I've been shooting every fashion of flint and percussion pistol, rifle and revolver going back to the 70's but took a long hiatus due to family and kids. Got the itch recently to get back into cap n' ball and got an Uberti 3rd model Dragoon.
Finally got it to the range this a.m. for about 24 shots. To give you some background, the very early reproduction percussion revolvers (mainly Italian manufactured) were seldom rifled deeply enough to properly grip dead soft lead round balls and the finish of the rifling often exhibited tool marks and other roughness that is inevitably an accuracy killer.
Fast forward to today, the last several Uberti models I've purchase show vastly improved rifling. It's both deeper and faster twist (better for stabilizing long conicals). The results of today's shoot validate the over all quality improvement Uberti is putting on the market. Using 43 gr FFFg Goex black powder, a lubed felt over powder wad and .457" round balls, my last group of the morning put 5 out of 6 shots into a ragged hole @15 yards benched.
Have to add that in order to shoot I have to wear an eye patch on my right eye because of a cataract (hopefully to be removed next month), so essentially I'm shooting right handed and aiming left eyed.
For those not familiar, this revolver is an Italian manufactured reproduction of the Colt Third Model Dragoon, originally manufactured by Colt in the range of about 1851 to 1860 or so. The series began with the 1st model in 1848, followed by the 2nd model shortly there after.
They are 4 pound, .44 caliber, 6 shot revolvers designed originally to be used by mounted troops ("Dragoons") and transported in saddle holsters, and were considered an improvement over the Colt Walker model that preceded them. Their use was widespread in both the military as well as civilian communities virtually to the era the percussion system was considered obsolete. They were the most powerful handguns in common use in their era, capable of a max load of 50 grains powder under a lead ball.
The overall quality of contemporary Uberti repro's is top notch, and the shooting results confirm it!
Finally got it to the range this a.m. for about 24 shots. To give you some background, the very early reproduction percussion revolvers (mainly Italian manufactured) were seldom rifled deeply enough to properly grip dead soft lead round balls and the finish of the rifling often exhibited tool marks and other roughness that is inevitably an accuracy killer.
Fast forward to today, the last several Uberti models I've purchase show vastly improved rifling. It's both deeper and faster twist (better for stabilizing long conicals). The results of today's shoot validate the over all quality improvement Uberti is putting on the market. Using 43 gr FFFg Goex black powder, a lubed felt over powder wad and .457" round balls, my last group of the morning put 5 out of 6 shots into a ragged hole @15 yards benched.
Have to add that in order to shoot I have to wear an eye patch on my right eye because of a cataract (hopefully to be removed next month), so essentially I'm shooting right handed and aiming left eyed.
For those not familiar, this revolver is an Italian manufactured reproduction of the Colt Third Model Dragoon, originally manufactured by Colt in the range of about 1851 to 1860 or so. The series began with the 1st model in 1848, followed by the 2nd model shortly there after.
They are 4 pound, .44 caliber, 6 shot revolvers designed originally to be used by mounted troops ("Dragoons") and transported in saddle holsters, and were considered an improvement over the Colt Walker model that preceded them. Their use was widespread in both the military as well as civilian communities virtually to the era the percussion system was considered obsolete. They were the most powerful handguns in common use in their era, capable of a max load of 50 grains powder under a lead ball.
The overall quality of contemporary Uberti repro's is top notch, and the shooting results confirm it!
