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Next Cap and Ball revolver?

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Tennessee.45

40 Cal.
Joined
May 8, 2016
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I’m researching my next cap and ball revolver, I have an 1860 and love it, but I’m wanting another either as a primary or as as a back up (NY reload) while I’m in the woods. I would like to keep it as a .44 since I have the 1860. Would like y’all opinion.
 
A back up to your revolver in the woods :hmm:
Most times you carry a revolver as a back up to a more powerful weapon/rifle/shotgun...If I wanted more fire power while tramping through the woods with a cap and ball revolver..I would carry two of the same model revolver,,Get another 1860 Army.
 
I like the 1851 in .44. Essentially the same gun just with an octagon barrel. Not period correct but just as much fun to shoot.

Don
 
Just carry a second cylinder unless you really want to buy another gun. Not really sure what you'd need a quick reload for though.
 
I'd opt for an additional cylinder, paper cartridges, preloaded tubes, or even a flask and measure before I carried a second revolver.

But wanting a second revolver isn't a bad thing. And I can't say you'd go wrong with any of them.

A Starr seems to be a very fine pistol. Certainly can't go wrong with a ROA unless you want something more historically correct. I really like my NMA and the easy cylinder swap seems pretty cool. Don't think you can find a Rogers & Spencer new but I've these are also very good revolvers. The Le Mat seems ridiculously cool as long as you don't lose the shotgun rammer. The Walker is epic followed by a Dragoon. I'm a bit more fond of the older design and so the .44 cal '51 just appeals more to be than an 1860. But having a pair also seems advantageous especially where springs and screws are interchangeable allowing for a small set kept aside at home that will keep both running.

Quite frankly I'd look for something with a more reasonable barrel length for a carry piece. I've always felt that a 4" barrel was superb for this with 6" or more being ideal for a primary hunting/shooting weapon. And so I have a 5.5" NMA that I've considered shortening to about 4.25". With 33 grns of 3F Olde E and my 195 grn WFN conical it's within the performance of a standard .45 ACP judging by similar chronographed loads.
 
Check out an 1858 Remington in 8” or 5.5”. Uberti and Pietta both make them. Mine are Pietta and work great. They’re beautiful too.
 
I'm still unsure what the back-up was intended to back up against.
Out here hunting with a flintlock, I suppose I'm backed up with a knife and light axe /tomahawk.
Never even Thought about carrying anything else.

The home-made knife was my "second shot", but only used it as such on about 2 occasions.

For revolvers, I really like the Tranter fourth model, (But I sold mine!)
It was a .44, 5 shot but the safety permitted safe carry with all chambers charged.
I liked the single and double action feature.
Grand pistol and Very solid, being a solid frame, and actually the barrel and frame were forged in one.
Best thing to me though, is the Third model, or Tranter-Admams-Kerr!
It is the Best thing in revolvers since sliced bread.
Yes, it looks like a nightmare....a second trigger below the trigger-guard. (Look them up and see, if not familiar with them)
But, in use it's a dream.
I got mine, made I think in 1862 and it looked Rough'
Rusy and pitted,it's also a .44 (54 bore) and has a 6" barrel.
Cleaned it up and made a few parts.
The mechanism was a s good as the day it was made, and still indexes correctly.

It is the best feeling revolver I've ever held.
As you point the pistol, you just pull tight on the spur trigger-guard, and this, (being really the second trigger, ) cocks the hammer. If Proper trigger is not pulled, and the lower released, the hammer drops back on the safety stop.
If trigger is pulled it is the same as a well set -up single action, only Much faster to cock.
If anyone ever sees one of these odd looking revolvers at a gun-show, handle it and see what you think if possible.
To me the 'spur " does it. It gives a very firm grip and mine shoots better than I can.
The safety is designed so that all chambers can be carried loaded, and will hold 40 grainjs and a ball if needs be.
Safety is also automatic, and never comes to mind when shooting.

