My father, a combat marine in the 1st in WW2 always carried a pocket 22. He said a 22 is absolutely a deadly round and that the 22 will be the round that will probably save our nation in the next revolution
That is because our tyrannical government will first round up the larger bores first and it's way easier to hide. Honestly I could see these new high power PCPs like the Texan or Benjamin bulldog 357 being used in assassinations due to how quite the slugs are.
Anything can be deadly if put in the right spot, but there are standards to self defense as framed by Evan Marshall and Edwin Sanow and their extensive study of self defense ballistics.
@@saltcreekammo which are accepted by very few, outside of gun-rag-writers paid to advertise new stuff for the major manufacturers... been that way since the 1940's. The reality is that humans haven't changed in 10,000 years + - a couple thousand, if it worked then, it would stand to reason it'll work now.
I beat myself up about getting one for about 2 weeks then finally gave in and got one. It's really a nice revolver. I've also done the mods on it that Mark from era gone bullet molds recommended.
GREAT JOB SIR..IN MY TEST I ALSO FOUND THE 4f THE BEST CHOICE AND BERFORMANCE WAS VERY CLOSE TO WHAT YOU SHOWED..ELMER KEITH SAID HE USED A 49 AS A DISPATCH GUN FOR BIG BOBCATS IN TRAPS SO IT IS TO BE RESPECTED..THANKS FOR THE VIDEO..SAFE JOURNEYS
I bought a second generation Colt 1862 Navy in 1980, right as they were remaking their cap and ball revolvers, carried it and a model 94 as home defense weapons, as a Marine on active duty, picked up a new Uberti, "pocket police", a 71, in the box, almost forty years ago, not well finished, spent a couple years stoning the frame square, flat, re-color casing it, and used it twenty years, at our home, "retired", in farm country, NC, next to a creek, and that pistol killed at least a hundred substantial snake, copperheads, water moccasins, eastern diamond backs, with both ball and shot, and along with a North American Arms 22 magnum, was the mainstay as we cleared fifty years of brush, wife and I, over about five years. This was no surprise to me, I've never chronographed or tried to measure energy, simply because I was quite please with its "live performance". I still keep one in my chair in the living room, it's deadly, accurate, and I never have to buy ammo, I just make it. I've got five or six 32 acp's, a 25 acp, and they only barely reach a similar, not equal performance. I used to think the non-expanding full metal jacket responsible, but now consider the higher velocity, with less friction, resistance, is responsible for the better performance. The thirty six navy has usually been fired with 25 to 30 grains of Goex, and a 38 doesn't compete. Thanks for the chronograph, and the clear evidence of "penetration". Semper Fidelis, John McClain
You look just at the numbers the .31 was responsible for more deaths than all the others. Usually a week later they passed. Not especially quick but effective. No antibiotics back then.
You do your job, and the little .31 will do it's job. I love shooting black powder pistols. It's a lot more enjoyable that burning through cased ammo. Thanks for the demo.
Interesting video, Mark. A simple solution for my Dropping Loading Lever was to snap the spring loaded catch out several times. Using a flat blade screwdriver push the catch into the rod all the way. Slide the screwdriver out of the way to allow the catch to pop out quickly. By doing this several times the catch stuck out slightly more than originally and provided for a stronger grip.
I can't seem to find "0" buckshot, but I can get .350 round ball. Not too hard to seat, and definitely shears off a ring. Makes a somewhat oblong little pill, 32 diameter by 350 length. Almost like a wadcutter.
VERY impressive! Quite a rupture effect on the first jug too. You've effectively demonstrated that, properly loaded, the little .31 packs considerable wallop with the conical. A .22 LR will not do that much damage even with HP. A .22 Mag will. Also Swiss 4Fg would likely hit 950 + as it is a hotter powder than GOEX. Swiss would pretty well approximate the true ballistics of the Hazard powder actually used in the 19th Century with these revolvers. Swiss 4Fg is similar to Hazard #1 Pistol Powder, and Swiss Null B (5Fg) is close to the Hazard Cartridge powder provided to makers of revolver combustibles. The cartridge powder was made by Hazard at Sam Colt's request when Colt began revolver cartridge manufacture in 1855 with the unpopular short lived foil cartridges. Colt switched to paper envelopes in 1858 and revolver combustibles became very popular.
Even if that wasn't the case I'm pretty sure the .22 lr holds the record for most dead civilians. Yeah, small calibers may not do great at range but up close and personal they'll still give someone a very bad day.
An old fed fighter told me he keeps a 25 auto for the chance of being choked from behind. He said a 25 would take out a felon with a head shot without hurting himself from excessive blast.
As a youngster I shot a deer with O buckshot. Two pellets to the lungs, but one to the back of the scull. The pellet bounced fore and aft enough to mush up the grey matter. It landed on its head at a DEAD run.
That was truly impressive, who would have thought this would be the results of a shooting test, I'm impressed to say the least that a small caliber would have that much penetration, Thx Mark for the vid.
I'd love to see a modern cartridge conversion for this in something like .32 ACP or .32 S&W Long. A lot deadlier than people give it credit for. While I've not heard as many people say it's as deadly as a .22, one thing they forget is that's .22 out of an 18 or 20 inch barrel usually. This is a much smaller gun by comparison shooting a bullet that's double the weight from a much shorter barrel.
That's because you were using soft water, the hard water at my place would have stopped it in 2 jugs! Lol! Great video I need to pick some of those up soon.
Great video! Very informative. I have several cap and ball revolvers, all Navy caliber, save for my 1849 Uberti Pocket. Small as it is, it is my favorite. I recently purchased one of your .31 bullet molds but have yet to try it out. Now that the warmer weather is here, I shall remedy that very soon! (I always cast outdoors). Again, a great video with some really useful information!
