[Bezoar]

Im not in tip top, fight em off davy crockett shape right now. Excercising to much and dieting. The half mile trudge to my blind doesnt leave much fight in me now.

Ive been getting trailed last few days by a few large predators. The prints in crusty snow this morning were about 5 inches long. Very similar to bob cat, coyote, and slightly to wolf based on the "heel" piece of the track.
THese things can reduce a rear leg and side of a dead deer to bare bone in under 50 minutes. Probably weigh 80 pounds easy.
Thus i need a bit of protection. Love my muzzleloader, just takes a bit longer to load and i wouldnt have a chance to reload unless i could outrun to the blind, thats not going to happen.

What bp handgun would you reccommend? size, weight, etc?

[Vermonter]

For self defense, use the most advanced cap and ball revolver available, the Ruger Old Army.

[Javelin]

Wow. Not many people get to see any cats in North America so you should consider yourself lucky. And the area you are hunting is obviously a good area to support such wildlife.

For a back-up gun I would recommend Taurus's new "The Judge" it is a .45LC revolver that you can shoot .410 shells if you wish. Great snake medicine and big game protection as the .45 Long Colt is a great round and tons of power. Not to mention the pistols retail for ~$450.

Hope this helps :)

[KevininPa]

http://www.middlesexvillagetrading.com/PDBC.SHTML

Load it with shot, spray and pray! :eek: Actually I'm receiving one of these for Christmas and was dying to use that phrase. :D. I'd second the ROA.

[Pancho]

Bezoar, Where are you hunting and what kind of animal are you talking about? A wolverine? Check your laws, in Ohio if you have concealed carry you can carry anything as long as it is not used to kill the game that is in season. If it's a wolverine I wouldn't screw around The Judge sounds about right loaded with 00 and deerslug.
I shouldn't jump to conclusions you said "a few predators" I've got an old friend that traps up in Canada and he was plagued by a wolverine that would run his trap line before he could. According to him wolverines are mostly loners. Game laws be damned carry the best you got. Just don't show or use unless you have to.

[dwave]

But Pancho, that deer attacked me and I feared for my life! Anyways, if you are wanting a BP revolver, go with the Ruger if you are looking for reliability.

[Timthinker]

Bezoar, may I ask why you want a BP handgun? I would recommend a large caliber modern handgun. A good Ruger Blackhawk in .44 Magnum should suffice. If you must select a BP revolver, then the Ruger Old Army would be my choice. But I must repeat that a modern handgun would serve your needs must better.


Timthinker

[Pancho]

I don't know where bezoar's hunting dwave. There's places in the states and Canada I wouldn't hunt for rabbits without taking a modern tech back-up gun. Down in Southeastern, Ohio they won't even hunt spring morels with out a snake pistol.

[dwave]

Well, a modern gun would be best, but if he wants BP, I say go for Ruger. Me personally I would want my 10mm or .44 Mag.

[Pancho]

You're right on all counts. Bigger the better. And if I were harded enough to insist on BP Ruger would be my choice too. Bigbadgun would bring his trusty walker

[Roswell 1847]

80 pound animals are well within the killing power envelope of the Colt Navy or better yet the 1860 Army or Remington New Army.
Nothing wrong with the Ruger Old Army I suppose, but I've had mixed results with Ruger's quality control of their Cartridge Revolvers.

The Remington with one or more preloaded spare cylinders is as quick to reload as a modern swing out cylinder gun, and near as quick as an autoloader mag change.

[Pancho]

like I said earlier I'd sure would want to identify these critters I'm hunting with.Send us some good pictures and maybe we can figure what's staking him and his game.

[DogBonz]

I know that you posted this in the BP forum, but being that your safety might be on the line, I cannot in good conscience recommend a BP fire arm.

