replica precussion revolvers

[lee n. field]

Last Saturday's gun show, I got tempted by, but did not "pull the trigger on", a steel cap and ball .44 revolver.   Had a topstrap, so I assume it was a Remington reproduction.   This guy had them at $200 each, which made me leery of it.   Figured I didn't know enough about them to make a wise choice.  I had a chance to shoot one a few years ago, and it was a hoot.

What should I look at, what should I avoid?

[roo_ster]

I think the no-brainer is a Ruger Old Army if you want to eliminate all the headaches.  I would avoid brass framed revos.

[brimic]

I think Cabelas sells new reproductions $250-300.

[Ben]

I would say that there is nothing wrong with a brass frame as long as you're aware of the limitations and want to maybe experiment with the genre without spending a lot. As long as you load within safe limits, you're fine. That said, a couple of years after I got a brass Navy revolver and decided that I liked it, I bought the steel frame version. The limited loads that you can shoot in a brass revolver make for a pleasant day at the range though. :)

[lee n. field]

I think Cabelas sells new reproductions $250-300.

OK, so $200 is in the range of a reasonable price for a used one.

[HankB]

IF I were to get a "new" percussion revolver, I'd be sure to get one of those for which there are aftermarket cylinders available to convert it to a cartridge firearm. 

[MechAg94]

Yet another little toy project I spent money on yet still collecting dust.  I am off Friday so maybe I can play with my black powder revolver.

[Hawkmoon]

IF I were to get a "new" percussion revolver, I'd be sure to get one of those for which there are aftermarket cylinders available to convert it to a cartridge firearm.  

That covers both the Remington clones and the Colt clones, but both of the major makers of conversion cylinders caution against using them in a brass-framed revolver. Personally, I think it would be safe enough if you didn't shoot the gun a lot, and if you stick to very light handloads. If it's in .45 Colt, for example, I would source some .45 Schofield brass and then download that.

A couple of years ago when visiting a friend in another state I had a chance to play with a Remington reproduction (steel frame) fitted with a conversion cylinder. It was a hoot and half.

[lee n. field]

Ordered out a copy of this: Percussion Revolvers: A Guide to Their History, Performance, and Use.

[lee n. field]

I think the no-brainer is a Ruger Old Army if you want to eliminate all the headaches.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger_Old_Army

The revolver was tested by loading each chamber to capacity with Bullseye smokeless powder and a lead ball.

None of this "Trail Boss" fluffy stuff.  Bullseye.  Oh-key then.   That is interesting.  

[Angel Eyes]

The Old Army is hell for strong but it costs about twice as much as the Remington and Colt clones made by Uberti and Pietta.  I've got one and I prefer it over my Pietta Remington clone, but like I said, that price ...

[230RN]

Quote
"The revolver was tested by loading each chamber to capacity with Bullseye smokeless powder and a lead ball."

Wow.  What revolver was that?  What is that, about 50-60 grains per chamber, I would guess?

To me, that looks like detonatin' country at that charge density of Bullseye.

A triple charge of BullsEye (call it about ~15 grains) will take a 1911 apart.

[freakazoid]

I like my Walker repro. :)

[sanglant]

wouldn't want a conversion conversion cylinder too*, but shoulder stock.


*batfe etc.

oh and keep your digits behind the gap.

[lee n. field]

Quote
"The revolver was tested by loading each chamber to capacity with Bullseye smokeless powder and a lead ball."

I'm wondering if the Bullseye thing might not be apocryphal.  Wikipedia and all, you know.

[sanglant]

I thought the smokeless loads were for naa's

[230RN]

Quote
"The revolver was tested by loading each chamber to capacity with Bullseye smokeless powder and a lead ball."

I'm wondering if the Bullseye thing might not be apocryphal.  Wikipedia and all, you know.

That's why I said "Wow," just from general experience.  I hope they fired those nitroglycerine loads in a BP revolver (even a stainless one) with a long string and a checkbook handy.

Terry, 230RN

[lee n. field]

That's why I said "Wow," just from general experience.

Terry, 230RN

Yup.   When a +P load of .38 is just a rat's handful of Bullseye at the bottom of the case.

Anyway, Midway's got cap and ball revovlers, not too expensive.

[Viking]

The Old Army is hell for strong but it costs about twice as much as the Remington and Colt clones made by Uberti and Pietta.  I've got one and I prefer it over my Pietta Remington clone, but like I said, that price ...

The Ruger Old Army is also discontinued.