Keeping the 1851 Colt Navy Shooting

[MikeEasy]

In post #1246747 of this forum Marc Adamchek mentioned the book GUNS OF THE AMERICAN WEST by Joseph G. Rosa. On page 47 of that book Rosa describes testing of the (to-be) 1851 Colt Navy model. The following passage caught my attention:

"When the new pistol was submitted to the United States Board of Ordnance they were much impressed with it. On a single day it was fired 1,500 times, cleaned only once during that time, and yet continued to function properly. In penetration tests the balls went through six pine boards, propelled by a powder charge of twenty grains and firing an 83-grain bullet. The chamber capacity was about thirty grains, but the Board was more concerned with recoil than with accuracy and the weapon was underloaded."

The firearm tested was likely a prototype and hand-honed to perfection (whatever that is). But it demonstrated what is possible.

Has anyone had an 1851 Colt Navy or replica that shot nearly so reliably? If so, what is the secret to keeping it shooting with minimal cleaning?

 

[cynthialee]

that would be 250 shots per chamber, assume cleaning at 125 shots

I don't see how that would be possible. I suspect some form of unmentioned field maintenance during the shooting. At the very least the nipples would need to be picked a number of times.

 

[pargent]

YEP just do it right, same as back in the day .
correct loading , proper lube over ball and on the cyclinder arbour,good fitting caps ,correct fireing hold and cocking you only need to wipe over the exterior of the gun with a rag and shoot all day .

 

[PRM]

Cynthialee - agree with ya on possibly unmentioned field maintenance. I have had good luck with my C&B Colts, but I can't imagine getting that kind of round count with only one cleaning.

 

[bpd303]

I read a thread about not using grease over the ball, but a lubed wad under it to be able to keep shooting without cleaning. I tried it and am sold. The fouling is significantly reduced and I have shot as many as 50 rounds without cleaning.

 

[crockett]

When places like Colt submitted a firearm for testing it was a special pick and probably was hand honed to perfection. The military tests were really tough, for example on the combustible cartridges, the military would soak them for 4 hours in water and then shoot the batch, if some didn't work- the military could reject the entire shipment or cartridge design altogether.

 

[Rick Son]

Would a lubed wad bother the powder???

 

[bpd303]

Not that I have noticed, you will notice that there is no gunky fouling around the barrel forcing cone and front of the cylinder though. Also I have never been able to find where grease was used on top of the ball "back in the day".

 

[Zonie]

Well, if we are going to talk about what they did "back in the day" then using greased or even dry wads between the powder and ball is definitely out. :hmm:

 

[biliff]

While I can't speak for 1500 rounds in one day, for CAS we typically have to fire 30 rds thru each pistol in one day. Since its a timed shoot reliability is important. Mostly it's a matter of cap/nipple fit so as not to drop cap fragments into the action, getting a good grease into the grooves on the arbor and wiping off the face of the cylinder, hammer nose and frame.

We will also fill in the slot in the hammer nose to keep it from grabbing caps. Reduced charges also help cut down on fouling and cap blow off but cut back on the fun factor.

Some grease over the balls helps keep things turning, but Colt's original loading instructions don't call for any grease, wads or filler, just powder and ball.

And we also tend to tweak and tune the typical Uberti/Pietta replica so it functions better.

 

[Bob in iowa]

The gun tested must have been a .44 cal, my .36 1851 Navy Colt replica won't hold 30 grains of FFF, let alone put a bullet in it.
1500 rounds with one cleaning says a lot for reliability.

 

[pargent]

Post said 20 grains

 

[smoothshooter]

I will have to admit to some skepticism about the number of rounds fired without cleaning in that report. It is possible that some of the higher grades of powder available in those days was better than what we have today-who knows. I have a Uberti 1851 nave that I bought new about 2 years ago that is as nicely made as any gun I have owned, which is saying something. I have fired it as many as 96 shots without cleaning, and even then, the cylinder still rotated freely. My load was/is as much Schutzen FFF powder as will fit under a lubed felt with a ball seated on top that will still allow the cylinder to rotate past the barrel. It seems that proper lubrication of the forward and rear areas of the cylinder pin makes a real difference. Relative humiditity can be a factor as well. My wad and cylinder pin lube is a mix of about 1 part beeswax to 3 or 4 parts cooking oil. In my guns, I have noticed that accuracy starts to fall off a litle bit after 3 or 4 cylinders full if I don't run a wet patch down the barrel (and the barrel only) a couple of times every 18 to 24 shots ,depending on humidity. The other absolutely critical thing to watch is fouling buildup in the hammer recess in the frame and inside the curve of the hammer itself at the midpiont where it comes up against the frame. Too much buildup here will keep the hammer from hitting the cap properly.

 

[smoothshooter]

As long as the wad lube is not "runny" I have not noticed any effect, even when the (clean) gun is left loaded for days, or weeks, as mine often are before being fired. I have not taken the time to verify this with a chronograph yet, but when the guns are fired no difference in recoil, point of impact, or noise is apparent.