Surprisingly impressive! I like others assumed it to be a shooter of about 450-500 fps with little penetration and better results from throwing a rock but this ain't no punk and I sure as hell would NOT want to be the unlucky recipient of a shot from it! Its closer to a .38, which was an equally popular choice in the 20th century prior to 9mm autos taking the lead before everyone started buying crazy big calibers today.
with bullets: .32 percussion revolver= hot-loaded .32 SW,L or .32 LC... or standard .32 ACP .36 percussion revolvers= standard .38 Special, hot loaded .38LC or .38 SW,L, or standard .380 ACP .44 percussion revolver (belt models)= .45 Colt, hot-loaded .45 SW, .45ACP .44 Percussion revolver (Horse models)= early/standard loadings of .44 mag with balls (less penetration for all the following): .32= .22wmr out of an SBR, but with a bigger hole .36= .32ACP, but with a bigger hole .44 Belt= .38 LC, bigger hole .44 Horse= .38special, bigger hole
Very interesting results, ffff is perfect powder for low capacity, some of Samuel Colts powders looked like the granulations was about as fine as the 4 F powder we use today, which is why the later colts had smaller cylinders because they started using better powder, a lot of people complained that they kicked too hard , if you load them like modern people they have no recoil, so either the powder was different or people were wimps back theme lol, Nice looking bullet, looks like it performed really good
Leverguns 50 back in the 19th Century, FFFFg was considered pistol powder, FFFg was "rifle powder" and FFg musket or shotgun powder. In 1855, at Colt's request, Hazard Powder Company, manufactured a special powder for Colt's new foil revolver cartridges, called "Hazard Cartridge Powder" which was an extremely fine grained 5Fg. You will see combustible cartridge packets from Colt, D.C. Sage, Johnston & Dow, etc often marked "Made of Hazard's Cartridge Powder". The closest modern black powder to Hazard #1 Pistol Powder in actual performance is Swiss 4Fg, and the closest to "Hazard Cartridge Powder" is Swiss Null B(5Fg). The 5Fg should never be loose loaded, but only used in a paper powder envelope to prevent powder dribbling thru the nipples and setting up a possible chain fire. Traditional combustible cartridge loads with 5Fg are roughly 10% conical bullet weight. Before loose loading 4Fg, change the nipples to quality replacements having very tiny flash holes. I only use 4Fg under conical bullets and keep charges in the 10% to 15% conical bullet weight range. For full powder charges under round balls in revolvers, I stick to 3Fg.
@@63DW89A Plus by 1860s or so they were starting using some Brown powders that were hotter than black powder, they just charred the wood not turning it all the way in to charcoal, they said it produce tire velocities with the same amount of powder.
@@Leverguns50 I've heard of the brown powders, but have not had a chance to research them. Would be interesting to make some of them! I'd like to make a few small batches of replica "Hazard Powder" using willow charcoal and compare to Swiss to see how Swiss/Hazard would compare. The fascinating fact coming to light, [as Mark's valuable and informative .31 test demonstrates!] is that the percussion revolvers, properly loaded with correct powders, operate at a considerably higher power level, than has been commonly believed for many decades now!
I double checked because I thought I saw Clint Eastwood using one of these in the outlaw Jose Wales. Sure enough he did and had it in a shoulder holster. I just received mine and have started the molds on it can't wait to try it out.
Also keep in mind that in 1848 a huge amount of pistols you came across were still single shot. Given that the odds of a my adversary carrying a single shot or even a bow I probably would have felt quite comfortable carrying this revolver.
I wonder how easily I can convince my wife to let me spend the money on another black.powder gun and bullet mold? Very impressive demonstration, Mark. I never expected a 31 Colt Pocket to stand up to 32 ACP. Wow.
Great video, I tried the baby Dragoon 330 77 conical bullets in my Uberti .31 caliber Wells Fargo revolver and I was very impressed with the penetration over round balls. Thank you for the video.
A very interesting conclusion! The penetration of this light bullet is amazing, not sure what alloy you used, but the bullet was barely deformed after passing through 5 jugs, 5 jugs must be equivalent to at least two people, so it is more that sufficient for any self defence in the 19th century, and of course it was not the penetration that caused trauma, but the infection, with very little chance of medical attention, that would make a potential assailant think twice, stay safe! Chris B.
@@erasgonehistoricalmolds2400 Well, that is a surprise, traveling at around 900fps I would expect it to set up on hitting water, at that velocity water would be like a solid mass, I wonder if a ball would perform much more different to that in penetration and setting up.
Looks awesome! I'm still considering trying these in my 1863. Just loading the cylinder off the revolver. I too load mine with 4f. I'm not sure what what the powder capacity difference is between remingtons and the colts
I found that these small pistols don't set off caps very good I fitted two main springs in the one I had. I swapped it for a Pietta 1860 Army. I wanted to by another one lately but they are all on back order.
Uberti's are known for light mainsprings. They view these as novelties, rather than actual firearms, so their focus is on target-type triggers, rather than reliability.
The number one pocket defense pistol of gamblers and miners post BP Single Shot Derringer and Pre Center Fire 2 Barrel Derringer. They put a lot of hurt out there for it's size.
@BurkeSchneider over at "CapandBall" YT channel, Balazs Nemeth used the Eras Gone .31 conical in an original 6" barrel Colt Pocket Revolver. Swiss FFg was the powder, and the charge was similar to Mark's for the Uberti Colt .31 4" barrel replica. Velocity was around 780 fps. Mr. Nemeth did not want to push the original Colt too hard, and that is why he used FFg. The old 170 year old Colt shot amazing groups at 25 meters!
@@63DW89A I wonder how much the accuracy had to do with Mr. Nemeth's skills, the man can shoot! Thank you, that was exactly the information I was looking for.
If your going for a .31 cap and Ball, the Pietta "Remington" pocket revolver is the bee's knees. A little more difficult to find these days, but a sweet little pistola nonetheless. Solid as a rock... being so tiny with a topstrap.
So, those who are sold on size and power, lemme tell you from experience, shot placement rules the day, every day. You are now free to carry any caliber you choose, happy choosing.
I may have mentioned this before, but given medical knowledge in the mid 1800, a wound from a .31 pocket revolver, though maybe not a one shot manstopper, could become infected and fester for days, followed by your demise.
President William McKinley was shot by Leon Czolgos using a .32 caliber revolver. President McKinley survived the wound but gangrene is what actually killed him.
That was some cool video. I really like the 49 pocket model. I didn’t realize they were that powerful. I have 32 long a fun gun to shoot. Guess I gotta get a 49 now. To go with my 44 sheriffs model.
But in defensive situations isn't the object to incapacitate a target rather than kill them? If the crazy guy attacking me with a knife is strung out on PCP I'm not sure a .22 or .31 would stop him.
