Shooting the Colt Walker

WaddWatsonEllis · January 11, 2010, 10:03:38 AM

Jamie,

I have tried to explain a similar scent memory and everyone looks at me like I am a little touched ...

On Christmas day, we had this unspoken rule that we did not wake my father until 0600. Then he would shower, and smoking a Winston, would play Santa and distribute presents as we sat on his lap.

To this day, Christmas means the smell of a moist Woolrich robe, Old Spice and tobacco smoke ... but the lap is gone for many years ....

Noz · January 11, 2010, 02:45:28 PM

My strongest scent memory is the smell of Lousiana Hot Sauce in the morning. I'd never heard of putting it on eggs until a COLA mess in Vietnam.. Now when I smell it, I'm on a short trip to Bienhoa.

WaddWatsonEllis · January 11, 2010, 09:30:41 PM

Noz,

I thank the Big Guy that your strongest scent memory from Vietnam is Louisiana Hot Sauce ... nice to have you here ... *S*

Jamie · January 18, 2010, 09:28:15 AM

I haven't been on for awhile, 5 funerals and 4 hospital emergencies (I'm a pastor) will surely slow down the computer use. At any rate, glad the scent comments brought back some memories for others. We are fearfully and wonderfully made to be sure.
Jamie

Drayton Calhoun · October 17, 2010, 08:37:06 PM

Of all my BP shooters, my Walker and Dragoon are dearest to my heart. Both are ASM and have a feel in the hand that cannot be duplicated. The boom and kick of a full charge, the cloud of smoke and the surprised looks of more modern shooters putting down their Glocks and Sigs to come over and check out the monsters brings a smile to my face.

Percussion Pete · October 18, 2010, 12:21:36 PM

The smell of BP always brings me back when I was a kid and fireworks were legal. I'll fill up a wagon with them and go around blowing up the neighborhood.

Great fun.

Border Ruffian · October 24, 2010, 08:48:46 AM

Quote from: Drayton Calhoun on October 17, 2010, 08:37:06 PM
Of all my BP shooters, my Walker and Dragoon are dearest to my heart. Both are ASM and have a feel in the hand that cannot be duplicated. The boom and kick of a full charge, the cloud of smoke and the surprised looks of more modern shooters putting down their Glocks and Sigs to come over and check out the monsters brings a smile to my face.

I've had the same experience, It's even better when the tactikool shooters realize how powerful and accurate the Dragoons and Walkers really are, usually better than their Glocks. Nothing like a genuine horse pistol.

Steel Horse Bailey · October 24, 2010, 04:47:05 PM

Indeed!

WaddWatsonEllis · October 25, 2010, 10:24:45 AM

Reminds me of the time....

I was shooting my Codymatic Model 73 for the first time ... using Schofirld .45 cal bulllets.

I had obliterated the bullseye on the the human size target I was shooting at the local range ....

A couple of young pups with their .40 and 9 mil autos came over to watch ... turned out their holes on the target were all over the place ... they finally and meekly left ...

*G*

Montana Slim · October 25, 2010, 10:24:57 PM

Yes....when the man with a .45 (revolver) meets a man with a Winchester...well, the man with the .45 is a dead-man......

Regards,
Slim

Drayton Calhoun · November 08, 2010, 10:33:46 PM

Of course when you practically ignite the paper target at twenty-five yards from the muzzle flash, well, that kinda makes an impression too, lol.

Angel_Eyes · November 09, 2010, 02:02:06 PM

Hi guy's, I believe I have tried to explain the Nitro Converted cylinders us poor Brits are allowed to use.

Well, the other day I was asked if I could do a demo of the type of revolver equipped with these cylinders, compared to B/P.

Guess which Walker and Dragoon might just show up in comparison to the 3gr Nitro loads

Want to open a book on which pistolas they will want to try after the demo

AE

Cherokee Bodie · November 10, 2010, 03:54:46 PM

Quote from: Border Ruffian on October 24, 2010, 08:48:46 AM

I've had the same experience, It's even better when the tactikool shooters realize how powerful and accurate the Dragoons and Walkers really are, usually better than their Glocks. Nothing like a genuine horse pistol.