For my $0.02, I would say a 4" 357 like a GP100 or a S&W 686. You will have all the power that you need for an animal that is about the size of a large dog, and will have easy follow up shots. Also, a 4" 357 is a lot easier to get on target than a 8" BP cap and ball type revolver. It is a heck of a lot lighter too. If it is a cat, like a mountain lion, they are fairly delicate compared to other predators and a 357 will be plenty gun.

PS. It the tracks have claw marks it is a canine (dog, 'yote, or wolf). If no claw marks are present, then it is a cat. All cats, except the cheetah, retract their claws to protect them when they are walking or running, or doing anything other than attacking something or defending themselves.

[Misfire99]

I'm sure that if you can walk to your hunting shack you can kill what ever is stalking you with a baseball bat. It really is the best way in that you don't spoil the pelt. And if the thing is really trying to eat you your adrenalin will more the make up for any state age and disease has put you in. And one of the nice things about a baseball bat is it never runs out of ammo or misfires in the rain. It doesn't jam or shoot yourself by accident.

[Loyalist Dave]

If you are being tracked, and you think it's more than curiosity on the part of the animal so that your safety is involved..., don't mess with a cap-n-ball. They work fine, but went out of use as cartridge guns were more reliable. Anything that thinks you might be on the menu needs serious discouragement. A ball bat might work on one animal, but you have to let it get close for it to work, and if you don't get a critical hit with the first blow, it's on you. If there is more than one (coyotes and coy-dogs hunt in packs) then while you mess with the one in front, the one in back has you. If it was me I'd rather be launching nice, loud .44 mags from a Super Blackhawk at predator at many feet from me, and have time to spot any additional predators before they are too close.

The other option is this

http://www.loyalistarms.freeservers.com/bayonetsscabbards.htm

LD

[Shawnee]

If you must carry a BP - make it the Ruger Old Army. 2nd choice the 1860 Army.
If you can carry a cartridge gun make it a S&W L-Frame. 2nd choice a Super Blackhawk.

[sundance44s]

I went on a Boar hunt last spring ..I noticed the guides were all carrying sawed off 12 ga shot guns with the barrels flush to the 5 shot magazine ..loaded with 2 slugs first followed by 3 loads of 00 buck shot ..got to thinking there just isn`t much that walks the planet that could live through a hail of those at close range . Excellent choice of weapon.

[Kimber1911_06238]

why not a lemat? that buckshot barrel may just come in handy :)

[mykeal]

Ah, Pancho....

Shooting a Wolverine in Ohio is considered fine sport, but it's usually confined to the area around Columbus...

[dwave]

Yes but Mykeal, in Columbus they don't shoot the Wolverines, these people in red shirts stomp them.

Back on subject, and I stated before, modern would be best, and what would be best is what you are comfortable using and legal.

[Pancho]

mykeal, I'm in Ohio. I don't know where Bezoar is. I asked but so far he hasn't responded.
I don't think a ball bat would be such a good idea considering Bezoar's current health. I've also seen what a police dog looks like in action they're so fast it'd be hard to hit them with a ball bat.

[Bezoar]

I live in michigan. Lots of violent unpleasant animals in the backyard.
10 years ago the DNR trapped and removed a black bear literally 50 feet from the back porch, just a year and a half before we moved and built the house. I got 3 dnr monitored bear dens within 2 miles of my house. I have found a few bear prints in the dirt now and then over the years. With quite a few dead deer carcases buried in leaves and branches like bears are said to do.

The prints have claws fully extended, they did follow in every step, from the door of my blind to my backyard.
I know a bp gun isnt the greatest, but its legal for shooting deer with in rifle and muzzleloader season, and i do want to get a deer with a bp handgun one of these days.
The reason im leaning to bp is that where i live BP is the cheapest handgun you can get. Even used and worn out stuff is priced as MSRP, yeah a 20 year old loose as can be ruger or smith or charter arms even will go listed at the current msrp for that model.

