Can you spot the new family member? (the revolver family)

Well my family is not very big, compared to the number of revolvers that some of you have. I'll give you a hint, it's the one that is not loaded...as I haven't had time to load it. She just arrived.

Well, a kind gent on the forum, knowing of my lust for a Rogers & Spencer was kind enough to make a trade with me. She's a beauty, nice trigger, seems timed just fine, almost NIB condition. Strongest main-spring I've ever felt! And yeah, what a nice feeling pistol in the hand. She's heavy, but does not feel heavy.

Of course the first thing I did was fill a chamber and throw it on the scale. I got 47 grains, filled to the top with 3fg, so old Blackie is not that far off. Then I poured that into my measure set at 50, and it did indeed overflow. I would guess that most of the old brass adjustable measures are five grains short. And again, the weight of a specific volume of a powder, or any loose substance is going to vary.

So on the other hand I think 45 grains under a ball is about max, not 50, although it "could" be done with enough force. And probably 40 under a 200 grain bullet, without having to put massive pressure on the rammer to get it all down. Since I have a horn-flask set up to throw 35 grains under a ball for the 1860, I may go with that under a slug. We'll see!

I was going to shoot it first before I posted, to include a range-report...but dang...way too excited!

Mr. Rogers, and Mr. Spencer say: "thanks for listening",

I do think you are right. I liked them already, and I'm liking it now. !!! Sure handles nice, first one I've ever held in me hand.

Not going to let this go. It really fills in my modest "collection". Rounds it out one might say. The "Big Boy", the powerhouse of the group. The Remington is both powerful, and small game capable. The 1860 is the all around, general purpose pistol, wolf and cougar repellent, but not much small game useful, (rabbits, porky-pines yes) and of course the Little Brat, 1862 is the small game gun.

I suspect the gas-ring keeps much fouling out of the cylinder pin. Thank you.

Bibbyman said:

I bought a Dixie Gun Works Rogers and Spencer last year. Kind of funky but fun to shoot. Here is what the hammer spring looks like.

View attachment 1092631 View attachment 1092632

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Man, that spring looks like something off a steam-engine. With the short hammer throw, I imagine a strong spring is required. I saw one video where the guy got one that had had the mainspring lightened up. It was miss-fire city.

Dave Markowitz said:

Congrats, you're going to love it.

Here's an excellent video on how to fully disassemble it:



And how to put it back together:

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Thank you.

whughett said:

I first saw them at Sarasota Counties Knights Trail in Laura Florida. Guy was shooting clover leafs at 25 yards. I commented on it and he offered to let me shoot a cylinder full. I was hooked so hunted around and bought one. At the time wife and I were snow birds and not wanting to transport it back and forth bought another when I got home north.
Like you I’m partial to full bore loads but that guy back then was shooting 15 grains of 3F with cornmeal filler and a roundball.
Neither of mine are as pretty as yours but shoot well. Have a 45C conversion cylinder for one also.

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In a big gun like this R&S, or a Dragoon or something it seems like loading it up to potential makes sense. I don't mean getting every grain of powder possible in it, but at least 3/4 full bore. Sure one can get super accuracy with super powder puff loads, but then why not shoot a .36"? (although they can be powerful) And for me, using the gun in the wilderness it makes sense to load it up, rather than down. I mean, my "potential" targets won't be a playing card.

Having said that, I discovered that the R&S is not going to take 50 grains, or 45, no way no how, which I wasn't interested in anyhow. I played around loading it up, and it won't take 40 grains under a 200 grain slug. The ball fits over 40 grains nicely, but it's as close to the mouth of the chamber as I would like it. But that only out-powers the 1860 by five grains...which is okay, especially considering the much longer barrel, compared to my "Sheriff's Model" 1860. I don't know what Blackie Thomas was actually getting into his chambers, but he was getting some impressive velocity out of the gun. Looking deep into the chambers of this pistol, I don't see how his could be bored any deeper. So, sorry Blackie, but I think your powder measure is throwing a light charge.

Also discovered my CCI#11 caps are a great fit, there is one cone I may have to reduce very slightly. That's good, I was ready to order new cones if it was loose at all, before firing it. So she's loaded up and ready to rock. Being 101 degrees outside, I may wait a few days. !!!

Captain*kirk said:

You're not finished until you land the Starr...

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Nope. I can't hear you!

Blackpowderwarrior said:

I'm very happy for you brother. Thats a beautiful pistola and I love when one of my internet blackpowder buddies lands a sweet score.
We're a rather small group in the shooting world but I'm very thankful to everyone here for all they do and give to the community. It's very enriching to one's life.
Please let us know how it shoots my friend.
Ive settled on my loads in my all my 44's as 35grains 3F Old Eyensford. Great accuracy for me

I dont know about blackies powder measure, but I do know this.

Keep him on his toes' !

Proverbs 27:17

17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend

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Thank you kindly. You know, I think Blackie is a good honest guy, I regret saying anything negative about him. But, I'm pretty sure his measure is throwing short. I've overlooked worse things. And the follow-up chronograph video was pretty impressive, the velocity he was getting, Not gonna say his chronograph was off!

I did shoot it just now. Only five shots. 40 grains under a ball is impressive. She shot about three miles high at 25, which I expected. Boy did she belch fire and smoke. My group sucked, but that was me.

I've settled on 35 grains 3fg under a ball in my 1860. I'll probably continue with 40 grains in the R&S, but will see how she shoots a slug.

Captain*kirk said:

You're not finished until you land the Starr...

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I've always liked the Starr, however, it's never caught my imagination like the Rogers-N-Spencer.

hawg said:

That's a nice looking gun. I never had a R&S. I don't like powder puff loads either. 35 grains of 2F in .44's and 25 in .36's are my loads(3F if I've got it). I don't care about clover leafs as I'm not a paper puncher. As long as I can hit a Coke can at 25 yards one hand unsupported more times than not I'm happy.

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I'm happy if I'm confident that I can put one in the vital zone of a wolf at 25, while adrenalin is coursing through me. After the "re-introduction", and three or more wolf attacks on people, I give some thought to the wolves. !!! I think the R&S will make a nice wolf gun, although I think all my pistols are good wolf-guns. The Little Brat, no so much, but I think even it will put enough hurt on one to discourage it. But the Big Daddy R&S should flatten one pretty good I believe. !!