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Any thoughts on Colt`s 1861 rifle?
- Thread starter Fatelvis
- Start date
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Rat
50 Cal.
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2004
- Messages
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I can't vouch for the Colt, but I have a Armi Sport version of the 1861, and I can tell you that the 1861 is an excellent rifle in all respects. I am very happy with my Armi-Sport, so the Colt version has to be a winner.
When I first got mine, it felt pretty long, heavy, and muzzle heavy...but after a fair amount of handling I've gotten quite used to it. Just had to learn to move my left hand up the stock a ways when carrying the rifle "at the ready". It "hangs" VERY steady for off hand shooting.
On shooting, again, my 1861 shoots very well...so the Colt has to be a good shooter. I've heard the Colts have the progressive rifling. I can't imagine being dissapointed in the Colt as a shooter...unless you have no idea of how to experiment and develope loads. ?? Like any muzzle loader it may not shoot great with the first projectile and load you poke down the barrel.
If you are not familiar with the .58 minnie rifles, they are very fun to shoot at the range, but they are also very powerful rifles when loaded up with good hunting loads. And they will take a very heavy load. Recoil will become a major concern before stressing the gun ever does. They will/have take(n) any/every game animal in North America...and most African game.
Best accuracy so far with my '61 is with a LEE 456 grain "REAL" bullet, (the mould is listed as a 440 grain, but actually throws a 456 grain bullet) a wonder wad, and 90 grains of 777. Traditional minnie-balls are usually pretty much[url] undersized...made[/url] for fast loading with a dirty rifle under combat conditions. Find a slug that is a tight fit in your bore, (I use a short-starter with that REAL bullet) and she should/will shoot great. Heavy hunting loads require a flat-base bullet, or a minnie with a heavy skirt. But even a moderate load in a .58 minnie rifle will take deer and elk no problem. The standard service load of 60 grains BP and a 460+ grain minnie will work on deer...as it used to work on horses very well...!!!!
I love my '61...what can I say? Good luck and have fun if you get one.
Rat
When I first got mine, it felt pretty long, heavy, and muzzle heavy...but after a fair amount of handling I've gotten quite used to it. Just had to learn to move my left hand up the stock a ways when carrying the rifle "at the ready". It "hangs" VERY steady for off hand shooting.
On shooting, again, my 1861 shoots very well...so the Colt has to be a good shooter. I've heard the Colts have the progressive rifling. I can't imagine being dissapointed in the Colt as a shooter...unless you have no idea of how to experiment and develope loads. ?? Like any muzzle loader it may not shoot great with the first projectile and load you poke down the barrel.
If you are not familiar with the .58 minnie rifles, they are very fun to shoot at the range, but they are also very powerful rifles when loaded up with good hunting loads. And they will take a very heavy load. Recoil will become a major concern before stressing the gun ever does. They will/have take(n) any/every game animal in North America...and most African game.
Best accuracy so far with my '61 is with a LEE 456 grain "REAL" bullet, (the mould is listed as a 440 grain, but actually throws a 456 grain bullet) a wonder wad, and 90 grains of 777. Traditional minnie-balls are usually pretty much[url] undersized...made[/url] for fast loading with a dirty rifle under combat conditions. Find a slug that is a tight fit in your bore, (I use a short-starter with that REAL bullet) and she should/will shoot great. Heavy hunting loads require a flat-base bullet, or a minnie with a heavy skirt. But even a moderate load in a .58 minnie rifle will take deer and elk no problem. The standard service load of 60 grains BP and a 460+ grain minnie will work on deer...as it used to work on horses very well...!!!!
I love my '61...what can I say? Good luck and have fun if you get one.
Rat
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