Petersoli and Pietta Colt clones- worth considering?

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k_h

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So... thinking about cowboy shooting, trying to do it on a budget.

I like the look of the 1873 but can't (won't) buy a 'real' one.

Do people think the clones (sold, for example, by a merchant that recently stopped participating here) worth considering?

There's also Cimarron, but seems a whack more money.

Thanks for comments.
 
Not sure how tight you budget is, but I'd look at Ruger, Uberti or Pedersoli, in 38 Special, used & in that order...
 
I did a lot of research online and couldn't find any significant difference, other than price, between Uberti and Pietta. I bought and Pietta 1873 Colt in .357 from Prophet River, another forum sponsor, and am very satisfied with it. Also Prophet River service can't be beat.
 
I have a Uberti 1873 Cattleman El Patron in .45 LC and two Pietta 1873 in .357. The Piettas were much cheaper than the Uberti and the fit and finish is not as nice. You can see some tool marks, the stamped markings are not even and clear and the grips are not flush with the frame. These defects don't bother me at all. Mechanically I haven't noticed a difference. I use .38 in the Piettas but have only put about 300 rounds through each one. No issues with either one.

I purchased my Piettas online so I didn't examine them. One pistol has a front sight with tapered sides so the sight is much narrower at the top than at the base. The other pistols front sight has parallel sides so the sight is the same thickness at the top as it is at the base. I find the tapered front sight much easier to use and getting slightly better accuracy with that pistol.

I am just starting Cowboy Action this year and with the amount I intend to be shooting I think the Piettas will be more than adequate. the Rugers seem to be much more popular with the serious Cowboy Action shooters.
 
I just sold an Uberti El Patron for under $500. It has a tuned up trigger job and I found it to much nicer than my buddies vaquero.
 
I've used a pair of Pietta 73's now for about 8 years and quite a few thousand rounds through them. The only failure I've had in all that time is the retainer pin for one of the firing pins fell out and then the firing pin itself (attached to the hammer like Sam Colt originally did) was notice as being loose while I was at the reloading table. Other than that one small issue the guns have been 100% trouble free. They are also as accurate as I let them be. In other words they are more accurate than I am. And to put that into perspective I can usually manage to make 3 inch or slightly less size groups at 20 yards with my old guy eyes and nerves with my better guns. And the Piettas are among that group.

A buddy just got a pair of his own Pietta '73's in .357 caliber about a year ago. I did the strip down and checking over for him. I say "checking over" because other than cleaning and inspecting and fitting a wire spring to replace the flat trigger and bolt spring we did not need to make any other modifications at all.

I've also got four Uberti black powder revolvers that I switch between for shooting Frontiersman cowboy action. And I can honestly say that my Pietta revolvers gives up little or nothing the Uberti guns. The fit and finish inside and out is on par.

Pedersoli is another step up the ladder. But you'll pay for that extra attention to detail. And for basic cowboy action shooting you simply don't need it.
 
I don't own an 1873, but I did buy a Pietta 1858 Remington from Marstar.

Mainly for nostalgic reasons, because I had owned a Euroarms 1858, back in the 70s.

Overall, I was very pleased with the workmanship. It was a lot smoother and well finished than the Euroarms in all but one way.

That being that the walnut grips were not as well-fitted or finished. The Euroarms grips were varnished and fit perfectly.
The Pietta grips did not really sit perfectly flush and there were a few spots where the shaping was less than it should have been, and they were oil-finished.

But, it does shoot very well, is timed properly, and I would certainly buy another Pietta.

And, contrary to popular beliefs, Ubertis aren't always perfect either. Beautiful, but some have internal problems.

A Uberti 1873 revolver that I owned had rifling so shallow that it was hopelessly inaccurate with lead bullets.
A Uberti 1866 Short Rifle that I owned needed to be disassembled and reworked to feed and eject properly at all.
 
Used Ruger's because their proven & there are a ton of proven aftermarket mods. A lot can be done by the guy with opposable thumbs...

Used Uberti's because fit & finish is usually pretty good & cheaper than a Ruger

Used Pedersoli's because, imo, they are the best of the Italian repro's, albeit more money than the others...

By the way, all three of these are better than actual stock Colt S/A for cowboy action... The Pietta too...
 
Scarecrow said:
Does anyone carry the revolver carbines?
Click to expand...