[the-ghost]

take if from someone who lives in mt.lion, bear country. get a modern pistol in .357 or better. or if you must use you're cap and ball get a conversion cylinder for it. a can of bear spray will work too if you can't legally open carry in the woods.

i'm not saying that you can't defend yourself with a CB gun, but why take the risk of a misfire or wet primers/powder.

where i live they say for every 8 hours spent in the back country you're stalked by a mt lion atleast once. i can open carry anything i want in most places of my state, colorado. if i know i'm going into a questionable area i take the proper tools with me to insure i make it back out.

[Roswell 1847]

If you decide on a C&B revolver carry it in a shoulder holster inside the top layer of clothing but easy to get at. Cold weather can harden the cylinder lube enough to make it hard to cock. First shot will warm up the lube just fine though.

Unless a C&B pistol is drenched by rain or left laying in water or snow for some time its not likely to misfire due to a wet cap or charge.

[mykeal]

Bezoar,

I also live in Michigan's black bear country. Don't forget that we now have gray wolves as well.

Absolute minimum gun that meets your preferences is a Ruger Old Army, although frankly a Walker or Dragoon would do as well, IMHO. However, finding a used ROA is not simple in this neck of the woods. Go to the Birch Run gun show or start calling the local dealers and ask them to look out for one for you. I've been looking for a couple of years and the closest I've come was at Birch Run.

Buying a mail order Dragoon or Walker will be less expensive and they will do the job. However, you'll need a dedicated holster as carrying one of those hand cannons, well, it won't fit in your pocket and you'll very soon not like sticking it in your belt.

I am, however, like the others here - a modern .357 magnum or .44 magnum is a better choice, and a used one should not be hard to find.

[Bezoar]

from reading michigan law, if i want to carry a modern, non bp cartridge gun in the woods when hunting, i have to have a CCW permit to do so. THats not something im going to be able to get anytime soon sadly.

[dwave]

Well, in that case, I would want a Ruger Old Army.

[KevininPa]

Sometimes the prices of used ROAs aren't bad on Gunbroker. Could have it mailed to your door, provided your laws allow that without a FFL. I got my stainless one for $325 with shipping. The blued ones could be had cheaper.

[bigbadgun]

You're right on all counts. Bigger the better. And if I were harded enough to insist on BP Ruger would be my choice too. Bigbadgun would bring his trusty walker

Pancho I only use BP weapons anymore I have modern but i figure like this it worked for them boys way back when. Good enough for them good enough for me. And yes I would take my trusty Walker no doubt about it.

[mykeal]

bezoar - that's not correct. You can carry a sidearm in the woods without a CCW in Michigan. You must have a valid hunting license, however, and the sidearm must conform to the hunting regulations for the season as to caliber. It must not be concealed, although the DNR folks are pretty liberal about it being in a holster under hunting clothing (the local sheriff or city cops might not be, however). The only issue is transporting the sidearm to and from the field without a CPL (CCW in other states); it must be unloaded and locked in a case inaccessible to the driver or other occupants and ammunition must be in a separate container outside the one containing the sidearm.

See this link from the FAQ's on the MSP site:
http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,1607,7-123-1591_3503_4654-10953--,00.html#Concealed_Weapons__Non_CPL_Holders_

[planetmobius]

In Wisconsin we don't have a lot of cats but the DNR has insured that the bears are plentiful and seem to be air dropping the wolves in by the pack. I hear them howling every night on the banks of the Wolf River. For the past few years, durring bow and BP season, I've been packing a S&W 29 mountain gun with a 4" tube. Its a little lighter thant the standard 29 and has plenty of zap to dispatch whatever vermin you might run across. Although, I would have no reservations repacing this with a good .357 if i had to. I've been carrying it in a Grizzly Tuff shoulder rig and find that it distributes the weight very well and keeps the gun out of your way. They have lots of anchor points that can be used and are adjustable enought to go over or under your jacket depending on your inclination. I agree with those that are telling you to go with a high powered moden weapon for self defense. It's good to stay true to our sport, but if your butt is on the line, its better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

[depcon3]

Good info here so far, just adding my opinions.

