Question about Colt Revolving Shotgun

Regret Chancy · August 09, 2009, 07:43:55 PM

I am curious to find out more about the Colt Revolving Shotguns. Are anyone replicating them? I have noticed in quite a few of Louis L'Amours stories that he has characters using one. In the Gundigest Cowboy Action Shooting Gear Guns Tactics book they list a Model 1839 revolving shotgun in 16 guage and a 6 shot capacity. They also list a Model 1855 revolving shotgun in 10 guage or 20 guage with a 5 shot capacity. I dont remember for sure which one I read it in but I think he specified it as a 12 guage with a 4 shot capacity. I know some of his books have contradictionary flaws. (Like when Ma Hatfield left home on a sorrel and arrived in Cedar on a mule.From Kilkenny) Is this a literary false hood or possibly the '55 with an empty chamber under the hammer and a guage mistake? Wonder if it was a current made replica how SASS rules would dictate its use? Thanks for any possible help,
Regret Chancy

Galloway · August 09, 2009, 11:18:44 PM

The 10 gauge was a five shot. Palmeto makes a replica you can find at dixiegunworks.com its chamberd in 44 which was the second most popular chambering of the originals. Good luck

Driftwood Johnson · August 10, 2009, 05:17:50 AM

Howdy

Here is what is allowed for shotguns:

Any side-by-side or single shot shotgun typical of the period from approximately 1860
until 1899 with or without external hammers, having single or double triggers is allowed.
Automatic ejectors are allowed on single shot break action, lever and pump action shotguns
ONLY. Side-by-side shotguns may not use automatic ejectors. Lever action, tubular feed,
exposed hammer shotguns of the period are allowed, whether original or replicas. The only
slide action shotgun allowed is the Model 1897 Winchester shotgun, whether original or
replica. Certain shooting categories require a specific type of shotgun and ammunition to be
used. Military configurations are not allowed (i.e., trench guns). Please see the shooting
categories for further information.

Sorry, but there is no mention of a revolving shotgun in the rules. SXS, single shot, or a '97. That's it.

Revolving rifles are not allowed either.

WaddWatsonEllis · August 10, 2009, 08:14:07 AM

Driftwood,

Winchester Model 87s and their clones are allowed too.

FWIW ...

Regret Chancy · August 10, 2009, 11:51:02 AM

Thanks for the help guys. I did make a mistake on the book quote though it was The Mountain Valley War and not Kilkenny. As i said it was just a curiousity question. I knew it didnt ( the SASS rule guide) mention the revolving shot gun but if it did come back as a popular repro it would be interesting to see how it fared in competition. Thanks again for all the help. RC

WaddWatsonEllis · August 10, 2009, 12:20:36 PM

Regret,

The SXS and Model 97s seem to have the stages sewn up.

I could compete with the normal shotguns most of the time, but not on the pop-ups (yet) ... a pop up is when you hit the normal shotgun metal target, and it 'pops up' a clay target about 20 feet in the air and you have to hit it before it hits the ground and disintegrates.

Between having to lever the action between shots and keep up with the moving clay, I have yet to hit them with the lever action, and yet to miss them with my SXS.

I have been thinking 'bout taking the Model 87 to a skeet range and getting some lessons ..... *S*

BTW, the only revolving shotgun I have ever seen is in the mercenary movies (i.e. Christopher Walken in Dogs of War)... or some other Rambo type flick.

Driftwood Johnson · August 10, 2009, 05:36:30 PM

Yeah, sorry, I forgot to include the '87. The rules plainly say that lever shotguns are allowed.

You really don't need to go to a skeet range to learn to hit a popup. Not much similarity between a CAS popup and a clay pigeon travelling horizontally at 35mph. With skeet you REALLY have to lead them a lot when they are crossing shots. About four feet or so. All you have to do to hit a popup is follow it up to the top of its flight. Stay just under it. Once it stops at the top of its flight, fire. It will fall right into your pattern. That's probably what you are doing with your SXS, you're probably just getting flustered trying to work your lever gun. Most of the pop ups that I have encountered give you plenty of time. It takes about a second for the tombstone to fall down onto the teeter totter. Should be plenty of time to lever another round in. As a matter fact, most of the '97 shooters around here do not load 2 rounds for a pop up. They have learned to reload single shot style while the popup is taking off. Most of them manage to get the second shot off and break the target.

