Cap and ball Colt 1873 SAA

[flibuste]

Hello,

Here in France it is very complicate to have cartridge pistol but cap and ball revolver are easy to have. Hence Italian companies have issued some SAA modified for cap and ball. The history is going backwards....

Shooting with rest and both hands at 25 metres with 25gr BP :



- 6 balls 0.454 : 25gr BP, 10gr cornmeal, ball, crisco.
- 12 Lee bullets 200gr cap§ball 0.450 : 25gr BP, bullet and crisco.

With heavier bullets, one can see that it shoots higher but accuracy is still maintained


http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=26&u=11021458


It is the only way to shoot the SAA for us in France without any administrative fuss !!!

Have fun

 

[jphendren]

Interesting; how to do you load the ball without the loading lever?

 

[scrat]

Very cool thanks for sharing

 

[mykeal]

Here's what I use to load mine:

 

[Roswell 1847]

Many years ago a Cap and Ball .12 caliber single action army replica was advertised in a number of magazines.
It was specific that the barrel was a .12 caliber rifled bore.

I would guess those guns used a percussion cap to propel a bird shot at airgun velocities for close range plinking.

I've seen the more recent C&B Peacemakers advertised but this is the first report of one by an owner that I've seen.

 

[flibuste]

I use a loading press from Dixie.
A particularity is that the cylinder is in contact with the frame at the rear only by the ratchet and the recoil wears it very rapidly because the surface is very small. On cartridge version, the 6 brass cartridge dampen and distribute the recoil on the frame but it does not happen with the cap and ball version and after some shooting the ratchet had been compressed and shortened by the recoil and the gap between barrel and cylinder increased from almost nil to 0.4 mm. The solution was to "replace" the base of cartridge by soft steel carpenter nails (you see them shining on the picture), inserted between the nipples, that will absorb the recoil. It seems to be effective as of now............

I hope you will understand my explanations because I am not sure of the wording "ratchet" : the place that engages with the hand actually

Have fun

 

[Roswell 1847]

The solution was to "replace" the base of cartridge by soft steel carpenter nails (you see them shining on the picture), inserted between the nipples, that will absorb the recoil. It seems to be effective as of now............

Very cool solution. One I might have thought of, though I'd probably have used brass naills. I used to upholster so I'd think of brass nails first, but the Steel nails will probably last longer.

 

[LEE3370]

flibuste,
How did you put the nails between the nipples?
Lee

 

[flibuste]

Hello,

I just drilled on 5 mm deep between the nipples and inserted the nail, after having it cut. I glued with epoxy and then some filing for adjustment.
Actually, it was a bit scaring to start but at the end it is very easy.


http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=27&u=11021458

 

[LEE3370]

Howdy flibuste,
Thanks a lot for the info and the picture. I saved it for future reference.
Lee

 

[Roswell 1847]

I wonder if these frames are the same as used for the Brocock Aircartridge revolvers?