Not often, they aren't popular because they are all restricted if I'm not mistaken and not used in any competition I'm aware of. Plus shooting them is difficult as you have to be careful you don't get burned by the gas from the cylinder gap when holding the rifle.
 
Scarecrow said:
Does anyone carry the revolver carbines?
Click to expand...

You see the Remington cap & ball ones occasionally.

Curiously, I have never, in 40 odd years seen the 1873 Cattleman ones anywhere in Canada.

In .45 Colt, the 1873 ones would work as well for hunting as an 1866 or 1873 Winchester lever action copy.

With the cartridge types, you can place your off hand forward of the cylinder, much as with any rifle.
A long glove and long sleeves would be a good idea to protect against flash gap spray.

Other than that, I think that owning one would be great. You could always order one in.

And, I don't think that they are all restricted.

They usually have 18" barrel lengths, and a non-detachable stock, so why would they be?
 
Last edited:
BCRider said:
I've used a pair of Pietta 73's now for about 8 years and quite a few thousand rounds through them. The only failure I've had in all that time is the retainer pin for one of the firing pins fell out and then the firing pin itself (attached to the hammer like Sam Colt originally did) was notice as being loose while I was at the reloading table. Other than that one small issue the guns have been 100% trouble free. They are also as accurate as I let them be. In other words they are more accurate than I am. And to put that into perspective I can usually manage to make 3 inch or slightly less size groups at 20 yards with my old guy eyes and nerves with my better guns. And the Piettas are among that group.

A buddy just got a pair of his own Pietta '73's in .357 caliber about a year ago. I did the strip down and checking over for him. I say "checking over" because other than cleaning and inspecting and fitting a wire spring to replace the flat trigger and bolt spring we did not need to make any other modifications at all.

I've also got four Uberti black powder revolvers that I switch between for shooting Frontiersman cowboy action. And I can honestly say that my Pietta revolvers gives up little or nothing the Uberti guns. The fit and finish inside and out is on par.

Pedersoli is another step up the ladder. But you'll pay for that extra attention to detail. And for basic cowboy action shooting you simply don't need it.
Click to expand...

For the explanation of italian guns and their differences, that sums it up best!
 
skokie said:
Not often, they aren't popular because they are all restricted if I'm not mistaken and not used in any competition I'm aware of. Plus shooting them is difficult as you have to be careful you don't get burned by the gas from the cylinder gap when holding the rifle.
Click to expand...

Well... I have a Remington cap n ball carbine and they are NOT restricted, as this is not the revolver frame,only its internals.However, you're right about the hot gas...if you hold it like a rifle, use a leather vest or keep both paws behind the end of the cylinder- not hard to do, just hold it like any handgun with a shoulder stock.

CG
 
Lonesome Donkey said:
You see the Remington cap & ball ones occasionally.

Curiously, I have never, in 40 odd years seen the 1873 Cattleman ones anywhere in Canada.

In .45 Colt, the 1873 ones would work as well for hunting as an 1866 or 1873 Winchester lever action copy.

With the cartridge types, you can place your off hand forward of the cylinder, much as with any rifle.
A long glove and long sleeves would be a good idea to protect against flash gap spray.

Other than that, I think that owning one would be great. You could always order one in.

And, I don't think that they are all restricted.

They usually have 18" barrel lengths, and a non-detachable stock, so why would they be?
Click to expand...

The Taurus Judge is restricted, no idea why.
 
With revolving carbines the problem of capacity, most stages use 10 rounds in the rifle, some may have a reload for +10, the revolving carbine only hold 6/would be 5 if empty cylinder rule applies as per the handguns, so reloads would be required. The revolving carbines also suffer from the revolver problem of flash from the cylinder gap, that's why there where only a few made mostly cap and ball, Colt & Remington. The Urberti revolving carbine SAA, I cannot find history such a gun existed. I have never seen one used in CAS. I have Urberi SAA's have been using the same ones for 17 years, only had the cylinder lock spring break on one once. There is nothing wrong with the others, Cimarron/Taylor use Ubert's for the lines, many of the comments are valid, you pay for what you get. I personally have no time for Ruger's as they are not 99% correct to original, that's why the gamers (heavy competitors) use them, a reload is quicker as cylinder can be turned back, which cannot happen on the originals, all sort of speed modifications. Also popular because its "American" made by Ruger. Just my personal feelings, don't flame me.
 
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