Colt Dragoon "accessories"

[jamieorr]

So, I've shaken hands on a 2nd Generation Colt Dragoon (44 caliber). My experience to date is with a flintlock rifle so this is new territory to me. However, as I'm away until October and can't do the paperwork until then, I have time to do some research. Starting here.

The gun comes with powder flask and some caps, and I'll be buying .457 round balls. There's room for 50 grains of powder but I'm thinking I'll start with 35 of FFg. Question number one - should I be using a wad under the ball to fill the space?

And cleaning - what is recommended for this? I'm guessing a short rod, a jag and a brass brush. I'll need a nipple wrench too as I think these have to come off for a thorough cleaning. Question number two - am I missing anything here?

The gun itself is beautiful, appears to be perfectly machined and the action is very smooth.
The barrel and cylinder come off easily and there's no movement when back together. Haven't tried the trigger pull, but I'm confident that will be good too. It has been fired, but not often. The seller bought it to fill a gap in his collection of original Colts.

Looking forward to trying it. And to hearing your answers.

Jamie

 

[rodwha]

I'd add to that a bore mop, a bronze bristle brush like a tooth brush, and pipe cleaners with the hard scrapy things imbedded in them.

 

[azmntman]

Not sure but you may need .454 balls. I always thought .457 were just for the ROA? Wads, yes or no, yer choice. Some like to use cornmeal over powder to bring the ball up close to the edge of the cylinder.

Cleaning not hard. Sounds like ya got the tools and knowledge to have a bait of fun when ya get home :thumbsup:

Is this an original?

 

[jamieorr]

Thanks Rodwha, I'll add those to the list. Looks like a ToW order coming up.

 

[jamieorr]

Thanks Azmntman, I'll double check the size. I thought I read 457 on a pdf on the care and feeding of this gun, but might have got it wrong - too many calibers around!

No, it's not an original, this one is 2nd generation although the seller owns (or owned) other Colts that were original.

 

[Grenadier1758]

It's not necessarily the literature that you need to check, it's the actual hardware. Tolerances are allowed in the making of your new gun. You will have to measure the diameters of the six holes in your cylinder. Once you know the diameter of the largest chamber, you can get a pure lead ball that is 0.005" larger in diameter.

Some makes will need a 0.457" ball and others will need a 0.454" ball to properly shave off that ring of lead we like to see to confirm that the ball has sealed the chamber.

 

[rodwha]

And some just prefer a wider driving band. I know some match shooters prefer it, and in some where the chambers are grossly undersized such as the Pietta Remington .31 Pocket.

I use my .457" balls in my Pietta NMA, but then my chambers have been reamed to .449" with chamfered mouths.

 

[don hepler]

I'm not sure about the ball size, but I can tell you that 2nd. Gen. Colts and reproductions of the same model Colt's, often take different size balls.

I had a 2nd. Gen Colt Navy that used a different size ball than the Uberti repro.

Even if the larger can be forced into the chamber, there is the possibility of damaging the loading ram. The correct ball will also shave off a small ring of lead. I would be certain, before spending money on balls, that are not correct.

 

[rodwha]

The only repro I've read of breaking was the little Pietta Remington Pocket with its tiny pieces.

 

[Col. Batguano]

So I take it that this is NOT an original Colt then? If not, who was the manufacturer? That might be a good clue for a starting point.

 

[Zonie]

The "Second Generation Colt Dragoon" mentioned in the original post was officially made by Colt.

Although the castings were from Italy, the machining and assembly was done by Colt in Hartford, Connecticut.

The name, "Second Generation" was used to differentiate it from the original "First Generation" guns made before and during the War Between the States.

 

[M. De Land]

Actually after all these years of shooting cap-n-ball revolvers I'm convinced that loading a pure lead ball of even snug slip fit will obturate under the loading lever pressure to completely seal it off from flash over. Try to pull one after seating it firmly on the powder charge! Still it is always good practice to use a grease wad or filler under the ball to make sure.
I do believe almost all chain fires are from improperly fit caps though not front end flash over as even when a ball is not completely obturated in the chamber mouth, the over ball grease, over powder wad or filler seals it off from the front.
Think for a moment how easy a flame channel is blocked in a patent breech with direct percussion cap blast focused down it.
Also flame gout from a firing chamber is directed at 90 degrees out the side of the cylinder barrel gap not focused in the direction of the adjacent chamber charge buried under a lead ball with grease lube over it.

 

[Major Tim]

I wouldn't use FFg in a pistol but FFFg. I do powder then farina or corn meal then a wad then ball. I would try .454 first and see if that fits.

 

[cynthialee]

I also use a filler, Corn Meal or Cream of Wheat.
Works like a charm.