Brass frame reliability?

[Musket Man]

I have read a lot of discussion on manufacturing of brass frame revolvers during the civil war. I was wondering how the current modern day Italian made ones hold up to being regular use? I have a 1851 Colt reproduction that I shoot pretty regular and it has been nothing but a very good shooter and has held up very well. But it is a steel frame. I was wondering how the new brass ones would hold up? I typically shoot 20 gr goex black powder in my .44 caliber. Thanks for any information.

 

[Frederick14Va]

Cant speak of the newer brass frame offerings... but I do have an older reproduction of the Colt 51 Navy that that is brass frame... I obtained as a teenager (many) years ago... They habitually tend to be a bit less expensive than the steel framed ones... and also tend to retain less of a resale value.... However in my opinion for the occasional plinker, I think they do fine... In heavy use over extended time they sometimes develop issues with the frame "stretching" per-se.... and eventually develops a gap between cylinder and barrel as result of same.... I picked mine up as a teen... paid $25 dollars for it used... shot a gazillian rounds out of that thing, plinking around the farm as a kid... many years of use later eventually retired it because the cylinder space gap issue.... But then again probably any revolver would have done the same with the number of rounds I had put through that one....

 

[Poor Private]

You should not have any problems on normal usage. It is when higher/heavier loads (live rounds) when the stretching occurs. One indication that your using too much powder is when the back of the cylinder start to imprint itself in the back of the frame.. If you have one that is stretching some people use a washer at the back of the frame. I have been shooting BP revolvers since 1970, and own several brass frames. I have not a single one that has "stretched" that I purchased new. I have one that is 2nd hand that has. I own approximately 15 BP pistols I use them for live firing and blank firing(reenacting when appropriate). You don't need the big boom to get the job done, just use it under a normal load and any brass frame should last for years. My wifes' favorite brasser is a .44 cal 5" barrel. It was never made back in the day but it's a great shooter she bulls-eyed it the first time she shot it. A colt knockoff brass frame runs in price from $150-250 in price(new). And you can pick up one at Cabela's. I am currently looking to buy a Grisswald & Gunnison brass frame pistol. This would complete my trio of repros of Confederate made pistols.
In effect go ahead and shoot it and have fun. I DO!

 

[zburkett]

I have a .36 Navy Pietta I built from from a kit twenty years ago. I shot it a lot and when ammo was so hard to get often used it as my carry gun on the farm. No problems. If you are doing hard use Cowboy Action you might need a steel frame (I do have one) but for normal use there is no difference.

 

[Rebforever]

Cant speak of the newer brass frame offerings... but I do have an older reproduction of the Colt 51 Navy that that is brass frame... I obtained as a teenager (many) years ago... They habitually tend to be a bit less expensive than the steel framed ones... and also tend to retain less of a resale value.... However in my opinion for the occasional plinker, I think they do fine... In heavy use over extended time they sometimes develop issues with the frame "stretching" per-se.... and eventually develops a gap between cylinder and barrel as result of same.... I picked mine up as a teen... paid $25 dollars for it used... shot a gazillian rounds out of that thing, plinking around the farm as a kid... many years of use later eventually retired it because the cylinder space gap issue.... But then again probably any revolver would have done the same with the number of rounds I had put through that one....

Don't throw it away. Reset the barrel. Keep plunkin'.

 

[Frederick14Va]

Don't throw it away. Reset the barrel. Keep plunkin'.

Still have it, its just relegated to use as a prop gun... have others that I still fire on occasion

 

[Musket Man]

You should not have any problems on normal usage. It is when higher/heavier loads (live rounds) when the stretching occurs. One indication that your using too much powder is when the back of the cylinder start to imprint itself in the back of the frame.. If you have one that is stretching some people use a washer at the back of the frame. I have been shooting BP revolvers since 1970, and own several brass frames. I have not a single one that has "stretched" that I purchased new. I have one that is 2nd hand that has. I own approximately 15 BP pistols I use them for live firing and blank firing(reenacting when appropriate). You don't need the big boom to get the job done, just use it under a normal load and any brass frame should last for years. My wifes' favorite brasser is a .44 cal 5" barrel. It was never made back in the day but it's a great shooter she bulls-eyed it the first time she shot it. A colt knockoff brass frame runs in price from $150-250 in price(new). And you can pick up one at Cabela's. I am currently looking to buy a Grisswald & Gunnison brass frame pistol. This would complete my trio of repros of Confederate made pistols.
In effect go ahead and shoot it and have fun. I DO![/QUOTE

My wife loves to shoot my 1851 reproduction and I do as well. Its a very accurate pistol even compared to modern day polymer pistols. We will typically shoot between 30-40 rounds when we get it out. I love the look of the 1858 Remington and have seen them both in brass and steel frame models. The Remington reproduction will be my next purchase, either in .44 or .36 caliber. I had never talked to anyone that had shot a brass frame one. I read different information about the reliability and that goes from one end of the spectrum to the other. I know that with 20 gr of powder that the recoil is very low and accuracy is very good with my 1851.