Cap & Ball Revolver vs. Modern Handgun Qualification Course

[hrfunk]

Hi all! Attached below is a link to my latest video. In it, I am standing the concept of the modern defensive handgun on its head as I take on the current Ohio Peace Officer's handgun qualification course with my Pietta/Remington New Army revolver. To see how it goes, follow the link. As always, be sure to let me know your thoughts after you watch the video!

HRF

https://youtu.be/wmKAVu14WW0

 

[Enfieldguy]

What a fun video! I'd like to run that with a Colt revolver. For some reason I can swap cylinders on the Colt faster then the Remington. I love the powder speckling on the first 3 rounds. Is your NMA nickle or stainless? I had a nickle Pietta that unfortunately had a brass frame hiding under the plating.(always check before purchasing)

 

[rodwha]

Nice shooting and score!

I’d certainly be in the group who’d disagree with the speedloader. Since we know a second gun wasn’t in mind as it’s not a reload, and police officers don’t carry a second primary handgun.

I’m also curious as to your loads. Many people who shoot the most accurate loads, mostly for various competitions, use very weak powders and minuscule loads which could be argued about how effective they’d be, ultimately like using a FMJ.

 

[Artificer]

Very interesting video and very good shooting!

I was especially impressed with how well you fired and cocked with your left hand, since you had never done it before. :thumbsup:

On a speed load for your revolver.....

Though in the UnCivil War, U.S. Navy Uniform Regulations (and to my knowledge the only place it is mentioned in any Uniform Regulations) talks about a cartridge box to be worn on the belt to carry 1 or 2 spare cylinders; it was never an issue item to Sailors or Marines for landing parties or any other duty. There is no other reference to them in Uniform Regulations I have ever heard of. I don't believe any such "Government Issue" cartridge boxes for spare cylinders were ever made.


It has been reported that in Session of Congress: 40th-2nd H.exdoc. Serial Set Volume: 1338, Title: #99 Contracts made by ordnance department, 1868 - does not mention any spare cylinders purchased by the U.S. Government during the entire UnCivil War. Unfortunately, my eyes are not good enough to confirm that in the following link: https://archive.org/details/executivedocumenv11unit/page/n5

Spare cylinders would have had to have been fitted to an individual revolver to ensure they functioned correctly. Further, carrying 1-2 fully loaded cylinder/s would not have been very intelligent, as dropping it might cause it to go off.

FORGET trying to exchange cylinders on the deck of a ship or on horseback in the middle of a battle. Some cavalry units, especially Southron Cavalry, carried two revolvers in their belt holster and two more in their pommel holsters. The extra revolvers were their "speed loaders," just as you did it.

Gus

 

[Enfieldguy]

I remember watching an episode of 'COPS' back in the mid-90's where they were in Buffalo, NY. All the city cops were wearing two firearms. One strong-side and the second in cross-draw. Both looked like one of the S&W Model 59 variants. Rough town.

 

[Artificer]

P.S. I was wondering how you were going to handle a "tactical re-load" when you first began to explain you were going to shoot the Ohio LEO course. This because most LEO qualification courses today involve at least one tactical re-load in the course, as they should.

So when the video showed you wearing the second revolver, I chuckled. :haha:

Gus

 

[Artificer]

BTW, would your holster have been considered "approved" by Ohio LEO qualification standards? Maybe I missed it, but I don't remember seeing a clear image of your holster.

Gus

 

[hrfunk]

Thank you! My Pietta has a steel frame and it's finished in what they call "Old Silver". I believe that's just another name for nickel because that's what the finish looks like.

HRF

 

[ZUG]

What a HOOT -- I enjoyed the video! :grin: :grin: :bow:

 

[hrfunk]

The loads I was using in the video, which I meant to state and flat-out forgot, was 30 grains of FFFG under a .451 lead round ball. As I mentioned, I was using "wonder wads"between the powder and the ball.

HRF

 

[hrfunk]

P.S. I was wondering how you were going to handle a "tactical re-load" when you first began to explain you were going to shoot the Ohio LEO course. This because most LEO qualification courses today involve at least one tactical re-load in the course, as they should.

So when the video showed you wearing the second revolver, I chuckled. :haha:

Gus

Necessity is also the mother of innovation!

HRF

 

[hrfunk]

BTW, would your holster have been considered "approved" by Ohio LEO qualification standards? Maybe I missed it, but I don't remember seeing a clear image of your holster.

Gus

There are no "state-wide" guidelines for holsters. That is up to the individual departments.

HRF

 

[William P Sepessy]

Really enjoyed the video! I have been playing around a lot lately with the cap & ball pistols. Trying to develop more skill shooting with both hands under a variety of circumstances. I believe I will incorporate some of your course in these drills Thanks!!

 

[hrfunk]

You're welcome. Be sure to let me know how it goes!

HRF

 

[hrfunk]

I remember watching an episode of 'COPS' back in the mid-90's where they were in Buffalo, NY. All the city cops were wearing two firearms. One strong-side and the second in cross-draw. Both looked like one of the S&W Model 59 variants. Rough town.

You are correct. The idea of carrying more than one firearm is not a new concept in law enforcement. Usually, an officer will carry a primary handgun and a smaller secondary handgun. This was precisely what I did in the video. There is actually a qualification course for the secondary pistols, but it is so ridiculously easy, it would not make a very entertaining video.

HRF

 

[BillinOregon]

HRF, thank you so much for posting this, and good for you for using a full-power load. I agree with Gus that wandering around with a capped extra cylinder makes little sense from a safety standpoint -- and as to "reloads," it is worth noting that in the Border War, Quantrill and his boys often carried as many as six revolvers on their persons.
I prefer the Remington to the Colt of this era, but for one thing -- that trigger guard raps the knuckle of my middle finger pretty hard. How did yours feel after your course of fire?

 

[hrfunk]

HRF, thank you so much for posting this, and good for you for using a full-power load. I agree with Gus that wandering around with a capped extra cylinder makes little sense from a safety standpoint -- and as to "reloads," it is worth noting that in the Border War, Quantrill and his boys often carried as many as six revolvers on their persons.
I prefer the Remington to the Colt of this era, but for one thing -- that trigger guard raps the knuckle of my middle finger pretty hard. How did yours feel after your course of fire?

You're welcome! I'm glad you liked it. I did not notice any pain/discomfort resulting from the trigger guard. The only slight "pain" I experienced was when hot pieces of fired caps fell into the top of my hand. That happened several times during the video, but it wasn't so bad as to cause any real injury.

HRF

 

[rodwha]

Nice that it didn’t distract you. I’ve seen people react to minor things like that in a peculiar manner and lose focus on what they are doing, which can be terrible when firearms are concerned.

 

[R.C.BINGAMAN]

I would think at the bare minimum the state would require a level two retention type holster. R.C.

 

[hrfunk]

Nice that it didn’t distract you. I’ve seen people react to minor things like that in a peculiar manner and lose focus on what they are doing, which can be terrible when firearms are concerned.

So have I. One thing I've had drilled into my head during all the hours of firearms training I've undergone is to complete the task at hand in whatever manner it has to be done. There will be plenty of time afterward to lick your wounds. That's also why I re-cocked the pistol and fired another shot when it misfired. I didn't really think about it, I just knew I had to get another shot off, so I did it. That's training, pure and simple. It doesn't even matter what type of firearm you are using at the time.

HRF