Colt Dragoon. Should I?

[Leadshark]

Thinking about getting myself a Colt Dragoon made by Uberti. I just like the overall look a lot. Want to use it for range fun and matches.

Is it too heavy for 1 handed shooting? Is carrying it in a holster possible or will it pull my pants down? Anything I gotta look out for that might be a reason not to buy it?

Thanks.

 

[John Joseph]

There's a reason why the 1860 Army replaced the Dragoon revolvers. Just sayin'

 

[hawg]

You can shoot it one handed. It only weighs 4.1 pounds. You can carry it in a holster just cinch the belt up tight. Not really a reason to not buy it but the arbor will be too short. It's a fairly easy fix tho.

 

[Acorn Mush]

According to info I have seen, the Dragoon outweighs the 1860 Army by over 1-1/2 pounds. Packing that extra weight around for any length of time might be more that you would want to do. I can't make any predictions about the effects said extra weight may have on the ability of your pants to stay up.

While not as svelte-looking as the 1860 Army, the Dragoon does look good to my eye, but to each their own. Get one if you want one and enjoy the daylights out of it!

 

[LaneP]

Dragoons have always been my favorite open top Colt design. Growing up reading the exploits of the outlaw Joaquin Murrieta in "Guns of the Gunfighers", never mind the extensive military and frontier service they saw, and I knew one day I would own one. At 4 lbs they are a handful, but pack a powder capacity only exceeded by the Walker. I have no issue handling them, but they are certainly not as petite and svelte as a '60

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

I have several Dragoons and don't plan to part with them, but they are horse pistols not meant to be on your belt.
They just might pull your pants down.
That's how awesome they are!

 

[ShotgunDave]

They're my favorite Colts, and I have 2 of them. A Whitneyville and a 3rd Model. The 3rd Model has been Goonerized. There isn't enough money to buy either one of them from me. Get one, and enjoy the hell out of it!

 

[Ru4real]

Of course you should! ….like you were expecting a no…

 

[dirt-poor]

Although I usually use the non-shooting hand for support and stability when shooting most any handgun, I don't find the dragoon to be too heavy to aim and shoot with one hand.

Bulky and cumbersome as a belt pistol, but It can certainly be carried in a holster if you want. A wide belt would provide more comfort and security than a narrow one. Pants coming down will then depend mainly on the tightness of the belt.

A shoulder holster might also be an option. Maybe better, especially for a long hike through the woods. Pants could still drop. The dragoon would not be the cause in that case.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

I have carried a Walker numerous times on a belt, it's all in what you get can used to. The Dragoon is a bit smaller so shouldn't be as bulky or heavy. If you do get one please fix the arbor before shooting it a lot with full house loads.

 

[Captain*kirk]

Can a Dragoon be shot one-handed? Yes. Is it comfortable or accurate doing it? Not in my opinion. Depending on your build, age etc YMMV.

 

[Leadshark]

I have carried a Walker numerous times on a belt, it's all in what you get can used to. The Dragoon is a bit smaller so shouldn't be as bulky or heavy. If you do get one please fix the arbor before shooting it a lot with full house loads.

Does Uberti still have the arbor problems on all of their revolvers or is it just on the Walker, Dragoon and Navy?

 

[hawg]

Does Uberti still have the arbor problems on all of their revolvers or is it just on the Walker, Dragoon and Navy?

All of them.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Uberti is the only one currently making horse pistols, they thought that tapering the arbor for a really tight fit was the fix....wrong!!! With heavy loads the short arbor cause frame stretching and and some other problems that get harder to fix if not corrected. All of the Uberti open tops, big or small have the short arbor, even if they came from Taylors.

 

[entropy]

Get the Dragoon. They are a great range gun, and where they are legal for hunting, a good choice for that. The advantage over the Walker is the ram lever stays up when fired.
But as mentioned, the 1860 Army is is smaller and lighter. Still plenty of punch. Get one of those also.
The 1862 Police is a nice size for belt carry, my favorite. I have yet to own one, though have shot them. Really about my only BP pistol Grail gun.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Get a good gun belt and crossdraw holster and yes it’s doable. Add a pouch to the off side to balance the weight, even better.

Gus didn’t think they couldn’t be carried on the belt... just sayin’.

 

[ShotgunDave]

I made holsters for mine. And while I don't carry them everyday, I do on occasion wear them at the range. So far, my breeches have stayed right where they're supposed to be.

 

[Leadshark]

I made holsters for mine. And while I don't carry them everyday, I do on occasion wear them at the range. So far, my breeches have stayed right where they're supposed to be.

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Looks awesome! You've made those yourself?

My first thought was getting a Pietta Lemat. They are super cool also. The Dragoon however is a lot cheaper.

 

[.38 Special]

I have carried a Walker and shot it one-handed. Suspenders help, and eventually your shoulder will build up. (That's supposed to be funny, but it's also the truth!)

 

[woodnbow]

Of course you should buy it! We need more people buying more guns so that when our wives ask questions we can point to them and say, “Well gosh honey, at least I don’t have as many as so and so!” Take one for the team brother!

 

[John Joseph]

There was a reason why cavalrymen wore suspenders and a belt

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Well, you always want a separate belt to carry the gun, and not hang it on the belt that holds up you pants. Them soldiers (or the same soldier twice) above have suspenders to hold up their britches, and then a...wait for it...gun belt to hold up their pistols, and other "stuff".

I "almost" (but not quite) wish I still had horses. I'd carry a pair of Dragoons on the saddle for sure. That would be a cool outfit. I'd love to have a Dragoon.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Add a pouch to the off side to balance the weight, even better.

Or a big old hunking Bowie knife.

 

[Miguel Loco]

Something about having the most powerful handgun (until the 1950's) make it a no-brainer. The history behind them is fascinating. No collection is complete without at least 1. As far as weight....my good friend Gary just says.."suck it up buttercup...and don't let your dress blow up too high".....lol. They are wonderful firearms.

Mickey Free, the Apache Scout carried a brace of 'em. He was only like 5'6". If he can do it.....you can do it.

 

[Slamfire]

I have a Colt mfgr 3rd Model Dragoon and it is a handful. My main problem is getting the thing to shoot to point of aim. I had a taller front sight installed, the original front sight must zero somewhere between 75 and 100 yards for elevation. It is way too high at 25 yards, which is the distance I wanted a zero. And then, the elevation is fixed, and it is never to point of aim. While Colts are fun guns, I consider the design inferior to the Remington 1858.

I purchased a Uberti 1858, the front sight is over tall, and it is on a dovetail. So I was able to file the sight down, and knock it over, and that pistol will shoot to point of aim, not three or six feet away from what I am aiming at. The Remington 1858 has less screws to back out, solid frame, it is clearly an evolutionary advancement.

A Colt Dragoon is fun, but hitting the target where I am aiming is more fun. I was surprised how accurate a black powder pistol could be. I used Ox Yoke wads under the ball, which did an outstanding job of keeping the barrel clean. And I did shoot clover leafs at 25 yards with the Dragoon and !858.