Pietta 1851 Yank - first smoke

[ssb73q]

Hi, I got to shoot my new Pietta 1851 Yank revolver today, see:

This revolver has a 3" barrel and birdhead grip. I installed a reduced power spring. Four 1851/1860 cylinders were loaded with 30gr (volume) Black MZ and hand cast 0.454 balls. Accuracy shooting was from 25yds. With two hand shooting, I could keep doing 3" groups all day. The revolver shot high ~6", but was right on with windage. I chronographed one cylinder, average 572fps. I had expected ~500-550fps based on previous measurements of 30 gr Black MZ in an 8" revolver, 713fps. A 45 Colt conversion cylinder shooting 250gr Laser Cast bullets with 4.8gr Trail Boss chronographed 573.6 fps. The same conversion cylinder with 250gr Laser Cast bullets with 25gr (weight) Black MZ chronographed 659fps. That same load produces ~850fps in an 8" revolver. IMO stoke the cap and ball cylinders with 30gr (volume) Swiss, and I would expect a velocity of ~800fps. This snub isn't a toy.

The 3" Yank is a natural pointer, the birdshead grip amazing for control of the revolver. I really didn't expect this snub to shoot as well as it did. Two handed, one handed, the snub simply feels like an extension of the arm. I noticed that the revolver is already sold out at Dixie. My example of the 1851 Yank is well made, fit and finish excellent. Pietta couldn't have made it any better. The revolver fits nicely in my western 1873 holster.

Regards,
Richard

[Captainkirk]

Great write-up and documentation! Sounds like you have a winner on your hands.

[ssb73q]

Hi, there are a few minor items about the Pietta 1851 Yank that I should report. While my Uberti 1849s are terrible capsuckers and my other Pietta 1860s and 1851 regularly suck caps, the new 1851 Yank didn't have a single cap sucking issue shooting 24rds (4 cylinders). Getting the barrel off the revolver was difficult when the Yank was new. With use, the wedge became easy to remove. Pulling the barrel is another issue. There is no loading lever to assist prying the barrel off the revolver. I used an oak wedge to help barrel separation from the revolver. Removing the barrel gets easier with each additional removal.

Pietta also makes an 1860 snub that has a smooth round barrel with a blade front sight. The 1860 version also has the shoulder stock screws installed that are sometimes hand diggers. Since it's impossible to mount the 1860 birdseye grip on a shoulder stock, those shoulder stock screws are worthless. IMO the 1851 is the more desirable version of the Pietta Colt 1851/1860 snub.

Regards,
Richard

[brazosdave]

I love mine! Because it is my primary concealed carry gun, I am sending it this week to Goons Gun Works to get the full on treatment!

[ssb73q]

I love mine! Because it is my primary concealed carry gun, I am sending it this week to Goons Gun Works to get the full on treatment!

Hi dave, what loadings do you use in your 1851 Yank?

Regards,
Richard

[brazosdave]

I use around 20 grns ffg and a .454 roundball. If I load heavier, i may bump it up to around 25 grns.

[ssb73q]

Hi, my 1851 Yank shoots higher than poa. To correct that for .45 Colt conversion cylinders I decided to put a taller front sight on the revolver. The dovetail has been cut and cold blued:

I ran out of dovetail brass sights, more were ordered. When finished I will post a photo of the assembled Pietta Yank with a taller front sight.

Regards,
Richard

[ssb73q]

Hi, while I don't have any more brass dovetail sights on hand, I did have a steel dovetail sight. Since the 1851 Yank has all steel hardware, maybe a steel front sight is in order. To that end I fitted a tall steel sight that was cold blued to the Yank:

Laser boresighting show that the new front sight is much too tall and will need to be filed down to have poi=poa at the range. The sight can then be cold blued.

BTW, while I thought it would be much tougher to file and fit a Track of the Wolf steel sight compared to the brass, it was almost as easy. I suspect that the steel used in the sight is free machining steel.

Regards,
Richard

[mike116]

I like the steel sight Richard.    Brass is OK with brass furniture but the steel works good on this one.

[bigted]

Richard, that is a cool looking piece and in my fav cal as well. Good of you to share it here with the masses. Im jealous like a big dog.

[ssb73q]

Hi bigted, I intend on sighting in the Yank poi=poa @25yds with .45 Colt conversion cylinder. I hope that after sighted in that the tall sight will fit my Yank's LetherSmithMike's holster:



Regards,
Richard

[Len]

Nice iron, nice holster! And Mike116:s logo stamp blends in just fine.

[sourdough]

Richard,

That is one beautiful gun! Sam is rolling over in his grave for not producing something like that. It would probably have been a seller beyond belief!

Jim

[Bishop Creek]

Richard,

Is that the same revolver that you use with the Kirst .22 cylinder? If so, how does it shoot with the taller front sight?

[ssb73q]

Hi Bishop, I have .22 conversion cylinders in full size brass framed 1851,1858, and 1860 revolvers with home made full length barrels. I have used one of those .22 conversions in the Yank with a full length barrel that just slips in, but can't be aligned. The original sights on the Yank were pretty much right on. Shooting the Yank with .45 Colt is a hoot, but it shoot high with the original sights.

Regards,
Richard