I like big bore for anything that is big enough to cause me concern for physical safety. I do carry a .38 caliber revolver alot (both snubbie Special and full size Magnum), but when going out thinking that I could run across a critter with sharp teeth and claws, or snakes (with or without legs) I generally like to have something with a minimum bore size of .44 caliber. Start big, end big.

Carry what is comfortable and familiar to you. A sidearm should melt into your hand, point naturally, and be manipulated without much thought. You will be working off instinct and adrenaline if you have any time to react to the threat. I carry cartridge single action pistols alot when going out of doors, either my .44 Magnum Bisley Vaquero (5 1/2" barrel) or my .45 Colt Uberti Cattleman (4 3/4" barrel). Both are reasonably quick to get into action and will make a big hole in whatever it barks at.

Choose a heavy bullet for reliable penetration and choose a load that is not too difficult to control, then practice, practice, practice. You fight as you train. Make sure your carry rig will work when you need it, under the conditions you could face out in the field.

In summary, your choice should be something in which you have a high level of confidence, you are intimately familiar with, and will absolutely go "Bang!!" when you need it to.

Depcon

[classicballistx]

You can be guided by a lot of factors in choosing a sidearm for field situations. Your choice will necessarily be compromised.

Unless factors relating to cosmetic authenticity enter into the matter, and assuming your decision matrix requires a non-cartridge gun, there is no reason to carry/shoot anything other than a Ruger Old Army. Otherwise, unless you are unwilling to learn a very simple discipline, the ROA offers a number of substantive advantages over any cartridge gun.

The ROA can be made as compact as any big frame double-action for convenience of carry. It is as reliable as any cartridge revolver and more accurate than all but a very few. Properly loaded, it delivers ballistics with greater capacity to kill game than the .45LC.

If you need more than the foregoing, you need more than a revolver of any kind.

The paper discussions of what will do what sort of fade away in real world circumstances. Proficiency favors dealing effectively with a very large percentage of those circumstances and few revolvers afford the ease of attaining proficiency with the same gun you'll carry as does the ROA. Others require adapters of one sort or another. Others wear parts out or wear out altogether after a few thousand rounds. The ROA takes all that in stride and ten-thousand rounds (hunting, target, and practice) later, it will still be shooting with the original pieces. We’d be pleased to show you one, and we’re definitely not Sturm, Ruger & Co.

Bottom line, choose by your own well informed standard. Account for every element in that matrix, and your choice won't be a bad one. If your matrix is sufficiently objective, the ROA will be a very plausible consideration. Choose otherwise by direct comparison and you’ve done so for good, subjective reason.

ROA’s are a way of life.

Wisent
Classicballistx

[bigbadgun]

The ROA is a far superior gun however for some the cost of even a second hand Rugar are far more than can be afforded. For the cost of a new ROA I can buy 2 Remmies and a colt.

[4v50 Gary]

If it had to be a black powder revolver, I'd go with nothing less than a Ruger Old Army. Otherwise, I'd go with a reliable .357 or a 10mm pistol.

[mykeal]

bigbadgun - remember, he's concerned about significant predators, possibly black bear. Are you advising him to buy three guns that might do the job instead of one that will? Is the idea that he can carry all 3 and empty them at the predator? Would you really rather face a black bear with 3 Remmies instead of an ROA or .357 Blackhawk?

[Roswell 1847]

Buying a mail order Dragoon or Walker will be less expensive and they will do the job. However, you'll need a dedicated holster as carrying one of those hand cannons, well, it won't fit in your pocket and you'll very soon not like sticking it in your belt.


You know something the Leather holster I got at Lowes to carry my electric screwdriver while putting up fence panels fits a Colt walker pretty good. I think I paid $8 for it.

