Range Report: Colt Walker

[TheWall]

I got out to the range today for some fun with my Uberti Colt Walker. It had been in the shop with a broken main spring, so this was the first time I shot this gun since the fall.

I fired 36 shots, all from 25 yards, standing, two-handed.

Load was 42 to 45 grains of Goex 3FG, wonder wad and a .457 Hornady round ball.

Any variations in groups were due mainly to my changing the point of aim a couple of times.

The only problem was that, despite a little shot of Ballistol on the arbor after loading, she bound up really tight by the sixth shot. I had to break her down every time, wipe the pin, spray liberally with Ballistol. This, even with the wedge not even protruding.

The gun is still fairly new, so maybe I need to cycle it in a bit more.

The gun is a hoot to shoot!

Here's the target:


http://flic.kr/p/8nffEA

 

[SC_Slowhand]

Great Stuff. I have a Walker coming and look forward to taking it to the range.

 

[husker]

do you have to aim way way low to hit paper at 25 yards?
I do.
So fricken low that it boarders on the stupid side. I would like to fix this prob. But not sure how.
70 yards is more on par with my walker. way to far away.

 

[arcticap]

Since the notch in the hammer serves as the rear sight with Colt revolvers, the hammer notch can be deepened by filing it or using a dremel. That's the most common method used for effectively lowering the point of impact.

 

[Hellgate]

I put automotive grease on the arbor and no problem. Make sure the gap is around .005-.008". Too tight of a cylinder gap can cause the cylinder to drag on the barrel and bind up quickly with fouling. Typing paper is approx .0035" thick. Fold a piece of paper in half and use the double thickness as a .007" feeler gauge when you tap the wedge in. Once the barrel grips the paper then you are at the proper gap. My walkers run all day with the above combination.

 

[TheWall]

Yesterday my Walker was hitting pretty much where I aimed it -- maybe an inch or two high.

 

[Hellgate]

Wall,
Sounds like it is perfectly sighted in.

Husker:If your gun is shooting that high you have a couple of options. One is to grind a little off the top of the hammer and cut the notch down a little. That in essence lowers the rear sight. However you need clearance above the barrel to do that. i.e. if your line of sight is already almost even with the top of the barrel then you cant' take it down lower or you will be looking at the top of the forcing cone and lose sight of the bead. Deepening the rear sight a bit will help the sight picture and slightly lower the point of impact.
The second option is to install a taller front sight. I have knocked out the sight on an 1860 Army, which is in a slot on the top of the barrel and then cut out part of a brass house key, reshaped it to a blade and epoxied it in place. That brought the POI=POA.