Colt open tops have an esthetic beauty that I can not find the words to describe to people. Truly timeless, and so instinctual to shoot, it's almost like they aim themselves. Thank you for your videos.
They have impressive power, accuracy, and range too. A 200 grain conical clocks at 1,000 feet per second at 15 feet from the muzzle, using pyrodex P, or FFFG powder.
@@duelist1954 Yes, a great advantage to have Mr. Browning's 1911. I always liked the 38 Super, but never had one. We have lots of 2-legged varmints down here near "Mayberry," but I only have to call Deputy Barney Fife, LOL.
I always thought the 1860 was the least attractive cap and ball sixgun. It's never appealed to me much and I always thought when it came to the army models the 1858 looked less modern due to the octagon barrel regardless of having a top strap. I do love the creeping lever though. I've always thought the good ol' 1851 was the sexiest cap and ball gun and therefore the most appealing, but I much prefer .44 cal so my favorite and most used replica guns are not replicas...
I have a Pietta 1860 Colt Army with detachable shoulder stock. I love that revolver. I even made a pommel holster for it and the shoulder stock. I have made 100% combustible cartridges for it using flash paper and flash glue that worked great. It also works well with a .45 LC conversion cylinder. I really enjoyed this video and even learned something new about Colt using the same frame as the 1851 with modifications. Thanks Mike.
Soldiers are always concerned about the weight they must carry. The Colt was lighter than the Remington, yet the standard issue paper cartridge fit in both. The Colt is much better balanced than the Remington. Like you, I’ve found no evidence that Civil War soldiers carried extra cylinders as reloads. The strength of the Remington is moot if you’re shooting black powder. It only becomes an advantage if you’re overloading Hodgon 777, a modern propellant. I have reproductions of Colt and Remington revolvers and shoot both, but give a slightly higher nod to the Colt design. I’ve been shooting cap and ball revolvers since 1970. My internet nickname on shooting sites is Gatofeo, where I’ve posted my experiences and recommendations for more than 20 years. I very much enjoyed your video.
160 years later and those guns still shoot just like the day they were made. I wonder, how many of today's guns will even be around much less still shootable 160 years from now. Another very cool video.
i built a CVA reproduction kit of this gun a few decades back. most natural pointer i ever shot. at gunfight distance i could put six shots in a paper plate size group, center of mass without aiming. once i figured out the trajectory it was fairly accurate at distance.
I obtained a CVA 1860 Army Kit gun in 1985 (made by San Marco). It's still the smoothest working and best shooting 1860 army I have. Too bad CVA and San Marco are out of the business.
It’s a toss up for me between the Uberti 1860 colt repros and the 1858 Remington new model army repros. I actually prefer the smooth cocking action with an 1860 colt but I prefer the easy to remove cylinder and fewer screws on a Remington. I shoot colts better though
The third model dragoon is a great piece especially with 40 grain loads of 3f black powder and 200 grain lee mould conicals. I just wish the loading lever latch was stronger and would stay latched better under recoil
@@Matzah1982 never had any problems with any of the Dragoons, and I have all 4 incarnations. The big ol' Walker, however, drops the lever so much I lashed it to the barrel with rawhide.
I own three 1860 Army revolvers and three cartridge conversions. It is my favorite Colt I prefer it over the 1873 SAA in its cartridge conversion configuration. As for Eras gone conical bullets I've had problems loading them mostly because they aren't seating deep enough most from.the powder charge. I'm only load 24gr of FFF powder. I reduced it to 20gr to get them to seat my paper cartridges. I just switched to round ball paper cartridges and problem solved.
After much head-scratching over what I really wanted for a C+B pistol. Ive had a few over the years, mostly castoff problem children 1851's. The 1860 will be my next purchase, so I can compare it with my Remington. Great video Mike, Ive learned so much from your videos. Love the history, the practical tips, modification and recommendations. Keep up the good work.
I have experienced a cap jam with my 1851, which is why I prefer my Dragoons for shooting. Big frames with plenty of space to drop spent caps. Never had a jam with the Dragoons or Walker (which tends to drop its loading lever). The Paterson is just a pain in the arse to shoot.
Great to see an original warhorse do some work, in spite of some issues near the end. I believe that the Remington was the better gun, but that is a purely subjective judgment on my part.
