Brass Frames - The Firearms Forum

midlifevette · 01-31-2011, 09:08 PM

I like the looks of the brass framed BP Remingtons. Should I be concerned about the durability of these brass frames? I'll only be shooting 2 or 3 cylinders of rounds about once a week. Thanks, Ken

remington1990 · 01-31-2011, 09:57 PM

I have the same question I am also looking at a brass frame Remington and the spiller and burr revolver myself and I have been wondering that the brass frame myself. I have read review on dixie gun works they give them pretty review

stewswanson · 02-01-2011, 09:54 AM

I have a 12" pietta Remington with the brass frame (Cabellas sells them) and
have no "stretch" in the frame. I know this because I used a feeler guage between the cylinder and forcing cone when brand new(.004) and check it every season. I usually use 27 gr. of Pyrodex with a wonder wad and .454 ball. I have used 777 also with no ill effects.
Stew

johnlives4christ · 02-01-2011, 12:25 PM

stewswanson, how much have you shot it?

midlifevette · 02-01-2011, 08:34 PM

Hey John, If I read his post correctly, he has shot it 777 times. I'm going to get a Remington 1858 with brass frame. I don't think I'll shoot it enough to hurt it and I really like the way they look. Also, Darryl Choy in his report, "Percussion Revolvers: A Primer" says, "Shooting a brass frame with mild loads should not be a problem" His recommendations for a .44 load is "20 to 30 grains of 3F and a .451 round ball" Ken

stewswanson · 02-01-2011, 10:23 PM

I have proabably 500 rounds though it. The 777 I referred to is Hodgsons powder which is more powerful than Pyrodex or BP. Using BP or pyrodex and keeping it under 30 gr. should not overstress the frame IMHO.
Stew

5string · 02-01-2011, 10:24 PM

777, is a smokless type of blackpowder substitute. Or less smoke then the others.It is usually called triple 7.

midlifevette · 02-02-2011, 08:52 AM

I'm new to BP so I did not recognize the 777 name. Sorry about that. Ken

old semperfi · 02-04-2011, 08:23 PM

sorry to disagree but 777 is not smokeless at all,what it is,is it has no sulfur to corrode the steel and it is by voluum 15% hotter than black powder or pyrodex.it is however a little harder to ignite so use hotter caps. old semperfi

bp44 · 02-05-2011, 09:01 AM

The key to having and shooting a brass frame revolver is to use light loads of powder. Most of these guns say you can shoot a max of 30 grains of 3f of pyrodex p if you will stay on the light side of of the specs say about 22 to 25 grains of powder you should not really have any problems. It is my understanding that shooting a high load of powder over and over again will eventually stretch the frame, brass just isnt as strong as steel.

Good luck and have fun!

ofitg · 02-06-2011, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bp44

The key to having and shooting a brass frame revolver is to use light loads of powder. Most of these guns say you can shoot a max of 30 grains of 3f of pyrodex p if you will stay on the light side of of the specs say about 22 to 25 grains of powder you should not really have any problems. It is my understanding that shooting a high load of powder over and over again will eventually stretch the frame, brass just isnt as strong as steel.

Good luck and have fun!

Good advice.

You don't need to shoot maximum loads for recreational purposes - 25 gr is nothing to sneeze at; muzzle velocity should be in the neighborhood of 750-800 fps.

Pustic · 02-08-2011, 02:21 PM

As long as you're not going to war with a brass frame, you shouldn't have any problems with it.

Buffalochip · 02-08-2011, 02:51 PM

But 100 years from now, your (or somebody's) great, great grandson is gonna wish it was steel and not worn out brass...

polishshooter · 02-08-2011, 07:29 PM

Remember that the rimfire Henry cartridge and thus the first Winchester 66 ones then also were actually .44-25s...the quote from ofitq above that 25 grains is nothing to sneeze at is a good one. Granted there was no gas loss with the cartridges but it would be close.

Heck, I shoot 25 grains in my steel frame Traditions 1860 and it works goo enough.

I'm not sure when i shoot conicals I could get much more in there!

Heck the standard load for a Walker (or was it a Dragoon I forget?) was only 40 grains...think .44-40.

sewerman · 02-10-2011, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polishshooter

Remember that the rimfire Henry cartridge and thus the first Winchester 66 ones then also were actually .44-25s...the quote from ofitq above that 25 grains is nothing to sneeze at is a good one. Granted there was no gas loss with the cartridges but it would be close.

Heck, I shoot 25 grains in my steel frame Traditions 1860 and it works goo enough.

I'm not sure when i shoot conicals I could get much more in there!

Heck the standard load for a Walker (or was it a Dragoon I forget?) was only 40 grains...think .44-40.

also may i interject that the winnies & possibly henry was commomly cast from an alloy, which from the times 1850-1880 was called gun metal , really a strong bronze which gave the appearence when buffed as being pure brass.

this is what i have read and do not present myself as an authority.

s.m.

polishshooter · 02-10-2011, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sewerman

this is what i have read and do not present myself as an authority.

s.m.

