Range Time With The Dragoon

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JimT
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Range Time With The Dragoon

Post by JimT »

Wednesday dried out enough I was able to get out onto the Range with the 3rd Model Dragoon. My friend Jared was visiting and he had brought his Walker and a couple other charcoal burners ... 1860 Army and an 1861 Navy. I had never had a chance to test out the paper cartridges that I had loaded and this was a perfect opportunity.
44-2.JPG
The photo is when I was learning to make the paper cartridges. I had 40 rounds in the ammo box when we went to the Range. The ones on the left are round ball .. the ones on the right are my home-made conical. I had 15 rounds of the conical.

On the range we shot about 15 yards, offhand.
VideoCapture_20230322-184558.jpg
I found the round ball cartridges much easier to load than the home-made conical. The base on the conical is large enough that the paper cartridge interferes with loading and requires MUCH MORE seating pressure to get it started.

Accuracy was great with both loads. At 15 yards I kept most shots in or on a 1 inch square, shooting offhand. Later I will shoot these loads at 20/25 yards from a rest to determine accuracy. But so far they are good enough to use for rabbit hunting and whatnot :D
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Pitchy
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Re: Range Time With The Dragoon

Post by Pitchy »

Looks like fun, i had a Dragoon many years ago and was fun to shoot also had a Walker. :)
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JimT
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Re: Range Time With The Dragoon

Post by JimT »

Yessir Pitchy ... they are fun.

Comparing the Walker and the 3rd Model Dragoon
20230322_160600.jpg
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Re: Range Time With The Dragoon

Post by gamekeeper »

I wish I had moved up to a Dragoon or Walker instead of moving down to the Pocket Colt, the little .31 was a dinky little shooter but not enough smoke and noise... :D
The Navies were always my favourites though.
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JimT
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Re: Range Time With The Dragoon

Post by JimT »

gamekeeper wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 2:04 pm The Navies were always my favourites though.
I really like the 1862 Police but my friend Jared had his 1861 Navy with him when he came for a visit this week and now I have a serious "want" for one! :lol:
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Pitchy
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Re: Range Time With The Dragoon

Post by Pitchy »

The Dragoon and a 51 navy i had were made by Colt, last run i recon beautiful pistols but stupid me traded them off. :roll:
I`m not into shooting black much anymore not because i don`t like them because i`m hurting so much it`s hard to do.
I gotta get out and shoot something one of these days after the snow gets less deep. :)
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Bill in Oregon
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Re: Range Time With The Dragoon

Post by Bill in Oregon »

Lenn, God bless you; keep the faith and your shining spirit glowing. Spring is already here in Texas, and heading north. This accumulating pain business ... sucks. We'll just leave it at that.
Jim, I look forward to your accuracy tests.
The 1861 Navy is the most elegant of all the Colts, to me, with the 1860 Army almost neck and neck.
That said, I have a Pietta 1851 that needs breaking in, and I have both round balls and 50 of Kaido's conicals to fool with.
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Ysabel Kid
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Re: Range Time With The Dragoon

Post by Ysabel Kid »

Jim, what was the load you used? Was it the same for round ball and conical?
Bill in Oregon wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 4:53 pm Lenn, God bless you; keep the faith and your shining spirit glowing. Spring is already here in Texas, and heading north. This accumulating pain business ... sucks. We'll just leave it at that.
+1 Prayers for you Lenn. Constant pain is no fun. :cry: Bill, it hit 87 degrees here in SC today. I think we skipped spring and went straight to summer! :shock:
Bill in Oregon wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 4:53 pm The 1861 Navy is the most elegant of all the Colts, to me, with the 1860 Army almost neck and neck.
That's why I also love the 1862 Pocket Police. Same lines just compact. :D :D :D
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JimT
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Re: Range Time With The Dragoon

Post by JimT »

Ysabel Kid wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 8:55 pm Jim, what was the load you used? Was it the same for round ball and conical?
Yes .. same load.. using the dipper with the paper cartridge kit = 40 grains FFFg

I also like the 1862 Police ... but I am being drawn to the 1861 Navy also. :lol:
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Re: Range Time With The Dragoon

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This post proves that certain types of smoking can be good for your health.
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Re: Range Time With The Dragoon

Post by Ysabel Kid »

piller wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 11:12 pm This post proves that certain types of smoking can be good for your health.
:lol: :lol: :lol:
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Sarge
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Re: Range Time With The Dragoon

Post by Sarge »

Good stuff Jim, I have always liked the 3rd Dragoon.

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Re: Range Time With The Dragoon

Post by Griff »

JimT wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 9:37 am...But so far they are good enough to use for rabbit hunting and whatnot :D
Better be careful of where you're shooting from Jim... that much smoke and rabbits will suss out your blind quickly! :P :P Good pics, There ain't anything like a little smoke in the morning!

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