Range report: brand new Pietta Colt Army

[TheWall]

Finally got out to the range with my brand new Pietta Colt Army -- nickel plated with faux ivory grips.

I put 48 bullets through it -- all pre-made paper cartridges using 3F Goex, a little cream of wheat and .454 Hornady round ball.

The gun shot a tad high-- but only an inch or two. My last six I finally zeroed in on the bullseye (see picture).

All shots were from 25 yards, standing.

The gun operated flawlessly -- except that i had to pinch the caps a little to keep them on (I may have to get some TRESO nipples).

All i all I love this new addition!

 

[Crawdad1]

Oh yea!!!! Nice shootin with a great lookin shooter. It seems every year I shoot mine and the more round balls I blast through her she gets better and better. May be her lands and groves are getting all polished up.

Beautiful Colt!!!!

 

[Hellgate]

Put a magnet onto that frame to verify that it is steel. Some of the silver and chrome plated guns are brass framed and should not be shot with heavy loads. In my brassers I only put 20grs of FFFg in the 44s. A steady diet of full charges (30grs) will either pull the arbor out of the frame or beat the recoil ring in and cause the gap to open up. With the moderate 20gr loads a brass frame will last a looooong time.

You can take a jeweler's file (or Dremel cutting wheel if you are brave/skilled enough) to the rear notch to deepen it a bit and round or square the bottom of the notch and that will "lower" the rear sight and make that high shooter hit POA.

 

[Skinny 1950]

That gun is way too good looking to shoot...stop now before it is too late.

 

[TheWall]

Frame

Frame is nickel, according the specs. Magnet did not stick, guess I will lower future loads to 20 grains of 3F Goex. Will add more cream of wheat filler in my homemade cartridges.

Yes, she is pretty - but cleans up much easier than my other revolvers...

 

[TheWall]

Does anyone know if the nickel frame means that it is brass, plated with nickel, or nickel all the way through? If it is nickel, should I put loads similar to brass frame (ie no more than 20 grains of 3F goex?)

 

[mykeal]

Very unlikely that it's 100% nickel. Most likely nickel plated brass.

 

[TheWall]

Thanks. That is what I thought. I will bring the load down to 20 grains of Goex 3F and add a little more Cream of Wheat filler to my homemade cartridges.

 

[1KPerDay]

No lube? And it ran multiple cylinders? Cool!

 

[TheWall]

Sorry, i did use lube - a little Crisco over each chamber, plus a drop of Ballistol on the arbor before shooting off six rounds. No fouling or freezing up...

 

[1KPerDay]

Awesome. thanks