😢7: minutes into this video is a thing of pure beauty.😢 a real 1860 Colt belching smoke 💨 + lead 🎉. Amazing to see someone other than myself who knows why guns are truly made for. Even 150+ year old ones. Thank you 🙏🏼 sooo much. p.s. I can’t wait to show my dad. He’ll loose his mind over this 😂😂😂
Another fun one, Mike, thank you! I think the big advantage of the Remington over the Colt isn't the ability to swap cylinders (as you pointed out, it just wasn't done), but the cap jam issue. Balázs Németh has done some comparison videos showing that, just as with the modern replicas, original Colts were more subject to cap jams than were Remingtons, and I have some documentation from the period to support that. In addition, the ease with which you can remove a Remington's cylinder means that when you do get a cap jam that really locks things up, if it is in the cylinder area (not in front of the hammer), it is easier to clear it by just popping out the cylinder. It is much harder to do that with a Colt, and when you do, you have to have a hammer, then you have to juggle the barrel, the grip, the cylinder, and the wedge in your hands, so it's easy to drop parts. I think the Remington has better sights, too, which are faster when acquiring a target in combat (as opposed to casual target shooting). Don't get me wrong, I love the 1860 Army, and I think it is the best balanced C&B revolver I have ever held, but I do think the Remington is a slightly better weapon.
98.3 Thousand Subs! Gotta say Mikey, I've been here a LONG TIME now since around 2011ish, it's going to be very nice to watch your channel hit the big 100k soon. Take care and great video!
Great video, Mike. Thanks for the detail illumination of the 1860 being built on the 1851 frame. Had never quite picked up on that in my reading through the years.
Hi Mike, I have to compliment you on your channel. I've been watching different black powder channels as I am interested in getting a cap and ball revolver. Many of the channels out there are horrible. I've seen too many commentators ramble on and say nothing for 5 minutes, spew misinformation, and mishandle their firearms. Some of the comment sections on other channels are filled with so much stupidity and nonsense, it's just unbelievable. I really appreciate how you give a no-nonsense presentation of factual information. Your knowledge of history is also interesting and relevant in your videos. Your sense of humor and period outfits add to the entertainment value. Overall, you have a great channel. I saw on one of your older videos how you were a little upset by some of the comments people leave. I was really shocked that adults benefiting from the information you provide would have the audacity to complain about anything. Anyone who criticizes you regarding your size never matured past the age of 13. Please keep doing what your doing and know that the haters are in the vast minority. So, after watching several of your videos on the topic, I think I decided on an Uberti or Cimarron 1851 Navy London Model. I already decided I'll make my own paper cartridges using round ball. If need be, I'll modify the frame like you did in one of your videos so the cartridges load easily. Thank you for all of your efforts as they are greatly appreciated by the vast majority of your viewers.
@@duelist1954 thank you for the feedback. I just watched a video where someone did an unboxing video of an 1851 Navy. He opened the box, pulled out the paperwork, took the gun out of the bag, commented on how greasy it was, and then showed the camera that it was unloaded. Unloaded, from the factory!? I immediately turned the video off. I'm no expert. However, after being an avid shooter for 35 years, I know enough that it becomes painful to listen to some people talk about firearms when they're unsure or are not interested in educating themselves. I feel if you put out an educational video, you have a responsibility to give accurate information. I saw one guy flip his DA/SA cylinder closed by flicking his wrist. Saw another guy try to cycle a Colt Gov. .380 by grabbing it from the muzzle like you would a Glock with forward serrations. Saw another guy shoot an 1851 Navy right out of the box without cleaning it. Of course it misfired 4 out of 6 times. Watched another guy load wads, seat the balls which produced shavings of lead, then proceeded to grease the chambers. He stated it was necessary to prevent chain fires. Saw another guy fanning his hammer. I feel bad for viewers watching their videos thinking they're getting worthwhile information. Thank you again for your great content. I'm stuck at home due to chemo treatments. So I'm really enjoying binge watching your videos. I live in Arizona, so I'm planning my cap n ball purchase around Christmas when my chemo will definitely be done and the weather will be cool enough to get out and enjoy shooting. Have a great day.
I bought a Pietta 1860 Army over 10 years ago, and while I haven't had it out since Covid, it's still among my favorite guns in my collection. I did find that I get less cap jams if I point it downwards while cocking the hammer. I did buy a .44 cal 1851 from my uncle, who had inherited it from his father, and it still has yet to be shot. I also bought a Walker a few years ago from Uberti.
