Which one?

[redrock]

I am a flint lock shooter. I have one cap gun and old Navy Arms 1858 Remington. I have been looking at the Colt copies in the Midway Catalog. I am now thinking of ordering one of the Ubertes. But which one would be the best for just plinging at rocks etc.? The .36 Navy. The Walker, I like the looks of the Whitneyville Dragoon. I am confused by the different types of Dragoons. It looks like the Dragoons are as powerful as the Walker with some improvements. Need some of that expert forum advice.

 

[Elbert P . Suggins]

The first advice I would give you is don't plink at rocks! I can remember in 1961 when a 12 year old friend of mine was shooting at rocks with his 22 rifle. He took a richochet between the eyes and it split. They removed one piece from behind his left eye but he still has fragments in his eye socket in the right and he has partial vision. You will be shooting solid lead and of course the 22 is solid lead but only tiny. Think about it! A good beginner cap and ball would be the Remington 58 in .44 cal. Easier to clean and load. The 3Dragoons are basically the same but a little smaller than the Walker but will make pretty much the same noise and smoke. Good luck to you and welcome to the finest shooting sport I know!

 

[Elbert P . Suggins]

Would also like to add that I am no expert but own and shoot all of the above except the Walker which I replaced with a First Model Dragoon. Just to clarify.

 

[whosyrdaddy]

If you get the Walker, you can tell your friends about how it's not just the "original six shooter", but that it was also the "most powerful production revolver in the world" from 1847 until 1935.

If balance and point-ability float your boat, then nothing, now or then, can compare to the '51 navy.

If you want to know that you have the finest percussion revolver ever made (IMHO), go get a Ruger Old Army.

In the end it doesn't really matter because chances are you will get them all eventually.

 

[messerist]

Whosyrdaddy is correct-a-mundo. The addiction is untreatable. I like the Walker and then you can join the Walker Club. Which ever one you get will only be the first.

 

[mykeal]

Given your stated purpose, which is plinking (I'll spare the lecture about rocks; I'm sure you know better by now), and the fact that you already have an 1858 Remington, I think the 1851 Navy (.36 cal) is probably the best choice. I'd follow that by an 1861 Navy (.36 cal) and the Rogers and Spencer (.44 cal, currently made by Euroarms). Another great choice would be a Ruger Old Army (.44 cal), which I believe is the best bp revolver ever made, but it is larger and no longer in production.

The Dragoons and the Walker (both .44 cal) are large frame and heavy guns, not something you'd normally go plinking with.

 

[sltm1]

It'll cost alot less in the long run if you stick w/ a 36. Remmie has a 36 out also. That said, I'm addicted to 44's and my two favorites are my Rogers & Spencer and my 2nd gen Colt 1860. The Colt comes up to point almost by itself and is great for "intutitive" shooting (no real sighting in, just point and click), but I've had the R&S tuned and when I pay attention it can drive tacks all day long.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Any of the above would be a fine choice. The 51 and 61 Navy models sure feel good in your hand. I like the 51 so well I bought a second one. I have stayed away from the Dragoons because that well mean three revolvers. Then there is the belly guns.....

 

[sltm1]

Only 2 revolvers.....are you wearing a "Help to quit bp buying" patch on your arm or what???

 

[Sagetown]

I'm thinking on the line of a .36 cal also. Just for plinking around, be careful, those round balls can bounce off hard objects, even Oak stumps.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Only 2 revolvers.....are you wearing a "Help to quit bp buying" patch on your arm or what???

Put a four after the two, I'm addicted, no doubt. 13 Colts and 11 'others'
1st, 2nd and 3rd model Dragoon plus any variations. Was a repro of the Whitneyville Hartford Dragoon that was produced only in late 1847 and early 1848 ever been offered? The Whitneyville Hartford Dragoon included many parts identical to Walker parts, making it a unique hybrid of old and new. This led to its later designation as the "Transition Walker." That would be #4

