'51 Navy for carry?

[FSCGunslinger]

Wadda ya'll think about carrying a '51 Navy for protection? Has this been discussed before? I have my concealed handgun license, and normally carry that way, however I occasionally have the urge to carry in the open (especially in the summer months), and there's just something about a smoke-poll on your hip that earns a certain degree of admiration/respect/intimidation.

Opinions?

 

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hEY......WILD BILL HICKOCK carried a pair of 'em.
seemed to work Just Fine. I keep a 60 army and a Griswold & Gunnison loaded at the house.....and a 1911 Colt..just fer back-up. You should have seen the look on the last burgular I caught when he was staring DOWN THE BORE !
He did not attempt to move an inch! He also behaved quite nicely when I marched him accross the street to the local Police Office....gotta remember...I live in rural WEST VIRGINIA......yea.....blackpowder will do the trick.

**** WV SCROUNGER ***

 

[FSCGunslinger]

Nice to see another WV native. Whereabouts are ya located? I'm in Fairmont in Marion County.

 

[Don]

I think the power heads have taken over the self defense dialogue lately. A light load in a .36 navy is ballistically on par with a .32acp. A heavy load brings it up to about the power of a 380 auto. May have to shoot the crook twice but it will kill him. A .44 has the power of a .38 special even with modest loads. A stout load can bring it close to a .38 super or 9mm. Also, lead spheres have a real knack of knockin down what they hit.

I carry my cap and ball revolvers as back up when hunting and fishing. Preditors come with two and four legs.

Don

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

These are good comparisons. Some feel the balls actually penetrate better than a modern slug. Even the pocket revolvers can do the job in a pinch, especially the pocket Navy.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Protection from what?

Beats a rock or a sharp stick, but for home a 12 gauge or a .45 1911 pistol would be better choices.

If it's that or nuttin I'd take the '51. Lots o' people has had the wind knocked out of their sails with that pistol, but it is less powerful than a .38 +P load, and folks laugh at that now a days. It won't stop a bear, and it won't diasble an armed enemy before he can get some shots into you unless you hit 'em square.

 

[FireMaker]

I qualified with my 1858 Remington and carry sometimes off duty. Folks think I'm nuts till they see how it can shoot. I do believe that you should carry a reload if you carry the gun.

 

[jim gray]

The main issue with a self/home defense gun is accuracy. I think that shot placement is a lot more important than sheer power. The only thing I don't like about the idea of a '51 for self defense is the annoying tendency for spent caps to fall into the frame and jam the cylinder. That could be most inconvenient if your life depends on a rapid second shot.

I wouldn't hesitate to use my .36 cal. if that's all I had and I wouldn't feel at all handicapped with my Dragoon, but if I had my choice I'd go with a pump action 12 gauge, .357 mag. or .45 auto. If a handgun is required and is going to be used by someone who is not intimately familiar with its operation, then a double action revolver is the best choice, in my opinion, because there are no safeties to mess with and a misfire is cirrected by squeezing the trigger again.

I do believe that you should carry a reload if you carry the gun.

It's a lot easier to change cylinders quickly in a '58 Remington.

 

[Gatofeo]

"...there's just something about a smoke-poll on your hip that earns a certain degree of admiration, respect, intimidation ..."

I don't admire anyone --- short of a police officer --- for carrying a gun on their hip. Respect? Nah, I am just more wary of them. Intimidation? Perhaps -- is that what you require from others?
When I'm outdoors and I encounter someone with a handgun on their hip, I'm naturally wary of them. Many times, those I've encountered strike me as immature by their mannerisms, attitude and words.
It's far better to keep the blamed thing concealed. Don't advertise you're armed, because it is seen as a challenge by some, especially those who are immature or confrontational.
It will also tell them that to even the odds, if they want to rob or kill you, they'll wait until they get the drop.
Keep it concealed, and they're likely to let their intentions be known right away, and you'll have the element of surprise working for you.

 

[bezoar]

why do you say only cops deserve admiration for being armed? Are you a crackpot whod want the revolutionary minutement at concorde to be jailed for having guns?

If you can hit the target everytime, not shoot yourself, and not go shooting the town up like you were back in tombstone in earps day, you should be happy to have that gun on you.

 

[Rebel]

Actually Gatofeo didn't say only Police should be armed, he said that he didn't agree with citizens going around with guns on their hips. If you have a concealed carry permit, then carry concealed. I agree with what he said and his reasons.

 

[jim gray]

Well said, Rebel and Gatofeo. I agree that carrying a gun is something that shouldn't be broadcast until it is necessary to do so. Why announce to the scumbags that you have something worth stealing, and they'll have to shoot first to get it?

 

[FireMaker]

Even off duty, most officers carry concealed so as not to advertise. Our department requires it, though state law does not. When I carry the 1858, its in a shoulder holster under a large shirt.