I bought my first cap & ball revolver in 1968. It was the reproduction of the Colt 1860. I bought it from Dixie Gun Works, for $79.95. I still have that revolver, and it is still going strong. I also still have the Dixie Gun Works catalog from 1968. No telling how many hundreds of times I have shot that revolver in 54 years. It still has the original main spring...so...so much for the criticism of an easily broken "leaf" type main spring. I am on only the third set of cones (nipples). Hurray for the 1860 Army.
i have colt and remington, i noticed that my colts can shoot more than my remington that get dirty quicker ( maybe because of the closed frame ? ) after 18 shot my remington start to be too dirty to be used, but colts can continue to shoot longer.
I’ve never seen the loading lever drop on an 1860 colt before. I owned a couple of them in Uberti repros and shooting 30 grain loads of goex 3f and a 144 grain .454 diameter round ball never caused the lever to drop. I would get my goex at Dixon’s because I used to live only about 150 miles from there and the last I knew they didn’t carry Swiss black powder. I know that it’s about as powerful as pyrodex and the projectile goes about 200 feet per second faster than with goex using the same size measurement
Only the early production 1860 armys had the lug screw. It was found out that it was unnecessary so it was left out. The most number where produced without it.I wish that Uberti/Pieata had an option to go without it also.
They switched to the round cylinder because it was just easier to massproduce. The main reason the cylinders of the early 1860 armies tended to blow out was because the original straight chambering meant the metal was to thin near the stop notches. Round cylinders would have had the same issue, because the stop notches are in the rebated part of the cylinder. The way they fixed this problem was by making the ends of the chambers taper inwards, leaving more metal thickness at the stop notches. This modification was known as the cavalry cylinder and has nothing to do with round or fluted.
Very Enjoyable and Informative. The Remington certainly had its positives, but they never attained the "feel" of the Colt. Hard to describe but it just handles and points better to me.
Thank you for the great video, Mike. I love my 1860 Army revolvers. I have an original and a Uberti. In fact I used to work for Uberti for a while. Cheers!🤠
Great video, Mike! Guys with larger hands might prefer the Army grip, but I have what I judge to be average size hands and I much prefer the Navy grips. In fact, I have two 1860s and I swapped the Army grips for Navy grips. I just got onto the Wire and asked if anyone wants to trade. Guys with larger hands who prefer the Army grip usually jump on the offer. Since grip frames will swap (usually) between like reproduction models, we just trade.
The major advantage the Colt had over Remington was the higher tolerance for fouling. The deep grooves in the cylinder axis and the open top offered less binding surfaces for fouling to gum up the action. You could fire many more shots before the gun struggled to cycle. They're also easier to clean. After 6-12 shots, Remingtons really start to bind up. I would say as a black powder combat pistol, the edge goes to the Colt. Aesthetically, of course, the sleek and elegant Colts have no competition.
I finally got my very first cap and ball revolver. It's an Uberti 1851 Navy London. Though I had a very unusual experience. The grease that comes on the gun from the store makes me nauseous. I pulled the revolver out of the box and after a few minutes I started getting really queasy. At first I thought that it was just a coincidence. I washed my hands with Dawn and after an hour and a half or so it started to fade. The next day I decided to handle the gun again because I didn't really think it was the gun that made me sick. But sure enough after a couple of minutes I started getting really nauseous again. So I just have to leave it alone until I can properly clean it and replace the factory grease with the gun oil I normally use. That being said, I can't wait to use my 1851 Navy.
Wellll maybe. Out here in Missouri, where mounted pistoleers were thick on the ground, and bags full of loaded revolvers hung from saddle horns, the (admittedly few) contemporary writings I've been able to find state that the trade value of a Remington among the Troopers was as many Colts as a you could pick up with one hand, by the barrels, for one Remington.
Hi Mike,, I discovered your channel about a week ago. I've been binge watching your videos, giving thumbs-up, and of course subscribed. You have renewed my interest in cap and ball revolvers. I greatly appreciate your sense of humor, outfits, and indepth knowledge of firearms, and Evil Roy. I hope you hit your goal of 100,000 subscribers soon. You have a great channel. Thank you!
