Bless me father, for I have sinned...or something!

[Marshal Will Wingam]

That does look good. Congrats.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Its even better in real life!n. Cell phone cameras, even on an iPhone 10 have their limitations!

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Yeah, those cell phone cameras can be great but when they're not...

[Tuolumne Lawman]

I checked, and the 8" has a cylinder gap of .006", and the 5 1/2" has a cylinder gap of .005" (.006" is a bit tight).  The gap is symmetrical, and is the same at the top and bottom, indicating the barrel is not canted up

[Marshal Will Wingam]

How much gap do you prefer?

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Way back in my LE armorer days, I remember desirable gap on DA revolvers was around .005" to .007", IIRC.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

It sounds like you're right in the desirable range.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

[Tuolumne Lawman]

I am REALLY excited!  This is my first match with my "Ideal" armory:  A pair of 1860 Richards conversions, an 1860 Henry (HRA "New Original Henry). and my Rossi Overland hammered coach gun!  This is kind of special because always before I was using "Author guns"  1872s, 1860 R-Ms, 1860 Richards, all in varying flavors. (calibers, barrel length, finish).  While I might have them for a year or so, they would either have to be sold or returned so I could get the next batch.

While I did write about my Kirsts, I purpose bought those to be my main match guns, and they were not "Author samples".   They were (or should I say are, because I still have them) close to my ideal pair.  There was, however, always that niggling "but they are only 5 shot!" floating around in my  "always striving for authenticity" head.  This pair is PERFECT!

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Lookin' good, pard! It will be good to hear how they perform for you.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Me at Rail Road Flat this weekend.  MY brace of Richards Type II conversions and my HRA "New Original Henry" (their copy of the original 1860 Henry.  Out of 120 rounds Pistol and 120 rounds rifle, I missed a couple with rifle, when the steel turned sidewise after my 7th hit, and dropped one round with the pistol, which screwed my chances of a main match pin!

[DeaconKC]

Your set up looks great! What kind of shotgun did you team up with other guns?

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Yeah, looking mighty good, there. That's a fine outfit. Too bad the target turned sideways. That makes it awfully hard to ring after that. I take it you're pleased with the Richards' performance.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Thanks, all. My shotgun is a 12 gauge Rossi Overland side-hammer Coach gun with 20" barrels.  It's a really sweet shooter!  The Prairie Belt was mad by David Carrico with 54 cartridge loops, the 8" Richards is in a Slim Jim from Texas Jacks (Cimarron) made specifically for an 8" Richards.  The 5 1/2" is in a El Paso Saddlery "Territorian" slim Jim.  The knee flap Cavalry boots are from Fall Creek Suttlery

[Marshal Will Wingam]

54 loops on that prairie belt. Impressive. David does do good work.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

I love the Prairie Belt with the officer's belt plate.  It just reeks "cool" when paired up with slim Jim holsters and cartridge conversions!  I. have seen similar set ups in McDowell's Colt conversion book and "Packing Iron".  I much prefer it to my 3" leather cartridge belt. 

The jury is out on the shotgun slide, though.  I usually use a canvas shotgun belt, but got the slide for wild bunch matches. The problem is that it sits where the Prairie Belt has triple thickness for adjusting.  Might just use the shotgun belt when using the Prairie belt, and the slide with the leather cartridge belt.