The Walker or Dragoon will do for Black Bear but a large Brown Bear is a tough customer, even a .357 would be too light for certainity.

Black Bear, even the biggest , are unlikely to attack an armed man. The Black Bear attacks I've heard of involved sleeping campers, usually the Bear being drawn by the odor of Menstrual blood which made the Bear think the Female camper was already dead or dying.

Twice Black Bear have made a run at me, both times while I was trying to get a photo of them feeding on refuse. Once because a dumb kid followed me into the brush and threw a watermelon rind that hit the Bear (largests Blackie I've seen, well over three hundred pounds) in the face and the Bear apparently thought I threw it.
The other time a small adult Bear had his head and shoulders in a trash can and when he looked up and saw me it startled him.
Their tempers are short but they cool down almost instantly unless battle is joined immediately. If battle is joined with a single foe they fight like lions till they die, but if escape presents itself they will usually flee a dog pack.

Black bear sucumb quickly to even pocket pistol calibers if you center the chest. A friend's Granpa killed dozens with one shot each from a .32 S&W.
The Granpa was a career LEO though, an expert marksman, and cold as the snow.

The Cherokee thought is was dishonorable to use any weapon other than a club to kill Black Bear, and would formally apologize to the Bear before killing it, around here we call the Black Bear a Cow with Claws.

[bigbadgun]

Nope sure aint mykeal. Im just stateing fact. I would carry my Walker and I would feel very safe at that I am just saying that Rugars a re a great pistol but hell I cant afford one thats why I take my Walker when ever I go out in the back country. Just for that reason but i also take my 1851 Navy in .44 cal its for varmits.My Walker is just as powerful as a .357mag thats why I carry it. All I am saying is that a Rugar is a very expensive gun. Grant it I beleive it is well worth it but I cant afford one. DOnt get me wrong I think they are a great gun all I am saying is the cost it may not apply to everyones wallet. And I would never suggest to anybody something that could possibly get them hurt or even dead.

[mykeal]

Bigbadgun - Apologies. I misunderstood your meaning. Thanks for helping me understand.

Roswell 1847 - Bezoar will not encounter any brown bear in Michigan. Our largest carnivore is the black bear, and yes, they are shy with regard to humans. Most likely encounters would be with coyote, fox, bobcat and some feral swine; in the fall I've come upon male badgers who exhibited aggressive behavior. We do have a growing population of gray wolf and there are the legendary cougars (which I believe despite the DNR's assurances they don't exist here).

[Bezoar]

The ROA is a fine built gun that can be loaded pretty hot. But the thing is, its well beyond my budget. For the cost of a new ROA I can get a few months worth of car insurance, or a brand new 44 magnum or 41 from Taurus or an older SW model and have a few pennies left over for some ammunition.

im leaning on bp as its legal in bp and rifle season here in michigan. and im tired of getting guns I dont have the know how to repair. Face it, its easier to work on a bp revolver then a 63 year old rifle you can barelyget parts for if you screw up cleaning it.

As it is, ill probablyhave to sell off that 63 year old rifle to get it sadly. Life just screws with you no matter what you try to do with it.

[dwave]

Well, I guess as a cheaper alt. an 1858 clone can be loaded pretty heavy too, near 40 grs. BP.

[mykeal]

Everything's a compromise of some sort. An 1858 loaded to 40 gr is less expensive and easier to maintain than an ROA, but it's also less accurate at that heavier load, needs the greater maintenance and is less reliable over the long run. A Dragoon or Walker would be a better choice for the heavy load accuracy and they'd be just as simple to maintain as the 1858, but still not as reliable over time.

I'm not saying don't get an 1858 or a Walker or a Dragoon. Just be aware of the compromises. They matter if it's coming for you.

[bigbadgun]

Mykeal let me ask you this how is a Walker or a Dragoon or 1858 not reliable?

