Are .31 even moderately accurate?

[Derek]

I used to live in Toronto, which allowed me to visit the Friendship Indiana NLMRA shoots twice a year.I got to know Dan Kindig, owner of the Log Cabin Sports shop quite well.As a president of the NMLRA and Offhand Flintlock Champion, Dan knew a thing or two about black powder shooting, so when he stated that in his opinion, the 1862 New Police .36 was the smallest practical percussion revolver, I took it to heart, but with some regret,because I've always liked the '49 Pocket, Root and Remington 31's,but as Townsend Whelen said, "Only accurate guns are interesting."[I qualify that, as I have had a lot of fun with a pepperbox!]I've never had a 31 to try, so tell me, how much danger is a rabbit in at, say, 15 to 20 yards with only his head showing if the hunter has a .31 revolver?With my .31 underhammer, he'd be toast! Or stew, or somethin'!At 25 yards, Kieth's position, are 4" groups possible?

 

[mec]

A rabbit in the situation you describe would be a dead motor scooter if I had my 61 navy or 60 army. If I had my 31 Wells fargo or any of several colt pocket models I occasionally shoot, he could stick his widdle thumbses in his widdle ears and wiggle his tiny fingers at me while sticking out his little pink tongue. The pocket models may be accurate enough but it is a beast to hit with them at any distance.

 

[MCgunner]

I could take that Wabbit with either one of my .38 J frames (and have). I'm afraid my pocket Remington .31 is not a small game gitter. When I got it, it shot really high, so I rigged a brazing rod front site to lower the POI down to the POA which worked, but at 25 yards, I'd say a "group" looks a bit more like a "pattern" of buckshot from a 12 gauge. Well, it'll shoot into about 8" or so at that range, which would put a would be bad guy in some jeopardy, but a rabbit could keep on sleepin'. Cartridges aren't the only modern advancement, it seems. Pocketable revolvers have gotten a lot more practical.

 

[Manyirons]

The two steel frame Remmies, .31 i keep WILL shoot, BUT required servicing to tune of MORE than doubling their cost!


It's a crap-shoot or get what you pay for world, you're either lucky and get the good one, or pay to have it remade right & tuned!

 

[Steve499]

Derek, I have an original 1849 Colt pocket .31 (not shootable) and wanted something similar I could really use. I bought Uberti's pocket navy .36 which, except for barrel length, seems to be the same as the 1849 in size and handling.

I had it out rabbit hunting last weekend. There were 11 beagles, 8 shotgun toting hunters and me with my pocket navy. I didn't connect with any of the running shots I got and was able to show them the failure was mine, not the gun's, when we finished hunting. At about 20 steps, the first shot knocked the can off of the stump and it caught in some honeysuckle vines with the bottom facing us. My next 4 shots went through the bottom. I thought it politic to cease fire at that point before I exposed myself as a fraud. They were impressed. Heck, I was impressed. Thankfully, that was the last time I'll be hunting with them this season and perhaps they will have forgotten by the time we're out again and I miss a gimmee sitting shot at 10 feet next year. I plan to blame the gun.

By Whelen's standard, my pocket navy is " interesting" and I am very pleased that I chose it over one of the .31s which, based on comments by people who shoot them, tend toward inaccuracy.

Steve

 

[Manyirons]

Additional on .31s, the little guns are far fussier on load, ramming pressure, wadding etc. Ya gotta be HYPER consistant with yer loadin' to keep 'em shootin' good at all.

Really, if the silly things did not live just fine in my shirt pockets, would'nt bother.

 

[armoredman]

I had, a long time ago, a cheapo 1849 copy in .31, so bad it didn't have makers OR import marks on it. Visible voids were on the back of the hammer, and the finish was lousy.


That sucker could shoot. I wish I hadn't sold it so many moons ago.
Rabbits would have gone down.
Now, my 1858 copy I had would never come close to the target, but that old beat up no name '49 clone would nail it every time. Go figure.

 

[Manyirons]

I had, a long time ago, a cheapo 1849 copy in .31, so bad it didn't have makers OR import marks on it. Visible voids were on the back of the hammer, and the finish was lousy.


That sucker could shoot. I wish I hadn't sold it so many moons ago.
Rabbits would have gone down.
Now, my 1858 copy I had would never come close to the target, but that old beat up no name '49 clone would nail it every time. Go figure.

Boy do YOU know it! Buyin guns is a real crap shoot, and ya never know what yer gonna get!

Wish i had the money in shiping charges i've spent on returns in past five years! Could be on fancy vacation someplace WARM!

 

[Across The Pond]

Well, I love to shoot my Colt Pocket, but count myself lucky to get a 12" group at 25 yards.. Reckon that thirty feet is more like it for (me and) the .31 although I am sure (as per Manyirons' comments) they can be made more accurate by careful 'smithing. Also, after the sucess that I had with a nominally oversize .380 ball in my '51 Navy, I am going to be looking for a similarly oversize mold for the .31 next.

As an aside, my understanding is that the '49 pocket was Sam Colt's best seller.. so I guess that it must have been considered 'fit for purpose' at the time - that purpose being some easily carried 'critter/BG insurance'?

I am sure that there are lots of THR members out there that can offer a more informed opinion, but I would guess that these BG encounters would mostly be 'up close and personal'!

Fun to shoot, cheap on powder, I have even shot our club BWSS (CAS) match with mine! (they did laugh at me though.... )

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