I Just Bought Dragoon! Suggestions Needed!

[nelsondobbins]

Hello to all! Great site!

I just bought a Uberti Model 3 Colt Dragoon and I would appreciate your thoughts on what powder, etc. to use. I bought the gun from Dixie Gun Works and am very happy with their service and price. I read the archive
"How to best use a cap and ball revolver" from Gatofeo.

What great advice! I've never owned, or shot, a black powder firearm and I've been shooting for 42 years. I'm 53- so you can see I've been a gun fan since birth. The only one in the family, I might add!

Now, I live in "The Peoples Republic Of California" with all the resulting leftist, liberal BS I have to put up with. Someday I'll move to Utah but not for about 10 years or so.

I will read all posts and I say Thanks in advance!!!

Rick

 

[fineredmist]

Welcome Nelsondobbins to the fun of cap and ball, I recently got one of Uberti's 3rd Dragoons and it is a great piece. I use Pyrodex P (25-30 gr) with #10 caps and cover the ball with Bore Butter and have a go at it. Aside from the weight it is a very pleasant gun to shoot. It is typical of all the Colt cap and ball guns in that the sights are regulated to shoot on target at 50 - 75 yards so it will shoot 10 - 12" high at 25 yards. I would suggest you invest in a adjustable brass powder measure and a off frame loading tool. The tool makes loading so much easier than trying to load on frame. The secret of accuracy is to be consistent with the powder charges and the seating of the ball. It takes a bit of practice but it is not difficult. If you do a search on this forum for BP paper cartridges you will find the how to of makeing them and it will increase your enjoyment even more. I hope you enjoy your new gun as much as I enjoy mine.

 

[Perk]

Nelsondobbins –

A good welcome to you. Understand what you mean, about California. Understand it, because I live in Ramona, myself. Hey, at least, we’ve got some darned good vineyards in our respective areas. (Speaking as one, who enjoys the occasional taste of the grape, at the end of the day, that is.)

Just got a first C&B revolver, myself. Am now in the process of acquiring more of the things, which will make it go bang. Speaking from experience, am sure these guys will be a lot of help to you - as they have been for me.

Enjoy the Dragoon!

 

[mykeal]

nelsondobbins -

Welcome to the finest bunch of liars and thieves since the Hole In The Wall Gang. I must admit I feel proud they allow me to join their deliberations on occasion.

BTW, I own two Dragoons, a 2nd Model Uberti and a 3rd Model Colt Signature.

What powder to use - Well, there are as many opinions as, well, you know, abou this. I think, however, that we'd all agree that you can't go wrong with real black powder, if you can get it. It is available mail order (Powder, Inc., Graf's & Sons, and others), even in the PRK. Brand: Goex or Swiss, but Goex is less expensive. If real black is not available, I prefer Hodgdon's 777; it must be reduced by 10 to 15% from the real black powder load. Pyrodex, American Pioneer, Goex Pinnacle, Shockey's Gold, all have their good and bad points. Pyrodex is probably the most popular substitute for the real stuff.

Caps: whatever ones fit. I've had pretty good luck with CCI No. 10's on my Dragoons, but others say they prefer No. 11's, still others like Remingtons. Pick one, try it and if they don't fit try some others.

Bullets: .454 or .457 round balls. I've tried conicals but not had much success with them in my Dragoons.

Wads/grease: I use lubed felt wads between the powder and ball. Others use grease (Crisco. lard, etc.) over the ball. Grease is cheaper but more messy.

Gatofeo's post is an excellent source of information.

Granulation: 3F, also known as FFFg or fffg. You can use 2F if necessary, but 3F will give better performance. Pyrodex equivalent would be P.

 

[Omnivore]

Congrats on your purchase. Some experimentation will be in order. Be sure to use balls that are large enough that you end up with a ring of lead sheared off as each one is pressed into its chamber. That ensures you get a good gas seal to help prevent "chain fire" and that the ball gets a good purchase on the rifling as it enters the barrel. I use .454 diameter balls in my Pietta .44, but your results may vary. (some are of the opinion that chain fire is more commonly initiated through on open nipple, say, when a cap falls off of a loaded chamber-- use caps that fit tight enough to not fall off while shooting)

When I first started, I had a little trouble with the cylinder tying up from fouling. Now I goop up the cylinder axle with as much bore butter as I can get in there (when the parts are still warm from cleaning). Use lots of bore butter (or similar, natural lube) over the balls too. This not only helps prevent chain fire but also keeps the cylinder and other moving parts moving freely (it keeps the fouling softer). I no longer have any problems with binding, no matter how much I shoot. I've used Pyrodex P and old black with equally good results. Lately I've been using only Goex FFF, just because I think I like it.

