curtism1234 wrote:Without a doubt, the full size barrel (8" I believe) 1858 if you want black powder.
It will not shoot high like the colts,
Not in my experience. Every 1858 variation I've got shoots just as high as the Colts. I'm holding at the very bottom of the B2/B3 targets for Bullseye, and I'm still hitting in the upper half..
curtism1234 wrote:
it will not jam caps like the colts, it's easier to take apart, and extra cylinders / conversion cylinders are available if you would like.
Cap sucking - yes, but that's also easily alleviated in the Colts. Just stone down those sharp knife edges on the hammer in that "safety nub" notch.. and if you order some Slix Shot nips, you've doubled-down on curing the cap sucking.
Easier to take apart? Maybe the cylinder, but the receiver internals are a lot more fidgety IMO.
Extra Cyls and conversion cyls are available for the Colts as well. But for either flavor, you're better off just buying a "Factory Conversion" from Cimarron instead of separates, unless you *really* want to switch back n forth. Also a "factory conversion" allows you to use cheaper smokeless powder .44 loads. That "cowboy" stuff is beaucoup expensive.. you'll be getting into reloading real quick if you do much of it.
curtism1234 wrote:
The steel gun can be loaded quite hot, I've done 35 grains of 777 before.
Hot loads are fun, but my best accuracy seems to dial in at the low 20's for 777.
curtism1234 wrote:
That's what I'd go with. The Uberti has the dovetail front sight but only buy it from Taylors online (these things often have problems and taylors get the best of the lot) or buy a Pietta (fixed front sight but you can have it dovetailed for 30-40 bucks) at bass/cabelas.
You must have some special big-boxes there... neither the BP or Cabela's here offer any type of smithing services at all. no fair!