Pietta and Uberti

John in B.C.

John in B.C.

CGN frequent flyer
Uber Super GunNutz
Rating - 100%
231   0   0
Location
Prince George B.C.
Question for the experienced CAS shooters in CGN land.......preferably those who have experience with both flavors!!

Are Ubertis worth the extra $100+ cost over the comparable Pietta models?

Currently I shoot Vaqueros and want to try something new and I'm looking to buy a new pair of six-shooters......

John
 
Last edited:
I don't shoot CAS so my round count is fairly low but I have a Uberti Cattleman in .45LC and two Pietta 1873 in .357/.38. Mechanically I find there is no difference but the fit and finish on the Uberti is much nicer. The Piettas show some tool marks and some in the stamped markings look like the stamp moved so the numbers aren't clear. Also fired cartridge cases didn't slide out as easily on the Piettas, not sure if caliber has anything to do with this. Nothing a little polishing can't fix.

I purchased the Piettas online but it didn't state anywhere that they had different front sights. Once I received them one had a tapered front sight the other a square front as viewed when aiming the pistol. The tapered front sight leaves a very small space on either side when lined up in the rear sight so I find it easier and faster to use. The square sight completely fills the rear sight and might actually be a bit wider but I have never measured. If I had the chance to purchase these again I would want the tapered sight on both.
 
John in B.C. said:
Question for the experienced CAS shooters in CGN land.......preferably those who have experience with both flavors!!

Are Ubertis worth the extra $100+ cost over the comparable Pietta models?

Currently I shoot Vaqueros and want to try something new and I'm looking to buy a new pair of six-shooters......

John
Click to expand...

I started with Ruger Vaqueros in 2005 and in went to Piettas in 2006. The Piettas are my go to guns for CAS. Nothing wrong with the Vaqueros, I just like the Piettas better. In 9 years of shooting Piettas....no problems. I only use the Vaqueros when using the Hollywood Buscadero holster rigs (both gun butts facing to the rear) which is seldom.
 
Cowboy Shootist said:
I started with Ruger Vaqueros in 2005 and in went to Piettas in 2006. The Piettas are my go to guns for CAS. Nothing wrong with the Vaqueros, I just like the Piettas better. In 9 years of shooting Piettas....no problems. I only use the Vaqueros when using the Hollywood Buscadero holster rigs (both gun butts facing to the rear) which is seldom.
Click to expand...

Why did you move away from the Rugers?

John
 
I've got two black powder Ubertis (Remington 1858's) made at some point in the 1990's and two Pietta 1873 clones from 7 years ago. I found the quality of machining in these two pairs to be on par and at a level that I'd label as "very good". Both have light machining marks on the inner parts but where the parts make contact the quality of the surfaces is excellent. Both companies would appear to be at a level where they are shaving a few minutes of time where the finish matters little but put in the effort where it counts.

In terms of accuracy my black powder cap and ball Ubertis shoot on par with my Pietta cartridge guns. I've got a couple of guns which are better than either for punching neat small groups of holes but the difference isn't a whole lot. And certainly in cowboy action shooting this is all highly academic since we simply don't have the time to aim that much. Even so, my Pietta revolvers have served me well in accuracy side matches. It's only when I take them out to my club's bullseye evening sessions that I find that I've got a little bit more with a couple of other guns for making tidy, neat and small groups at the distance.

One aspect where Uberti shines is with the wood used for the grips. My Piettas have lovely faux colour case hardening on the frames and a pretty nice blue on the cylinders and barrels with a nice level of gloss. But the wood grips are downright BORING! ! ! !

I like my Piettas enough that I really can't see paying the extra for Ubertis unless it's for the tuned versions. I just don't see what could be any better.

Keep in mind that if you opt for the cheaper models in either brand name that you'll get rather dull looking matt finishes which just do not do the lines of the guns much of any justice at all. But if you pay a touch more to get the colour case frames with blued cylinders and barrels you're in for a treat in either brand. But I'd have to say in this case that the best bang for the buck is the Pietta option. Especially if it'll be used primarily for cowboy action shooting.

