1862 Back from the Grave. (or getting thrown in the lake)

Some kind of know the saga of my "Little Brat". Out of the box, she over rotated. Then would not fire a cap, too much clearance between cone and hammer. The small size did not feel good in my hand. Buyer's remorse!

I got her to function and fire, and slowly got used to the feel of the pistol. But man, what a blow-backing, cap jamming brat it was. But she had one good quality, which was super good accuracy. But for something I wanted to carry in the back country as a light weight general purpose side arm, and especially to take small game in an emergency, unreliability just does not qualify. If I wanted a single shot, I would have got a single shot. I was wishing I had got a single shot, but good, small caliber ones are a bit pricey.

Tried to trade it for a Plains Pistol. No takers. Dang. With the time, purchase price and money for a holster, I did not want to sell it outright and take the loss. Nor put big bucks into it for a total competition ready overhaul. But then...Mr. Jack Rabbit gave me a really good price for an action shield and cap-rake job. A little hesitant to spend any money on it, it was that or throw it in the lake, so I took the plunge. (the "plunge"! Get it?)

Okay. Here to tell you the work was top-notch, and it's a whole different pistol. 15 rounds through the pistol and not a hint, not a whisper, not a rumor of a cap jam. She just keeps on ticking. Last time I shot it, it was a jam almost every shot. For reasons I've not figured out yet, the cap rake does more than just...rake the cap, or keep it from blowing back. It somehow changes the dynamics of the back pressure or back-blast out the cone. I suspect the cut in the hammer, to clear the rake, maybe bleeds that pressure off. ?

The action shield is a really nice plus. I used to be a bit dubious about them, but now I'm seeing the value of no cap fragment getting into the action, and putting the gun out of action when I'm lost in the mountains with a broken leg, and a bear has chewed my other leg off. Keeping the guts of the gun cleaner can't hurt much either.

Now that group on the plate is not great, but the pistol is more accurate than that...that was my skill level today. I did have her sighted in for a bullet, hence the reason she's a bit low. But that's good, I've decided to go back to the ball in this gun. The tiny size of the pistol, and tiny loading port/cut out makes seating a bullet straight a little tedious. Balls are fast and easy. Also, 15 grains of powder seated the bullet just right, but leaves the ball seated very deep. So I'm going with 20 grains under a ball for this pistol's load. Just a little off the front sight and she'll be right on at grouse and rabbit range.

Anyhow, excellent job JackRabbit, the Little Brat will not be thrown in the lake, or melted down to make tommy-hawk heads, traded for some magic beans, given away to someone I don't like, or some other sad fate. Thank you.

He saved the pistol for sure. I was done with it. Would have lived in the very back of the safe until I found a trade, or forgot it was there.

How's that for minute of grouse? Those 15 shots when I got her back were fired trying to get a jam. Not so much trying to get a group. The Little Brat don't jam no more no more. Such a relief, I can trust her in the mountains. And she's good looking with the nice blue, and without any "black powder only" "read warnings" "consult your lawyer before using" or any other marking on her, other than under the rammer. Quite pleased I am.

As a reward for turning her life around, I took the Little Brat along Turk hunting today. She's all snug in her form-fitted holster. Over dressed as usual, I had to strip off all my gear and peal off a few layers at my favorite blind. Sure is a nice light pistol to carry.

Thank you. Well, my pack ain't so old timey, but the other stuff works so well, I think the old timers might have known what they was doing. I've just recently started using the possibles bag, and now I'm not sure how I ever got along without it.

The Little Brat is most coy, and a little bit shy, but those little Pocket Pistols in .36 pop off pretty good with 20 grains of 4fg. She ain't no pussy-cat. ! The credit goes to Mr. Jack Rabbit, R.D./FS. (Revolver Doctor/Fifty Seven) I was about done with it. But to her credit, her accuracy was a factor in gambling on one last effort to save her soul!

I'm still a little mystified that a cap-rake can change the "dynamics" of the revolver so much. It does more, or has more effect than just blocking the cap fragments from coming back.

Thank you.

I would agree with that. The role of the Little Brat is protection against rabbits and grouse, or squirrels, should I wind up in a bad way in the wilderness. Should I get hungry! That is the source of frustration with it when it was so unreliable. Unacceptable in a survival situation. My entire reason for getting the '62 was for a lighter pistol, compared to my other two, that would take small game, and put some hurt on a wolf at close range.

Where I wander we have a growing wolf problem. Three wolf attacks that I know of. What I know about wolf behavior is that they don't rush in and attack like a bear, but they move in slowly, circle, and "check you out" before trying to eat you. From all the wolf attacks I know of, once you shoot one of them, the rest head out for the next county in a hurry. Wolves are thinkers and schemers. Bears are like: "I'm really mad at you and I'm going to kill you right now!"

I usually pair a BP revolver with a good rifle, so it's not my primary wolf-attack weapon, although I think even the a Little Brat would leave a mark on a wolf and "discourage" it. But sometimes I'll carry my Remington New Model Army in Navy caliber, or my 1860 to leave more of a mark. When packing any of my BP pistols, again, I'll pair it with a good rifle, anything from a Winchester, classic military bolt gun, Mle1873 Springfield, to my Jeager, or my musket. With the Jeager or Bess, I think I'd take my first shots with a revolver, rather than emptying either long gun right at first.

If I'm hitting the mountains with a .22LR rifle, bow and arrow, or my .22 Hornet then I pack my trusty Ruger SBH .44 magnum, or sometimes my El Patron' if I'm feeling brave. Not that the .45 Colt is chopped liver. Just a far cry from a hot loaded .44mag. Just all depends on my mood. Sometimes I don't give a damn, feeling froggy, ready to die, and charge hell with a bucket of water. Other times...not so much...feel a bit more cautious. !!!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Yep, not the easiest guns to cap. My straight line capper works "okay", but you still have to fiddle-fudge with it to do it. No, not great for fat, cold, or fumble fingers like mine. But I can live with that, unlike cap-jams.

My Remington is a joy to cap, with the way the cones angle outwards. You can just throw the caps at it from ten feet away. All six at once.

Captain*kirk said:

You would fall in love with a Rogers and Spencer, then! Just open the cap tin and it caps itself!

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Always wanted a Rogers & Spencer. Cool looking pistol.

whughett said:

Really I’d like to see that.

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Only works when no one is watching.

Dang it Dalton, now I want one again.