French bar owner shoots dead armed robber with a BP revolver

[Duke of Doubt]

Vive la France, indeed.

Only problem comparing blackpowder cap and ball revolvers to modern is the relative lack of power. A Colt 1860 Army in .44 delivers all the power of a modern .32. The Walker Dragoon gets you into low-end .38 Special territory. Still, it's a lot better than nothing, and makes a great flash and bang. Once in awhile you see modernized cap and ball revolvers, with cut down barrel (bad idea -- there goes most remaining velocity), rubber grips, black finish, modern sights, tactical rail, etc.

 

[Mp7]

...

must be a bit more liberal in France.... around here in germany
you can only by single-shot muzzleloaders "free", anythin from two barrels/chambers upwards is as licenses as a hi-cap semiauto.

.....keeping a sawed off KY Longrifle gives u one shot for SD
and a very adequate club

 

[ATW525]

Colt 1860 Army in .44 delivers all the power of a modern .32. The Walker Dragoon gets you into low-end .38 Special territory.

While I haven't personally chronographed either of those, the numbers I've seen from John Taffin appear to put the 1860 in .38 Special territory and the Walker in .357 Magnum territory.

 

[BHP FAN]

..and the .44,properly loaded,into .45 acp mil-spec ball ammo territory.

 

[tube_ee]

My 1858 Remington

Shoots a 138-grain .44 round ball around 830 fps with a punk load of 22 grains FFFG Goex. Solid .38 Special territory, that.

Go to 30 grains, and it'll shoot into the 900s.

I've used up to 42 grains, although that required compressing the powder before seating the ball, and forgoing the patch.

Didn't chrono it, but recoil was well into the .357 Magnum range.

I'd not be surprised to see that load shoot broadside through a cow.

Don't discount the effectiveness of the old cap n' ball sixgun... they'll shoot you dead, right now. Hell, for 99 66/100% of defensive handgun uses, they're just as effective as any modern firearm.

--Shannon

PS: Note to self -- Don't rob French bars. Pay for wine, drink wine, behave. Repeat as needed.

 

[madd trapper]

I would agree with other members here. Don't count out the old capn'ball sixguns. Over six hundred thousand americans were killed during the civil war with percussion weapons.These weapons are just as deadly as modern day firearms.

 

[mykeal]

six hundred thousand americans were killed during the civil war with percussion weapons

... the majority of which died from inadequate medical treatment of the wounds from those percussion weapons (I presume you include artillery as a 'percussion weapon'?).

 

[hayman]

I love a happy ending!

 

[madd trapper]

No artillery back then used a fuse. There was a show on the history channel , showing how effective those weapons were during the civil war . Doctors today stated that those wounds caused by those weapons would have to be treated almost the same way today . Due to the massive damage caused by the lead projectiles moving at a slower pace causing infections and massive bone loss. That would result in limbs being amputated.So I would say those weapons from the civil war are just as deadly as modern weapons .

 

[AdmiralB]

Mykeal is correct; most deaths were due to gangrene and septicemia.

Today, no matter what you're shot with, if you get hit in an extremity, you're going to live (barring an artery hit).

Back then, you got an amputation and a 50/50 (or worse) chance of fatal infection.

Artillery, BTW, didn't use fuses.

 

[kentucky bucky]

The .36 Navy Colt had quite a reputation as a man stopper in the Old West for a seemingly small roundball. The .44 of course, did well too. Today folks think if it's not a 50 cal. Ultra Ubermagnum it's not effective. That thug didn't know the difference.

VIVE LA COLT!!!

 

[Voodoochile]

While I agree that most of the CW casualties were from inadequate medical capabilities & disease I will add that a muzzle loading firearm is quite capable of very nasty to fatal wounds including the C&B revolvers.

Vive la France, indeed.

Only problem comparing blackpowder cap and ball revolvers to modern is the relative lack of power. A Colt 1860 Army in .44 delivers all the power of a modern .32. The Walker Dragoon gets you into low-end .38 Special territory. Still, it's a lot better than nothing, and makes a great flash and bang. Once in awhile you see modernized cap and ball revolvers, with cut down barrel (bad idea -- there goes most remaining velocity), rubber grips, black finish, modern sights, tactical rail, etc.

Your information is very unfounded & inaccurate.

Pietta 1858 New Army 8" barrel.
.457 144gr. Ball
35gr. FFFG Goex
#11 Remington caps
Dry lubed wad under ball
918fps. 270ft. lbs. this load can be conciddered a comparrison to a .38 special load because of it's light bullet weight.

Pietta 1858 New Army 5.5" barrel.
.456 220gr. Conical
30gr. FFFG Goex
#11 Remington caps
705fps. 245ft. lbs. even with a shorter barrel this .44 caliber revolver is very close to what a .44 special load would do.

As far as where I've read of the Smoke, large BOOM & muzzle flash.
The smoke can be a God send to those that know their weapons & use it to their advantage.
Large BOOM, my .45ACP has a more harsh CRACK compared to my short barreled .44.
Muzzle Flash is huge granted but the BG will be effected as well.

 

[AdmiralB]

While I agree that most of the CW casualties were from inadequate medical capabilities & disease I will add that a muzzle loading firearm is quite capable of very nasty to fatal wounds including the C&B revolvers.

Absolutely, but made doubly so by situations 'on the ground'.

Sucking chest wounds usually led to pneumonia, about 80% (or more?) fatal at the time.

Abdominal wounds led to peritonitis, almost 100% fatal.

Shattered ribs would lead to fatal internal bleeding more often than not.

Anything else was in the category 'survivable', as long as gangrene didn't set in. The problem is that gas gangrene is caused by a soil bacteria found in every single sample of soil ever taken in North America. Get dirt or mud in a wound...sucks to be you.

Non-bone hits were just as likely to lead to amputation, but later, in hospital, due to gangrene.