I've always been kind of dismissive of the idea that the Remington was better than the Colt because of the solid frame. Because while it's perfectly true that the sold frame is stronger -- which is why Colt ultimately introduced a solid frame with the 1873 SAA -- _for the 1860 Colt vs. the Remington_ comparison, it makes no practical difference. Both guns fired .44 caliber round balls or conical bullets over a 30 grain charge of black powder. They were identical in power, and the open-topped Colt frame was more than adequate for the charge used. I doubt anyone ever shot one enough to wear it out through frame stretching. Both guns had equivalent practical accuracy, which is to say that both were probably limited by the skill of the shooter more than any faults in the guns. And in fact, in the cap and ball era, some touted the open top as an advantage for the Colt, as it theoretically made it easier for exploded cap fragments to fall clear and not get jammed between the frame and cylinder. Also, the larger diameter arbor pin used by the Colt (as a matter of necessity to make up for the lack of a top strap), had more surface area, and meant the Colt started binding up from black powder fouling less quickly than the Remington, from everything I've read. When Colt introduced the 1873, and the .45 Colt load, with its increase to 40 grains of powder, that extra power necessitated a switch to a solid frame, but for the lighter charge of the 1860, the open-topped frame was entirely adequate. As noted in the video, it certainly didn't prevent most shooters from preferring the Colt to any other handgun.
I’ve watched all of your 1860 army videos. It never gets old. Thanks for helping to keep these firearms alive!
Thanks!
I bought the CVA kit years ago and built the pistol. The pistol is a natural pointer and extremely accurate with 30 grains powder and round ball.
Hi Mike, the only thing I enjoy watching almost as good as putting
My GSD's through their paces are your Videos !!! Thanks Mike
Colt open tops have an esthetic beauty that I can not find the words to describe to people. Truly timeless, and so instinctual to shoot, it's almost like they aim themselves. Thank you for your videos.
They have impressive power, accuracy, and range too. A 200 grain conical clocks at 1,000 feet per second at 15 feet from the muzzle, using pyrodex P, or FFFG powder.
I know the Rems are a better construction but the Colts are just GORGEOUS.
As usual ,you outdue the competition with historical and entertaining video on great subject matter. Thanks brother. ❤🙂👍
MIKE! You loaded 6 shots!
I know. In this case I did it for historical authenticity
😲 SIX!?!?
If Johnny Reb is coming at you or an Indian warrior, you need 6! Safety be damned.
@@tomcurran8470 I agree...but that just hasn't happened to me...LOL...if it does they are more likely to find 10 .38 Supers streaking their way.
@@duelist1954 Yes, a great advantage to have Mr. Browning's 1911. I always liked the 38 Super, but never had one. We have lots of 2-legged varmints down here near "Mayberry," but I only have to call Deputy Barney Fife, LOL.
Well done! As a Texan, I'm fond of the fluted models, but as you've mentioned, they did have their shortcomings.
Love it when the originals sound off 👍🇺🇸
I always thought the 1860 was the least attractive cap and ball sixgun. It's never appealed to me much and I always thought when it came to the army models the 1858 looked less modern due to the octagon barrel regardless of having a top strap. I do love the creeping lever though. I've always thought the good ol' 1851 was the sexiest cap and ball gun and therefore the most appealing, but I much prefer .44 cal so my favorite and most used replica guns are not replicas...
get well Mike, we miss you.
Watching your videos is more fun than watching the news...
Thanks!…I think…LOL
John Smith: Watching paint dry is more fun than watching the news!
I have a Pietta 1860 Colt Army with detachable shoulder stock. I love that revolver. I even made a pommel holster for it and the shoulder stock. I have made 100% combustible cartridges for it using flash paper and flash glue that worked great. It also works well with a .45 LC conversion cylinder. I really enjoyed this video and even learned something new about Colt using the same frame as the 1851 with modifications. Thanks Mike.
Thanks!
Flash glue, never seen those words put together like that . I'm so jealous, flash glue.. cool
Soldiers are always concerned about the weight they must carry. The Colt was lighter than the Remington, yet the standard issue paper cartridge fit in both.
The Colt is much better balanced than the Remington. Like you, I’ve found no evidence that Civil War soldiers carried extra cylinders as reloads.
The strength of the Remington is moot if you’re shooting black powder. It only becomes an advantage if you’re overloading Hodgon 777, a modern propellant.
I have reproductions of Colt and Remington revolvers and shoot both, but give a slightly higher nod to the Colt design.
I’ve been shooting cap and ball revolvers since 1970. My internet nickname on shooting sites is Gatofeo, where I’ve posted my experiences and recommendations for more than 20 years.
I very much enjoyed your video.
