NGD: Colt Dragoon

[wiscoaster]

New Gun Day

Uberti Colt 1848 Dragoon, third model, from MidwayUSA, for $450, arrived today (bottom):

Comparing it to my Colt 1860 (top), it's little longer and a LOT heavier. Note the stout cylinder and the stout barrel, which is actually a little shorter than the 1860. Probably a good thing, since it's a tad nose heavy. And yes, its arbor is a bit short, about to the same degree as my 1860. Easily remedied. Function seems OK, buts it's a lot stiffer and "scratchier" than my 1860 was, and so it's going to need some serious internal polishing. I have some Slixshot nipples on the way for both guns, so will probably defer first range shooting until they arrive and get installed, and the prep work is done.

 

[user 922]

I took the barrel off my Navy, removed the cylinder and greased the arbor. I added some antique (3 in 1) oil around the moving parts and put it back together. Everything worked nice & slick.
Here's a quickie of the Navy. I'm gonna set that up again and use a real camera rather than a cellphone.

 

[wiscoaster]

Another interesting difference noted upon disassembly: the hand on my 1860 bore some serious rough grinding down on the side that rubs against the arbor (which I smoothed out), but my 1848's hand was untouched, and to my surprise I saw that the arbor had been flattened where the hand would have rubbed against it.

 

[William P Sepessy]

That bit of clearance on the arbor is a big help with the hand's function. Uberti seems to have eliminated that feature on some of the newer guns. The hand doesn't need to be contacting the arbor while trying to do it's job of advancing the cylinder.

 

[Pete453]

Wiscoaster,
I have a new-to-me dragoon too, they're quite a handful, aren't they?!

 

[wiscoaster]

Wiscoaster,
I have a new-to-me dragoon too, they're quite a handful, aren't they?!

I haven't shot it yet, but, yes, by golly, I hope so!!

Today I had a chance to take a look at and handle an 1862 Police in .36 cal, and my first thought was " boy!! this thing is so tiny!!" ... and then my next thought came right along with that all-too familiar feeling of "oh, no, I gotta get me one of these!!"

 

[Dale Lilly]

I have not shot mine yet either. However, I love the feel and it seems to do everything well, so we will see. Yes, she's a handful, especially for an old geezer. Dale

 

[William P Sepessy]

The nice thing about a Dragoon is it still has that familiar "Colt" feel to it, even as big as they are. The Walker, however feels a bit different.

 

[Timber Wolf]

The nice thing about a Dragoon is it still has that familiar "Colt" feel to it, even as big as they are. The Walker, however feels a bit different.

I have to admit that once I got a Dragoon I realized it was what I really wanted when I had previously gotten a Walker. In other words, the Walker is just too much gun. The Dragoon on the other hand seems “just right” for a “Horse pistol”. 50 grains out of the Dragoon is a literal blast. 35 grains behind a conical. The little 1862 Police however is my favorite, followed closely by an 1861 Navy.

 

[CaptainVane]

Funny you say that about the Police model. My little 48 Colt .31 is kind of my favorite too.
The 51 Colt and 58 Rem 36s are just so accurate, but the 31 is a challenge to hit something every time.
As I read somewhere, the broad side of the barn is safe from that pistol.

 

[Pete453]

I haven't shot it yet, but, yes, by golly, I hope so!!

When I say handful, I've shot mine with 40 grs goex and a ball. They're a pussycat, my 60 army with conicals and a full load kicks harder. But dragoons are HEAVY! When you get to shoot it I think you'll like it.

 

[wiscoaster]

"oh, no, I gotta get me one of these!!"

Shhhhhh .... don't tell anyone .... I ordered one from Midway this morning.