Heads up on my latest project.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

I still have a fondness for Open Tops (even though I am a Remmie cartridge conversion shooter), and I like the Avenging Angel 1860 snubbie concept.  I just ordered a Pietta 1860 3" barreled snub nose with Colt "Thunderer" style grips.



I did one with the same Pietta snubbie about 3 years ago, but I used an R&D cylinder with it.  Awesome little gun, shooting .45 Schofields with a 200 grain bullet.  I did not, howver, like having to pull the cylinder for loading it.  I traded it to a friend about 2 1/2 years ago.

For this project, I ordered a Kirst 5 shot gated Konverter for it.  I will cut the channel for the loading gate and should have a much nicer revolver.  I used the R&D equipped one as a main match revolver several times, and it was a hoot to shoot.  It ma become my weak side/cross draw revolver, and my 5.5" 1858 Kirst Konverter will be strong side.

[Abilene]

That will be a fun gun, and they look cool!  I wonder why Pietta used the "Army" frame with the shoulder stock screws?

[Smokey Dave]

Sounds like my kinda pistol. I'll be watching for progress.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Here's the one with the R&D:  It was one of the most natural pointing single action pistols I have ever shot.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Speaking of "Avenging Angel", I recently re-watched Tom Berrenger's 1995 movie "Avenging Angel" to get a look at his snub nosed 1860 revolver.  The views of it were quick and indistinct.  I was, however,  pleasantly reminded that his main weapon of choice was an 1860 Henry.  He does more than just carry it, using it in several gunfights.  With a nod towards realism, the follower always indicated a full or nearly full magazine.  Nice to see the little realistic touch.  The main action was in 1872-1873, and featured correct guns like percussion 1858s and 1860s, and even a Smith & Wesson .44 caliber Number 3 "American" model with an 8" barrel.

[Smokey Dave]

That's a great looking rig TL.

I've used the R&D cylinders to compete with too. I loved them, except for the loading and unloading. I hated taking my pistols apart twice for every stage. So I traded the two cylinders off for two 1860 Armies!

I still want a couple conversion guns, but I'll get the gated versions with ejector rods.

[Coffinmaker]

I just gotta chime in here.  I've built numerous Snubbies.  Both for myself and for "others."  With Snubbies, if you're going to actually shoot them for CAS, you should/must consider a Cylinder Loading stand.  I happen to use Dick Dastardly's Tower of Power.  Set the gun up so you can seat the wedge with your thumb and take it out with a light rap from a plastic screwdriver handle or even better ... your thumb.  This also gives you the opportunity to wipe down the barrel breach and the cylinder face for smooth running.

HEY TL,  Your gonna want a set of Slix nipples and some lighter springs for your Snubbie.  Rally FUN guns.

[Abilene]

I'll bet TL never shoots the percussion cylinder. 

[Major 2]

I've posted this one before  ...those are heeled 38's

[Coffinmaker]

The good Major 2 has been known to post glossies of my Main Match Snubbies.  Snubbies-R-Us   

[Tuolumne Lawman]

A little teaser:

[Tuolumne Lawman]

[Smokey Dave]

Nicely done TL. I like that a lot!

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Thanks!  It is SOOOOOOO SWEEEET!!!!!!!  I am pairing it with my 5.5" Kirst Konverter 1858 as my main match pistols.....Man, it feels SOOOOO nice in the hand!

[Abilene]

Where's yer poker stick? 

[Professor Marvel]

Where's yer poker stick? 

And it must have an antler handle 

Yhs prof Marvel

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Range report!!!!! WOWZA!

The load I use is in a .45 Schofield case, using a 200 grain RN, hollow based bullet that I also used on my 1911.  In the Schofield case, it approximated the appearance of the original 210 grain, healed bullet .44 Colt/Martin cartridge.  The powder is 6 grains of Trail Boss. The Taylor's/Pietta 1860 Avenging Angel shot dead center, but about three inches above point of aim at seven to ten yards, using a traditional two-hand hold.  I aimed at a six o?clock position on the 5 inch bulls-eye, and hit about three inches above in the black.  At a match, use a low, just below dead center hold, for a solid hit. As I have said before, this is very common with all of the 1851/1860 Colt percussion and cartridge conversion revolvers, including originals.

After its initial range session, I took it to our local Nevada City Peacemakers monthly match.  We are old school in several ways.  One we are relaxed, and tend to have more challenging targets than your typical 2020 SASS match!  One of the reasons is because of an injunction by a local environmental group, we are bared from shooting steel targets. They thought they would shut us down with the court order, but we came up with a work around.  Our rifle targets are pop cans (full so they blow when you hit them) or clay pigeons on the 25 yard berm.  Pistol target are 10" orange rubber self healing disks at 25 yards and our 7 yard knock down rack.  The 5"x10' steel knock downs have 6 inches of wood taped to them to absorb the bullets.  Where there is a will, there is a way.

The Pietta/Kirst Avenging Angel was the show pony of the match! Everyone loved it and wanted to handle it.  I shot the 5?x10? 7 yard knock downs clean the entire match.  I used a low dead center (or high 6 o?clock hold), and nailed every one.  Recoil from the 6.0 grains of Trail Boss under the 200 grain bullet was, to my surprise, very manageable!  I credit the Thunderer style grips with the hump on the backstop for taming the buck and roar.  I found the 3" Avenging Angel was actually more controllable than my 5.5" barrel Remington New Model Army (1858) with a Kist gated Konverter, using the same load.  It is quite possibly the favorite CAS revolver I have used in many years!  It was just plain fun to shoot.

[Smokey Dave]

Great pictures TL. Looks like you've constructed another winner!