I'm not going to lie, as a History major and 2a fanatic, I'm a bit jealous, sir.
160 years later and those guns still shoot just like the day they were made. I wonder, how many of today's guns will even be around much less still shootable 160 years from now. Another very cool video.
Thanks!
OMG! How am I just now finding you!? I’ve been watching “Cap & Ball” for about 4-5 years now.
Beautiful pistol.
Great video my friend! Would Love to see more!
I love this one. Very slim. I have a denix replica.
You should've just gotten one that shoots
@@sambrooks107 yeah. Italy is hard for gun lovers. Also I'm poor.
Love your videos Sir. I could ramble on and on with you.
Thanks!
I got an original mismatch on gunbroker a year ago I need to send to get repaired, I didn’t mean to win it but I’m glad I did.
Excellent shooting! 😮
Your groups are damned good. Good shooting.Evil Roy didn't have a chance.
Mike, I never tire hearing about the history of Colts.
Great video BTW.
Thank You
Thanks!
i built a CVA reproduction kit of this gun a few decades back. most natural pointer i ever shot. at gunfight distance i could put six shots in a paper plate size group, center of mass without aiming. once i figured out the trajectory it was fairly accurate at distance.
I obtained a CVA 1860 Army Kit gun in 1985 (made by San Marco). It's still the smoothest working and best shooting 1860 army I have. Too bad CVA and San Marco are out of the business.
The colt 1860 army is the top of the line for the colt percussion revolvers
Amen Brother!
It’s a toss up for me between the Uberti 1860 colt repros and the 1858 Remington new model army repros. I actually prefer the smooth cocking action with an 1860 colt but I prefer the easy to remove cylinder and fewer screws on a Remington. I shoot colts better though
I prefer the big ol' Army Dragoons myself. Never have cap jams and more powerful. Make my day....
The third model dragoon is a great piece especially with 40 grain loads of 3f black powder and 200 grain lee mould conicals. I just wish the loading lever latch was stronger and would stay latched better under recoil
@@Matzah1982 never had any problems with any of the Dragoons, and I have all 4 incarnations. The big ol' Walker, however, drops the lever so much I lashed it to the barrel with rawhide.
Greetings from Katowice Poland. You're doing a good job mate.
Thanks!
I own three 1860 Army revolvers and three cartridge conversions. It is my favorite Colt I prefer it over the 1873 SAA in its cartridge conversion configuration. As for Eras gone conical bullets I've had problems loading them mostly because they aren't seating deep enough most from.the powder charge. I'm only load 24gr of FFF powder. I reduced it to 20gr to get them to seat my paper cartridges. I just switched to round ball paper cartridges and problem solved.
Which conversions? I have a Richards II and Long Cylinder. I like the second one best, as it retained the loading lever.
After much head-scratching over what I really wanted for a C+B pistol. Ive had a few over the years, mostly castoff problem children 1851's. The 1860 will be my next purchase, so I can compare it with my Remington.
Great video Mike, Ive learned so much from your videos. Love the history, the practical tips, modification and recommendations.
Keep up the good work.
Love these type of videos
The caps were not as thin back then as they are today.
This made cap jams less of a problem.
I have experienced a cap jam with my 1851, which is why I prefer my Dragoons for shooting. Big frames with plenty of space to drop spent caps. Never had a jam with the Dragoons or Walker (which tends to drop its loading lever). The Paterson is just a pain in the arse to shoot.
Good shooting. 🎯
Thanks!
Nice old smoke wagon Mike, thanks for sharing.
Awesome video Mike.
Great to see an original warhorse do some work, in spite of some issues near the end. I believe that the Remington was the better gun, but that is a purely subjective judgment on my part.
Always ready for a great history lesson.
Always nice to see someone else who shoots original guns. Thanks
Ah, nothing like the " video" smell of black powder first thing on a Thursday morning !!! Love you videos.
Thanks!
