Antique revolver suggestion for frequent use

100 rounds throughput the year is not lots... couple cylinders a month... but I'd still say a break-top revolver like a webley is not going to be as durable as a solid frame.

I'd pick a French Lebel (swing out cylinder too) or a Swiss 1882

I shoot all of my antiques... but probably not to that level mainly because I have too many guns to shoot regularly
 
The Antiques that I shoot the most are all European. Not that I like them any more than my old Colts, it’s more that I actually live my Colts too much to shoot.
I shoot my French 1892 model with the Fiocchi 111 grain FMJ’s. It is one of the few Antiques that was made for smokeless, and the Fiocchi ammo doesn’t make enough power to hurt that gun.
I shoot my Swiss 1882 with cut down 7.62 Nagant brass, loaded with either 3FG Schuetzen or Triple Seven. It looks like Calgary Shooting Center is bringing in factory ammo for the 1882 and that’s really cool. I’d like to try that stuff.
I shoot my Webley MP with .455 Mk2 brass, 200 grain Lead RNFP bullets over 3FG Schuetzen.
But I would say that the Antique that we shoot the most, and definitely the only one that feels sufficiently sturdy to shoot 50-100 rounds through whenever we’re going shooting, is my 1883 model Reichsrevolver. It might very well be the ugliest of my guns but I feel it is as tough as any used modern revolver is likely to be. I bought a whole bunch of HSM 44 Russian Cowboy Action ammo when my local store brought it in. After 250 rounds of 200 grain “light smokeless” ammo I inspected the frame and cylinder for wear. It hasn’t stretched a .001” even, and I FPI’ed them as well just out of curiousity. No traces of any cracking under the black light.
It isn’t anyone’s idea of an attractive revolver design, but it would be my vote for an antique handgun that you can shoot as often as any older used 20th century revolver.
I would like to shoot my Colt 1873 more but I can’t bring myself to hurt it.
Just my opinions, everyone’s got them.
 
Egon said:
But I would say that the Antique that we shoot the most, and definitely the only one that feels sufficiently sturdy to shoot 50-100 rounds through whenever we’re going shooting, is my 1883 model Reichsrevolver. It might very well be the ugliest of my guns but I feel it is as tough as any used modern revolver is likely to be. I bought a whole bunch of HSM 44 Russian Cowboy Action ammo when my local store brought it in. After 250 rounds of 200 grain “light smokeless” ammo I inspected the frame and cylinder for wear. It hasn’t stretched a .001” even, and I FPI’ed them as well just out of curiousity. No traces of any cracking under the black light.
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This is very good data, Egon. Thank you for sharing about the Reichsrevolver for sheer strength factor.

Thanks Kot for your recommendation for the Lebel or Swiss 1882


Moving forward, I am going to tabulate the votes and put them on my original post.

Those who come across this for the first time, please continue to weigh in on your experiences.
 
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Incendiary said:
Moving forward, I am going to tabulate the votes and put them on my original post.

Those who come across this for the first time, please continue to weigh in on your experiences.
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I think another one I’ve seen mentioned on this, on Stickies, and in other threads, is the notion that these are above all else, antiques. They do fire, some of them better than others, but ultimately at the end of the day before developing an opinion, especially newer people to it, that these aren’t just loophole-handgun, firing frequently is always subject to 125 + years of abuse, neglect, modification and repair, let alone the weaker metal and limited manufacturing capabilities of their time. No matter how many votes a gun gets, the one any particular individual finds at the time could bite the dust at any point for any number of reasons, which of course leads to my favourite and a common notion, that these are often times as much a labour of love as they are ownership, you’ll invest more than time and more times than not you’ll dive deeper than the bluing to find out the rich history and culture behind them all.
 
MosinMan13 said:
They do fire, some of them better than others, but ultimately at the end of the day before developing an opinion, especially newer people to it, that these aren’t just loophole-handgun, firing frequently is always subject to 125 + years of abuse, neglect, modification and repair, let alone the weaker metal and limited manufacturing capabilities of their time. No matter how many votes a gun gets, the one any particular individual finds at the time could bite the dust at any point for any number of reasons
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Absolutely agree.

There is a ton of general interest in antiques though, for collectors who want to use their history piece, for those who did not get "in" on time, or those that just want to legally shoot a handgun on the farm. The point of the thread is just to share personal experiences on models that are likely to be robust, statistically speaking, compared to other antiques. The original post now has a newbie friendly paragraph.
 
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Incendiary said:
Absolutely agree.

There is a ton of general interest in antiques though, for collectors who want to use their history piece, for those who did not get "in" on time, or those that just want to legally shoot a handgun on the farm. The point of the thread is just to share personal experiences on models that are likely to be robust, statistically speaking, compared to other antiques. The original post now has a newbie friendly paragraph.
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Totally! And it’s a tall order to reach every point on the list so I commend you on that. Maybe a better way to put what I meant is, don’t rule out the less mentionable pistols, because if you’re interested, passionate and committed, any pistol can be a reliable every day shooter. Most people would probably agree the 1877 is not their idea of a reliable unit, but I became so obsessed and driven by them I shoot mine easily once or twice a week comfortably. If you put in the time and get to know them for what they are, any of them can be enjoyed.
 
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