From Texasranger.org
"Dragoons
The FIRST MODEL SQUARE BACK has the square-back trigger guard, brass back strap, and thin barrel lug, with the barrel wedge above the screw. This early model’s loading notch is the non-beveled V type, and the one-piece, wooden grips are the Slim Jim style with an upward flare of the butt on each side of the brass butt straps. The wedge screw is under the wedge, and the 5/16” wedge is placed through the thin barrel lug upside down. The serial number range is 1-1250.
The SECOND MODEL SQUARE BACK retained the brass square-back trigger guard, brass back strap with the screw placed above the wedge, along with the wedge entering up right. The barrel lug is thin and the cylinder pin is slotted. The serial number range is 1250-4200.
The EARLY THIRD MODEL has the small, round, brass trigger guard, brass back strap, and V-loading notch with the wedge screw over the wedge. The loading lever screw enters from the right. The serial number range is 4200 to 30000.
The MIDDLE THIRD MODEL has the small, round, brass trigger guard, brass back strap, V-loading lever, thick barrel lug, and the screw is over the wedge. The loading lever screw enters from the left side as do all the exterior screws, and the barrel lug was increased in size from 5/16” to 7/16.” The serial number range is 30000-37500.
Most of the LATE THIRD MODELS have the small, round, brass trigger guards and brass back straps. A small number are found with round iron trigger guards and back straps. The barrel lug is thick, the wedge is over the screw, and the loading notch is now beveled. The serial number range is 37500-85000.
The EARLY FOURTH MODEL has the larger round brass or iron trigger guard and the lading notch is beveled with a thick barrel wedge. The serial number range is 85000-118500.
The MIDDLE FOURTH MODEL retains the large brass round trigger guard and back straps of brass or iron. The loading notch is beveled with a thick barrel wedge, and the screw is over the wedge. The serial number range is 118500-16500.
The LATE FOURTH MODEL has the large brass trigger guard, a brass or iron back strap with beveled loading notch, and a thick barrel wedge with the screw over the wedge. The serial number range is 16500-215000."

So many guns...so little money.

 

[Sagetown]

Put a four after the two, I'm addicted, no doubt. 13 Colts and 11 'others'

Wow ! Yep; I'd say you're hooked alright. Is there a stopping place?

 

[bigbadgun]

Addiction did someone say addiction.
When I got back into bp shooting I made the mistake of buying a Walker it was pure heroin for my shooting addiction now 9 bp guns later my wife is looking for a bp anonymous for me. However like I keep telling her I DONT HAVE A PROBLEM.

 

[pwillie]

best?

I am looking at a Ruger old army,and would like to know which is best SST or Blue?Also,who makes the best REPO? Pietta or Uberti?...What about Midway? Help. Colt Walker? Real thing or REPO? THanks, Willie

 

[bigbadgun]

I wish it was the real thing. Sorry just a Uberti repo

 

[mykeal]

best?
I am looking at a Ruger old army,and would like to know which is best SST or Blue?Also,who makes the best REPO? Pietta or Uberti?...What about Midway? Help. Colt Walker? Real thing or REPO? THanks, Willie

Sheesh. How do you answer a question like that?

Blued or stainless ROA: neither, or both, is 'best'; it's a matter of personal choice, and I have no idea what criteria you use to make those kind of decisions. Impossible to answer.

REPO: Assumptions: you mean replica rather than repossession, and you wish to limit the choice to Peitta vs Uberti, leaving out Euroarms, Pedersoli and others. Based on those assumptions - neither, or both, is 'best'; both make good quality products and both are capable of producing the rare and occasional lemon. There might be a very slight edge in favor of Uberti, but it's not worth walking across the street for.

Midway: What about it? Generally well respected mail order retail supplier, neither the worst nor the best. Good reputation for customer service/support, prices are generally within the market, sometimes the lowest, sometimes not. Was that your question?

Colt Walker, real thing or REPO: Buy an original if you can afford it - it'll cost more than a 4 bedroom house, but hey, what's a few bucks? Uberti is the only company currently making replicas, but you can find good quality Armi San Marco, Colt Blackpowder Arms (3rd Generation aka Signature Series) and Colt's Manufacturing Company (2nd Generation) guns on the used market. All fine guns, in my opinion.

Did that answer your questions?

 

[madcratebuilder]

Quote:
Put a four after the two, I'm addicted, no doubt. 13 Colts and 11 'others'


Wow ! Yep; I'd say you're hooked alright. Is there a stopping place?

No, not in sight anyway. I just bid on a nine gun estate, mostly 3rd gens. My 'plan' is to keep two or three, sell the rest. I think I have said that before.....

Nothing wrong with having cased sets.