 

[cayugad]

:imo:

I could sure think of a number of handguns that would make a better concealed weapons choice then a black powder revolver.

I always considered the use of a concealed weapon a last hope type situation. On duty or off duty, law enforcement officer or private citizen.

What I mean by this is that in the event I have a need to draw my concealed weapon, it must mean this is a true life and death situation. I would not want to depend on a black powder cap and ball revolver when it is boots and saddle time. Too many things could go wrong with that weapon. I would much rather bank on a dependable high quality semi automatic pistol of effective knock down caliber with a large capacity of firepower.

I occasionally have the urge to carry in the open (especially in the summer months), and there's just something about a smoke-poll on your hip that earns a certain degree of admiration/respect/intimidation.

And the idea of carrying the weapon in the open I would think might tend to cause panic among some people that might not understand that you are of no threat to them. In the cities I have been in it sure would get you noticed in a real hurry. Of course perhaps everyone in town knows you where you live, and the fact you carry....

I do not carry a concealed weapon to gain any admiration/respect/or intimidation. I carry it for self defence of myself or the protection of someone else in need of defence in a deadly situation.

 

[mec]

I like my carry guns out of sight too. My quibble with carrying a caplock is that springs and occasionally other parts have a way of letting go without warning.

 

[Keith]

:imo:

I could sure think of a number of handguns that would make a better concealed weapons choice then a black powder revolver.

(break in quote)

I do not carry a concealed weapon to gain any admiration/respect/or intimidation. I carry it for self defense of myself or the protection of someone else in need of defense in a deadly situation.

Well said Cayugad. As has been pointed it is better than a sharp stick, but it is not ideal. First, there is the reliability. Second, a longer barreled gun is a pain to carry even if not concealed. Third, reloading is s-l-o-w. NEVER count on meeting just one criminal or hitting with every shot or stopping with one shot. Then there is blast and smoke. Even in the 19th century it was mentioned how especially indoors this was a problem. Modern self defense ammunition is loaded with muzzle flash in mind.

I f you carry a gun to carry respect or admiration, and I say this to anyone, leave the gun at home you are not helping gun owners or the Second Ammendment. You are helping Sarah Brady and her friends though.

 

[RedFeather]

Please don't do it! Get yourself a reliable modern sidearm. First, for yourself. In the old days, even a little belly gun was respected due to things like pertonitus and the lack of anti-biotics, but not any more. You shoot someone and they are likely to survive to sue you. Second, for all of us here. I am dreading the day when some idiot sticks up a bank with a .44 Colt that he bought at WalMart and lands all the BP guns on the state & Federal restricted list. Somewhere some anti-gun person is waiting for this.

My own choice, were I to carry (and I don't) would be a 1911 in .45acp or a good Browning High Power.

RedFeather

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

It may be that some folks don't have any modern handguns.
The C&B revolver then becomes the only handgun option. You use what you have. I've never had a spring break in 40+ years. I think this has a lot to do with cleaning procedures. I always completely strip the gun down after a day of shooting. The oldtmers seem to have defended themselves pretty well back in the day with these guns and they will work today, too. Plus, if you miss, you will have laid down a smoke screen under the cover of which you can make good your escape.

 

[bezoar]

Many people have a hard time dealing with the modern handguns, and the price is astronomical compared to a good quality cap and ball revolver. Far better to buy a 200 dollar colt or remington and have enough money for lots of practice than it is to buy a 800 dollar semi auto and pay for all the paperwork.

And why do some call the bp revolvers anemic? The originals were found to be good for BUFFALO, which is harder to kill than a human. The fancy looking 38 caliber revolvers originally used by the US troops in the philipines when the drugged enduced moros rebelled against the US were quickly replaced by old military contract colt SAA chambered in .45 Colt that inflicted quick knockdowns.
sure the 1911 is claimed to be the gun that brought the moros into "submission" but it was used for only a short time and it wasnt that great compared to the 45 colt.

 

[Rebel]

If all i had was a BP revolver then i would use it, but if i had a modern centerfire, be it semi-auto or revolver, i would definately stake my life on it rather than the C&B. My personal choice for a carry gun is a 4" 7 shot. .357 mag. I just prefer the safety, and reliability of a revolver over a semi-auto, and figure if i am in a situation where 7 rds. of .357 isn't enough, that i shouldn't be there in the first place. Under any circumstances, unless you or someone else is in immediate life threating danger, your best bet is to leave the scene. Otherwise you may find yourself behind bars for quite a spell. In todays anti-gun Politically Correct society, even using a gun in self defense is frowned on. You better be real sure your life, or someone elses is in REAL danger before you use a gun, and then you better be sure there is only your word for it when the police arrive. Don't leave the other person as a witness. Sounds harsh, but it is a harsh world, with too many Lawyers in it.