The ONLY failure I've had in 7 years of using these guns on a regular but not heavy basis has been the pin holding the firing pin into the hammer on one gun falling out.

My reason for choosing Pietta over Ruger was the desire to experience the proper style of action. Rugers look like the old stuff but inside they are all new. I wanted the traditional "four clicks" and the need to go to half #### to let the cylinder turn.
 
Thanks for the input. I have owned Piettas in the past but not Ubertis.

I run Ruger NV's now and find them very reliable....however, I would like to try shooting a more traditional piece so I think I will go with the Piettas and see how they hold up.

John
 
I have used and tuned (for myself and others) many of all three makes you mention.

All three are generally "usable" for plinking or cowboy beginner use right out of the box. The difference shows itself when you want to use them for what I will characterize as "serious cowboy shooting".

For a serious shooter the Rugers will require a minimal amount of work, basically, a main spring change and your in business. and they will last a lifetime for most shooters

The Italians, both Uberti and Pietta, however, will require a much more rigorous work-over before they can be described as competition ready. Even the ones advertised as already "slicked up" by US importers have required some extra attention. I have owned 5 sets of Uberti's and one set of Pietta's, all were good guns after the initial work -over. I've had other Italian makes that, no matter how much TLC they received, were not dependable for any length of time.

Outside fit and pretty polish have never been a concern for me with either Italian, but consistent dependability is and both Uberti and Pietta have my admiration.
 
John I don't shoot CASS as you know but I do own a El Patron made by Uberti and a Cattleman. The El Patron IMHO is finished off better and is worth the few extra dollars Uberti charges. Both are SAA 73's but the El Patron has a wider front sight and rear notch and a nicer trigger break.
Everyone I spoke to felt the Uberti was a cut above the Pietta revolver when it comes to fit and finish.

Take Care

Bob
 
I rounded out a mismatched pair of 357s with a brand new Pietta several years back and really liked it. I ended up selling it to my uncle to get him into the sport. I bought a pair of used Ubertis and boy do I wish they where Piettas. Pietta has a much wider front sight blade so it's easier to pick up at speed. Ubertis screwed around with the firing pin and that stupid safety thing and also the pawl spring is changed to to a pin and spring instead of a leaf or whatever the original should be.

Next time I will go Pietta again and know for certain that the Uberti is NOT the better pistol.

Good luck!
 
SoBored said:
I rounded out a mismatched pair of 357s with a brand new Pietta several years back and really liked it. I ended up selling it to my uncle to get him into the sport. I bought a pair of used Ubertis and boy do I wish they where Piettas. Pietta has a much wider front sight blade so it's easier to pick up at speed. Ubertis screwed around with the firing pin and that stupid safety thing and also the pawl spring is changed to to a pin and spring instead of a leaf or whatever the original should be.

Next time I will go Pietta again and know for certain that the Uberti is NOT the better pistol.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing your experience. Yeah the Piettas I had before were really nice revolvers. I am looking at the model with brass trigger guards....just for the bling factor :)

John
 
SoBored said:
I rounded out a mismatched pair of 357s with a brand new Pietta several years back and really liked it. I ended up selling it to my uncle to get him into the sport. I bought a pair of used Ubertis and boy do I wish they where Piettas. Pietta has a much wider front sight blade so it's easier to pick up at speed. Ubertis screwed around with the firing pin and that stupid safety thing and also the pawl spring is changed to to a pin and spring instead of a leaf or whatever the original should be.Next time I will go Pietta again and know for certain that the Uberti is NOT the better pistol.

Good luck![/QUOT

Actually, one of the best improvements ever made to the SAA design. These make the hand drag regulation on the cylinder a snap...can be done on the old leaf springs as well but not nearly as easy, will not be long lasting or permanent. The pin/spring set-up can be regulated to any drag you want and it will remain that way probably for the guns lifetime.

I don't consider a gun with the old leaf spring still in them a complete competition ready gun. When my eyes were still good enough to do the operation I would remove the leaf and drill the frame for a spring/pin conversion (not an operation for a hand drill or faint of heart).
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom