1860 Army

[Old Savage]

1860 Army - who likes them - what works best - new at this aspect of shooting.

What about ball size?

Message from God? The odometer of my truck was on 44500 when I bought it.

[Sixgun]

Old Savage,
I've shot a few originals from the Civil War and if I remember right, I just stuffed the chambers 3/4 of the way full with ff and popped a .451 rb on top of it. Slapped some grease on the chamber mouths. They all shot a foot high at 25-35 yards

[PaperPatch]

I have an Uberti 1860 thats fun to plink with. If I take careful aim, using the hammer notch as the rear sight...it'll hit high on target. I tried instinctive aiming it then...like pointing a finger; and its on target.

The standard spout that comes on powder flask throws about 25 grains of FFG...and works well. A wad, and grease keeps things lubed and safe. Since I already have .457 balls for my Ruger Old Army...I use them with good results.

I also have found the open top style Colt easy to disassemble and clean too.

Good luck with yours!

[Griff]

While I prefer the 1851 with its direct linkage rammer vs the 1860 ratcheting rammer; the 1860, much like the 1851 the specific ball diameter can vary from maker to maker. As a rule of thumb you want the chamber mouth to cut a "ring of lead" from around the ball. Some folks like a nice thick ring, I'm satisfied with a light ring, it's easier to seat the ball. The idea is that this shaving lead indicates assurance of good ball to chamber fit. In my 1858 Remington I've used balls between .454 to .457 with equal effect; in it, I just generally bought what the store had in stock. Charges of between 21 to 25 grains of 3F are considered light plinking loads in the .44 1860, charges between 27 to 30 are considered heavier and should be used with some caution depending on the age, condition and metals the gun is made of.

Above charges are by volume, not weight; a wad (can be lubed or dry - depending on how long the charge will be loaded) under the ball or grease over the ball will adequately seal the front of the chamber from chain-firing. There is a feeling that uncapped nipples can also allow a chain fire, but I've never experience this. Just make sure your caps fit the nipples and are securely pressed home on the nipple. If you experience a delay from the hammer strike to firing, you're probably not seating the caps far enough.

Enjoy!

[PaperPatch]

I forgot to add...

These guys have lots to share.
www.brimstonepistoleros.com

[Pete44ru]

I use the same .457 round lead balls as my Ruger Old Army, with Pyrodex "P" BP substitute, w/each chamber capped with Crisco cooking lard.





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[O.S.O.K.]

That's a pic of my Uberti Dragoon (3rd model) and my Pieta 1860.

The 1860 likes .452" balls. I usually load mine with 35 grains of Pyrodex under an ox-yoke wonder wad with the ball seated down firmly on top of these. This pistol likes #11 caps and shoots very accuratly and to point of aim (jest a tad left) at 25 yards. Pyrodex P is what I use and its very clean shooting. Between the Pyrodex and the wonder wads, I can shoot as long as I like w/o any cleaning and accuracy is maintained.

The 1860 points like my 1858 - instinctively - if I just push it out there while looking at the target, it'll be close to spot on.

Great guns - love to shoot em.

Here's a pic of my Uberti Walker - takes 60 grains of Pyrodex P with wad and ball - makes a ruckus!


It's the Josey Wales! I got the Josey Wales!

[2ndovc]

My Dad has a pair of uberti 1860s.

His seem to like the .454s topped off w/ a glob of Crisco.

I've always thought the 1860 was the sharpest sixgun ever made.

I've wanted one for some time but I'm more than happy w/ me 1851 Navy


jb

[jeepnik]

One word, wonderwads. Does away with the "grease" issue. The wad is set between the powder and the ball. It effectively stops "chain firing". Though, I've always wondered how ofter the grease was used in th heat of battle. I can't see a horseman loading one of those things on a galloping horse, much less smearing grease everywhere. Seems his hand would get covered and holding onto anything would be that much more difficult.

Here's my favorite. With the short barrel it sure snorts smoke and flame.

[O.S.O.K.]

That looks familiar...


Unfortunately, I sold this off while unemployed...

[Rusty]

It's also consider bad manners in some circles to load directly from the flask to the gun. Use a measure.

[Comal Forge]

I deepened the rear notch and cut away a portion of the hammer to get my 1860 Uberti to shoot on target at 25 yds. It's not that tough to do if you spend a little time with a couple of files. Almost all of the Colts shoot high - they were designed that way. For some reason, the Italians made adjustments to the Remington replicas because they seem to hit closer to POA.

