Dragoon Again - Just For Fun

[JimT]

Scott T has been posting about his Ruger "Dragoon" .. which is what Elmer Keith always wished Ruger would have named the big frame .44 single action. Many of us agree with him. But for fun I thought I would post a couple pictures of the original Dragoon. I don't have a real original. This is a copy by Uberti of the 1848 Third Model Dragoon. I compare it to the 1873 model that we know as the Single Action Army model.

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[2ndovc]

Very cool! I need to replace mine. Long story, but there's one on my "short list"

jb

[Bill in Oregon]

It's a bruiser, Jim. Some years ago, just like many of us, I "had to have" a Walker, and of course it was huge, heavy and the rammer frequently dropped. Got it out of my system, but have always thought a Dragoon made more sense. Loaded with a Kerr, Johnston and Dow or Kaido bullet, it seems the Dragoons step well up into deer and hog hunting territory.

[JimT]

..... Loaded with a Kerr, Johnston and Dow or Kaido bullet, it seems the Dragoons step well up into deer and hog hunting territory.

Yessir I believe it would work quite well. In truth, the round ball would also. I hunted with the 1858 Remington .44 and the round ball in it worked very well on the game I shot with it. Though I never shot anything larger than Javelina, I would not have been afraid to use it on deer. Like anything, within certain ranges of course.

[yooper2]

I've taken a deer with my original Rodgers&Spencer loaded with a round ball. Shot was close and I put it in the spine but it worked well. I've shot a ton of smaller animals with a .36 cap and ball and have always been impressed by the effectiveness of round balls.


Eric

[Ysabel Kid]

Here's combining both... a Uberti reproduction of the Colt 1st Model Dragoon with a Kirst Konverter and recoil shield port.

[Bill in Oregon]

Jay, how accurate is she with both loose powder and ball and with cartridges? What a beauty!

[Ysabel Kid]

Hi Bill -

I picked this up specially for the conversion, and it is not only fun to shoot, but darn accurate. Now, I'm not saying modern iron sights accurate, because it has the Colt open-frame sights of the percussion era - i.e., rear sight notch on the hammer - but to me it points just naturally.

I have yet to shoot it with the original percussion cylinder yet. I still have it, and nothing prevents me from doing so except time. When I do take it out I will give it a whirl with both round ball and the Era Gone conicals. I'll make sure to write a range report!

[lthardman]

Nice Jay. I would love to get a conversion kit for my Colt Third Model Dragoon.

[kaschi]

For those of you shooting these Dragoons, how well does the loading lever catch prevent the lever from falling during recoil? I realize this was a problem with the Walker which preceded them. My only experience with blackpowder revolvers has been solely with 1850 Navy and 1860 Army models.

[JimT]

The Dragoon latch holds just fine.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Scott T has been posting about his Ruger "Dragoon" .. which is what Elmer Keith always wished Ruger would have named the big frame .44 single action. Many of us agree with him. But for fun I thought I would post a couple pictures of the original Dragoon. I don't have a real original. This is a copy by Uberti of the 1848 Third Model Dragoon. I compare it to the 1873 model that we know as the Single Action Army model.

IMG_4123.JPG

IMG_4113.JPG

IMG_4116.JPG

IMG_4193.JPG

The size comparison is quite interesting. Hoss pistol v. carry gun.

[JimT]

It is a HUGE old thing. Not as big as the Walker but close.

My 8 year old grandson holding it.

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[Bill in Oregon]

And I want a shirt like his!

[JimT]

And I want a shirt like his!

You'd look good in it Bill, but it would be tight on the neck and the arms would be too short.

[Bill in Oregon]

[Ysabel Kid]

For those of you shooting these Dragoons, how well does the loading lever catch prevent the lever from falling during recoil? I realize this was a problem with the Walker which preceded them. My only experience with blackpowder revolvers has been solely with 1850 Navy and 1860 Army models.

This is one of the reasons I went with a Dragoon versus the Walker. One of the improvements to the Walker design was the loading lever retention latch. On the Walker it is simply a hooked leaf spring design, and the loading lever will fall with even mild loads. I have shot fairly robust .45 Colt loads in conversion and have never had the loading lever drop.

[Ysabel Kid]

Nice Jay. I would love to get a conversion kit for my Colt Third Model Dragoon.

Hi Gary. I can't recommend Kirst Konverters and their gunsmith, Bill Kelly, enough. The conversion cylinder is wonderfully made, and properly cared for, will last many lifetimes. I bought it when Kirst ran a sale (which I think they may be doing now), and opted for the "installation" which includes channeling the recoil shield and replacing the hand. The latter isn't required, but the hands that come with the Italian reproductions will fail and aren't optimal for the new cylinder. Shipping seems a little steep until you remember that Kirst ships you a box for your gun, you ship the gun and cylinder to them, Bill does the work, and then ships the finished gun back to you. So, taking all that, the shipping really isn't that bad.

Bill Kelly is one of the nicest gentleman I have ever talked to. His work is incredible. I can't recommend him enough.

[kaschi]

Thank you! That's what I was hoping to hear even though the Dragoon doesn't appear to have as robust a loading lever catch compared to, say, the 1860 Army, which is totally different in design.

[Ysabel Kid]

Thank you! That's what I was hoping to hear even though the Dragoon doesn't appear to have as robust a loading lever catch compared to, say, the 1860 Army, which is totally different in design.

The 1860's is certainly better, but the Dragoon's is light years ahead of the Walker!