@@twistedyogert a bullet though your heart or spine will stop anyone no matter how big their pain tolerance is or how high they are. Bigger bullets do more damage, no doubt about that but as long as the projectile can reach far enough inside to hit the important parts they can stop the attacker. That isn’t to say that a .22 is just as effective as a 9mm or that a .31 cap and ball revolver is just as strong as a .36 or a .44 cap and ball, they not. In fact if you don’t hit anything important with a .22 or .31 cap and ball the weapon is much less likely to stop an attacker. Simply put they CAN stop an attacker with proper shot placement even if they are hop up on drugs but if you miss the important parts like the lungs, heart, spine, brain, etc they won’t do much damage
@@massmedia7158 These things wouldn't have been popular if they weren't good enough to stop an attacker. From what I've heard, selling these pistols saved Colt from going under.
Mark, I bought a conversion cylinder in .32 S&W for this revolver. Unfortunately that bullet is only .312 diameter, so it is too undersized for the bore. The conversion cylinder chambers are not bored str8 thru with the same diameter, but have a more narrow diameter than the neck of the brass, bored in the front of the chamber. If that narrow part could be bored out to the brass neck diameter and the brass could be reloaded with your EGB bullet or a .321 ball, I think those projectiles would engage the rifling in the barrel, thus giving real accuracy. up to 25 yds. What are your thoughts?
@@robertrobert7924 that would be the challenge. Other than a custom mold I cold not tell you. No reason you cant prototype one out by centering the base of a .313 and drilling a progressively larger deeper hole until you saw notable accuracy.
This,is fantastic comparison, I have a very rare S&W 32 LONG.I HAVE SEEN OTHER TEST I THINK YOU DID ONE..HOW a 36 AND a 9mm comparison, it would shock a lot of people that's for sure
.32 long S&W uses a 100 grain bullet, but I think most factory is quite anemic due to the older pot metal break open guns that are out there. Some of these are not even made of steel.
Hmmm. 12 grains? My load for .32 S&W Long is 14 (volume equivalent, using American Pioneer Powder), IIRC, which is slightly compressed to give a cartridge length that fits my 1890s vintage H&R top break (probably originally made for .32 H&R, but no step in the chambers). Might get another grain or two in there with a different bullet and cylinder length for full .32 Long. Factory .32 S&W and .32 Long factory loads used slightly heavier bullets -- 95-100 grains cover most of them, and my load is a 100 grain wadcutter (because it was the cast bullet I could find when I ordered components) -- that cuts velocity some, of course, which reduces energy a little for the same powder load, but tends to improve penetration. The real measure here is powder load, other factors equal. Still, I'll call this equivalent to a .32 S&W or .32 H&R, neither of which was "as puny as a .22."
I read somewhere more men killed in 19TH century by pocket revolvers than larger more powerful "belt guns". I think the idea is that the range was always close with the pocket guns.
Good to see justice here. I have always scoffed and known better , , than to listen to all the tak about how ineffective etc , . I fire my Pockets (Authentic colt) charged with 14g and the same elongated ball you have, cast from an actual Colt mold, and the ball passes through 3 pine boards from 50yds. Anyway, they have proved themselves with actual hunting kills. Good work.
Mark, thank you for the surprising results. I admit I was always of the mind that ffffg was only for priming flinters. What other cap & ball guns have you used it in or would you consider ok in? Thanks again.
ffff grade is very fine powder, for use in smaller bp revolvers. if you put this grade of powder in a larger revolver, you risk backventing into the cap nipple because of how fine the grain is. fff grade is most commonly used for big bore revolvers, and ff and f for muzzleloaders.
Now test 44 for velocity and energy ;) So if we got 32 acp energy from punny 31, 357 magnum energy is in reach of 44 with proper powder/bullet selection or is it? Your thoughts?
Measurements obtained with the lee bullet 450-200 ogival grains and Swiss powder N ° 1 FFFFG : 25 grains : v5=260 m/s E=42 kgm 35 grains : v5=315 m/s E=62 kgm
Wonderful video , as I watched the video iam reminded as a reloader of 42 years * also designing and. Making special purpose. ammunition that at one time it was legal to shoot stray dogs damage ing property* I had problems with dogs getting in my trash* so my old speer reloading manual had a round ball load for my 44 special* , 433 round ball 120 grain and bullseye pistol powder 2,3 grains 504 feet per second* I thought to just put knots on there butts * at 30 feet it shot through 3 milk jugs of water * I decided not a good idea because I was looking to just put some rememberable hurt on the dogs not kill them* nanna and papa wishing you well
The Uberti Model 1849 has a correctly shaped loading plunger and it does not blunt the bullet. The Pietta Remington will not work with this bullet. Its loading port is much smaller than the original and a conical bullet will not fit under the load lever.
I got an average of 710 fps with ~12.5 grains 3F Swiss. I didn’t think there would be that much difference in 3F and 4F, so I’m going to test 4F next. Is there an official max charge for the conical bullet? I can fit 14-15 grains 3F when loading with a cheater bar
@@erasgonehistoricalmolds2400I got around to trying some 4f. I crammed 15 grains in there and got 900-950 fps with the conical so I’m happy with that. You have to use an extension lever to load that much powder and run the risk of bending the loading lever.
My issue would be just how good is the steel in these little revolvers. I did some searching and in the replicas it is steel, but none were sure if it was equal to the steel used in modern smokeless revolvers. I wonder if it would be safe with triple 7 3fff?
Before watching the chrono and penetration tests, I'd expect this gun to give results very similar to .32 S&W cartridge revolvers -- which sold *millions more* "puny" pocket guns. Depending how much powder it holds, it might even equal the .32 H&R (a slightly longer cartridge) or .32 S&W Long, which remained in production into the 1970s (when it was largely superseded by the .32 H&R Magnum and later .327 Federal). Given a choice, I'd surely prefer a top-break cartridge revolver in this bore (much faster to reload), but I surely wouldn't complain about the ballistics of this one, nor compare it to a .22 -- a mistake people make about .32 S&W, too, where twice the bullet weight at slightly higher velocity makes those folks sound like idiots.
A cop friend in my old unit told me about a time when they found a dead guy in his car. They couldnt see any blood or entry wounds. When the coroner did the autopsy they found that the guy got hit under the armpit and then lowered his arm down tightly to his side. He drove for nearly a half hour before the internal bleeding finally got him. Turned out to be a .22 short that hit in the exact right place to ruin his day.
I've not chronographed any other loads. Now that I have a reliable chronograph, I'd like to try other guns using various loads, and compare measured vs weighed charges to see if I can get better consistency in FPS.
mark, as far as being deadly, we must remember that medical science was not so far advanced, during the time of this revolver, so even though it was small, it could create a rather nasty wound, that, over a few days, could become infected. Remember how it was said that a gut/belly would was mortal? Well, it isn't, now.