Just practice levering your gun quickly, and stay on target, don't get flustered.

Delmonico · August 10, 2009, 05:52:10 PM

One thought on a revolving shotgun or rifle, a chain fire could be rather ugly. And I would guess that wads would not stay in place as well under recoil as a slightly oversize round ball.

Shotgun Franklin · August 10, 2009, 06:36:14 PM

The biggest problem with a revolving shotgun, or rifle, is the gas and particles that escape between the end of the cylinder and the forcing cone. Unless you wear some kinda shoulder high heavy leather glove your arm is gonna take a lot of punishment.
FYI, the State of Texas bough a couple of dozen very eary Colt Revolving Rifles for issue. One was test fired and exploded, so the records say. The remaining guns were stored away and apparantly lost. If they are ever found they're worth a bit but although many State Employees have hunted for them not one has been found.

WaddWatsonEllis · August 10, 2009, 06:44:15 PM

Driftwood; No worries, mate. Just was clearing up a confusion.

Delmonico and Shotgun,

I have a Cap Coyte Model 87 that has the 'Two Round Option' ... which means that if I have two shells paralell and horizontal in my hand, they will drop down easily, one going into the chamber and one going into the tube magazine....

Since there will be no more than one round in the tube at a time, the chance of a chain reaction is reduced to almost nil. I would worry far more about a chain reaction in my Winchester rifle clone, loaded with 10 in the tube, than a single round in my Model 87 shotgun.

Delmonico · August 10, 2009, 07:27:50 PM

Quote from: WaddWatsonEllis on August 10, 2009, 06:44:15 PM
Driftwood; No worries, mate. Just was clearing up a confusion.

Delmonico and Shotgun,

I have a Cap Coyte Model 87 that has the 'Two Round Option' ... which means that if I have two shells paralell and horizontal in my hand, they will drop down easily, one going into the chamber and one going into the tube magazine....

Since there will be no more than one round in the tube at a time, the chance of a chain reaction is reduced to almost nil. I would worry far more about a chain reaction in my Winchester rifle clone, loaded with 10 in the tube, than a single round in my Model 87 shotgun.

We are talking about the Colt Revolving shotguns that load from the front of the cylinder like a cap and ball revolver.

WaddWatsonEllis · August 10, 2009, 07:33:02 PM

Driftwood,

I had never really fired a shotgun when I started SASS.

So I took my Baikal over to the skeet range and got an hour of instruction ... and it was the best money I have spent in some time.

In addition to having a person stand behind me and give me immediate feedback on what I was doing right and wrong, I got to shoot the equivalent of a dozen stages in one morning.

So I was able to really develop some muscle memory quickly ... and if I can get as good with the Model 87 in a day, well I will take it and smile.

Besides, after getting good with skeet, the feeling I got with the SXS when I went to the next SASS meet was, 'Hell, I have done far more difficult; I can do this.' I want to have that same feeling when I bring the Model '87 to a stage.

WaddWatsonEllis · August 10, 2009, 07:37:28 PM

I appologize for seemingly absconding with the thread, I withdraw my comments.

Dr. Bob · August 10, 2009, 10:39:39 PM

From Flayderman's,

Colt Model 1855 Revolving Shotgun. Made c. 1860-63; total of about 1,100. 10 and 20 gauges (75 and 60 calibers respectively), 5-shot cylinders. Standard barrel lengths of 27", 30" and 36" also known , primarily in the 10 gauge production. All barrels round with semi-octagonal breech. Made with both small oval and scroll type trigger guards.

If I had to shoot one, I would put my off hand on my strong side shoulder and rest the strong side wrist on the arm. This would put the front of the cylinder in front of all of me! But, I wouldn't shoot one!

Delmonico · August 10, 2009, 10:44:35 PM

Quote from: Dr. Bob on August 10, 2009, 10:39:39 PM
e! But, I wouldn't shoot one!

Dr. Bob, you are a wiser man than some would think, some things never should have been made. Just because it was made and sold, don't mean it was good.

I bet if we had one, we could get someone to shoot it, just so we could photograph it.