Please pardon long post!
Had this revolver years and still find it fantastic. :)
 
I hunt hogs and use a flint or cap lock, I know there’s better options but I like to carry black powder guns when I’m in the woods. I want another revolver because it’s faster to pull another revolver then it is to swap a cylinder.
 
Another 1860 would work or I really like the Remington reproductions. I probably would avoid a Dragoon simply because of the weight. I have a brass frame 51 Colt repro in 44 that has been bobbed with about a 4 inch barrel and no loading lever. It makes a nice light secondary gun in decent caliber. If I was hunting pigs, I'd want a steel frame to be able to consistently use a stout load. What you really are looking at is the 3rd gun and weight can become a factor if you are on foot.
 
If you really are going to use them for that application then there is only one choice, get another of what you already have. When the chips are down is not the time to deal with different weapons.

KISS, or else.
 
That's a lot of extra weight to carry around on your belt, isn't it?

We're talking about 5+ pounds, plus the weight of any extra components and their containers.
 
Assuming that 5 pounds refers to two Army revolvers, that weight on a proper belt is not a problem.

My duty belt weighed a darned site more than that, and I carried that for 31 years.

The key is to use a proper gun belt.
 
i decided to also take my pietta 1858 new army revolver deer hunting in case i was surrounded by coyotes this season. got out my old us army pistol belt and put the holster on it and found that the pistol belt had shrunk 7.5inches since i last used it.
i had no idea they would do that.
 
I bought a problem 62 police some years ago and rebuilt the little gun. It has a six inch barrel and is a five shooter in .36 caliber.
This would make a dandy back up gun as it shoots, sounds and feels like a much bigger gun than it actually is.
I never read of a user of the .36 cal Model 51 Colt ever complain about it's ability to kill . Hickock sure swore by them.
Civil War Calvary personal often carried six or even eight revolvers on horse back. This gave them a lot of fire power in a charge.
Loading a spare capped cylinder( yes they carried them charged and capped)was not very efficient to change while trying to manage an excited steed.
Elmer Kieth tells a story related to him by a Civil War Calvary soldier veteran of how he was transferring a Confederate officer prisoner of war back to head quarters and while on the way passed through a group of union infantry trying to kill a couple of hogs they found in a thicket.
He had two Model 51 Colts, one was dry and the other in his hand only had two charges left in the cylinder. He had allowed the Confederate officer to keep his holstered pistol and saber as he escorted him back to head quarters.
One of the hogs bolted near his horse so he calmly place a ball behind it's ear killing it instantly as it ran by. Another bolted out of the brush near by and he did the same thing again but now both his revolvers were dry.
He went ahead with his mission to deliver the Confederate officer back to headquarters and after delivering him showed the officer his two empty revolvers.
The Confederate officer said had he known this they would have now been well behind confederate lines and he would be his prisoner but then explained , ( I watched you kill two hogs on the run with one shot each and realized what a good and fast shot you were and for all he knew still had loads in his gun so took no chances.
 
I'd take a look at the '58 Remington. Pietta has made great strides in quality and durability in the last decade or so and is now every bit as good as the Urberti examples. The last one I bought is the best timed Remington I've ever owned and this was right out of the box, no action job or fine tuning required. Absolutely no cylinder ring from the bolt rising too soon. The top strap greatly strengthens this revolver and you have to added advantage of buying a conversion cylinder for either makers designs. Both Kirst and R&D make conversion cylinders allowing you to fire cartridges as long as they are mild loads. This goes for the .36 as well.
 
Tennessee.45 said:
I hunt hogs and use a flint or cap lock, I know there’s better options but I like to carry black powder guns when I’m in the woods. I want another revolver because it’s faster to pull another revolver then it is to swap a cylinder.
So I'm guessing weight is not of any concern? For me I would carry an extra charged cylinder as I don't want to have my pants falling off my body toting another pistol traipsing through the woods :grin:
 
That's not the only military equipage with that tendency.

I'm in the Air Force and it seems every time I try on my dress uniform, it seems to have slightly shrunk from the last time it was worn. It must have to do with the fibers contracting over time or something. Quite the design flaw! :redface: :)
 
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