My favorite mummy was put in that position over a century ago because he caught a 36 cal ball in the liver. The doctor he hired to relieve his belly ache went above and beyond by removing the ball and all !!! Displayed for over a century may have been more than what he deserved for cheating at cards!???!
Ima keep it 100 higher end 22lr out of a long barrel is probably more effective than this. Tired of the hate on .22 look up actual self defense stories people have been dropped from one shot out of a pistol before. Aguila Supermax out of a carbine length barrel is about 190 ft lbs.
my 200 dollar Heritage .22WMR single action army clone is much better, but that's not the point. Black powder is fun, and it's cool to see it's still not entirely useless.
Here’s two examples of hot loaded 22lr. A 29 grain federal punch is supposed to do 1650 fps from a 24 inch barrel so 175 ft lbs. cci stinger is 32 grains at 1640 so 191 ft lbs. The 80 grains pocket colt bullet can hit 950 fps by my tests so 160 ft lbs. but the pocket colt is a 4 inch barrel and the 22s listed are from rifle length barrels. I think it is very important to take barrel length into consideration when comparing because almost anything fired from a pistol barrel will be weaker than fired from a longer rifle barrel. For example, the federal punch that I listed does 1650 from a 24 inch barrel but only 1070 from a 2 inch barrel (74 ft lbs). So to conclude, I think the pocket colt could be more powerful than some of the hottest 22s when fired from the same length barrel. Especially since the energy levels from the 4 inch pocket colt are already comparable to the hot loaded 22s from a rifle barrel.
I'd buy another if Uberti made a 6 shot version. Colt did not offer the 6 shot option until about 1860, if memory serves. They were all 5 shot before that time.
@@erasgonehistoricalmolds2400 i have an original with 5" barrel and six shot cylinder that my great grandfather carried in his pocket. Samuel Colt really pushed the extra round as a benefit of the new Colt special silver steel. Seems silly to reproduce these with modern material in 5 shot.
My father, a combat marine in the 1st in WW2 always carried a pocket 22. He said a 22 is absolutely a deadly round and that the 22 will be the round that will probably save our nation in the next revolution
That is because our tyrannical government will first round up the larger bores first and it's way easier to hide.
Honestly I could see these new high power PCPs like the Texan or Benjamin bulldog 357 being used in assassinations due to how quite the slugs are.
Anything can be deadly if put in the right spot, but there are standards to self defense as framed by Evan Marshall and Edwin Sanow and their extensive study of self defense ballistics.
@@saltcreekammo which are accepted by very few, outside of gun-rag-writers paid to advertise new stuff for the major manufacturers... been that way since the 1940's. The reality is that humans haven't changed in 10,000 years + - a couple thousand, if it worked then, it would stand to reason it'll work now.
True. You liberate with two 22 behind the ear. Then you take their standard issue.
aw man, I had just convinced myseIf didn’t need to buy a baby dragoon
I beat myself up about getting one for about 2 weeks then finally gave in and got one. It's really a nice revolver. I've also done the mods on it that Mark from era gone bullet molds recommended.
I’m getting one 2nd purchase. 1st is a 62 navy.
3rd is going to be a Uberti London Sheriff
I have one of these, it's been laying around for a few years and I've never shot it. Can't find a decent nipple wrench..
If your going to the range. The buffalo model or target model is the best . Baby dragoon fits better in your pocket. Get them all . Lol
GREAT JOB SIR..IN MY TEST I ALSO FOUND THE 4f THE BEST CHOICE AND BERFORMANCE WAS VERY CLOSE TO WHAT YOU SHOWED..ELMER KEITH SAID HE USED A 49 AS A DISPATCH GUN FOR BIG BOBCATS IN TRAPS SO IT IS TO BE RESPECTED..THANKS FOR THE VIDEO..SAFE JOURNEYS
I use #0 buckshot for very inexpensive shooting. It runs around .321 but the chambers are .317 so... no problem
I bought a second generation Colt 1862 Navy in 1980, right as they were remaking their cap and ball revolvers, carried it and a model 94 as home defense weapons, as a Marine on active duty, picked up a new Uberti, "pocket police", a 71, in the box, almost forty years ago, not well finished, spent a couple years stoning the frame square, flat, re-color casing it, and used it twenty years, at our home, "retired", in farm country, NC, next to a creek, and that pistol killed at least a hundred substantial snake, copperheads, water moccasins, eastern diamond backs, with both ball and shot, and along with a North American Arms 22 magnum, was the mainstay as we cleared fifty years of brush, wife and I, over about five years. This was no surprise to me, I've never chronographed or tried to measure energy, simply because I was quite please with its "live performance". I still keep one in my chair in the living room, it's deadly, accurate, and I never have to buy ammo, I just make it. I've got five or six 32 acp's, a 25 acp, and they only barely reach a similar, not equal performance. I used to think the non-expanding full metal jacket responsible, but now consider the higher velocity, with less friction, resistance, is responsible for the better performance. The thirty six navy has usually been fired with 25 to 30 grains of Goex, and a 38 doesn't compete. Thanks for the chronograph, and the clear evidence of "penetration". Semper Fidelis, John McClain
I chronographed the 1851 Navy with a 145gr Kaido conical and I got and average of 1025fps. That's 325ft-lbs equal to the 9mm
You look just at the numbers the .31 was responsible for more deaths than all the others. Usually a week later they passed. Not especially quick but effective. No antibiotics back then.
I think movies do cap & ball pistols a great injustice, because they were fully up to the task. The .31 was no exception!
Very impressive. It went a lot further than I thought it would. Great camera work as well.
Just made me make up my mind. Guess my Dragoon is gonna have a child. 🤣
You do your job, and the little .31 will do it's job. I love shooting black powder pistols. It's a lot more enjoyable that burning through cased ammo. Thanks for the demo.
Interesting video, Mark. A simple solution for my Dropping Loading Lever was to snap the spring loaded catch out several times. Using a flat blade screwdriver push the catch into the rod all the way. Slide the screwdriver out of the way to allow the catch to pop out quickly. By doing this several times the catch stuck out slightly more than originally and provided for a stronger grip.
I'll give that a try. Thanks
My first pistol! I shot single "0" buckshot (.32 caliber) through it and learned to clean it with Ballistol.
i think that is the best thing about these, using "0" buckshot....would make a nice companion with a shotgun for SHTF bugout
Interesting choice why was that your first pick
I can't seem to find "0" buckshot, but I can get .350 round ball. Not too hard to seat, and definitely shears off a ring. Makes a somewhat oblong little pill, 32 diameter by 350 length. Almost like a wadcutter.
