caliber choice and loads

[scott adair]

Hey Guys,

I ve been looking at '51 Navy pistols and I noticed that there is a .36 and a .44.

I'm pretty much a plinker and might shoot some wabbits.
Any pro's or cons for either caliber?

Also what are the ranges for loads? I had heard that if you load light you can top off with cream of wheat.

Scott

 

[Old Ironsights]

.44. Definately. Much more versatile. Though I would choose an 1858 New Army model in good steel because you then have the option of using a 5-shot .45LC cylinder for when you don't have any .44 balls cast. :v

Any of the Cabelas guns are a good buy, and you can get them with "starter kits" that are handy if you aren't already into C&B.

Yes, Farina makes a good over-powder filler.

 

[crockett]

Well I'll go the other direction and say pick the 36 caliber. The Colt 1851 was a 36 caliber gun, the 44 caliber is a new thing for that 1851 and not PC. Even if you don't care about being PC, you may in the future so it is something to consider. The 36 caliber uses less powder and if you cast your own balls, less lead. The 36 has received sort of a bad rap about being under powered compared to the 44. All I can say is that Wild Bill Hickok was a gun nut and I think owned 132 pistols at one point but stuck with a pair of 36 caliber "Navy" colts when his life was on the line. All the bad guys he shot were just as dead as if they had been shot with the 44.
On the other hand....if you ever want to use the gun for hunting you may want a 44. You can also get pyrodex pellets in 44 and some other neat stuff. If you like the 44 then I think you may want to switch brands and go with the Remington. IMHO.

 

[scott adair]

Thanks,


I know I don't want one with a brass frame, but what about the backstrap. I noticed some were brass and others steel. Is this a structural consideration like the frame or just a matter of personal preference?

Scott

 

[Don]

The .44 has the advantage of more power but my .36's are more accurate. If your going to just punch paper and bunnys than I think the .36 would be the best choise. However, if you want to move up to coyotes or feral hogs than the .44 is the better choice.

Don

 

The brass backstrap is the "grip frame" and has no influence on structural integrity. Most Italian copies of the Colt SAA also have the brass grip frame and the 45 Colt cartridge is a lot more powerful than the C&B revolvers. You won't experience any problems with it. You are correct in desiring a steel framed revolver. Brass is OK, I suppose, but it ain't steel.

Regarding calibers.....I'd hate to have to pick one over the other. They both have their place and in that place neither will exceed the other. Generally speaking I believe one is as accurate as the other but individual revolvers can certainly outperform the[url] average.....in[/url] either caliber. I have both calibers and don't want to part with either, but I do own more 44's.

If you're only going to own one I'd go with the 44. Having said that, replica C&B revolvers aren't that expensive, even the best ones, and a little scrimping and saving would give you one of each.

I'd stick with loose powder, either the real thing or Pyrodex P or 777, and the round ball. The round ball is more accurate 99.9% of the time and more than adequate for punching paper or small game. Conicals are generally a PIA and not worth the effort in my opinion. Pyrodex pellets......welll.....they "jes ain't fittin'".

I've never found a need for a "range of loads" in either caliber. The '51 Navy in 36 caliber is nearly always a good shooter with 20 grs. of Fffg and the 1860 Army in 44 is rarely wrong with 30 grs. of the same powder. The same could be said of the '58 Remington in 44 cal. If you load from a flask varying loads will call for different size measures. There's nothing wrong with that, I just don't like "dinking around" with stuff once I've got a firearm shooting with a particular load. 20 and 30 grains are light charges and will stretch a can of powder long way, 350 shots with 20 grs. and 233 with 30 grs. If you do choose to use different charges of powder, Cream of Wheat, corn meal or wonder wads can be used to take up windage in the chamber. They all work and also add another step in the loading process.

The various Dragoons and the Walker almost always benefit from some load development.

Whicever one you choose I'm pretty certain you'll thoroughly enjoy it. I always have.

Vic

 

[Zonie]

Thoughts on the '51 Colt and your interest:

Either the .36 or the .44 is more than you will need for bunnies. They will both knock a bunny A$$ over teakettle.

The "51 Colt is the most "Pointable" of all of the Cap and Ball Pistols.

The Colt sights are crude, but they work surprisingly well for casual shooting.

Most Cap and Ball pistols (but not all) will shoot about 6 inches high at 25 yards. With the colt, there is not much that can be done (without major surgery) except to shoot it enough that you "know" where it will hit.

Although not Historically Correct (except for maybe two or three development guns), the .44 cal rebated '51 Colt has a nice BOOM when it's fired that the .36 caliber can't match.

Most if not all of the reproduction guns have a groove diameter that is larger than the cylinder chamber diameter. While this is fine for a plinking pistol, for target work (IMO) the chambers should be the same size as the barrels groove diameter. The .36 has lots of material around the chambers to allow resizing them to accomplish this while the .44 is very marginal in this area.

Either pistol is great to shoot or just to sit and look at. I know you will enjoy whichever you end up getting.
Zonie

 

[scott adair]

Thank again guys!

That definitely answers my questions. I am going to hit Cabella's next week on my way to a wedding and take a look at their revolvers. Based on the historical aspect I will probably look at the '51 navy in .36 and the '60 army in .44. Handled a brass frame '51 locally and it felt sweet, love that octagon barrel. I am not very old yet (36) but the older I get it becomes more important to me that things have the right feel to them whether it be a firearm a handtool or a woman. :winking:

Zonie, I understand what you are saying about 'just looking at them'; they are easy on the eyes. Such a far cry from the tvm early Virginia I am working on though.

Thanks to all,


Scott Adair