[Pancho]

This has been a great thread to read but as I reread Bezoar's original thread I get the idea that his dilemma is immediate as in this season and he doesn't have a lot of money to throw around. If that is the case I'd Borrow the biggest gun I could borrow and use it this season for protection and save my money over the winter buy a Ruger Old Army and shoot the heck out of it over the Spring and Summer to gain confidence in yourself and the pistol.
Bigbadgun has had to shoot his Walker a lot to have the confidence that he has in it and I would want to do the same if my butt was on the line.

[.44walkersabot]

Well, let me jump in here since I'm just drinking coffee and eating pork and beans right now.
I have never heard of a mainspring breaking on a Ruger handgun BUT I have never heard of one breaking on a Walker either. And if a mainspring DID break on a Walker I daresay the Walker wasn't made by Uberti.
I was talking to a woman on the phone just the other day. She work's at Cabela's and does a lot of shooting where they do all this cowboy action or something like that. I talked to her for a good while. She told me (among many other things) that these guns get a hell of a workout. She told me not to pay much attention to what I read on this computer, because she know's for a fact that lot's of these people use The Remington .44 made by Pietta and very very seldom does one of the guns ever break or mal-function, unless one just maybe slipped through the inspection process which could happen to anything from a car to a Kaybar knife.
She told me she still couldn't understand why people were so determined to keep referring to them as replica's and knockoffs, since Colt and Remington both used some of the fine Old World gunmakers located in Italy to help them along with the manufacture and production
of their firearms.
She also told me that Uberti has always had a better name than Pietta as far as dependability went, but that Pietta today was just as good (as a whole) as any gun you could buy. It just all depend's on what model and style one perfers. She told me that when one paid $600.00 or more for a Ruger they were buying the name. That the $600.00 Ruger wouldn't handle or shoot one damn bit better than the Pietta or Uberti models. That if the gun wouldn't hit the target, somebody need's to check the shooter, not the gun.
Now, I hasten to add here that I don't know if all of that is correct or not. I DO know one thing. I have shot the living hell out of a Uberti Walker and a Uberti 1849 Colt Pocket .31 when it's all added together over the years and I have not experienced any problems. If I had then I would tell ya'll. Can't speak right now for the Uberti carbine except to say that so far it is performing flawlessly and true to the mark.
I do know of one man who had a broken main spring in Alaska (like to cost him his life) but that was a Smith and Wesson .44 Magnum, Model 29.Well, anyway...Okay...

[bigbadgun]

I think it safe to say that we are all pationate about what we carry in the back country. To make the long story short carry what you feel safe with.
Try people that you may know that shoot BP try there guns out find the pistol that is right for you and your wallet. Just remember saftey first if your in the back country only load 5 chambers rest on the 6th. But what ever you buy make it a .44 for max stopping power. When I am in the hunt mode the Walker is loaded for bear so to speak and the 51 navy in .44 is on my side why because I can.:D:evil:

[mykeal]

bigbadgun said,
Mykeal let me ask you this how is a Walker or a Dragoon or 1858 not reliable?


This time you may have misunderstood my message. I did not say that the Colts and Remingtons were not reliable. I said the Ruger Old Army is more reliable over the long term. I own a Uberti Walker, a Uberti Second Model Dragoon, a Colt Third Model Dragoon and a Pietta 1858 Remington, and all are very good, reliable guns. I've owned three of them for over 30 years and they've never let me down. I have routinely, every 3 or 4 years, replaced what I thought were weak or worn action parts; I might have been premature in that the parts might have lasted a number of years longer, but my best judgment told me the parts seemed a bit worn and to err on the side of caution, and I did so. That does not mean the guns are unreliable, just that I'm a bit conservative.

That same conservatism would lead me to the Ruger Old Army IF I had to chose a black powder revolver to deliver one shot in defense of my life. It has an unparalleled reputation amongst those people who own and regularly use one for strength and reliability.