VERY impressive! Quite a rupture effect on the first jug too. You've effectively demonstrated that, properly loaded, the little .31 packs considerable wallop with the conical. A .22 LR will not do that much damage even with HP. A .22 Mag will. Also Swiss 4Fg would likely hit 950 + as it is a hotter powder than GOEX. Swiss would pretty well approximate the true ballistics of the Hazard powder actually used in the 19th Century with these revolvers. Swiss 4Fg is similar to Hazard #1 Pistol Powder, and Swiss Null B (5Fg) is close to the Hazard Cartridge powder provided to makers of revolver combustibles. The cartridge powder was made by Hazard at Sam Colt's request when Colt began revolver cartridge manufacture in 1855 with the unpopular short lived foil cartridges. Colt switched to paper envelopes in 1858 and revolver combustibles became very popular.
Even if that wasn't the case I'm pretty sure the .22 lr holds the record for most dead civilians. Yeah, small calibers may not do great at range but up close and personal they'll still give someone a very bad day.
An old fed fighter told me he keeps a 25 auto for the chance of being choked from behind. He said a 25 would take out a felon with a head shot without hurting himself from excessive blast.
As a youngster I shot a deer with O buckshot. Two pellets to the lungs, but one to the back of the scull. The pellet bounced fore and aft enough to mush up the grey matter. It landed on its head at a DEAD run.
That was truly impressive, who would have thought this would be the results of a shooting test, I'm impressed to say the least that a small caliber would have that much penetration, Thx Mark for the vid.
I'd love to see a modern cartridge conversion for this in something like .32 ACP or .32 S&W Long. A lot deadlier than people give it credit for. While I've not heard as many people say it's as deadly as a .22, one thing they forget is that's .22 out of an 18 or 20 inch barrel usually. This is a much smaller gun by comparison shooting a bullet that's double the weight from a much shorter barrel.
Kirst & Howell use to make them, but both stopped.
Thank you for doing this, and thank you for using *conical bullets!* Everyone else always uses round ball.
That's because you were using soft water, the hard water at my place would have stopped it in 2 jugs! Lol! Great video I need to pick some of those up soon.
Ha! That must be it!
The water here would’ve dissolved the lead.
Good demo!, Your bullets make that little gun perform.
Now I am thinking (again) about getting one of those little guys!
- if I could find one LOL!
Awesome video and bullet molds. Just wish they were in stock.
That looks like a big velocity jump over 3f in my experience. 700ish with a 50 grain ball.
I agree. I do not get real high velocity with Pyrodex P or double f
Good job, I would not have expected that!
Great video! Very informative. I have several cap and ball revolvers, all Navy caliber, save for my 1849 Uberti Pocket. Small as it is, it is my favorite. I recently purchased one of your .31 bullet molds but have yet to try it out. Now that the warmer weather is here, I shall remedy that very soon! (I always cast outdoors). Again, a great video with some really useful information!
Surprisingly impressive!
I like others assumed it to be a shooter of about 450-500 fps with little penetration and better results from throwing a rock but this ain't no punk and I sure as hell would NOT want to be the unlucky recipient of a shot from it!
Its closer to a .38, which was an equally popular choice in the 20th century prior to 9mm autos taking the lead before everyone started buying crazy big calibers today.
with bullets:
.32 percussion revolver= hot-loaded .32 SW,L or .32 LC... or standard .32 ACP
.36 percussion revolvers= standard .38 Special, hot loaded .38LC or .38 SW,L, or standard .380 ACP
.44 percussion revolver (belt models)= .45 Colt, hot-loaded .45 SW, .45ACP
.44 Percussion revolver (Horse models)= early/standard loadings of .44 mag
with balls (less penetration for all the following):
.32= .22wmr out of an SBR, but with a bigger hole
.36= .32ACP, but with a bigger hole
.44 Belt= .38 LC, bigger hole
.44 Horse= .38special, bigger hole
The added weight of the conical definitely improved performance over the round ball. The 4F probably gave it a little more Ummph over 3F powder.
Thanks for putting some actual data out on this gun!
Very interesting results, ffff is perfect powder for low capacity, some of Samuel Colts powders looked like the granulations was about as fine as the 4 F powder we use today, which is why the later colts had smaller cylinders because they started using better powder, a lot of people complained that they kicked too hard , if you load them like modern people they have no recoil, so either the powder was different or people were wimps back theme lol, Nice looking bullet, looks like it performed really good
Leverguns 50 back in the 19th Century, FFFFg was considered pistol powder, FFFg was "rifle powder" and FFg musket or shotgun powder. In 1855, at Colt's request, Hazard Powder Company, manufactured a special powder for Colt's new foil revolver cartridges, called "Hazard Cartridge Powder" which was an extremely fine grained 5Fg. You will see combustible cartridge packets from Colt, D.C. Sage, Johnston & Dow, etc often marked "Made of Hazard's Cartridge Powder". The closest modern black powder to Hazard #1 Pistol Powder in actual performance is Swiss 4Fg, and the closest to "Hazard Cartridge Powder" is Swiss Null B(5Fg). The 5Fg should never be loose loaded, but only used in a paper powder envelope to prevent powder dribbling thru the nipples and setting up a possible chain fire. Traditional combustible cartridge loads with 5Fg are roughly 10% conical bullet weight. Before loose loading 4Fg, change the nipples to quality replacements having very tiny flash holes. I only use 4Fg under conical bullets and keep charges in the 10% to 15% conical bullet weight range. For full powder charges under round balls in revolvers, I stick to 3Fg.
@@63DW89A Plus by 1860s or so they were starting using some Brown powders that were hotter than black powder, they just charred the wood not turning it all the way in to charcoal, they said it produce tire velocities with the same amount of powder.
@@Leverguns50 I've heard of the brown powders, but have not had a chance to research them. Would be interesting to make some of them! I'd like to make a few small batches of replica "Hazard Powder" using willow charcoal and compare to Swiss to see how Swiss/Hazard would compare. The fascinating fact coming to light, [as Mark's valuable and informative .31 test demonstrates!] is that the percussion revolvers, properly loaded with correct powders, operate at a considerably higher power level, than has been commonly believed for many decades now!
@@63DW89A the regulators in the Kentucky area back in the early 1800s used dogwood charcoal to make their gun powder
@@63DW89A almost swiss 0B granulation, from my understanding, basically coarse dust
With round ball, yes, a .22.