😢7: minutes into this video is a thing of pure beauty.😢 a real 1860 Colt belching smoke 💨 + lead 🎉. Amazing to see someone other than myself who knows why guns are truly made for. Even 150+ year old ones. Thank you 🙏🏼 sooo much.
p.s. I can’t wait to show my dad. He’ll loose his mind over this 😂😂😂
Another fun one, Mike, thank you! I think the big advantage of the Remington over the Colt isn't the ability to swap cylinders (as you pointed out, it just wasn't done), but the cap jam issue. Balázs Németh has done some comparison videos showing that, just as with the modern replicas, original Colts were more subject to cap jams than were Remingtons, and I have some documentation from the period to support that. In addition, the ease with which you can remove a Remington's cylinder means that when you do get a cap jam that really locks things up, if it is in the cylinder area (not in front of the hammer), it is easier to clear it by just popping out the cylinder. It is much harder to do that with a Colt, and when you do, you have to have a hammer, then you have to juggle the barrel, the grip, the cylinder, and the wedge in your hands, so it's easy to drop parts. I think the Remington has better sights, too, which are faster when acquiring a target in combat (as opposed to casual target shooting). Don't get me wrong, I love the 1860 Army, and I think it is the best balanced C&B revolver I have ever held, but I do think the Remington is a slightly better weapon.
Glad you liked it Hugh
Yeah I have both colt and rem and the cap jams are worse on the colt.your right the sights are better on the rememton.
This is one of my favorite videos. Like to see a comparison between the Colt & the Remington. Good points the so called bad.
I thought I did one…maybe I only did a magazine article…I’ll add it to the list.
98.3 Thousand Subs! Gotta say Mikey, I've been here a LONG TIME now since around 2011ish, it's going to be very nice to watch your channel hit the big 100k soon. Take care and great video!
Thank you!
Always a pleasure!!
Camera. Good old humidity!!
That has to be a valuable original revolver - complete with the traditional 'falling lever'. - Thanks for sharing.
Nice gun , good history lesson, great video 👍🇬🇧
Thanks!
Thanks! You always have great content. The 1860 Army is also MY favorite.
Mr Beliveau you're a treasure, and I hope to see you making videos for many years to come.
Thanks! I hope so too.
Cool! I love how you guys are keeping firearms history engaging and very interesting. Please keep up the great work!👍
Thanks!
Excellent video, love the history of these old guns. Had no idea about the fire at the Colt factory.
Excellent. I like your story telling style.
Thanks!
Thanks very much, Mike. Very enjoyable.
Good Video. What a great gun.
Thanks!
Great video, thanks! I disagree about it being the pinnacle, though, I would suggest the Beaumont Adams for that honour :)
I would love to shoot one of those.
The 1860 Army Revolver had cap jams compared to the Remington New Madel Army Revolver which rarely had any jams.
Great job Mike!! Im looking forward to the next installment!! 👍
Great video, Mike. Thanks for the detail illumination of the 1860 being built on the 1851 frame. Had never quite picked up on that in my reading through the years.
Hi Mike, I have to compliment you on your channel. I've been watching different black powder channels as I am interested in getting a cap and ball revolver. Many of the channels out there are horrible. I've seen too many commentators ramble on and say nothing for 5 minutes, spew misinformation, and mishandle their firearms. Some of the comment sections on other channels are filled with so much stupidity and nonsense, it's just unbelievable.
I really appreciate how you give a no-nonsense presentation of factual information. Your knowledge of history is also interesting and relevant in your videos. Your sense of humor and period outfits add to the entertainment value. Overall, you have a great channel.
I saw on one of your older videos how you were a little upset by some of the comments people leave. I was really shocked that adults benefiting from the information you provide would have the audacity to complain about anything. Anyone who criticizes you regarding your size never matured past the age of 13.
Please keep doing what your doing and know that the haters are in the vast minority.
So, after watching several of your videos on the topic, I think I decided on an Uberti or Cimarron 1851 Navy London Model. I already decided I'll make my own paper cartridges using round ball. If need be, I'll modify the frame like you did in one of your videos so the cartridges load easily.
Thank you for all of your efforts as they are greatly appreciated by the vast majority of your viewers.
Thanks Marc. You should not have to modify the Navy frame for cartridges.