I used to shoot an original 1860 (with gain twist rifling) regularly and it would stay on a Clorox bottle all day long at 75 yds but shot high at closer range. Plenty good for the man-killing job they were designed for...

[Old Time Hunter]

.452 ball, lubed wad, and 'bout 25-30 grains of 3f works fine. Would like to try the Lee conicals for pistol one of these days.

[Ysabel Kid]

OS -

The 1860, IMHO, was the pinnacle of the blackpowder revolver. Nothing feels quite so balanced; nothing points quite so naturally. It is just a pleasure to shoot.

Post some pictures and a range report when you do!

[Grizzly Adams]

One word, wonderwads. Does away with the "grease" issue. The wad is set between the powder and the ball. It effectively stops "chain firing". Though, I've always wondered how ofter the grease was used in th heat of battle. I can't see a horseman loading one of those things on a galloping horse, much less smearing grease everywhere. Seems his hand would get covered and holding onto anything would be that much more difficult.

Here's my favorite. With the short barrel it sure snorts smoke and flame.

NEVER! They used properly fitted caps and ball! Now days we feel the need to mix our shooting with baking products - go figure!

[Griff]

It's also consider bad manners in some circles to load directly from the flask to the gun. Use a measure.

Don't know about "bad manners", but some folks think it's unsafe. I've been loading from a flask that has a lever (so now we're "on-topic") that opens a door and with a spout measured to drop a preset amount of powder for close to 21 years without a mishap. Not to say that the next time won't be my 1st!

OS -
The 1860, IMHO, was the pinnacle of the blackpowder revolver. Nothing feels quite so balanced; nothing points quite so naturally. It is just a pleasure to shoot.

Nay, nay, 'tis the 1851, slender, ½" shorter in barrel and points so naturally that it's uncanny!

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Nay, nay, 'tis the 1851, slender, ½" shorter in barrel and points so naturally that it's uncanny![/color]



How bout a 5.5 1860 in 44 but with 51 grip frame? I, too like the pointability of the 51. I may have to build another pair of these.

[Old Savage]

Thanks gents for what I see so far. Griff anything you have to say here about these I am all ears for - As I said no experience. Mine is a Pietta and seems smooth and well made. Three clicks is what I hear cocking it. My great grandfather fought with the north in the Civil War and I wondered if he might have had one. Probably wanted one if he didn't.

[Old Savage]

Thanks gents for what I see so far. Griff anything you have to say here about these I am all ears for - As I said no experience. Mine is a Pietta and seems smooth and well made. Three clicks is what I hear cocking it. My great grandfather fought with the north in the Civil War and I wondered if he might have had one. Probably wanted one if he didn't.

[Old Savage]

The Pietta manual calls for a .454 ball. SO - I guess I have a .454. How about that Tutt?

[Griff]

...Mine is a Pietta and seems smooth and well made. Three clicks is what I hear cocking it.

Should hear 4, but have to do it slowly, the last three are quite close together.

1. The trigger snapping back down on the hammer over the half cock notch;
2. The hand changing notches on the back of the cylinder;
3. The trigger snicking over the full cock notch; and,
4. The bolt rising into the cylinder.

At least that's what I think the four clicks are... maybe one of our more knowledgeable brethen can tell us for certain.

My great grandfather fought with the north in the Civil War and I wondered if he might have had one. Probably wanted one if he didn't.

I'll not hold the acts of yer ancestors against you. There was actually a great vareity of arms used, I think with the 1860 being of the most prolific.

[Old Savage]

Griff, 3 and 4 are very close and bolt makes no marks on the cylinder. It seems to be fitted very well. I looked an 1851 Navy to day of the same make and the cylinder locks up with no movement and the barrel cylinder gap is almost nonexistent. I am amazed at how well fitted it is.

[Griff]

I don't have any personal experience with Pietta's but in talking with Boyd Davis (owner of EMF) a few months ago he rated the Pietta's as possibly the finest Colt clones of any model that he's dealt with in his many years importing clones. He did say they tended to run a bit smaller than the originals, but it takes a micrometer to measure the differences but liked their quality and said I'd not be disappointed in any that I bought.

[Old Savage]

Thanks Griff, I the one I got certainly looks good. Appreciate the info.