Most powerfull antique status revolver ?
- Thread starter XperienceDUDE
- Start date
Even if one could find an original Colt Walker, I doubt if they would want to pony up the bucks it would take to purchase it.
No mention of the Reichsrevolver M1879 with the 7” barrel? Those were extremely overbuilt and could be loaded to 1000 FPS with black powder. Colt walkers are just too rare to be a viable option, and had a nasty habit of exploding back in the day.
OK, my 2 cents worth. I was investigating this very thing. Where I hunt, I'm less concerned with bear attacks than wolf or rabid animals. I've never seen any fresh bear sign during our Nov. deer season and I assume they're already in hibernation. During rifle season, not a concern, but after rifle season when I'm out with my crossbow, I want something for back-up, crossbows not being renown for quick reloading. I looked into all the antique pistols available and picked up a break-top S&W in .44 Russian. I've loaded some 240 gr. soft cast hollow point to factory original spec and intend to do some penetration testing this spring. When I checked all the big bore handgun calibers (.45 S&W, .45 Schofield, .44 S&W, .41 Colt, etc.) it looked like the .44 Russian was the most powerful of the lot. I've picked up a good belt holster for it and I'm tweaking a set of replacement grips to fit my hand better and index the pistol to my grip. Would I depend on that against a grizzly? Probably not.
I have pickup a great load, numbers doesnt say it all, the on target effect is impressive. i reload for my Webley a standard safe load 13K psi, 255 Keith style SWC and Blue dot, over the Oehler they run around 700 fps giving an energy of close to 300 pounds, it doesnt seem much but under 30 feet this is a thumper.
Numbers dont always give the right picture. I figure it would be adequate for a good defense against critters, this big slow slug in a 2 liters of pop is impressive. YMMV.
PS: Mark 1 ** has been upgraded tho Mark 5 strenght.
Numbers dont always give the right picture. I figure it would be adequate for a good defense against critters, this big slow slug in a 2 liters of pop is impressive. YMMV.
PS: Mark 1 ** has been upgraded tho Mark 5 strenght.
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GrantRCanada
New member
.577 Revolver
Well, you could always try to locate a .577 revolver, as made by Tranter, Webley and a few others. Here is an example, alongside a .577 revolver cartridge and a contemporary .45 Maxim pistol cartridge. Both cartridges are about 1 ¼" OAL ....
Well, you could always try to locate a .577 revolver, as made by Tranter, Webley and a few others. Here is an example, alongside a .577 revolver cartridge and a contemporary .45 Maxim pistol cartridge. Both cartridges are about 1 ¼" OAL ....
Gasser montenegrin!Now that is a massive and very powerful revolver and in many ways vastly ahead of it's time..With FFFG black powder it fires a massive 310 grain chunk of lead at 900 fps which can be even increased to supersonic speed via smokeless powder and get like 1200fps with the same bullet and if you have an original Austrian version you can do it pretty safely(don't try this with Belgian shameful and pathetic versions!Don't shoot them with anything at all!)..So you can get something around 1000 fpe from that beast!
Well, you could always try to locate a .577 revolver, as made by Tranter, Webley and a few others. Here is an example, alongside a .577 revolver cartridge and a contemporary .45 Maxim pistol cartridge. Both cartridges are about 1 ¼" OAL ....
It does cost a 5-figure amounts in US!I think it might cost like a decent brand new Corolla or even Camry!Just like that particular Gasser montenegrin which belonged to his majesty king Nicholas 2!
Milspectacles
CGN Regular
- Location
- Central Alberta
Good lord, if you are shooting 1000+ fps smokeless loads in a wrought-iron framed, open top revolver that is up to a century and a half old it is only a matter of when it kabooms, not if.
The Gasser 1870 and derivatives are certainly cool and interesting guns but please don't attempt this. It is the destruction of history plain and simple.
At least the SAA that has been converted to .357 magnum through cylinder and barrel replacement was shooting a 125 grain bullet at 2130 fps with my own handloads and was perfectly fine!
I generally get 40% above factory load in larger rifle calibers like .50BMG and above and everything that is smaller gets more than that.All my guns are either capable of safely firing my loads or are modified to do so!The ones that can not be modified to do so just get sold right away.
As for Gasser-I am obviously talking about the latter one with a top strap and only about those produced in Austria!Not the Belgian cheap and low quality stuff that can pretty well get blown up with black powder and will just get annihilated with a 1000 fpe load!
