Dixie 1855 Carbine-pistol

[wahkahchimaol.com]

On the Dixie website, I just noticed this very odd hybrid gun: a stocked large percussion single-shot pistol. Anyone have any thoughts on this gun? Apparently it isn't a genuine repro of anything real, but I'm still a bit curious about the concept and the ballistic potential. It shoots a round ball. Could it shoot a Minie? What's the traditional load? What's the BEST hunting load? Any comments welcome. Aside from Internet reasearch I'm clueless.

 

[poordevil]

I read a review on the Dixie site about that once and the reviewer said the stock did not fit well and it wobbled a lot. Might ask them to check the fit before sending it. 45 grs of 3FFFg and a minnie ball will kill any deer on Earth or Mars.

 

[aeatwood]

I've been wanting one of those for a long time, but not enough to pay $600 for a new one. If you want one to use as a pistol, there is a used one that has been on Gunbroker for a year. The seller keeps putting it up starting at $200, but with a higher reserve - I keep bidding $200 and not a penny higher. It is missing the shoulder stock, and the rear sight is gone, but he advertises it as a "mint" barrel.

I look at it now as a test of wills. :grin:

 

[wahkahchimaol.com]

Alan I've seen that posting...with no shoulder stock it is simply a big .58 single shot pistol. And I've also read the Dixie reviews wherein one poster said his gun's construction wasn't the best. Mostly I'm wondering about the original use of this gun. Was it a success at all or an interesting idea which didn't work out in reality? And has anyone on this forum fired one of the modern guns?

 

[hawkeye2]

I think the reviews pretty much tell the story. Palmetto isn't best known for its quality but QC issues aside it still is not an accurate reproduction. Now if that isn't of concern it does make an attractive and interesting pistol. There are a few issues that should be taken into account however. The originals suffered from broken stocks when fired with the shoulder stock attached and that would limit you to light loads. It has a short pull and would put the nipple close to your face which might prove to be annoying. Finaly, they have used the same tooling to rifle the barrel as is used in the muskets and while 1 turn in 72" will stabalize a mini or a round ball fine in a rifle barrel it is way too slow for a pistol and it will be an indifferent shooter at best. I'll close with my usual statement regarding this class of gun: If you want to make smoke and noise and have some fun go for it (if you have the $$ to spare)just don't expect too much beyond that.

 

[poordevil]

http://musketoon.com/2006/08/22/1855-pistol-carbine/
http://www.collegehillarsenal.com/shop/product.php?productid=656


http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/5229156366/

 

[wahkahchimaol.com]

What an amazing ugly-duckling of a gun! When you think that the Dragoon pistol with its 40 or 50 grain FFG load was already very available, it makes you wonder. Can anyone tell me of any advantages to this gun at all? I suspect that when hunting buffalo from horseback this would work rather well at 10 feet...any other genuine advantages?

 

[aeatwood]

Your 1855 musket uses the same ammo. :wink:

Sam Fadala was able to get decent accuracy from it in his black powder guide, iirc.

The charges posted in the DGW item description are pretty rediculous - the gun was designed for a full musket service charge. Since you are probably getting 80% of the velocity of a Zouave out of that 12" barrel, you could probably at least get a PRB to stabilize w/ 60-70gr of powder. Whether you would enjoy shooting it is a WHOLE 'nother deal. :shocked2:

 

[wahkahchimaol.com]

But wait! There's more!
http://www.nramuseum.com/the-museu...us-springfield-model-1855-pistol-carbine.aspx

 

[wahkahchimaol.com]

Interesting that the Harper's Ferry versions used standard musket primers, not the Maynard tape system.

 

[flibuste]

This pistol (antonio Zoli italian replica)can shoot accurately REAL bullets but they have to go fast to be stabilized:

70 grs BP and REAL cal58 440grs bullets :
recoil is very very stout ; and never use the stock or it will break with these loads : this is real magnum !!!

it can also be very accurate with balls and soft loads : In fact it is also accurate with REAL but the shooter has to be trained to stand the recoil because it kicks a lot (to say the less)...

This is a unique pistol and the magnum of muzzleloader : you can't get more.........

 

[wahkahchimaol.com]

Flibuste, it seems that you really enjoy your 1855 pistol/carbine. Is that true? Any other advice? Have you tried it long range at all?