With conicals more like a .32 acp or 32-20.
I double checked because I thought I saw Clint Eastwood using one of these in the outlaw Jose Wales. Sure enough he did and had it in a shoulder holster. I just received mine and have started the molds on it can't wait to try it out.
Clint used the 58 pocket .31 in Pale Rider.
You are correct. I did a video on making my version of Josey Wales shoulder holster.
Othias sent me. Great channel.
Is everything okay Mark? It’s been awhile since your last post, just checking in buddy. Thank you for the awesome content.
Everything is just fine. Thanks for asking. I've had a busy summer. I hope to add a video soon.
Also keep in mind that in 1848 a huge amount of pistols you came across were still single shot. Given that the odds of a my adversary carrying a single shot or even a bow I probably would have felt quite comfortable carrying this revolver.
I wonder how easily I can convince my wife to let me spend the money on another black.powder gun and bullet mold? Very impressive demonstration, Mark. I never expected a 31 Colt Pocket to stand up to 32 ACP. Wow.
Two words: "day spa."
That'll work too. 😆
I asked, and her reply was, "It's your money." So, I dipped into my savings account and ordered a "Wells Fargo" version.
Proud to be the first to see this! Thanks for sharing Mark!
Great video, I tried the baby Dragoon 330 77 conical bullets in my Uberti .31 caliber Wells Fargo revolver and I was very impressed with the penetration over round balls. Thank you for the video.
Thank you so much for this video. The funny thing is I just got this same pistol Friday.
A very interesting conclusion! The penetration of this light bullet is amazing, not sure what alloy you used, but the bullet was barely deformed after passing through 5 jugs, 5 jugs must be equivalent to at least two people, so it is more that sufficient for any self defence in the 19th century, and of course it was not the penetration that caused trauma, but the infection, with very little chance of medical attention, that would make a potential assailant think twice, stay safe! Chris B.
Pure soft lead. I'm surprised it did not deform more than it did.
@@erasgonehistoricalmolds2400 Well, that is a surprise, traveling at around 900fps I would expect it to set up on hitting water, at that velocity water would be like a solid mass, I wonder if a ball would perform much more different to that in penetration and setting up.
I would like to see a comparison between FFFFG and triple 777. Also, penetration into ballistic gel would be nice.
That is actually pretty impressive. I am curious though, how different would 3Fg perform compared to the 4Fg?
I kinda like this small gun which has some kick! I would like to see some long-barreled replicas one day.
Looks awesome! I'm still considering trying these in my 1863. Just loading the cylinder off the revolver. I too load mine with 4f. I'm not sure what what the powder capacity difference is between remingtons and the colts
I found that these small pistols don't set off caps very good I fitted two main springs in the one I had. I swapped it for a Pietta 1860 Army. I wanted to by another one lately but they are all on back order.
Uberti's are known for light mainsprings. They view these as novelties, rather than actual firearms, so their focus is on target-type triggers, rather than reliability.
Great video, i subscribed!
Can you do a simular video with a .36 caliber Colt Navy?
Also, please use a round ball too to compare with.
The number one pocket defense pistol of gamblers and miners post BP Single Shot Derringer and Pre Center Fire 2 Barrel Derringer. They put a lot of hurt out there for it's size.
That's very impressive, certainly much better than a .22LR. How much lower do you think the velocity would be if FFG powder was used?
@BurkeSchneider over at "CapandBall" YT channel, Balazs Nemeth used the Eras Gone .31 conical in an original 6" barrel Colt Pocket Revolver. Swiss FFg was the powder, and the charge was similar to Mark's for the Uberti Colt .31 4" barrel replica. Velocity was around 780 fps. Mr. Nemeth did not want to push the original Colt too hard, and that is why he used FFg. The old 170 year old Colt shot amazing groups at 25 meters!
@@63DW89A I wonder how much the accuracy had to do with Mr. Nemeth's skills, the man can shoot!
Thank you, that was exactly the information I was looking for.
@@63DW89A Balazs was using my bullets, but he always makes them fly much better than I can.
If your going for a .31 cap and Ball, the Pietta "Remington" pocket revolver is the bee's knees. A little more difficult to find these days, but a sweet little pistola nonetheless. Solid as a rock... being so tiny with a topstrap.
dont forget the Whitney or Mass double action in 31
Great job Mark. Impressive to be sure. Now I want one.
I've been thinking more about a scaled down breech loader modeled after the Sharps 1859 Carbine in .31 caliber for plinking and small game hunting.
NOW HAVE BY 31 CAL MY WIFE GOING BE PISS OFF AT YOU NOW LOL
So, those who are sold on size and power, lemme tell you from experience, shot placement rules the day, every day. You are now free to carry any caliber you choose, happy choosing.
I mean the IDF special forces used 22lr pistols for a long time so yeah you’re definitely right
I couldn't agree more!
"Shot Placement: Because I Don't Care How Badass You Think You Are-- _Nobody Shrugs Off A Bullet To The Eyes!"_
@@BogeyTheBear that would be somewhat irritating!
80 gr at 900 fps really ain't that bad for a pocket gun.
Very impressive.
I may have mentioned this before, but given medical knowledge in the mid 1800, a wound from a .31 pocket revolver, though maybe not a one shot manstopper, could become infected and fester for days, followed by your demise.
President William McKinley was shot by Leon Czolgos using a .32 caliber revolver. President McKinley survived the wound but gangrene is what actually killed him.
Mark, I don’t want to get shot with a 22, much less black powder 31!
That was some cool video. I really like the 49 pocket model. I didn’t realize they were that powerful. I have 32 long a fun gun to shoot. Guess I gotta get a 49 now. To go with my 44 sheriffs model.
Small rounds are underapreciated
Based on the fact that a .22 Short is still deady, I have no doubt the .31 cal is deadly. Anything bullet can kill if aimed right.
But in defensive situations isn't the object to incapacitate a target rather than kill them? If the crazy guy attacking me with a knife is strung out on PCP I'm not sure a .22 or .31 would stop him.
@@twistedyogert a bullet though your heart or spine will stop anyone no matter how big their pain tolerance is or how high they are. Bigger bullets do more damage, no doubt about that but as long as the projectile can reach far enough inside to hit the important parts they can stop the attacker.
That isn’t to say that a .22 is just as effective as a 9mm or that a .31 cap and ball revolver is just as strong as a .36 or a .44 cap and ball, they not. In fact if you don’t hit anything important with a .22 or .31 cap and ball the weapon is much less likely to stop an attacker.
