Great Article in new American Riflemen magazine

[M. De Land]

A very good and informative article on 1860 Colt pistols this month in the American Rifleman and their part in the Civil War. MD

 

[George T.]

Yes very good indeed. Owning two 1860's I read every word and will do so again. Man there were a bunch of those in service! Geo. T.

 

[M. De Land]

I particularly thought it interesting that the Confederates took the first shipment of 1860 Colts and they all has fluted cylinders. MD

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

My Son's Uberti 1860 Colt Army is the charcoal blued model with the fluted cylinder. The most accurate revolver we own! It likes 27 grains of 3Fg Goex, a wonder-wad & .454 Hornady ball.

Just last Sunday I completed the NRA Qualification COF for Distinguished Expert with it, scoring a 162 x 200 with an "X" at 50 yards! NO play in the cylinder and nice rifling!

Would buy another one in a heart beat!

Dave

 

[Marc Adamchek]

Yeah, I thought it interesting about the Confederates getting all fluted cylinders. My Uberti 1860 is also the fluted version, so I keep my eyes peeled for any press they get!

It was also great to see a BP revolver article in the AR magazine now that I'm basically out of the smokeless world (until bird season, and even then I use one or two of my original Brit percussion doubles ini addition to the "bad" ones)

 

[Blizzard of '93]

owned a '51 .36 for awhile sort of regret tradeing it. a '60 is on my wish list - also wish I had more time to shoot my '58 remmy and roa.

 

[M. De Land]

I think they (1860 Colt's)originally had gain twist but have not checked mine. Not sure you can see it or detect it on a tight patch rod rotation. Does any one know? MD

 

[George T.]

They do not advertise them as having gain twist so my guess is that they do not. Does yours shoot high? Geo. T.

 

[M. De Land]

Not any more since I put on the higher front sight. I read somewhere that they were purposely made to shoot high so you could put a standing man silhouette ,aimed crotch high, on top your front sight and get a torso hit way out there. MD

 

[BillinOregon]

M.D., I too have heard that they were sighted so that aiming at a man's belt buckle gave a hit between there and the throat. I don't know if this is true, or how cavalry were trained to shoot the revolver.

 

[SAJones]

Can't say about 1860's, but my '51 has gain twist. Not that easy to make out for such a short barrel, but a strong light helps

 

[aeatwood]

IIRC, all original Colt's had gain twist. And when carefully loaded, they were very, VERY accurate.

I need to get my Pietta out at my Dad's and find out exactly how far out it hits PoA. My Uberti '61's didn't actually take all that much build up of the front sight.

 

[Gatofeo]

I believe that all Colt percussion revolvers of the 19th century were made with gain twist, going back to the Paterson.
The Colt 2nd generation and Signature series were made with standard rifling of constant rate.
When Colt introduced its 1873 SAA, gain twist was forsaken. I suspect it was for accuracy reasons.
Gain twist is accurate with balls and stubby conical bullets, because they offer a very narrow area for the rifling to grip.
However, long projectiles such as the bullet used in the .45 Colt, have problems with gain twist. Because the rifling turns faster and faster as it progresses, the front of a long bullet wants to turn faster than the rear.
Something's gotta give, and the bullet skids.
At least, that's what I've been told.
Yet, the Italians used a 6.5 Terni rifle in World War II that employed gain twist -- with long, jacketed bullets!
No idea how this worked out. Never seen a Terni, or heard anyone comment about its accuracy.
As far as I've read and heard, all Colt percussion revolvers of the 19th century have gain twist. Same with Remington percussion revolvers.
To my knowledge, the only gain twist cap and ball revolver available today is a target model 1858 Remington with modern sights made by Uberti. Dixie Gun Works sells it for about $800, as I recall.
I wish Uberti would offer gain twist in a premium revolver of conventional design. Love to experiment with gain twist in a Navy or Army.