Speaking of big iron

[SSBN617b]

Yeah, still trying to figure that out myself.

 

[gtrgy888]

The Walker, while awe-inspiring, really is too big as anything other than a horse pistol. A Dragoon would be the way to go.

I second that. The Dragoon or Old Model Army all the way. Similar dimensions to the 1851 Navy despite being twice the weight and 2.5x the power.

 

[Fishtales]

The Walker, while awe-inspiring, really is too big as anything other than a horse pistol. A Dragoon would be the way to go.

Roverguy, Thank you. That is exactly what the Walkers were. Two were usually carried, one on each side of the front of the saddle.

 

[hawg]

I second that. The Dragoon or Old Model Army all the way. Similar dimensions to the 1851 Navy despite being twice the weight and 2.5x the power.

Similar dimensions??? The dragoon is still a 4 lb. 4 oz. horse pistol.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Oh look! The Dragoon had a BABY!!!

 

[CraigC]

I'm pretty sure you could kill somebody throwing a Walker or Dragoon cylinder at them. They're way bigger than 1851's. Dragoon is about 95% the size and weight of a Walker.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Never noticed before, but that arbor on the Dragoon sure looks giant. Are they way bigger/that much bigger than on the 1860?

Well, I don't know about throwing the cylinder, but having the whole revolver thrown at you sure would hurt! Not to mention getting whacked over the head with it.

 

[hawg]

Never noticed before, but that arbor on the Dragoon sure looks giant. Are they way bigger/that much bigger than on the 1860?

Yes the arbor is a good bit bigger.

 

[Roverguy]

Roverguy, Thank you. That is exactly what the Walkers were. Two were usually carried, one on each side of the front of the saddle.

We should really think of the Walker as a repeating carbine. It certainly had power in the realm of contemporary carbines and with two in pommel holsters, ten shots on the go must have been quite formidable!

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

The Walker can hold 60 grns of powder per hole for a total of 360 grns under round balls. That is just shy of the accuracy loads for my .50 cal rifles. They like around 65 grains. It's a lot of fire power in a hand held package.

 

[CraigC]

Put it this way, with the Walker you can install a Kirst gated conversion and rechamber the cylinder to .460S&W magnum and use it that way with blackpowder. You can do the same with the Dragoon if you take about 0.200" off the barrel projection.

Never noticed before, but that arbor on the Dragoon sure looks giant. Are they way bigger/that much bigger than on the 1860?

Well, I don't know about throwing the cylinder, but having the whole revolver thrown at you sure would hurt! Not to mention getting whacked over the head with it.

Here's the Walker compared to a `51 Navy.

 

[Fishtales]

You were on subs?

He wasn't just on subs, he was on a nuke, ICBM also known as a "boomer". Serious stuff.

 

[Fishtales]

You were on subs?

Don't try Colorado either. Wyoming or Montana and the Dakota's are about all that are left-maybe Texas.

 

[woodnbow]

Never noticed before, but that arbor on the Dragoon sure looks giant. Are they way bigger/that much bigger than on the 1860?

Well, I don't know about throwing the cylinder, but having the whole revolver thrown at you sure would hurt! Not to mention getting whacked over the head with it.

It’s the preferred method for dealing with surly bartenders.

Don't try Colorado either. Wyoming or Montana and the Dakota's are about all that are left-maybe Texas.

We have no boomers in Colorado. At least not those kind…

 

[Dave Markowitz]

So, something I only learned recently is that the Rogers & Spencer can hold 50 grains of powder under a round ball, which is the same as a Dragoon. Blackie Thomas posted about this on YouTube. He also just posted a video in which he ran these loads over a chronograph. He put 5 rounds over it with 1 error reading, but the average of the other 4 shots was 1150 FPS.



I have fired my R&S 35 grains of Triple 7 under a .454 ball and that was a bit of a handful. Triple 7 has a bit more oomph than real BP so it was probably equivalent to ~40 grains of Swiss 3Fg.

 

[vintovka]

Never noticed before, but that arbor on the Dragoon sure looks giant. Are they way bigger/that much bigger than on the 1860?

Well, I don't know about throwing the cylinder, but having the whole revolver thrown at you sure would hurt! Not to mention getting whacked over the head with it.

I have bought and sold like a half dozen of walker repops. Fired one. I think they are at or beyond the limits of human ergonomics.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

It's all what you get used to, I really like my Walkers. I've carried one hunting rabbits numerous times and got used to the weight. There's a lot of firepower in one those beasts.

 

[vintovka]

It's all what you get used to, I really like my Walkers. I've carried one hunting rabbits numerous times and got used to the weight. There's a lot of firepower in one those beasts.

Many buy these and either never get used or are immediately relegated to novelty status for display or conversation. I admire those who can actually fire one on a regular basis let alone just carry one in the field!!

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I can see packing one in the field, if I wasn't also packing a long-gun. I don't see having one on my belt, in addition to my 1861 Springfield, with day-pack, ammo, water and all my other plunder. I think I'd be kind of tired at the end of the day.

Also, when I used to carry my RBH with 7.5" barrel a lot, a cross-strap over-the-shoulder supporting my pistol belt made a big difference.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

I carry my stuff on a cross draw slanted across my hip. If it felt like it was slipping I just tighten the belt a notch.

 

[hawg]

Many buy these and either never get used or are immediately relegated to novelty status for display or conversation. I admire those who can actually fire one on a regular basis let alone just carry one in the field!!

I never wanted a Walker. They just never appealed to me. I think maybe it was the square back trigger guard. I did have a 3rd model dragoon that I shot a good bit but when push come to shove it was the first to go.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Yep, I'd love to have a Dragoon, but I've always thought the Walker was kind of an ugly duckling.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

I've always looked at the Walker as a giant 1851 or maybe the 1851 is a shrunken Walker with a loading lever latch.

 

[1KPerDay]

Walkers are awesome. But if I had to only pick one it would be the 3rd Dragoon. Huge but still manageable. The Walker is just ridiculous.

 

[hawg]

If you get a dragoon get one with a horizontal loading lever latch like on a 51 navy. If you get one with a vertical latch the lever will drop on loads over 30 grains.