Simply put they CAN stop an attacker with proper shot placement even if they are hop up on drugs but if you miss the important parts like the lungs, heart, spine, brain, etc they won’t do much damage
@@massmedia7158 These things wouldn't have been popular if they weren't good enough to stop an attacker. From what I've heard, selling these pistols saved Colt from going under.
@@twistedyogert exactly
That looks like a real fun gun to shoot.
Mark, I bought a conversion cylinder in .32 S&W for this revolver. Unfortunately that bullet is only .312 diameter, so it is too undersized for the bore. The conversion cylinder chambers are not bored str8 thru with the same diameter, but have a more narrow diameter than the neck of the brass, bored in the front of the chamber. If that narrow part could be bored out to the brass neck diameter and the brass could be reloaded with your EGB bullet or a .321 ball, I think those projectiles would engage the rifling in the barrel, thus giving real accuracy. up to 25 yds. What are your thoughts?
If I can interject a good hollow base .313 projectile would work with both presumably.
@@TheBiggestIron Where could I find some of the above in pure lead to test them?
@@robertrobert7924 that would be the challenge. Other than a custom mold I cold not tell you. No reason you cant prototype one out by centering the base of a .313 and drilling a progressively larger deeper hole until you saw notable accuracy.
This,is fantastic comparison, I have a very rare S&W 32 LONG.I HAVE SEEN OTHER TEST I THINK YOU DID ONE..HOW a 36 AND a 9mm comparison, it would shock a lot of people that's for sure
.32 long S&W uses a 100 grain bullet, but I think most factory is quite anemic due to the older pot metal break open guns that are out there. Some of these are not even made of steel.
Hmmm. 12 grains? My load for .32 S&W Long is 14 (volume equivalent, using American Pioneer Powder), IIRC, which is slightly compressed to give a cartridge length that fits my 1890s vintage H&R top break (probably originally made for .32 H&R, but no step in the chambers). Might get another grain or two in there with a different bullet and cylinder length for full .32 Long. Factory .32 S&W and .32 Long factory loads used slightly heavier bullets -- 95-100 grains cover most of them, and my load is a 100 grain wadcutter (because it was the cast bullet I could find when I ordered components) -- that cuts velocity some, of course, which reduces energy a little for the same powder load, but tends to improve penetration. The real measure here is powder load, other factors equal. Still, I'll call this equivalent to a .32 S&W or .32 H&R, neither of which was "as puny as a .22."
Excellent video.
It may not be as powerful as a 44 but I'd say it's still a capable weapon
I read somewhere more men killed in 19TH century by pocket revolvers than larger more powerful "belt guns". I think the idea is that the range was always close with the pocket guns.
@@steelgila generally there were more in circulation and more on body's when shit got thick so that's a reasonable conclusion.
I bought one of these in the 90s along with a 36, both are fun plinkers
I wonder how a round ball compares
Where can I get a mold for these bullets??? I have a
.31 cal cap and ball derringer...
You can get the mold from www.erasgonebullets.com
@@BogeyTheBear thanks i have been looking for a place to either get bullets or a way to make my own.
Good to see justice here. I have always scoffed and known better , , than to listen to all the tak about how ineffective etc , . I fire my Pockets (Authentic colt) charged with 14g and the same elongated ball you have, cast from an actual Colt mold, and the ball passes through 3 pine boards from 50yds. Anyway, they have proved themselves with actual hunting kills. Good work.
that's my carry gun. because black powder is "shooting done fun". Okay I use triple 7, but I have not had any cap problems with that powder. Thanks
I use pyrodex p in my remmington i top the cylinders off then smash a round ball in pretty powerful never crono it but seems like a powerhouse
Mark, thank you for the surprising results. I admit I was always of the mind that ffffg was only for priming flinters. What other cap & ball guns have you used it in or would you consider ok in?
Thanks again.
ffff grade is very fine powder, for use in smaller bp revolvers. if you put this grade of powder in a larger revolver, you risk backventing into the cap nipple because of how fine the grain is. fff grade is most commonly used for big bore revolvers, and ff and f for muzzleloaders.
I wonder what the velocity difference between 4f and 3f is.
It only gets 60 FPE with a round ball, but that would ruin someone's day.
According to the army anything over 59 ft-lbs to the head is lethal
1860 army 1858 new army maybe a 1851-61 Navy. You need that extra barrel length with cap and ball
Now test 44 for velocity and energy ;) So if we got 32 acp energy from punny 31, 357 magnum energy is in reach of 44 with proper powder/bullet selection or is it? Your thoughts?
Measurements obtained with the lee bullet 450-200 ogival grains and Swiss powder N ° 1 FFFFG :
25 grains : v5=260 m/s E=42 kgm
35 grains : v5=315 m/s E=62 kgm
@@didiermasclet9886 35 grain load with the 200 gran bullet gives 475 FPE which is comparable to some weaker .357 magnum loads.
Always with Swiss powder N ° 1 but with 140 grain round ball and Walker Colt (Uberti). 50 gr : 385 m/s E:710J
60 gr : 405 m/s E:790J.
Excellent! Thank you.
Wonderful video , as I watched the video iam reminded as a reloader of 42 years * also designing and. Making special purpose. ammunition that at one time it was legal to shoot stray dogs damage ing property* I had problems with dogs getting in my trash* so my old speer reloading manual had a round ball load for my 44 special* , 433 round ball 120 grain and bullseye pistol powder 2,3 grains 504 feet per second* I thought to just put knots on there butts * at 30 feet it shot through 3 milk jugs of water * I decided not a good idea because I was looking to just put some rememberable hurt on the dogs not kill them* nanna and papa wishing you well
great review and amazing sir thanks for sharing
Fine vid Sir!
Any problems with the loading ram crushing the tip of the conical on the 31 cal, I have a Pietta pocket 31 cal dragoon, just wondering.
The Uberti Model 1849 has a correctly shaped loading plunger and it does not blunt the bullet. The Pietta Remington will not work with this bullet. Its loading port is much smaller than the original and a conical bullet will not fit under the load lever.
Bravo, I had one, man slick little pistol, accurate, and as close to perfect black powder , having shot 54 cal plainsman,
I got an average of 710 fps with ~12.5 grains 3F Swiss. I didn’t think there would be that much difference in 3F and 4F, so I’m going to test 4F next. Is there an official max charge for the conical bullet? I can fit 14-15 grains 3F when loading with a cheater bar
I've not seen any period load data. But I suspect it was 10-12 grains of a 4f equivalent.
