Looking for a compact long range small caliber blackpowder pistol for critters

[SamDaMan]

I was hoping to get help on finding one chambered in .22 or something small

 

[necchi]

"Long Range"(?) .22(?) Pistol(?)

Best yer gonna do is a "Wild Bill Hickok" repeat of a 75yrd heart shot with a Colt 1851 36 cal. ,,

That's about as "small" and "long range" as yer gonna get,,

 

[bpbuilder]

I'm with necchi. You want small, compact, and accurate out of black powder, the best bet is a revolver. There's the 1851, which is shockingly accurate, there the 1860, which is probably the second favorite and second most common of black powder. There's one pistol called "The Ace" that's more compact and has some neat features.

 

[Rifleman1776]

"pistol" and "long range" in same context is an oxymoron. You will have better luck hunting unicorns than a long range bp pistol.

 

[vervillev]

Pietta makes a sheriff's model in the 1851 and 1860 colt repros. They come in .36 and .44 caliber. The 1862 is smaller in .36 caliber. Other than what I've mentioned, you are limited in choices.

 

[mooman76]

What's your idea of long range?

 

[vervillev]

Just to add, long range in a colt repro, to me, is 25 yards. And to get good accuracy will require tuning the gun, proving the load, and doing ones part to make it all come together. Oh, I'm being optimistic about 25 yards as well.

 

[enfield]

Since You didn't mention , if You are looking for a single or multishot pistol , I'd recommend a Ruggles style underhammer pistol in .31 , absolutely PC !
Personaly , I shoot a such one even in contest . Being a buggy gun , I never tried it with its detachable stock .
The tiny RB accelerates with its 6,5 gr Swiss 1 to astoningly high speed , the bullets in the bullet trap look like round stamps , I think , the energy would be sufficient for even bigger critters !
Unfortunately , there are no such made today , but a good tinkerer or mechanic should be able , to build one , it's not too hard .
Including this one , I've already made over a dozen similar pistols for shooting buddies , who even shoot them at World Championships !
I use discarded .308 supermatch barrels , with a thin patch , spit and a .290 RB , these work out pretty fine !

This is the target which I shot last Sunday feehand at 50m ...

If You need help for such a project , feel free to contact me !

Rgds , enfield

 

[nkbj]

For hand gun hunting small game, might want to look into a five shot .31 with six inch barrel.

 

[springfield art]

"Long Range"(?) .22(?) Pistol(?)

Best yer gonna do is a "Wild Bill Hickok" repeat of a 75yrd heart shot with a Colt 1851 36 cal. ,,

That's about as "small" and "long range" as yer gonna get,,

Not to diminish Bill's skill, but I bet there was a bit of "good luck" involved there. At moment of ignition, I bet he was thinking, "...this better work!..."

 

[springfield art]

Since You didn't mention , if You are looking for a single or multishot pistol , I'd recommend a Ruggles style underhammer pistol in .31 , absolutely PC !
Personaly , I shoot a such one even in contest . Being a buggy gun , I never tried it with its detachable stock .
The tiny RB accelerates with its 6,5 gr Swiss 1 to astoningly high speed , the bullets in the bullet trap look like round stamps , I think , the energy would be sufficient for even bigger critters !
Unfortunately , there are no such made today , but a good tinkerer or mechanic should be able , to build one , it's not too hard .
Including this one , I've already made over a dozen similar pistols for shooting buddies , who even shoot them at World Championships !
I use discarded .308 supermatch barrels , with a thin patch , spit and a .290 RB , these work out pretty fine !


View attachment 77637View attachment 77638View attachment 77639

View attachment 77640

This is the target which I shot last Sunday feehand at 50m ...

If You need help for such a project , feel free to contact me !

Rgds , enfield

Remind me never to challenge you to a duel!!

 

[Zonie]

I was hoping to get help on finding one chambered in .22 or something small

Muzzleloading single shot pistols in calibers smaller than .32 are difficult to find. Likewise, finding a cap & ball revolver in calibers smaller than .32 are as rare as hen's teeth.
There is a modern .22 cap & ball revolver made but I doubt that it would be accurate for long range shots.

Now, getting to the "critters" area, a good part of the reason smaller caliber pistols are rare is because the round lead balls most of these pistols were made to shoot don't weigh much. For instance a .22 diameter lead ball weighs only 16 grains. While that is about the same weight as a .22 caliber air gun pellet, a spherical .22 caliber ball will lose it's velocity very rapidly. If it was shot with a muzzle velocity of 1400 fps, at 50 yards it would have slowed down to about 900 fps.
Wind also effects spherical balls more than it does bullet shaped projectiles. A 8 mile/hour crosswind will blow the shot I just mentioned over 5 inches off course at 50 yards.

My suggestion is to look for a .32 caliber single shot or a .31 caliber revolver for your shooting. If you are bound and determined to go to a .22 caliber, maybe an air rifle would be more suited to the task?

 

[sourdough]

There is a modern .22 cap & ball revolver made but I doubt that it would be accurate for long range shots.

For instance a .22 diameter lead ball weighs only 16 grains. While that is about the same weight as a .22 caliber air gun pellet, a spherical .22 caliber ball will lose it's velocity very rapidly. If it was shot with a muzzle velocity of 1400 fps, at 50 yards it would have slowed down to about 900 fps.
Wind also effects spherical balls more than it does bullet shaped projectiles. A 8 mile/hour crosswind will blow the shot I just mentioned over 5 inches off course at 50 yards.

