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.
 
I think this applies to this thread because you are going to need parts to keep these old girls running.
Where are you guys buying gun parts because I don't think there are any Canadian sources. Haha forget Edmonton place.
But uberti parts with alot of filing or welding up and filing down I'm thinking would be better than starting from scratch but any Canadian sources that will answer their phone or email you back?
I'm thinking with exchange on dollar ,tarrifs and usual Canadian Hassel that buying from the States would be stupid expensive and take forever.
Is there a way to buy parts directly from Italy? Would probably be cheaper?
What antique guns would Italian parts fit with minor fitting? I'm thinking with determination and time you could make most parts fit eventually.
I've been watching antique prices on gun post go steadily up since election. Wow really getting priced out of reach of normal working class.
How long until Ottawa just bans everything? Rcmp probably just steal it from you and smile and say you will have your day in court. I'm not sure $15000 for a colt saa would be a good investment?
I've thought about selling off antique rifles to buy a antique revolver but I would basically have to give away my old winchesters right now. I'm not sure if people are scared to spend money or just don't have it to spend on things like antiques? Maybe us old guys are dying off and snowflakes only want black rifles?
 
struff55 said:
spending 5k-15k to shoot a 100 rounds of ammo that costs 5$-10$ per round sounds like fun to me
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Depending what you're shooting, those aren't normally serious numbers. Colts and Webleys seem to be the highest priced antique pistols I've seen, barring the odd C96 that comes up for sale. For centre fire, there's some lovely single and double action Smith & Wessons, Merwin and Hulbert pistols, Swiss, French, and German pistols. The Swiss take .32 S&W long without issue (I'm told) and so do the M & H chambered in .32 M & H, again, from what I've read. Components for reloading .44 Russian are readily available and on occasion you can find the brass for .45 Schofield. I don't cast but there are kind gunnutz out there who do soft cast .44 lead bullets and Starline brass takes standard modern primers and black or smokeless powders aren't too scarce, though try to find Trail Boss! You can get behind a nice fully functional S&W for under 5 g's and either buy reloaded ammo, load your own, or buy some of the new cowboy action factory ammo out there. The .32 and .38 rimfires are out there at reasonable prices but the ammo runs at your stated $5.+ per round and not reloadable.
 
Incendiary said:
Thanks so much for weighing in! Did you have good reliability with your cap and ball Colts? I guess one of the reasons I'm worried about cap and ball is chainfire and the mess of having to pack lube around with you if you want to shoot more than 6 times. Any feedback on that?
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I've been shooting a cap and ball revolver of one kind or another since 1968, and I've never encountered a chainfire. I wipe my revolver over after every cylinder-load, and can manage around 48 shots before removing the cylinder for a quick 'freshen-up'.

YMMV.
 
Longevity is directly correlated to the condition it’s in when you get it, your cleaning and maintenance of it and the ammunition you put through it.
I’d put the Colt SAA first, it has a large following and parts are still made so keeping it running is just a matter of money…a lot of money.
Second would be the Webley MK1 to MK3 and if you could find the unicorn MK1”*” in excellent condition you just won the lotto…and likely spent it.
Third, the S&W’s, I don’t have any hands on experience with them but given the name and community behind them likely easy to keep running.
 
As much a I love my Colt SAs, if you were to ask me which gun in the collection is the stoutest/strongest and gives you the Dirty Harry of the West " make my day vibe" its the Remington 1875. Its built like a tank, incredibly fun to shoot, especially with black powder loads.

This is mine chambered in 44 Remington(44 Russian fits) with what I believe to be its original holster.

EAp58mA[1].jpg
 
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