Which 36 cal Pietta for black powder novice?

[Mictlanero]

Greetings - well i am a history buff and interested in shooting and making bows, arrows and atlatls.... Well lately i have become interested in getting a 36 cal bp pistol - a Pietta from Cabelas.

At first i would like to use it as a bp shooter down at the range, but eventually perhaps convert it (drill it out) for Kirst gated cylinder, especially as i may get involved with cowboy action stuff down the road.

So these are the ones i am interested in, no order:

Pietta 1851 Navy 36 cal - downside is has pietta grip - but i can fix it, nice price.
Pietta 1851 Navy 36 cal London - steel and has a more colt like grip - pricey
Pietta 1851 Navy 36 cal Hickock - has pietta grip, also converting it would mess up the etching - does that matter or only cosmetic?also a bit pricey.
Pietta 1861 Navy 36 cal: not in stock now - dangit
Pietta 1862 Police 36 cal: not historically accurate, has weird pietta grip - but seems pretty cool with that short barrel!

So which one of these would you start with?
which is the best for shooting then converting down the line?

 

[brushhippie]

Pietta 51 .36 would get the nod with the London right behind it, as far as conversions go I hear the .44s are better because the .38s are slightly small for the .36 bore....but not period correct unless you went with the 60 Army.

 

[Rom828]

I have the regular '51 steel frame .36 and love it. The fancier guns are just not worth the extra price as shooters. If you want something just to look at fine, but all my guns show good old honest wear from being used. I prefer steel guns and I believe the "Hickock" guns are plated over a brass frame, someone please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Pancho]

I'd avoid the 62 Police whether Pietta or Uberti. The small frame and close tolerances make it a fussy gun to shoot and could ruin your introduction into the sport.
My favorite in your list is the 61 Navy.
By the way I have two Uberti 62 Police and love them in spite of their fussy nature but I started out in 1964 in bp and got my first revolver (a cheap Spanish 61 Navy) in 1966. I've been doing the dirty deed ever since.

 

[Fingers McGee]

While I personally prefer the Uberti 1861 Navy; given your choices, I'd go with the Pietta 1861 Navy or 1862 Police. They are both the same pistol, just that the '62 Police has a shorter barrel. Neither one is historically accurate; but they both balance well and will point shoot fairly decently. They can both be had at very resonable prices from Cabelas

 

[Mictlanero]

Hey thanks everyone! I ordered the pietta 61 navy - they got it back in stock - very excited about it! It is was really close between the 51 navy in steel - well, perhaps soon i will get it also! This one was on sale and i got a discount too

I am excited to learn about it, use it at the range, and use it as a model for some western drawings! I know jack about gunsmithing, but i am pretty handy and look forward to learning a bit.

Thanks again for the help everyone!