Will a 1860 Army for hunting

[jahwarrior1423]

I have a handgun hunt here in AZ for javelina. Will the power of a 1860 Army enough to hunt?...I just don't know the ballistics of this weapon.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Duelist 1954 is a member here, aka Bottom Dealing Mike. He has many shooting videos of excellent quality on youtube. The one you want to watch first to answer part of your question is here;

[hellgate]

With the round ball and 30 grs powder you have the ballistics most closely comparable to a 38 Special. If you think that is enough for a javelina then go for it.

[jahwarrior1423]

Without starting a new thread, can you tell me which nipple wrench you recommend for my revolver?...

[Lefty Dude]

Without starting a new thread, can you tell me which nipple wrench you recommend for my revolver?...

Google; "Track of the Wolf" or "The Possible Shop" they have the item you seek.

And Yes, an 1860 Army will put a Javalina down. I would put the piece on paper prior to the hunt. With a 44 round ball & 30 gr. of 3F black powder the piece will shoot high at 50 yards.
Good Luck.
BTW; which  unit did you draw ?

[jahwarrior1423]

30B...right down the road from me. Got drawn for general 30B and put in for leftover HAM 30B.

[jahwarrior1423]

Any brand better than another?...and what size slot should I get?

[Lefty Dude]

Buy the two-piece, the one that has the ratchet handle & slotted socket. T he others are more traditional but are soft steel and will wear quickly.
Your choice, pard.

[hellgate]

So far the ratchet type nipple wrench has never failed me whereas I have buggered up a couple traditional nipple wrenches. A padded vise really helps.

[cpt dan blodgett]

a couple of strategically placed dowels or pins in a block is a not bad substitute for a padded vise.

[jahwarrior1423]

Thank you, everyone. Appreciate your help with new guys like myself.

[griswold]

I'd be sure of a backup or a buddy with additional firepower or something high to clamber up............all chambers loaded is still only six.........I say this cause I remember an Army fellow stationed in Germany went hog huntin with a 1911.........after 7 shots he spent the night in a tree with a really pee-ode hog waiting on the ground.....

Griz

[Lefty Dude]

A fully mature Javalina  may make 60 lbs soak & wet on the hoof. He has a ML tag in an area that is for, Handgun, Muzzle loader & Archery only.
For Rifle season in some areas, one can use a 22 mag.
I shot my last Javalina in a HAM area with my Browning HP 40 S&W. The critter was about 55# , a mature Male.
We have lots of these critters here in Arizona

[Slowhand Bob]

I would always era on the side f the animal in a situation like this, I find way to many poorly shot deer that make it to my property before dyeing.  Be absolutely sure the shot can be placed exactly where it needs to be with the gun that will be used and by the shooter running the trigger.  Be mature enough to pass on a shot that might be questionable.  After a bad shot has poorly hit the target is a really lousy time to admit a personal judgement mistake.  I would step up to a heavier load in the Walker Colt, slightly more margin for error, against tough little animals like these.  Even soft lead round balls are not superior performing rounds.  With good sporting ammunition I would use a 38 for medium size dogs but I consider pigs, within that same weight range, to be tougher at the surface and all the way through.

[Lefty Dude]

The Javalina is not in the Pig family, different critter.
It is in the Football with legs Family.   

[Noz]

They also have a mystical reputation of being indestructible and for being more vicious than a Kodiak Bear.  They are a small relatively fragile animal with vital organs placed a little farther forward that you would expect.  Most of the incidents of multiple shots and no kill are from the bullets/arrows hitting too far back.
I love to hunt them but they are too far from Missouri for a varmint hunt.
There used to be an annual "Great Texas Javelina Hunt" in south Texas (and may still be going on) in which they weighed each stink pig when brought back to camp. Most weighed in the 25-35lb range dressed.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

.Most percussion revolvers are "historically accurate" copies of military revolvers. They are sighted high to obtain a center of mass hit with a beltbuckle hold

I had a taller blade installed on my Pietta 1860 to get a 15-25 yard poi.

[Roosterman]

I have killed deer with an 1860 army. 30 yard shot or so. Nice having 5 more shots in case I miss the first time.

[Cuts Crooked]

[rifle]

Cap&ball revolvers are minimal fer huntin. remingtons are the best of the regular size since they hold more powder per chamber. Dragoons and Walkers are the best ones fer huntin deer and javlina. I'd say anyway in my opinion.

Deer with the cap&baller revolvers is a bow hunt type situation meaning close shots. Little further with the big revs but depending on the size of the deer.

Energy is important and getting the most from the guns means energetic powder. Pyrodex over the regular black. Then 777 over the pyrodex. Check something like the Lyman Blackpowder handbook and loading manual. SEE the ft/lbs of yer load and where it drops off too low. Set a limit for the distance of the shots.

If you gotta use the black then thunk on usin compressed FFFg or use the FFFFg which is finer and more energetic since black is surface igniting.

Ethical means short shots even with the big guns like the Walker and Dragoons. Depends on the size of the deer or the lil pig,

Ethical means no shots over the limit at which the shooter can 100% hit the center area of the kill zone.

A thought....why not use a nice accurate muzzleloader rifle and take the pistol along fer back-up if that's legal?

Anywhoooo if ya have to use yer favorite 1860 Army revolver check the manual and see the energy you can get from it and decide if it's viable fer ya. Accuracy wise and all things considered. Things like are you coping with fouling. Fouling can deterioate accuracy even with the second shot if the fouling isn't contended with. Check yer gun in regards to that. How many shots can yer revolver fire and still maintain accuracy?

More energy comes from a cap&baller revolver that has the chambers reamed to match the diameter of the barrel grooves to the rifling.
More accuracy comes from one that has the reamed chambers and provisions to handle or cope with Blowback movin the hammer thus the cylinder as the gun fires causng misalignment of the chambers to the bore and inaccuracy. Good nipples and maybe a stiffer main spring and maybe an extra half spring under the whole spring or even an extra full spring may be needed.

You have to remember that animals are tougher than humans and the cap&baller revolvers were designed to shoot humans.The Army Ordanance Department figured the revolvers were best used at 7-28 feet in close combate.

Anywhoooo...if yer going to hunt with yer cap&ball revolver may as well do it right and take all the advantages there are to amp the gun to the task. Makes the endeavor more interesting if you do that stuff to amp it up. Part of the fun or interest to the endeavor.....doin it right and ethically.

Ethically means practice yer still huntin technic. Pratice being stilland moving quite and sneaky. Patience...patience.....patience.  Cloths that blend in and face cover so you ain't givin the game a flash of face to freak them out before you shoot.

Just some reminders and my opinion is all...tryin to be helpful. Not some arse hole know it all. I know what I know and know what I don't know. Does that make sense?