By the way the most favorable of all the antique revolver calibers for me is .32 rimfire long and that is because of the very easy way to get them shooting and quite a powerful loads that are the same time readily available and are cheaper than dirt!I just use adapters that I made myself that let me use the .27 caliber nail gun blanks as the power source while the bullets are loaded from the front and sit in the cylinder tight enough just not to fall out on their own..So with my Smith Wesson old model army #2 I get a 93 grain bullet at 1480 fps at the muzzle which contributes to 450 fpe!That is with the 6.8×11mm purple loads. However I had a pretty annoying issue with the hinge appearing from time to time and so now I ordered a much better built(yes,it was better built despite being sold for 1.25$ during production when SWOMA was selling for $12 at the same time)Forehand and Wadsworth "Terror" in .32rf long and also bought a replacement barrel that is 6" long like I prefer..
I generally get 40% above factory load in larger rifle calibers like .50BMG and above and everything that is smaller gets more than that.All my guns are either capable of safely firing my loads or are modified to do so!The ones that can not be modified to do so just get sold right away.
As for Gasser-I am obviously talking about the latter one with a top strap and only about those produced in Austria!Not the Belgian cheap and low quality stuff that can pretty well get blown up with black powder and will just get annihilated with a 1000 fpe load!
By the way the most favorable of all the antique revolver calibers for me is .32 rimfire long and that is because of the very easy way to get them shooting and quite a powerful loads that are the same time readily available and are cheaper than dirt!I just use adapters that I made myself that let me use the .27 caliber nail gun blanks as the power source while the bullets are loaded from the front and sit in the cylinder tight enough just not to fall out on their own..So with my Smith Wesson old model army #2 I get a 93 grain bullet at 1480 fps at the muzzle which contributes to 450 fpe!That is with the 6.8×11mm purple loads. However I had a pretty annoying issue with the hinge appearing from time to time and so now I ordered a much better built(yes,it was better built despite being sold for 1.25$ during production when SWOMA was selling for $12 at the same time)Forehand and Wadsworth "Terror" in .32rf long and also bought a replacement barrel that is 6" long like I prefer..
I know this thread says "revolver", but for antique handguns, the Mauser C96 with its 7.63 x 25 ammunition runs about 1400 FPS and 400+ foot pounds with most factory rounds. And you have 10 shots... about 5000 are recognized as antique in Canada.
Hard to find one for sale for sure. I have not seen an antique one in Canada for sale in more than a year and north of $10k when you find one.
Cheers
Moe
After cracking the forcing cone on my 41LC I replaced the barrel with a .357 barrel and a 38l special cylinder that fit the gun. I now use it for light 38spl loads. I doubt the frame would survive a .357mag round nor would the gun have enough space to mount a longer cylinder. While gun shoot fine using Dominion 38spl cases I would not depend on the gun as a primary for bush carry. A 12 gauge goes to a completely different level of power.
I suppose bear spray and the old gun might be ok. The gun is over 128 years old and Murphy exists ie what ever can go wrong will go wrong. If I was that concerned I would carry a .44mag/.357mag/10MM 4.2" revolver either S&W or Ruger and live with the consequences.
Relying on a handgun made over 100 years old makes no sense to me when there are far better options for four legged visitors. Two legged and I might go back to the old Colt.
Take Care
Bob
I suppose bear spray and the old gun might be ok. The gun is over 128 years old and Murphy exists ie what ever can go wrong will go wrong. If I was that concerned I would carry a .44mag/.357mag/10MM 4.2" revolver either S&W or Ruger and live with the consequences.
Relying on a handgun made over 100 years old makes no sense to me when there are far better options for four legged visitors. Two legged and I might go back to the old Colt.
Take Care
Bob
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Hey,
Wouldnt putting in a .38 long colt cylinder make it restricted? Being adapted or altered to fire a caliber on the no go list would make me think so. The occasional ones ive seen usually have a .38 special marked cylinder from what i remember.
Thanks
NorthCoastBigBore
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Northwest BC (Rural) 103-I-##
Bob your revolver is a .41 LC. Totally fine. If it had rolled off the assembly line as a .38 LC the conversation changes - RCMP seem to have been interpreting these as they were originally chambered (so if originally restricted, always restricted) - yours is a .41 so.
.38 Special is also NOT .38 Long Colt - .38 Special is OK according to the flow chart... your cylinder is NOT .38 Long Colt it is a .38 SPECIAL cylinder off a different revolver model....
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