Walker or Dragoon ?

[user 52142]

My Walker does not like the Hornady .454 round balls I have. They are a tad small. I had to go to Hornady .457 round balls and they work great.

Thanks JRMan. I have a bunch of .454 rb for my other Revolvers. Hopefully which ever I end up with will like them. If not .457 it is.

 

[user 52142]

"GET BOTH" is always a legitimate answer.

I like the way you think !

 

[Tenring]

I went with a 2nd model Dragoon because it was a tad lighter and shorter than the Walker and most importantly, the loading lever has a latch making it more secure. Mine has partially dropped only twice under multiple heavy recoil firings. Uberti is the only current manufacturer of both the Walker and Dragoon.

That’s Cool , Very Nice Pistol.

 

[Malamute]

I appreciate the historical position the Walker represents, but even more so appreciate the more widespread use the Dragoons represent, as well as the, to me, significant improvements made in them over the Walker.

The Walker just doesnt do much for me, handling wise or feeling much personal interest connection to their history. The Dragoons, very much so, based on the more practical design and more widespread use in the West. Id like to hunt with my Colts 3rd a bit, maybe a deer, or javalina, maybe a buffalo if I found myself in the position to dispatch one at close range that was destined as a meat animal. I was offered that opportunity once, but declined at the time for reasons.

As mentioned, you can get both and enjoy them both, or at least decide which appeals to you the most for whatever reasons trip your trigger.

Shooting the older Allen Arms Dragoon I previously had out along the mountains was a very satisfying and memorable experience. The echo of the deep boom went rolling across the face of the nearby hills in a most impressive way, a way that modern loads have never done, with their flat crack of a report in comparison. I recall a similar effect shooting black in a Colts SAA years ago in the hills of Arizona.

 

[tucosink]

Get both you will love them

 

[ernbar]

That’s Cool , Very Nice Pistol.

Thanks. It’s heavy as a brick but classy. Here she is with my Pietta 58 Army that looks about the same size but much lighter in weight.

 

[bud in pa]

If I were going to wear either on a belt holster, I'd make sure to wear suspenders!

 

[Tacitus]

Hey Tacitus, Excuse my ignorance, but what's involved adding a loading latch ?

I salvaged the parts from a worn out donor gun. Using a hand file I cut a dovetail into the barrel, cut off the tip of the lever, filed a slot in the lever to accommodate the latch, installed and pinned the spring and latch in place, then blued the parts. It was all done with hand tools and patience. Not difficult at all and a great improvement over that ineffective spring clip.

 

[user 52142]

Thanks to everyone for the post sharing your advice and wisdom.
I went ahead an ordered a Walker kit from Taylor.
Will post some pics when it come in and I finish it.

Bill

 

[toot]

Well... the Walkers can hold more powder, so if you wanna maximize power levels, it's the Walker. That said, very few people really want to touch off a revolver with a 60 grain charge in it more than once. Also, the Walker's loading lever often comes loose under recoil and locks up the cylinder. It's a design defect that even the originals had. Remember, it was designed in what.... 1847? It was the first practical revolver... or some would say anyway.

The Dragoon(s) had a more effective loading lever that did not release under recoil. Their sights were better as they actually had a front sight and not a bead/post. They were also a bit lighter than the Walker. Other than that, they are very similar revolvers. Both of them were considered "horse pistols" and were commonly carried by a horse in a pommel holster. They are both very heavy guns.

If you plan to carry it in a belt holster, I implore you to consider the Colt 1860 Army instead. You can load up respectable charges capable of doing whatever you might task a revolver chambered in .44 Special or .45 Colt to do and it won't require you to visit a chiropractor after a day of carrying it. Along with the 1851 Navy, it was kind of the first practical man-carried revolver.

Years ago I acquired a Walker made of stainless steel by an Italian company now out of business whose name I cannot recall.... something San Marco (sucks gettin' old). It was dirty and missing parts, but I manage to clean it up and scrounge the missing screws. I fired it with the sixty grain charge once, but only the one time. Charge weights of forty to fifty grains are more practical.

Getting the things to shoot where they look can also be problematical in my experience. My Pietta 1860 Army hits right on the money with standard charges of thirty grains or so.

I have long since sold my Armi San Marco (yea! memory is slow, but not broken) Walker, and honestly, I don't really miss it.

back years ago when we shot Dragoons in competition we would put a rubber / elastic band on over the barrel and loading lever to keep it from falling down during recoil.

 

[Shiloh]

My Walker does not like the Hornady .454 round balls I have. They are a tad small. I had to go to Hornady .457 round balls and they work great.

Somebody will surely correct me if I’m wrong but I understand that the Walker was designed to be loaded with conical bullets but now days they are such a PITA that we now just use round balls.

 

[user 53891]

I have a walker and really like the way it handles. Yes very heavy. Chest holster if hunting. We make our own paper cartridges and accuracy is pretty darn good. Also use RB.
Now, that is just my opinion.....you may find yours is different. Neither one are cheap, so it would be great if you could find a way to try both and then make your decision. Chances are: you might just end up with both

 

[TrophyGuy]

One more thing to consider is the issue of rear sights. Some 3rd Dragoons were shipped with a rear sight mounted to the barrel. My old EMF Armi San Marco replica has them, plural, because they are English fold up express style sights. They're not all that great as the gun still shoots way high, but they look cool. I had a smith kluge on a raised front blade to make it shoot in the vicinity of my aim. Not period correct, but still fun.

 

[user 53891]

One more thing to consider is the issue of rear sights. Some 3rd Dragoons were shipped with a rear sight mounted to the barrel. My old EMF Armi San Marco replica has them, plural, because they are English fold up express style sights. They're not all that great as the gun still shoots way high, but they look cool. I had a smith kluge on a raised front blade to make it shoot in the vicinity of my aim. Not period correct, but still fun.

That sir is a PC improvement

 

[Whitworth]

One more thing to consider is the issue of rear sights. Some 3rd Dragoons were shipped with a rear sight mounted to the barrel. My old EMF Armi San Marco replica has them, plural, because they are English fold up express style sights. They're not all that great as the gun still shoots way high, but they look cool. I had a smith kluge on a raised front blade to make it shoot in the vicinity of my aim. Not period correct, but still fun.

That's why I passed on a few Dragoons before snagging an ASM 3rd Model with the 3 leaf sights.

 

[45D]

Yeah, my rear sight "on the hammer" won't give me one hole groups with my Whitneyville Dragoon . . . oh . . . yes it will !!!

Mike

 

[45D]

Not to mention my '60 Uberti in 45acp . . .


Mike

 

[TrophyGuy]

Perhaps more knowledgeable collectors than I could clarify this rear sight issue. The source I recall said Colt added barrel mounted sights for fun, not special order or as a regular feature. Another characteristic of my EMF ASM replica 3rd Dragoon is cutouts for a shoulder stock. I wonder if originals had it. Seems worthwhile for such a ponderous handgun.

 

[kh54]

I hadn’t seen this thread earlier so I’m sort of weighing in a bit late. I have two Uberti Walkers, and I’ve bought and sold or gifted at least four or five others. I have or had several Dragoons as well. I’ve fired all of them, and as @thomasgunn said, the Walker is just so much fun!

For those who might question accuracy, I offer this experience: Successful shoot with reproduction Walker.

So, @Wizard1962, let’s see that big boy when you finish it, and especially post your shooting results. I’m no pro, but it’s all about having fun - isn’t it?

 

[earlwb]

If I were going to wear either on a belt holster, I'd make sure to wear suspenders!

Belt loops on pants were not invented until 1922 by Levi Straus. Suspenders were in vogue though.