Keeping a complete set of spare screws is a good idea too. With repeated disassembly, things happen, plus I've had screws work out and get lost at the range. If you end buying a good armorer’s screwdriver set, you'll be glad you did. Man, nothing beats having the perfect screwdriver when you're working on precision machines.

Vary your powder charges until you find a load that shoots most accurate for you. You should be able to achieve accuracy on par with most any modern revolver. After shooting, clean it well and make sure all traces of moisture are gone, then coat all parts with a natural lube. I use a light coat of olive oil over the whole gun, and the aforementioned bore butter on the axle. Never a trace of corrosion have I found, in spite of some pretty inadvisable storage practices.

Firing these revolvers is messy, spent caps sometimes tie up the action, sometimes they misfire (beware of the dreaded hangfire) but it's terrific fun.

 

[Omnivore]

deleted inadvertant duplicate post.

 

[Pancho]

Nelson, everything you've heard so far is true. Except we don't ALLOW Mykeal to JOIN the deliberations, he is one of the family that I am a proud member of and we hope you join.
Here is a small test, do you enjoy the trip as well as the destination? If the answer is yes you'll be with us a while and the dragoon won't be your last muzzleloader.

 

[scrat]

Nope the dragoon will not be your last muzzle loader. for sure everything you heard is true. Especially goex and triple 777. Good stuff. Round balls .454 best if you not casting yet to start. I cast my own and it does save you a lot of green backs. Just remember to put some grease over the balls. The round balls in the gun that is. You will learn more as you go on and read here.


A word of advice. CAUTION shooting black powder is addictive.

 

[Snaggletooth]

Welcome to Black powder shooting. California will not ban it because it is addictive. You have a Dragoon, by the end of the year you will probably own several revolvers. Its always "Just one more". How manyntimes have said that? There is darn good information on this forum. Use what you can and ask questions about what you dont understand. Practice safety.

 

[bigbadgun]

Welcome to the forum. Once the bug bites hard (and it is going to) check your gun shows you can get these guns at really low prices. Like a NIB 1858 Remmington .36 cal 5 1/2 inch barrel for $100. Just a thought.

 

[hildo]

Bullet lube pills

Grease or lube over the ball work fine. You may want to consider lube pills. A 50/50 mix of beeswax/crisco, which go directly onto the powder, below the ball, works better than lube over the ball, in my opinion anyways. Tried both and but like lube pills best. Less messy and none of my revolvers, including a Dragoon 1st model, ever binds.
Do a search for lube pills on this forum. there is lot's of info & recipies to be found.

Hildo

 

[Omnivore]

Hildo; I forgot to mention that I also use the 50/50 lube pill you describe (learned that here in THR) and the over-the-ball bore butter. Both. Nice and sloppy. Sometimes the lube pills act as a "tracer" too, which is fun to watch-- it creates a smoke trail behind the ball. You can usually get beeswax at hardware stores where they sell it as a drawer lube for wooden furniture. Comes in little hockey puck disks.

 

[nelsondobbins]

You folks are great! Thanks for all the great info! I can't wait to go banging. I've told all mt gun buddies about this site - I hope they join.

See you at the range!!

Nelson

 

[nelsondobbins]

Thanks For The Great Advice!!

You folks are great! Thanks for all the great info! I can't wait to go banging. I've told all mt gun buddies about this site - I hope they join.

See you at the range!!

Nelson

 

[StrawHat]

Enjoy the Dragoon, shoot it for a while and you'll learn why the 1860 was introduced. Nearly the same power in a lighter package.

I have an Dragoon from the mid 70's, Uberti, round balls and black powder are it's favorite meal.

I don't use grease over the balls but I do use a felt wad over the powder. Grease on the cylinder arbor also.

Use tight fitting caps on the cones and you won't have chain firing.

They do hit high so either a new front sight or remember to aim for the belt buckle.

Good luck and what's your next one going to be?