You guys got me going now. Lets see now , I know my Walker is in the bottom of this gun cabniet here somewhere. Its been a couple of years so its about time to make some more noise and smoke.
Been shooting SASS with SAA, 73's loaded with 32 G holy black and a Henry all in 44/40.
Just joined NCOWS and got a couple of 1860 Armys that I was going to use for that but maby I'll use my Walker with full charge. That would be a hoot. I'll have to coreagraph it to make sure I don't exceed the range limits for the action ranges.
See ya when the smoke clears.
Cherokee Bodie

Steel Horse Bailey · November 10, 2010, 04:13:35 PM

Good on ya, Cherokee Bodie! Iffn you wanna chrono that Walker, fine - please post your results. However, I doubt anyone will argue with a man who has a Walker in hand! You prob'ly won't exceed any limits. With my Dragoon, about 47 or 48 grs. comes close to the Dragoon max (50 vs. the Walker max of 60) (ish) and won't knock the lever down. However, at FULL charge, the lever goes down damn near every shot! I'd think that would hold true for the Walker, since it has no latch at all, just a detent to keep the lever up. (My Dragoon is a 1st Mod with the early latch which got replaced because they obviously had the same problems "back in the day!" That'll ruin yer afternoon if, in the heat of battle or chase, the dang lever drops an' locks ever'thin up!)

Montana Slim · November 10, 2010, 09:57:36 PM

Recently acquired a used Colt Dragoon ("2nd Gen"), 3rd Model. Test fired and o'course the lever drops every shot.
I take it apart & find half (or more) of the retainer spring is missing (appears snipped off). I found a heavy duty substitute in my box-o-springs & installed. Seems pretty stout & the revolver has good contact on the retainer/catch.

Will let ya know how she turns out.....after I get it to the range & back..

I'm not running a full load...only 40 grains of 3F & a round ball. Pretty sure this load would chrony close to or just over 1,000 fps..but few would be concerned about exceeding lvelocity imits since the bullet is pure lead & disappears after hittin' steel. Generally, the RO's gonna give you a tad more elbow room on the line once you start in with these things

Slim

Steel Horse Bailey · November 11, 2010, 08:36:49 AM

Agree 100%, Slim. As you know from shooting with me, I'm a fan of full power loads. That 3rd Mod. has the new & improved latch and spring that pretty much stopped ALL lever dropping ... when the spring is intact, that is!

If I find a heavier spring, I intend to replace the one in my 1st Mod. Dragoon (Colt 2nd Gen.) but, unlike you, I don't have many spare parts at all for my charcoal-smokers. I did find, however that an old-fashioned bobby pin makes a good sub for the hand spring in my Remington NMA. Now, if you need parts for 1911A1s, on the other hand, I can help! - But that's not very Olde West!

I said to Bodie that I doubt that his Dragoon at full charge would tip the Chrono scale, but from what I've heard, those Dragoons and especially Walkers can actually bump or exceed the 681.81 MPH speed limit imposed for our shooting sport. (1000fps X 60 = fp-minute X 60 = fp-hour divided by 5280 ft in a mile, or 681.8181818181 MPH, IF my math is right!

)

Shootin' Walkers (see topic title) and Dragoons is FUN !!!!!

Montana Slim · November 11, 2010, 02:35:41 PM

Shot the new (to me) Dragoon today.....took a couple of flasks of powder + balls & bullets:
50 gr of 3F + RB drops the lever every time (that is the max I can fit)

48 gr of FF + RB, or 30 gr FFF + 200 grain bullet does not

Have to say I like the 48 grain load of FF + RB best. Haven't read much period info on loading these things...but, they may have preferred rifle powder (2F) for the same reasons as I do. The design of the latch doesn't appear to be able to resist real high forces regardless of the spring. I could redesign that, but it would look out of place on these beautiful guns.

Didn't take the chrony...maybe in the spring.

Regards,
Slim

Border Ruffian · November 12, 2010, 07:44:28 AM

Did You say "horse pistols?

Pulp · November 12, 2010, 09:35:32 AM

One of the spouts on my flask throws 43 grains of Goex FFFg, give or take a grain or so, depending on how hard I've got my finger over the end. Anyway, a few years ago I chronographed this load. 3 shots were just below 1000fps, 2 shots were just over 1000fps. I suppose in a CAS match you could eventually come across one of the "Rules Police" who would insist on a chrono test just to prove they're right and you're wrong, but I've never met anyone who says anything other than "COOL". On the other hand, rules are rules, and I try to follow them, so I've backed off a bit on my Walker loads when shooting at a match.

Montana Slim · November 12, 2010, 09:14:26 PM

Modified my last post...Been a while since I checked one of those flask/spout combinations, so I broke out my scale.
.....my scale tells me the FF charge was actually 48 grains.
And here I thought it was a 40 all those years...no wonder the contents disappear so quickly.

I'm a hardware (nuts/bolts) as well as firearm (hardware) junkie...if'n I see old springs, pins, etc. at a junk sale, I buyem'...cheep.
Could use a refill on these small springs. It's also easy to make custom springs from music wire at home. Just wrap around a pin, bolt, etc of approxiate size & coil away. Trial & error method...fun, once you get the knack. Made many small torsion springs for old double shotguns & such that you'd be lucky to find anywhere.

Regards,
Slim