Pietta Brass Frame Buffalo 12" barrel

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Rattus58

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I've been getting conflicting information about loads for this pistol. Some recommend no more than 22 grains of strong powder (777 for example) and others say no big deal with regular black. I've a conical mold that I'm going to use this for hunting deer, and I'm comfortable with the idea of 20 to 25 grains of triple seven, but just how weak are these brass frames anyway?

Buffalo1_zpsadc7ea14.jpg
 
In my experience, you don't know and that's why I stay away from them.

Some hold up just fine while others fail.
 
Those are nice looking. I've always wondered how much more velocity one would get over a "normal" length barrel; do you have a chrony?

And for the question, stick with the manufacturer's recommendations, anything beyond that and you will be on your own. You will be relying on hearsay, for the most part. You could calculate the energy of a normal load and a "hot" load and see the percent of difference between the two and apply that to the normal lifespan of a brass framed '58, though I would suspect the damage to exponentially shorten the life. If you are hunting with it, I say practice with light loads, sight in and hunt with "hot" loads, don't worry about it.
 
25cschaefer said:
Those are nice looking. I've always wondered how much more velocity one would get over a "normal" length barrel; do you have a chrony?

And for the question, stick with the manufacturer's recommendations, anything beyond that and you will be on your own. You will be relying on hearsay, for the most part. You could calculate the energy of a normal load and a "hot" load and see the percent of difference between the two and apply that to the normal lifespan of a brass framed '58, though I would suspect the damage to exponentially shorten the life. If you are hunting with it, I say practice with light loads, sight in and hunt with "hot" loads, don't worry about it.
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I have Pietta 1858 metal frame that I can spend plinking and the like, so this is pretty much, make sure I'm on and hunting only. I'd expect a dozen or so shots a year with it. The reason I bought it was strictly for hunting and I'm quite convinced of the opinion that it is velocity should be better. I'm planning on hunting with this at around 20to 30 yards max.

Much aloha,
 
All I can say is I own a old CVA brass frame 1860 it shoots great I use 30 Gr pyrodex P It is not something I shoot often but I am sure I have put hundreds of balls down range easy .. still looks great everything fits together well & nothing seems to be warped .
 
a lot of folks seem to think brass frames are about as robust as silly putty, or play doh, and it's just not so. I had a brass framed ''Colt'' Navy cut down to a Sherriff's model that I got in 1974, and converted to .38 S&W [short stubby, not .38 Special] in about 1979, useing a Kirst like conversion with no name I got from the back of a men's magazine. Not knowing any better, I shot smokeless loads in it. For years it was my only cartridge revolver, and it got plenty of use. Later on I sold it, then bought it back, and found it was a little loose. the new owner had ignored my advice, and used .38 Special, and a lot of it, after haveing moved to Alaska.I peened around the arbor, and shot it for about another five years before selling it to an old gent for a ''shadow box'' decoration. so yeah, brassers shoot loose, but not over night.
 
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The ''Kirst like'' conversion actually had a two piece or ''split'' cylinder, drilled through on the back end, and the hammer had a Colt SAA type firing pin. The effect was like some of the clever South of the border gunsmith conversions I've seen.
 
BHP FAN said:
a lot of folks seem to think brass frames are about as robust as silly putty, or play doh, and it's just not so. I had a brass framed ''Colt'' Navy cut down to a Sherriff's model that I got in 1974, and converted to .38 S&W [short stubby, not .38 Special] in about 1979, useing a Kirst like conversion with no name I got from the back of a men's magazine. Not knowing any better, I shot smokeless loads in it. For years it was my only cartridge revolver, and it got plenty of use. Later on I sold it, then bought it back, and found it was a little loose. the new owner had ignored my advice, and used .38 Special, and a lot of it, after haveing moved to Alaska.I peened around the arbor, and shot it for about another five years before selling it to an old gent for a ''shadow box'' decoration. so yeah, brassers shoot loose, but not over night.
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Well you'd hope that Pietta would be using a quality brass product over the 1970's and though I've been more than surprised on occasion I'd think a smokeless load to be at least on par with black powder in regards to recoil. Well this is all encouraging, especially as this is to be a hunting only piece, so i'm looking forward to it.

Aloha...
 
I am not advising anyone to convert brass framed revolvers, or over charge thier unconverted revolvers, I'm just reporting on what I did, back in the ''bad old days'' before we knew any better. I will note that no manufacturer today recommends brass framed revolvers for conversion, or shooting anything stronger than ''cowboy loads'' even in steel frames.
 