 

[pwillie]

MY-KILL: Didn't mean to post a stupid question....but, this was my first post about a blackpowder revolver. I own several Ruger '44s,but no BP ! in fact I have never shot a BP revolver or rifle...I just think its time I get involved into that branch of fire arms.Being from the south('Bama)... I would like a reb style,Colt ....Dragoon?....Walker?...ehhh...Navy or Army?Maybe a Remington?...you never answered my question about Ruger's Old Army? Help! Willie

 

[sltm1]

pwillie, Reb Style options (off the top of my head):
Spiller & Burr
Griswald & Gunnison
Any colt clone that has a brass receiver is made to resemble the Confederate arms that were made during the war due to a shortage of steel in the south.
Also, any period correct reproduction of Union produced arms would be correct, as weapons were scrounged all the time. Now you've got Remington, Colt, Savage North, Whitneyville, etc etc, to choose from. No Ruger, it's a shooter's not a reenactors gun.

 

[sltm1]

I forgot to mention the Starr revolver (S/A or D/A), the 3rd most produced and used revolver in the Civil War.

 

[mykeal]

Not a stupid question, but a complicated one.

Re: Ruger Old Army. I think I said there is no 'best' finish. It's a matter of personal choice. Since I don't know you or what you like it's impossible to provide a meaningful answer.

If you truly want a Confederate revolver, as opposed to one that may have just been scrounged from a Union battlefield, you'll need to confine your choices to the Griswold and Gunnison, Spiller and Burr or LeMat. The first two were brass framed copies of the 1851 Colt Navy in .36 cal. Many modern replicas are made in .44 cal, which was never done in the 1860's. The Colt Walker and Dragoons are not options given that criteria.

 

[pwillie]

I have been looking on all the gun auction sites.My question,for a shooter is what is the actual shooting best revolver. The real Colts Or maybe an Italian repo? Which is the best value? I would like a modern milled gun over some brass cast made in the 1800's....I like safety as well as being correct for the period. I really would like to hear from a user of such revolvers. Any info will be most helpful.I can afford most of the revolvers found on the gun auction sites,but want spend a lot of money for a show piece.I want a gun that shoots as well as looks the part. Thats why I asked about the Rugers,they look like a take off of the Remington Army 1857. The other guns will be harder to find,my question about stainless is,which is better to keep clean etc. etc.. Also,is the Colts made by Colt,or some fruit salad country? Willie

 

[whosyrdaddy]

Also,is the Colts made by Colt,or some fruit salad country? Willie

What's a "fruit salad country"?
By the way, you are posting on an international board.

 

[pohill]

It seems that you want to jump to THE perfect gun on your first try - well, that ain't gonna happen. I don't know any BP shooters that own one gun, or one model. I'm sure those shooters exist, but they're rare. Think of Lays potato chips.

A true "real Colt" is an original, made "back in the day". Then you have 2nd Generation and 3rd Generation Colts, which are great guns, made of Italian parts (some) and American craftmanship. With them, you get the beauty, balance, feel, etc of Colt with the safety of it being modern.
Paterson, Walker, Dragoon, Baby Dragoon, Pocket, 1851 Navy, 1860 Army, Root, 1861 Navy, Pocket Police & Pocket Navy...pick one.
You will not find an original brass framed Southern gun that can be used as an everyday shooter. You can find a reproduction of one, though - Spiller & Burr, Griswold & Gunnison, etc.
Then there's the Remingtons - also great guns, but don't plan on shooting an original on a regular basis - get an Italian reproduction in .36 or .44 caliber. Pietta, Uberti - both great.
In my opinion, the best shooter is a Ruger Old Army. Hands down. Not necessarily my favorite (though on any given day it might be), but the best shooter. Stainless steel or blue? I own a blue, so I like blue. Tomorrow I might like stainless. Are they historically accurate? Yeah, to themselves.
Oh yeah, as whosrydaddy said, what is a fruit salad country? Not a good way to make friends.

 

[pwillie]

Whosyrdaddyardon the political ( in )correctness,but if you don't have any input on my question,please refrain from answering with a question. BTW folks, I have found a "Armi San Marco"...any idea about this mfg?Also can anyone help me with Colt ,like 1st,2nd,3rd, generation? Does this mean the build years/ Thanks Willie.