 1858 Remington out of the box, then the choice should be the model made by Uberti.

there were also a few comments that if you actually intend to use the revolver on any regular basis you should avoid the brass framed models as that metal is just too weak and your revolver will all to soon need a gun smith or relacement.

in reference to the cartridge cylinder, some said I should just get a Ruger Blackhawk if that was my interest. this is the cartridge Ruger that the Ruger Old Army is based on.

however as my goal is a cap and ball revolver that will last many a year of use and abuse and will possibly in the future also be able to use cartrige ammunition, it looks like the Ruger Old Army is the revolver for me.

thanks for everyones assitance, Dan Tedrick

> ...

# there #is a company that makes a 5-round cylinder that places the cartridges #inline with the bore.

That's the Kirst Konverter, which is superior, I think, to the R&D cylinder in many ways.

Go to www.riverjunction.com.

Hi there,
I was looking for comments on the different brands so I thought I would give my experience. I just found two Old Silver 1858 Pietta's and I was really excited.

Now let me tell you why I am really disappointed! Even the hammer already has a 'mash' on the end from simple dry firing! The steel is just total junk! I was so disappointed that I wanted to at least pass it one to others. I have three 1875 Remington's too! The Stoeger/Uberti 1875 by Cimarron and they're great! Quality is great. Real steel too! I guess it's the way they choose the kind of steel they use. The Uberti seems also to be of good quality too.

Hope this helps. RBW

Hi there,
I saw your request and I thought I'd just give my experience. I bought two Stoeger/Uberti Cimarron 1875 Outlaw's in nickel. They are both just fantastic! Both a .45 LC and they are real quality! Now I also just came upon, and bought because you can never find them, two Old Silver's by Pietta. Boy, what a pile of garbage. Even the hammer already has a mushroom flat head because of simple dry firing. And that means like 6 times only! The steel is just total garbage. The Uberti's have always been better so I guess that's what I suggest. The EMF Uberti Outlaw is not as high priced as the Cimarron but I've also got one of those and it's still good quality. Good luck, and I know it's always good to have first hand experience before I buy too!
I had and shot a Ruger also, but it's just that there were no stainless steel Remington's at the time either! I think Cabellas probably has the best deal on these things too. I even purchase the case hardened 1858 from Cabellas, and it was out of stock so I'm still waiting on it. This was before I realized how poor the Old Silver's were, so let's hope the Old Silver's were just poor ones and the other Pietta's are better? Anyway, have fun and just don't take for granted the power of the pistol, even though if you get the black powder 1858 and use it! Not to sound dumb, but you can still accidentally put a huge hole in something and caution comes first! Good luck, and enjoy yourself!

Richard