Actually Sewerman, the fact you read MAKES you an authority around here!

polishshooter · 02-16-2011, 10:23 PM

BTW, like most BP guns, revolvers shoot more accurately with a lighter charge, in my Son's brass frame CVA .36 1851 we only shoot roundballs over 15 grains of FFFg, and it shoots well.

Dixie calls for a load for their Brass frame Remington .44 not to exceed 22 grains.

01-31-2011, 09:08 PM	#1
midlifevette Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Shelbyville, KY Posts: 20	Brass Frames I like the looks of the brass framed BP Remingtons. Should I be concerned about the durability of these brass frames? I'll only be shooting 2 or 3 cylinders of rounds about once a week. Thanks, Ken -->

01-31-2011, 09:57 PM	#2
remington1990 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 290	Re: Brass Frames I have the same question I am also looking at a brass frame Remington and the spiller and burr revolver myself and I have been wondering that the brass frame myself. I have read review on dixie gun works they give them pretty review

02-01-2011, 09:54 AM	#3
stewswanson Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 19	Re: Brass Frames I have a 12" pietta Remington with the brass frame (Cabellas sells them) and have no "stretch" in the frame. I know this because I used a feeler guage between the cylinder and forcing cone when brand new(.004) and check it every season. I usually use 27 gr. of Pyrodex with a wonder wad and .454 ball. I have used 777 also with no ill effects. Stew

02-01-2011, 12:25 PM	#4
johnlives4christ Former Guest Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,828	Re: Brass Frames stewswanson, how much have you shot it?

02-01-2011, 08:34 PM	#5
midlifevette Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Shelbyville, KY Posts: 20	Re: Brass Frames Hey John, If I read his post correctly, he has shot it 777 times. I'm going to get a Remington 1858 with brass frame. I don't think I'll shoot it enough to hurt it and I really like the way they look. Also, Darryl Choy in his report, "Percussion Revolvers: A Primer" says, "Shooting a brass frame with mild loads should not be a problem" His recommendations for a .44 load is "20 to 30 grains of 3F and a .451 round ball" Ken

02-01-2011, 10:23 PM	#6
stewswanson Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 19	Re: Brass Frames I have proabably 500 rounds though it. The 777 I referred to is Hodgsons powder which is more powerful than Pyrodex or BP. Using BP or pyrodex and keeping it under 30 gr. should not overstress the frame IMHO. Stew

02-01-2011, 10:24 PM	#7
5string V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ok Posts: 106	Re: Brass Frames 777, is a smokless type of blackpowder substitute. Or less smoke then the others.It is usually called triple 7.

02-02-2011, 08:52 AM	#8
midlifevette Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Shelbyville, KY Posts: 20	Re: Brass Frames I'm new to BP so I did not recognize the 777 name. Sorry about that. Ken

02-04-2011, 08:23 PM	#9
old semperfi Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: i live in southern indiana,old country boy at heart Posts: 1,506	Re: Brass Frames sorry to disagree but 777 is not smokeless at all,what it is,is it has no sulfur to corrode the steel and it is by voluum 15% hotter than black powder or pyrodex.it is however a little harder to ignite so use hotter caps. old semperfi

02-05-2011, 09:01 AM	#10
bp44 Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 13	Re: Brass Frames The key to having and shooting a brass frame revolver is to use light loads of powder. Most of these guns say you can shoot a max of 30 grains of 3f of pyrodex p if you will stay on the light side of of the specs say about 22 to 25 grains of powder you should not really have any problems. It is my understanding that shooting a high load of powder over and over again will eventually stretch the frame, brass just isnt as strong as steel. Good luck and have fun!

02-08-2011, 02:21 PM	#12
Pustic V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Western Kentucky Posts: 146	Re: Brass Frames As long as you're not going to war with a brass frame, you shouldn't have any problems with it. __________________ No matter what they say or do, I will never surrender my guns. Am I paranoid? Nope, I'm heavily armed.

02-08-2011, 02:51 PM	#13
Buffalochip Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 754	Re: Brass Frames But 100 years from now, your (or somebody's) great, great grandson is gonna wish it was steel and not worn out brass...

02-08-2011, 07:29 PM	#14
polishshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 7,859	Re: Brass Frames Remember that the rimfire Henry cartridge and thus the first Winchester 66 ones then also were actually .44-25s...the quote from ofitq above that 25 grains is nothing to sneeze at is a good one. Granted there was no gas loss with the cartridges but it would be close. Heck, I shoot 25 grains in my steel frame Traditions 1860 and it works goo enough. I'm not sure when i shoot conicals I could get much more in there! Heck the standard load for a Walker (or was it a Dragoon I forget?) was only 40 grains...think .44-40. __________________ The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.

02-16-2011, 10:23 PM	#17
polishshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 7,859	Re: Brass Frames BTW, like most BP guns, revolvers shoot more accurately with a lighter charge, in my Son's brass frame CVA .36 1851 we only shoot roundballs over 15 grains of FFFg, and it shoots well. Dixie calls for a load for their Brass frame Remington .44 not to exceed 22 grains. __________________ The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.