[Loosenock]

I've had an admiration for .44 snub nose C&B revolvers. Can't find them anywhere, have they've all been discontiunued? But it looks to me if you took the standard DGW catalog suggested load of 22 grns FFFG and fired it through a 3 1/2 inch barrel it would really BARK! and light up the country side on moonlit night.

So, without further ado, are .44 snubbies loud?

'Loose

How loud are they?

[Oyeboten]

Dunno...


But I load .38 Special, 158 Grain Lead Bullet, and, 19 Grains ( all that will fit with hard compression and thin grease wad ) 3F PB, and, it is no slouch out of a three inch Barrel S&W Model 10...being in the mid sevens if memory serve, through the chrono.


I don't believe a .44 Cap and Ball shorty would be any louder than a longer barrel....but, a heavier Bullet would be best if a short Barrel.

Even a usual 161 Grain .454 Ball...22 Grains 3F...3-1/2 inch Barrel...I'm sure would be no slouch either. Probably would clock in the mid to highish sevens if a close Cylinder Gap is held.

[StrawHat]

Mine is no louder than it's 8" version. I load the same round ball and powder. I don't have a chronygraph so can't tell you what the fps are but it hits about as hard, judging from impact on targets. (Not a real accurate system but it is what I have.)

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc194/StrawHat/1860Snubbieyetagain002.jpg

Mine is a 3" barrel. I cut it down from the origianl 8" barrel with a hack saw and some file work. Never saw a "factory" snubby until years later. And they wanted more than an 8" barreled version.

This one roars but so does the longer barreled one.

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc194/StrawHat/IMGP1003.jpg

Again round balls. I may try the collar button bullet for the Trapdoor but have found in the past the round ball hits harder and is much easier to load.

[Loosenock]

Gents thanks for the comments and report. I am about ready to undergo a snubbie project. It will be from an 1851 Army of unknown manufacture. (F.I.E.). According to the date code it was made 1970. Although well built, smooth action and the tightest lockup of all my BP revolvers, it didn't cost much then and I got it for even less. So the price is right.

StrawHat, thanks for your pictures. I have admired the 1860 version with the Ivorite handles several times before and probably it was that picture that planted the "gottahaveone" bug in me.

I'll take pictures and post before and after pix when I'm done.

Thanks, much appreciated.

'Loose

[StrawHat]

Your welcome. My grips are what I like to call American Ivory, just plain old smooth stag. In this case, Arizona elk.