@@duelist1954 thank you for the feedback. I just watched a video where someone did an unboxing video of an 1851 Navy. He opened the box, pulled out the paperwork, took the gun out of the bag, commented on how greasy it was, and then showed the camera that it was unloaded. Unloaded, from the factory!? I immediately turned the video off. I'm no expert. However, after being an avid shooter for 35 years, I know enough that it becomes painful to listen to some people talk about firearms when they're unsure or are not interested in educating themselves. I feel if you put out an educational video, you have a responsibility to give accurate information. I saw one guy flip his DA/SA cylinder closed by flicking his wrist. Saw another guy try to cycle a Colt Gov. .380 by grabbing it from the muzzle like you would a Glock with forward serrations. Saw another guy shoot an 1851 Navy right out of the box without cleaning it. Of course it misfired 4 out of 6 times. Watched another guy load wads, seat the balls which produced shavings of lead, then proceeded to grease the chambers. He stated it was necessary to prevent chain fires. Saw another guy fanning his hammer. I feel bad for viewers watching their videos thinking they're getting worthwhile information. Thank you again for your great content. I'm stuck at home due to chemo treatments. So I'm really enjoying binge watching your videos. I live in Arizona, so I'm planning my cap n ball purchase around Christmas when my chemo will definitely be done and the weather will be cool enough to get out and enjoy shooting. Have a great day.
Love the 1860 … most beautiful 44 every made (although the 1862 Police is more beautiful for a lesser caliber).
I bought a Pietta 1860 Army over 10 years ago, and while I haven't had it out since Covid, it's still among my favorite guns in my collection. I did find that I get less cap jams if I point it downwards while cocking the hammer. I did buy a .44 cal 1851 from my uncle, who had inherited it from his father, and it still has yet to be shot. I also bought a Walker a few years ago from Uberti.
I bought my first cap & ball revolver in 1968. It was the reproduction of the Colt 1860. I bought it from Dixie Gun Works, for $79.95. I still have that revolver, and it is still going strong. I also still have the Dixie Gun Works catalog from 1968. No telling how many hundreds of times I have shot that revolver in 54 years. It still has the original main spring...so...so much for the criticism of an easily broken "leaf" type main spring. I am on only the third set of cones (nipples). Hurray for the 1860 Army.
i have colt and remington, i noticed that my colts can shoot more than my remington that get dirty quicker ( maybe because of the closed frame ? ) after 18 shot my remington start to be too dirty to be used, but colts can continue to shoot longer.
Try filing 3-4 lube grooves into theRemy cylinder pinand apply liberal lube.
@@jason60chev mmmmh ok interesting thanks :-)
Good video as always Mike. I hope this season we might be getting another Halloween video with a spooky story perhaps!?
We'll see.
Awesome video
Bonjour, le 1851 et le 1860 sont mes armes favorites, vous avez raison le changement de barillet à été inventé à notre époque.
I’ve never seen the loading lever drop on an 1860 colt before. I owned a couple of them in Uberti repros and shooting 30 grain loads of goex 3f and a 144 grain .454 diameter round ball never caused the lever to drop. I would get my goex at Dixon’s because I used to live only about 150 miles from there and the last I knew they didn’t carry Swiss black powder. I know that it’s about as powerful as pyrodex and the projectile goes about 200 feet per second faster than with goex using the same size measurement
I noticed that the frame and backstrap are cut for the shoulder stock, but it does not any provision for the lug screw.
Only the early production 1860 armys had the lug screw. It was found out that it was unnecessary so it was left out. The most number where produced without it.I wish that Uberti/Pieata had an option to go without it also.
I guess the ball was wrapped up in the paper cartridge, thank for showing us some real history,. Very good shooting !
Not balls, he is shooting conicals that has a heel that is wrapped up in the papers A bit hard to see with all that grease on 🙂.
Always excited to see a new episode!
An excellent video by the best videographer on TH-cam and the black powder authority in the U.S. on most all black powder arms of the past.
Thanks Ted
They switched to the round cylinder because it was just easier to massproduce.
The main reason the cylinders of the early 1860 armies tended to blow out was because the original straight chambering meant the metal was to thin near the stop notches.
Round cylinders would have had the same issue, because the stop notches are in the rebated part of the cylinder.
The way they fixed this problem was by making the ends of the chambers taper inwards, leaving more metal thickness at the stop notches. This modification was known as the cavalry cylinder and has nothing to do with round or fluted.
Very Enjoyable and Informative. The Remington certainly had its positives, but they never attained the "feel" of the Colt. Hard to describe but it just handles and points better to me.
Good video, very informative.
Thanks!
Excellent presentation, Mr. Mike.
Thanks!
I Love the 1860 grip!
I detest the 1858 Remington grip.
Still think it's a neat gun!
Beautiful revolver. Thanks for the video
Thanks!
Thank you for the great video, Mike. I love my 1860 Army revolvers. I have an original and a Uberti. In fact I used to work for Uberti for a while. Cheers!🤠
Keep doin what you're doing! Love the historical guns!