@@erasgonehistoricalmolds2400I got around to trying some 4f. I crammed 15 grains in there and got 900-950 fps with the conical so I’m happy with that. You have to use an extension lever to load that much powder and run the risk of bending the loading lever.
My issue would be just how good is the steel in these little revolvers. I did some searching and in the replicas it is steel, but none were sure if it was equal to the steel used in modern smokeless revolvers. I wonder if it would be safe with triple 7 3fff?
I would imagine 777 and conical or wadcutters would be a self defense load, .31 pockets are much under rated @@loquat4440
Ever try any Swiss black powder I'm still new to this but is it any better?
Although it has excellent penetration, I wonder how effective it is at stopping villains.
one in the chest one in the head should work great
Have someone shoot you with and we all can determine if it works?? What say you?😅
@@cowboywoodard2569 It lacks the hydraulic shock of modern cartridges. More of a slow kill than an instant kill.
Where could I get one? Could I go to a gun store and buy one? I'm one of those people who prefers to look at something before I buy it.
Not many gun stores carry black powder revolvers. Cabellas usually has some available, but not this particular model.
@@erasgonehistoricalmolds2400 Darn.
MidwayUSA has two versions by Uberti in stock.
@@MozambiqueEnjoyer6097 Thanks!
Very impressed ..!
I have one of these, been laying around for a few years. Never shot it. Can't find a decent nipple wrench.
Try track of the wolf
I have a Whitney pocket revolver. I may have to try these.
Do you know if it will work with the Whitney
I've not tried it in a .31 Whitney.
@@erasgonehistoricalmolds2400 send me a few and I’ll let you know
Cheese and rice that’s impressive.
Very cool. Nope do not shoot me with one. Mark I put a heavier spring in my loading lever, works great.
I just got my three molds, .44, .36, and .31. Why is the .31 mold marked the same as the .36...? (.380-126)
The 31 should be marked .330-77. Send me a pic of the two via email and we will figure it out.
@@markhubbs1964 On the way, thanks!
Before watching the chrono and penetration tests, I'd expect this gun to give results very similar to .32 S&W cartridge revolvers -- which sold *millions more* "puny" pocket guns. Depending how much powder it holds, it might even equal the .32 H&R (a slightly longer cartridge) or .32 S&W Long, which remained in production into the 1970s (when it was largely superseded by the .32 H&R Magnum and later .327 Federal). Given a choice, I'd surely prefer a top-break cartridge revolver in this bore (much faster to reload), but I surely wouldn't complain about the ballistics of this one, nor compare it to a .22 -- a mistake people make about .32 S&W, too, where twice the bullet weight at slightly higher velocity makes those folks sound like idiots.
Uberti .31 cal Baby Dragoon, Puny or Deadly?......yu wanta hold my target ?
Does anyone make a Kydex stealth holster for this model?
check the kill stats from a 22 there no joke
A cop friend in my old unit told me about a time when they found a dead guy in his car. They couldnt see any blood or entry wounds. When the coroner did the autopsy they found that the guy got hit under the armpit and then lowered his arm down tightly to his side. He drove for nearly a half hour before the internal bleeding finally got him. Turned out to be a .22 short that hit in the exact right place to ruin his day.
@@RogersGirl88 I like to hear info like that.
I love the .22 Short
Does any body make a hollow point for the 31? I have some for my Griswold, they tear up pumpkins.
Have you shot 3f in it? If so did you chrono it?
I've not chronographed any other loads. Now that I have a reliable chronograph, I'd like to try other guns using various loads, and compare measured vs weighed charges to see if I can get better consistency in FPS.
@@erasgonehistoricalmolds2400 👍👌
It would seem that if you missed bones it would blow a hole in one side and right out of the other
But will it blow your liver right out of your body? 😂
mark, as far as being deadly, we must remember that medical science was not so far advanced, during the time of this revolver, so even though it was small, it could create a rather nasty wound, that, over a few days, could become infected. Remember how it was said that a gut/belly would was mortal? Well, it isn't, now.
Does anyone make a .32 cartridge conversion cylinders for these guns?
The only .32 conversion I've heard of is for the Remington .31 pocket revolver
My favorite mummy was put in that position over a century ago because he caught a 36 cal ball in the liver. The doctor he hired to relieve his belly ache went above and beyond by removing the ball and all !!! Displayed for over a century may have been more than what he deserved for cheating at cards!???!
You talking about Elmer McCurdy?
Ima keep it 100 higher end 22lr out of a long barrel is probably more effective than this. Tired of the hate on .22 look up actual self defense stories people have been dropped from one shot out of a pistol before.
Aguila Supermax out of a carbine length barrel is about 190 ft lbs.
my 200 dollar Heritage .22WMR single action army clone is much better, but that's not the point. Black powder is fun, and it's cool to see it's still not entirely useless.
Here’s two examples of hot loaded 22lr. A 29 grain federal punch is supposed to do 1650 fps from a 24 inch barrel so 175 ft lbs. cci stinger is 32 grains at 1640 so 191 ft lbs. The 80 grains pocket colt bullet can hit 950 fps by my tests so 160 ft lbs. but the pocket colt is a 4 inch barrel and the 22s listed are from rifle length barrels. I think it is very important to take barrel length into consideration when comparing because almost anything fired from a pistol barrel will be weaker than fired from a longer rifle barrel. For example, the federal punch that I listed does 1650 from a 24 inch barrel but only 1070 from a 2 inch barrel (74 ft lbs). So to conclude, I think the pocket colt could be more powerful than some of the hottest 22s when fired from the same length barrel. Especially since the energy levels from the 4 inch pocket colt are already comparable to the hot loaded 22s from a rifle barrel.
Yes
Id buy one if they were 6 shot and had a 5" barrel like most of the originals.
I'd buy another if Uberti made a 6 shot version. Colt did not offer the 6 shot option until about 1860, if memory serves. They were all 5 shot before that time.
@@erasgonehistoricalmolds2400 i have an original with 5" barrel and six shot cylinder that my great grandfather carried in his pocket. Samuel Colt really pushed the extra round as a benefit of the new Colt special silver steel.
Seems silly to reproduce these with modern material in 5 shot.
@@erasgonehistoricalmolds2400 I have an 1862 Pocket Police, 5.5" barrel, .36 caliber that is 5 shots......
@@randymagnum143 id love to have a 6 shot 31 like that