I now have a Walker!

[Peter M. Eick]

Ok, the Walker showed up. I have taken it apart and cleaned all of the slimy oil out of it. I lubed it up with a bit of oil on the mechanics, some bore butter on the arbor and moving parts and tightened everything back up.

First comments, the gun came from uberti with nearly everything loose. The nipples weren't snug, the screws were slightly loose, the wedge was tight though.

I finally figured out how to make the Walker powder dispenser work. It currently throws (after I adjusted it a bit) 50 grns of volume worth of pyrodex P. I think that sounds like a decent load to start with. Any thoughts before I try it out in the morning?

I got my capper loaded, I found the nipple pick in the extra adjustable powder measure I bought (nice brass). I got the tumbling compound out of the powder dispenser, so I think I am ready to go.

The finish on the gun is interesting. The blueing on the barrel is definately a blue color. The case harden colors on the frame are pretty. Fit and finish is very tight. Trigger is well, shall we say quite high, but I think it will wear in.

I was planning 50 grns of pyrodex p (by volume not weight), a 454 hornady ball, on a vegetable wad with a bit of bore butter on the wad prior to the ball. I could not order wonder wads from Cabela's so I will get some ordered soon. Oh yeah, I got a loading stand and oversized lubed patches which I did not realize I should have gotten smaller sized ones.

Any last minute advice before I try and "make smoke" tomorrow morning?

 

[Beartracker]

If your not going to use a wad then make sure you place some lube or grease over the ball of that fire breathen dragoon
Wear ear protection too. Let us know how it shoots for you and have fun! Mike

 

[BigG]

I had an Uberti 1860 Army cased set that I foolishly sold in a moment of weakness. Totally awesome fit and finish and a great shooter. What was I thinking? :banghead: Enjoy your charcoal burner, pard!

 

[TexasRifleman]

I have much better luck with RWS caps on my Walker. I use CCIs on other things, but they just don't fit well on the Uberti Walker (mine is a Cimarron, but same parts).

I also have hell making the capper work on the Walker, and I've resorted to capping it by hand, but yours might be a different shape. If it works would you let me know which model you have?

You'll enjoy it!

50gr sounds good. I recommend you find a short piece of leather shoelace and make a loop that you can slide over both the barrel and loading rod. It will drop down on you while shooting, I can almost guarantee. Tie a piece of leather around short enough to keep the loading plunger from jamming the works but loose enough you can slide it forward to release the rod when you are ready to reload.

Post some pics!!!

 

[Matt G]

Great! I too want to see the pics, with targets of your results, too, if you get 'em.

You know, on the Forums page, I saw this thread title, and thought "how nice that the disabled are posting here!"

For some reason, my mind thought:

,

when I should have been thinking:

 

[Camp David]

Any last minute advice before I try and "make smoke" tomorrow morning?

Peter: Congrats on your Walker... You've probably already shot it but I had a suggestion... Buy a leather thong and cut it to a short length which allows you to wrap it around barrel/rammer and tie it (around barrel and rammer) use this thong when you shoot Walker so rammer does not fall after discharge... I use mine all the time....

I have a Colt Commemorative Signature Walker which I shoot occasionally; but I confess it's mostly for decoration as I can't bear two-hour cleaning cycle before I recase the weapon!!!

Good luck!!!

 

[mec]

" It didn't cost me One- Single -Penny and I now have my hoverround."

My Walker flask will only hold 35 grains or equivalent volume at full adjustment. Actually, it randomly meters between 31 and 34 grains. I wonder if they have separate spouts for the Walker and Dragoon and I got the latter?? No indication in the catalog (dixie) of this.

50 grains should be just about ideal unless you are trying to find out how fast it will go.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

The truck is loaded and I am about to head out. Thanks for the advice guys.

Mec, I had to remove a screw in the spout of my flask and slide out the spout to its maximum extent to throw 50 grns volume. It wanted to throw about 30 by default.

I will post pictures. I just forgot to get the camera!

 

[mec]

"I had to remove a screw in the spout of my flask and slide out the spout to its maximum extent to throw 50 grns volume..."

I think maybe I should have figured that out myself. Tried what you said and it worked.

 

[Steve499]

That's what I just LOVE about this place! I'm always learning stuff!

Steve

 

[AirForceShooter]

after you use the 454 balls you may want to try 457's.

AFS

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Thanks. I got the same advice from MEC, so I will try them next time out. The 454's were tight, but they did not cut a complete lead loop out when loaded. Just a shaving on one side or the other.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Results with the beast at 10 yards. Point of aim was dead center except for the 3 shots at 55 grains which were on the color change to the left at between 9 and 10 rings.

 

[mec]

"The 454's were tight, but they did not cut a complete lead loop out when loaded.."
Both seem to work very well. In my gun, the 457s seem to get higher velocity. I've seen that in one other revolver though the difference was not particularly great.

I am enjoying reading about your walker experience. Very interesting and well done write-ups.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Thanks, that is high praise from you! I have read your book and the chapters from the Patterson to the Walker about 20 times since I got your book before Christmas. Now after shooting mine and cleaning it makes so much more sense. In particular tieing down the hammer!

What the rookie like me needs is more books like yours with some of Gatofeo's comments added in!

 

[mec]

The paterson hammer slips back on very easily. My present walker has a real strong spring so, I just leave it tied down until reassembly and then clean around it. I can put the tied spring/grip frame front in place and then squeeze in in my fist to bring the screw holes into line.

Gatofeo is quite a researcher and is credited and mentioned in the book.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Yes I noted he was in the acknowledgments etc. What I would like to see is more of his home recipies and practical shooting comments like his post on the top of the site.

You all are just fountains of knowledge that I would like to see captured for posterity. To often lots of knowledge and skill is lost with time. You all have a lot that interests folks like me.

Thanks again for writing the book!

 

[mec]

Thanks:

That Managing Black Powder revolvers is something of a stardard now. Several boards have it and people are advised to to a search for it. It pops to the top pretty often. This board was smart enough to sticky it.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Congratulations Peter on your purchase and on the nice group.

Matt G - now that was phunny!