Thanks Mike. 👍👍😎
Thank you so much Mike.
Thanks for the great video
Loved the information, best TH-cam videos is on this channel
Thanks!
Great video, Mike! Guys with larger hands might prefer the Army grip, but I have what I judge to be average size hands and I much prefer the Navy grips. In fact, I have two 1860s and I swapped the Army grips for Navy grips. I just got onto the Wire and asked if anyone wants to trade. Guys with larger hands who prefer the Army grip usually jump on the offer. Since grip frames will swap (usually) between like reproduction models, we just trade.
The major advantage the Colt had over Remington was the higher tolerance for fouling. The deep grooves in the cylinder axis and the open top offered less binding surfaces for fouling to gum up the action. You could fire many more shots before the gun struggled to cycle. They're also easier to clean. After 6-12 shots, Remingtons really start to bind up. I would say as a black powder combat pistol, the edge goes to the Colt. Aesthetically, of course, the sleek and elegant Colts have no competition.
I finally got my very first cap and ball revolver. It's an Uberti 1851 Navy London. Though I had a very unusual experience. The grease that comes on the gun from the store makes me nauseous. I pulled the revolver out of the box and after a few minutes I started getting really queasy. At first I thought that it was just a coincidence. I washed my hands with Dawn and after an hour and a half or so it started to fade. The next day I decided to handle the gun again because I didn't really think it was the gun that made me sick. But sure enough after a couple of minutes I started getting really nauseous again. So I just have to leave it alone until I can properly clean it and replace the factory grease with the gun oil I normally use. That being said, I can't wait to use my 1851 Navy.
Thanks Mike. It is great to see original firearms being shot, so we can see how well they shoot.
Wellll maybe. Out here in Missouri, where mounted pistoleers were thick on the ground, and bags full of loaded revolvers hung from saddle horns, the (admittedly few) contemporary writings I've been able to find state that the trade value of a Remington among the Troopers was as many Colts as a you could pick up with one hand, by the barrels, for one Remington.
Hi Mike,, I discovered your channel about a week ago. I've been binge watching your videos, giving thumbs-up, and of course subscribed. You have renewed my interest in cap and ball revolvers. I greatly appreciate your sense of humor, outfits, and indepth knowledge of firearms, and Evil Roy. I hope you hit your goal of 100,000 subscribers soon. You have a great channel. Thank you!
Thanks Marc! I appreciate it.
A really excellent video. Thanks. Great content and detail.
hands and people were smaller on average in the 1800s it would make sense that the smaller 1851 grip was the favorite at the time
First gun I bought for myself.
Another good one, Mike! Thanks!
It's my favorite Cap gun too . And I also shoot a original 1860 Colt 1st Gen
My two favorite 1860s are a Long Cylinder conversion and a Richards II conversion, both in 45 Colt. My cap and ball model is a distant 3rd.
Thank you. Always interesting.
I've always been kind of dismissive of the idea that the Remington was better than the Colt because of the solid frame. Because while it's perfectly true that the sold frame is stronger -- which is why Colt ultimately introduced a solid frame with the 1873 SAA -- _for the 1860 Colt vs. the Remington_ comparison, it makes no practical difference. Both guns fired .44 caliber round balls or conical bullets over a 30 grain charge of black powder. They were identical in power, and the open-topped Colt frame was more than adequate for the charge used. I doubt anyone ever shot one enough to wear it out through frame stretching. Both guns had equivalent practical accuracy, which is to say that both were probably limited by the skill of the shooter more than any faults in the guns. And in fact, in the cap and ball era, some touted the open top as an advantage for the Colt, as it theoretically made it easier for exploded cap fragments to fall clear and not get jammed between the frame and cylinder. Also, the larger diameter arbor pin used by the Colt (as a matter of necessity to make up for the lack of a top strap), had more surface area, and meant the Colt started binding up from black powder fouling less quickly than the Remington, from everything I've read.
When Colt introduced the 1873, and the .45 Colt load, with its increase to 40 grains of powder, that extra power necessitated a switch to a solid frame, but for the lighter charge of the 1860, the open-topped frame was entirely adequate. As noted in the video, it certainly didn't prevent most shooters from preferring the Colt to any other handgun.
Nicely done. Thanks for all the info!
Love them Black Powered pistols. Lot of fun.
Reading about Mosby's Rangers. They started out with '51 Navy's but switched to 1860 Army's every chance they got.