North American Arms (NAA) markets two .22 C&B revolvers, the Companion (based upon the .22 LR cylinder/frame with a 1-1/8" barrel) and the Super Companion (based upon the .22 Mag cylinder/frame with a 1-5/8" barrel). Both revolvers are designed to shoot the NAA proprietary 30 grain conical bullet, only available from NAA, and those are almost non-existent these days.

I was fortunate enough to obtain a Super Companion with a spare cylinder, along with a bullet seater tool and 300 conical bullets for a very good price.

This revolver is very small in the hand and in no way is it something I would consider using to dispatch "critters". You never defined what the "critters" are.

Regards,

Jim

 

[necchi]

Not to diminish Bill's skill, but I bet there was a bit of "good luck" involved there. At moment of ignition, I bet he was thinking, "...this better work!..."

Actually, forum members have replicated the shot,, milk jug at 75yards off hand,,

I have witnessed .22cal 30grn bullets being fired with BP from one of those, a friend has one. You can actually see the smoke spiral behind the bullet as it drops 2 feet in a 15 foot travel distance. If you took a chest shot at someone 20 feet away, you might hit in the chin,, and probably leave a bad bruise.

 

[Desperate Lee]

Since You didn't mention , if You are looking for a single or multishot pistol , I'd recommend a Ruggles style underhammer pistol in .31 , absolutely PC !
Personaly , I shoot a such one even in contest . Being a buggy gun , I never tried it with its detachable stock .
The tiny RB accelerates with its 6,5 gr Swiss 1 to astoningly high speed , the bullets in the bullet trap look like round stamps , I think , the energy would be sufficient for even bigger critters !
Unfortunately , there are no such made today , but a good tinkerer or mechanic should be able , to build one , it's not too hard .
Including this one , I've already made over a dozen similar pistols for shooting buddies , who even shoot them at World Championships !
I use discarded .308 supermatch barrels , with a thin patch , spit and a .290 RB , these work out pretty fine !


View attachment 77637View attachment 77638View attachment 77639

View attachment 77640

This is the target which I shot last Sunday feehand at 50m ...

If You need help for such a project , feel free to contact me !

Rgds , enfield

I am with enfield on this one. Revolvers are good and accurate, to a degree, at 15 to 25 yards. If hunting is what you want, a good single shot in 36 cal to 50 cal is what you want. Because of my age, 70 with old eyes, I no longer hunt with my pistols except my Scoped TC Contender unmentionables. Even those i now limit myself to +- 125 yards. Find yourself a good single shot BP pistol with a long barrel, 10-14 inches, good target type sights, in a good 40 or 45 cal and you'll be happy. Depending on your skill level good 25 to 50 yards on small game. Again I stress skill level. Anyone can gut shoot an animal, but a clean head shot is the humane way to go here. Three of my favorites a 44cal, a 45cal , and a 50cal. The 44cal is the smallest single shot i have using .430 rb. I also have a Patriot in 45cal and a W. Parker in 50cal that have never been fired. Except for the single shots all my revolvers are limited to 15-25 yards paper targets. I know i ramble on, forgive me.
DL

 

[springfield art]

Actually, forum members have replicated the shot,, milk jug at 75yards off hand,,

I have witnessed .22cal 30grn bullets being fired with BP from one of those, a friend has one. You can actually see the smoke spiral behind the bullet as it drops 2 feet in a 15 foot travel distance. If you took a chest shot at someone 20 feet away, you might hit in the chin,, and probably leave a bad bruise.

Oh, I know people have done it...just that in moment of stress, he gave an extra "prayer"!

 

[Bad Karma]

I am with enfield on this one. Revolvers are good and accurate, to a degree, at 15 to 25 yards. If hunting is what you want, a good single shot in 36 cal to 50 cal is what you want. Because of my age, 70 with old eyes, I no longer hunt with my pistols except my Scoped TC Contender unmentionables. Even those i now limit myself to +- 125 yards. Find yourself a good single shot BP pistol with a long barrel, 10-14 inches, good target type sights, in a good 40 or 45 cal and you'll be happy. Depending on your skill level good 25 to 50 yards on small game. Again I stress skill level. Anyone can gut shoot an animal, but a clean head shot is the humane way to go here. Three of my favorites a 44cal, a 45cal , and a 50cal. The 44cal is the smallest single shot i have using .430 rb. I also have a Patriot in 45cal and a W. Parker in 50cal that have never been fired. Except for the single shots all my revolvers are limited to 15-25 yards paper targets. I know i ramble on, forgive me.
DL

Old guys ramble brother... that is how we roll!

 

[Grimord]

My Traditions .32 Crockett pistol will shoot 1" groups at 25 yards from the bench using a .310 ball in a .015 mink oil lubed patch over 22 grains of Goex 3f. I have tried it a 50 yards but groups are around 3.5-4". I would not hesitate to use this gun on squirrels, rabbits and wood chucks out to maybe 35 yards, but that is pushing it with the iron sites on the gun and my shooting ability.

 

[SamDaMan]

"Long Range"(?) .22(?) Pistol(?)

Best yer gonna do is a "Wild Bill Hickok" repeat of a 75yrd heart shot with a Colt 1851 36 cal. ,,

That's about as "small" and "long range" as yer gonna get,,

Meant to say mid range not long please re comment.

 

[Pete G]

This revolver is very small in the hand and in no way is it something I would consider using to dispatch "critters". You never defined what the "critters" are.

Regards,
Jim

Spiders are critters, just ask my wife