I asked "which of the two pistols (the only ones the op asked about) do you think they'd choose?" This was just a rhetorical, "what if" question, Old Stumpy, not one meant to compare the merits of a .22 vs a 45-70. And the only point I was trying to make is that "all else being equal", given the fact that single-action revolvers are relatively slow to reload, and because these were serious times in terms of keeping your cattle if not your scalp, only Rainman would ignore the advantage of having four extra rounds in the cylinder; again, no matter the caliber or mode of ignition.