I have seen two of them with cracked frames (not the new army but others with good full brass frames) In the old days brass frames I am guessing were not liked.

The Remington pocket model .31 cal in brass did not enjoy a long popular run in the old days when they first came out for example.

The confederates used brass because they were desperate.

From what I understand even cast Iron is stronger than bronze or brass.

I would not shoot heavy loads through it and I am not optimistic about longevity with moderate loads, I would keep it light.

If you want to hunt and load heavy you take your chances. I would not be comfortable using 25 grains of triple 7 in a brasser since it is about 15% more powerful that regular black and would be close to a moderate load equivalent of regular black. With a heavy bullet (conical) in front of that load I would want a steel frame.

If I had a buffalo I would want it to be a steel framed version to give me more flexibility with loads and power.

Old south sells a blued steel frame version of the Buffalo (Traditions/Pietta.)
 
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BHP FAN said:
What are you hunting, by the way? Seems like that long barreled revolver would be the perfect feral pig gun.
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We're hunting Goats and Axis Deer mostly. Pigs here on the Big Island are usually hunted with dogs, but there are some farms here that pigs come after crops that are readily available too.

Well went to Old South and bought a 12" barrel... sucker born every minute...
 
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Lots of guns were made of brass in the old days, and not just by desperate Confederates. Moore's patent revolvers were often brass, my old #1 Colt derringer in .41 rim fire was brass, even a brief trip through any of the antique stores in toown will turn up brass framed revolvers and single shot pocket pistols. The reason wasn't desperation, but cheapness and ease of manufacture, as steel needed to be machiened by a skilled laborer, and brass could be cast. Often ''engraveing'' was cast right into the brass as a selling point. Alot of those old muff pistols were tossed in a top desk drawer for protection, and seldom if ever fired, so durability wasn't really an issue.
 
http://live.littlejohnsauctionservi...ame-barrel-cylinder-and-grips-19682_i18253376

three brass framed Bacon derringers on this page alone...

http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/antique-handguns/

Moore's patent revolver below:

http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/moore-teat-fire-revolver-ah2912/

and another...

http://www.antiquearmsinc.com/moore-revolver-antique.htm

Prescott .38...

http://armscollectors.com/mgs/prescott1.htm

My point is that brass was used often, and not just in the last desperate days of the Late Unpleasantness.
 
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Roughly $400 by the time shipping, insurance and the like are completed...
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I like those sights on that Buffalo perfect for hunting I would say. That cased engraved Remmy they are offering looks good also.
 
I had a buddy shoot his arbor loose in a brass framed .44 in less than a month, not hot charges.
At least one cartridge conversion cylinder maker recommends not using their products in a brass-framed gun.

That should tell you those frames ARE risky.
As mentioned above- sometimes you get away with it, sometimes you don't.

My own brasser is long retired.
I would not buy another one, I didn't know any better at the time, now I do.
Denis
 
My brassers were [and ''are'' in the case of my Spiller and Burrs] mostly .36's over the years, except for two round barreled .44 ''Navys'' by Pietta, but I think most brass frame revolvers will hold up pretty well for casual shooting if the charge is held to 20 gr. of 3f Goex, or less. Of course, the OP's intent is hunting of a medium sized game animal, so he'll want a firearm that will handle larger charges, and heavier ball. A steel frame .44 is a good choice for him, and I apologise for highjacking his thread, with my ''history of brassers'' comments....which while they may be of interset to some, don't really pertain to hunting...
 
BHP FAN said:
My brassers were [and ''are'' in the case of my Spiller and Burrs] mostly .36's over the years, except for two round barreled .44 ''Navys'' by Pietta, but I think most brass frame revolvers will hold up pretty well for casual shooting if the charge is held to 20 gr. of 3f Goex, or less. Of course, the OP's intent is hunting of a medium sized game animal, so he'll want a firearm that will handle larger charges, and heavier ball. A steel frame .44 is a good choice for him, and I apologise for highjacking his thread, with my ''history of brassers'' comments....which while they may be of interset to some, don't really pertain to hunting...
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No problem... it's all of interest to me... and i have a steel frame now on it's way from Old South... so I'm good.... :cool:
 
If it shoots where you look I don't see an issue. As with most hunting guns it'll see a few cylinders of practice loads then one or two during the season. I wouldn't worry about it at all. The only blackpowder revolver I have is brass because I wanted something (cheap) to back up my .54 if I wounded a deer or if I give to temptation and shoot the rabbits and squirrels that hop in front of me :D

Of the countless hours you will carry it the cost of most BP revolvers is negligible.


HB
 
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