It's not a big difference. They're all very good guns when properly maintained and not abused. I just happen to think the extra bit of reliability I believe one gets with the ROA is worth the money when it comes to stopping a serious threat with one shot.

[bigbadgun]

oh ok sorry if I did misunderstand. I was gonna keep going but i well stop there and add just this its a cost issue for me and again I feel very safe with my weapons of choice.

[dwave]

Of course the biggest problem I have had with the replicas are the hand springs busting, more so on my Colt clones than the Remington Clone. As of yet I have not busted any parts on the Remington. Also, I load up all cylinders and put the hammer in the notch on my 58 clone. Works just fine and to rotate the cylinder off you need to pull the hammer farther that half-cock. With the holster loop going over the hammer, I don't see it as an issue either. My colt however gets loaded with 5 because it doesn't have any safety pins to put the hammer on.

[.44walkersabot]

MyKeal, good evening sir.
I am changing some parts in my Walker the day after tomorrow. I'vd got plenty of spare parts, but I will keep the old parts anyway as emergency parts since they still work.
I read the post you just put up and it made me start thinking about how many times I fired that Walker when I was learning how to hit with those sights.
Well, I guess this could go around in a never ending circle for years like 'What's better?, The 7mm Mag, or the 30-06'? I would never speak disparagingly of a man's choice of firearms, or his choice of music, or his choice of women. To his own master he stands or falls. I don't know anything about a Pietta except what I read and what people tell me. I know Ruger build's some damn fine firearms. Hell, the whole world know's that. I like my Uberti's. They have always worked just fine. Nothing has ever broken or got out of time.
I think a little of the problem is that people buy a blackpowder handgun, already thinking in their mind that it's not as good as a modern firearm, so that's their mindset when they go to the range. Plus they already know it's next to impossible to load it too heavy and blow it up, so they keep increasing the powder load, trying to make the revolver do far more than it was ever intended to do. In other words they try to make it work beyond normal working range for that caliber and then they get mad as hell when it won't do it perfectly every time, plus they keep putting an undue strain on the revolver so things start breaking. Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news (by the way, do ya'll kill the messenger?) but a .36 is not going to carry and perform like a .41 Mag. and an ROA is not going to carry and perform like a fully loaded Walker. I know that from everything I'vd been able to find out (short of buying one and shooting it for myself) that if push come to shove I would not hesitate for one moment about trusting a Remington New Model Army .44 made by Pietta although I would rather it be made by Uberti since I'vd had such good luck with them...Okay...

[KevininPa]

Grips are kinda ugly on the first,but that's just my tastes:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=87254975
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=87234428

[.44walkersabot]

I'm not changing any parts in this Walker. I just took it apart and studied it very carefully under my desk lamp that has a magnifying glass built into the top of it. There's not a damn thing wrong with that Walker. Plus I know it has never been subjected to any undue stress or anything that would cause or contribute to metal fatigue. Hell, the hottest load ever fired through it was a carefully measured 50 grains on two occasions. Even the nipples look real good and the Tru-Oil I have on the grip seem's to be holding good. Well, anyway...Okay...

[dwave]

The Handsprings are the weak part in most of the replica revolvers. I have replaced 2 in my Pietta 51. Once after about 600 shots and the other after 1000 shots, not exactly sure how many after. My Remington has not been replaced yet and appears good after 500 shots.

[bigbadgun]

The handspring or mainspring on a Walker is a U configuration and there for gets alot less preassure than say a mainspring on a 1851 Navy.

[dwave]

For the Navy, I keep spare hands because they do break. I also have a single spare for the Remington because if it is like the colt it will break after a while. Good news is if it does break, I can point the pistol down and it will still rotate the cylinder. I have no experience with a walker so I don't know much about them. Maybe they last longer. How many shots have you put through it?

[classicballistx]

Beozar -

Did you do anything yet? Email me here or through my website - classicballistx.com.

Wisent