Why i won't buy a Pietta: Open Letter

[Hawg]

Not to mention the Uberti NMA is smaller than the Pietta. The correct size from what I hear

Probably because they went to a forged frame in 07.

[Model12Win]

I think for the VAST majority of shooters, Piettas come out on top.

Why?

Because they're cheaper. That's why.

[AKexpat]

I think for the VAST majority of shooters, Piettas come out on top.

Why?

Because they're cheaper. That's why.

Well, I would rephrase that if I was posting. I would substitute "more inexpensive" instead.

Since Pietta went to CNC machining ~2000, their quality is pretty much on par with similar Uberti models.

Jim

[deerslayer303]

Well I'll foot stomp again about it. My Pietta NMA and my Pietta 1862 Sheriff took a little trip to Georgia and when they came back they may say Pietta on the barrel but they are the slickest smoothest operating single action I've ever pulled the hammer on. So you take what I paid for the thing like 260 shipped and then add the service fee and shipping and I have a FINE shooting and operating revolver for right around 400 bucks maybe a shade more. The things would rival a revolver costing WAY MORE! The ones that come back from Goon will never leave my possession. I know I yak about it alot but they are just THAT good.

[Hawg]

Well I'll foot stomp again about it. My Pietta NMA and my Pietta 1862 Sheriff took a little trip to Georgia and when they came back they may say Pietta on the barrel but they are the slickest smoothest operating single action I've ever pulled the hammer on. So you take what I paid for the thing like 260 shipped and then add the service fee and shipping and I have a FINE shooting and operating revolver for right around 400 bucks maybe a shade more. The things would rival a revolver costing WAY MORE! The ones that come back from Goon will never leave my possession. I know I yak about it alot but they are just THAT good.

I've never had him do anything but I frequent four or five of the same forums as he does and everybody that he does work for raves on it just like you do. I've not heard one single dissenting voice. His work has to be top notch.

[Roshi]

Each company has their own lawyers and interpretations of the laws. Pietta is obviously (to me) being extremely conservative in their approach to the risk of law suits.

That said, I've had a lot of fun learning how to "defarb", that is remove those offensive markings.

If you search this forum you will find many examples of mine and others. My defarbed and antiqued '51 Navy and '60 Army revolves look good. All three are reliable and accurate.

If you want to leave your pistols in factory new condition you're best off getting a more expensive Uberti. If you like home do-it-yourself projects and like the look of a well used handgun, try defarbing and antiquing.

[Tinbucket]

Not Black Powder but Ruger Vaquero. It has a manual stamped on the barrel very deep with lost of raised metal.
It runs the whole gun. Only thing I think will work is to have the barrel replaced with an unmarked custom barrel at a huge cost.

And have the muzzle redone like a Colt.

[Hawg]

Not Black Powder but Ruger Vaquero. It has a manual stamped on the barrel very deep with lost of raised metal.
It runs the whole gun. Only thing I think will work is to have the barrel replaced with an unmarked custom barrel at a huge cost.

And have the muzzle redone like a Colt.

If it's a New Vaquero it still won't look like a Colt up close and still won't operate like one.

[DPris]

I have a new stainless Pietta Shurf's Model that's extensively laser engraved.
Have not had a chance to shoot it yet, but in terms of workmanship it's the best-done Italian repro that's ever gone through my hands in owning & shooting them since 1969.

Tight, smooth action, good trigger.
Even the laser work, which I normally dislike, looks decent.

Also have a new stainless Ruger Vaquero short-barrel Birdy waiting to be fired.
I've had some bad luck with Ruger stainless single-actions in the past, but this one's very well fitted & finished, decent trigger, tight cylinder.

The warning's abbreviated & moved under the barrel, where you have to look for it to see it.

Both guns are very nice. Both .45 Colt.
Both are loaners, both are very tempting to keep.
The range time next week may make them both very hard to return.

The Pietta particularly surprised me.
Had sworn off Italian clones for personal use, but this one might change that.
Denis

[maillemaker]

I've been shooting black powder competitively for going on 5 years now.

I've got guns with custom barrels, and I've got stock guns. None of my stock guns can hold a candle to my guns with custom barrels.

In terms of revolvers, I have:

Uberti Walker
Uberti 1858 blued
Uberti 1858 stainless
Pietta 1860
Pietta 1858
Pietta 1851 (.44 brass)

The Ubertis are slightly better machined than the Piettas. On the 1858 in particular, the Uberti has a crowned muzzle, a smother contour on the nose of the loading ram, and a dovetailed front sight.

Unfortunately, none of the revolvers are clover-leaf accurate off of a bench at 25 yards. They might do a 2-4" group off a bench at 25 yards. I don't see any particular accuracy benefit of Uberti over Pietta.

I think in order to get clover-leaf bench groups with an Italian revolver you'll have to have a custom barrel and cylinder work.

Steve

[Branko]

What guns do you have custom barrels on?

[maillemaker]

JRA Richmond Carbine with Hoyt barrel and Euroarms P1853 with Whitacre barrel.

I don't have any revolvers with custom barrels, I've only seen the results.

Steve

[Branko]

Thanks for the info.

Eventually, might try to build an accurized Colt replica. However, that is well over a year away, my next planned acquisition is a Pedersoli percussion Sharps, most likely in Berdan .54 rifle form.