I have to rethink the spare cylinder idea

[Bad Karma]

Is that on an original or on one of the reproductions? If the originals were that bad it's hard to understand their popularity with both the military buyers during the war and afterwards with the general population.

The Colt has gotten a bad rap for its supposed inaccuracy. The sights are a hindrance certainly for close fast work. Or, viewed another way, provide a very fine sight picture if you have the time to aquire it. At close range and under combat conditions they point quickly, easily, and naturally. Certainly they’re the most pointable of the percussion revolvers. I’ve lost track of how many picket pins I’ve killed from 20 yards out to 75 yards or more. Sight the gun in to the load you like, replace the front sight as soon as it’s in your hands, adjust the rear notch with shim and files and then shoot a few dozen pounds of powder through it.

This is a ground squirrel, we call them “picket pins” locally, they’re maybe best target the Good Lord ever created for kids with .22’s, and older kids with handguns, muzzleloaders, bows and arrows, slingshots, and central fire rifles.

 

[KingOfKindling]

It does not matter, the design was such that you had to drive the Wedge in, think of it as a firm tap with a wood hammer handle. Equally it takes a bit to get it moving, its the nature of the design.

You don't have to drive the wedge in hard to get good functionality.

You do have to drive it in for the best longevity and accuracy. If you were a soldier that just put the wedge in thumb tight, the gun would easily survive the length of the war with acceptable accuracy. I'm talking belt models here. Dunno how many shots you can get out of a walker or dragoon with a loose wedge before you beat it to death.

It's the same for originals or reproductions.

 

[Trev]

@Bad Karma my question was more to the "beat the wedge out/beat the wedge in" reputation. People on other forums have said the originals worked much better in that respect.

 

[KingOfKindling]

@Bad Karma my question was more to the "beat the wedge out/beat the wedge in" reputation. People on other forums have said the originals worked much better in that respect.

The originals are just about all very broken in. If you've got a reproduction down to the same level of wear, or if you make sure to fit it better than the factory did, it functions pretty much the same way.

 

[Trev]

Isn't that disassembly a daily thing for maintenance? I'd have thought that with all the romancing of the Colt that some mention would have been made of the mallet needed for the cleaning kit.

 

[Bad Karma]

Isn't that disassembly a daily thing for maintenance? I'd have though that with all the romancing of the Colt that some mention would have been made of the mallet needed for the cleaning kit.

A screwdriver handle, small hammer handle, knife handle, or the like will serve just as well as a mallet. I will from time to time fire a chamber or three and then I’m done for the day. Easy enough to run a cleaning rod and damp patches down the barrel and into the empty chambers, dry them, wipe and dry the exterior and then reload those chambers for the next day. No need to disassemble every day.

 

[TNGhost]

You did. And you can see that being a case where weight of pistols vs a need for more rounds becomes a trade off.

If he carried a Remington type, then its possible to swap cylinders. I guess you could throw the used one at your adversary!

But on foot its not easy, on a horse, ungh. Trying to turn the cylinder into the frame, get the pin to secure it is fiddly, even at the bench.

I believe he specified Colts.

 

[Clark Badgett]

It does not always split. In fact it is uncommon.

Every burned round I have seen was split.

 

[Smokerr]

my question was more to the "beat the wedge out/beat the wedge in" reputation. People on other forums have said the originals worked much better in that respect.

Its more tap in and tap out, but if you don't seat it a good tap tight, it can work loose and then you have a floppy barrel assembly.

As you would load those and park them in the holster, not an issue.

The bottom line is its pretty much absurd to think you would change cylinders on them in a fight. They do have more to deal with than a Remington Top Strap type that way.