Best Handling Percussion Revolver

[Good Cheer]

What have you found to be the best handling percussion revolvers to suit your shooting?
What's best for you?

For me it's more often a matter of heft or weight in hand. The "sheriff" type short barrel .44's built on the 1851 frame really fill the bill. Their failing seems to be having so much crammed into such a small package, such that unlike the Dragoons and Walkers there's typically insufficient lateral clearances for loading boolits from .45 pistol molds and therefore being relegated to using extra short light weight boolits (round ball).

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Just talking about how they feel and balance, I like the 1862 Colt Navy .36 Cal.

DG

[ascast]

Colt 1860 Army. Most naturally pointing handgun ever made---for me, even repos. The Manhattan feels good as well. Walker and Dragoons are heavy ( repos), Remington is a bit tight on my middle finger, original seems a bit more comfortable. Rogers and Spencer just feels a bit off, not sure why.

[HWooldridge]

Colt 1860 Army. Most naturally pointing handgun ever made---for me, even repos. The Manhattan feels good as well. Walker and Dragoons are heavy ( repos), Remington is a bit tight on my middle finger, original seems a bit more comfortable. Rogers and Spencer just feels a bit off, not sure why.

+1…The 1860 is the best in my opinion. It becomes more apparent when shooting at random targets at various pistol distances. The 1862 and 1851 are also good but I think the ‘60 is a bit better.

[freakonaleash]

Just like Wild Bill I prefer the '51 navy.

[Mk42gunner]

1861 Navy for looks and handling. The 1851 handles just s well, but it looks a bit rougher at least to me.

All repro's, I have never held an original.

Robert

[kaiser]

I really like the 1858 Sheriff model with the shorter 5 1/2" BBL; it really balances well in the hand; it's not muzzle heavy like those mentioned. The 1851 also feels good, especially with the "tail" of the frame sanded off, even though it is a tad muzzle heavy. The 1860 has the bigger grips, which was, supposedly, favored by the U.S. Calvary.

[derek45]

1851 Colt

https://i.imgur.com/oebXE9q.jpg

2nd place 1860 Army

https://i.imgur.com/kGvpoq8.jpg

[357Mag]

Goodcheer -

Howdy !

While I really liked the 1860 ( repro ), the grips /grip frame are too small in dimensions for a good fit in my hand.

I have been shooting Herrett's " Jordan Troopers " on my S & W custom 4" heavy barrelled "N" frame .357Mag's.
My hands aren't the size of Bill Jordans, but are on the large enough side that I benefit from the use of custom " stocks " on my handguns.

A custom 1860 set of stocks would have to cover the revolve's backstrap w/ wood, fer sher. I suspect overall gun asthetics would suffer in result, so I never tried any custom stocks on an 1860.


With regards,
357Mag

[elk hunter]

Of those that I have owned, all Colts, and shot I prefer the Colt 1860 Army. The big Dragoons and the smaller pocket pistols are just too big or too small for me to hold/shoot comfortably.

[FLINTNFIRE]

I have only shot the 1858 remington in 44 and 36 , 1851 navy colt in 36 , 1860 army colt in 44 , and a 3rd model dragoon colt in 44 , all reproductions and I like the 51 and 60 the best but would not give either one top choice as I find them both to be easy handling .

[Harter66]

I've been through a half a dozen . Also I prefer slightly longer barrels on singles than doubles and the bigger the frames get the longer they get to feel "right" .

There's no doubt that the Colts have the fluid grace and pointiblility but there's just something ....... I had an 73' SAA C&B version ......that also cured any lust I had for that . But here again it just wasn't any really measurable thing .

1858s I have 1 ea in 36 and 44 cal the 36 is very handy with it's 6-3/4ish barrel and the 44 if cut back to maybe 6" would be just the cats pajamas . But I like the 7.5" 45 convertible and 357 BlackHawk and N frame S&W in 1917 form too .

I have found the 2nd Model Dragoon to be a lovely dragon slayer and suitably ungainly but I think I actually prefer it to the 1860s .

[gunther]

Started with a 1858 Remington. Found out later that nearly all of these are 7/8 scale. My hands are too big. Used a Ruger old army with Pachmayrs for 35 years now; a deer, and a bunch of targets... Finally got to hold a Colt reproduction of an 1860 Army. It was not as comfortable as I thought it would be. And then there's a ratty, rusted 1851 that looks like it had been through a war. Dad bought it in central Ky in the 1970's. 93xxx serial number range, loose as a goose, and... gee, it had been through a war. And it points like an extension of your arm.

[HWooldridge]

Re the 1860 Colt, most if not all of the repro makers never adopted the “Slim Jim” grips that were put on original Colts. Instead, the modern grips more closely resemble a SAA cartridge revolver. That’s not necessarily a bad thing but there is a difference.

Pick up an old 1860 Army and it will hang differently in your hand. Load and point shoot it at a man-sized silhouette target, anywhere from 25 to 50 yards away. Probably won’t produce 1” groups but all the hits will equate to kill shots if the shooter does his part. That’s what they were designed to do.

[Green Frog]

AFAIK, in order to be certified for N-SSA competition, reproduction firearms must be full size. Going on that assumption I’ll say I’m using a 44 cal Remington 1858, and it has the advantage of a top strap, which I estimate must add to accuracy potential. As far as balance and handling, IMHO we consciously or unconsciously adapt our own style to the gun to one degree or another, so there may be no universal “best handling” revolver, rather it’s the one that we’re most comfortably adjusted to.

Froggie

[contender1]

For me,, the best handling percussion revolver has been the Ruger Old Army. Between the weight, the sights, it's proven to be MY personal best choice.

[missionary5155]

Our one son is 6-4 and weights about 235. He really likes our 3rd model Dragoon.

[almar]

I have several, I typically go for the 1860 colt. It feels better in the hand, then the Remington is close second for how accurate mine is.

[sharps4590]

I've had most Colts and though I never owned a Remington I have fired a few. Of the Colts it's a toss up between the 1860 Army and 1862 Navy. I like the '51 but it just doesn't feel the same. I like my 1849 but it is small and it doesn't "handle" as well for me.

[Abert Rim]

I think my ideal would be the 1860 Army fitted with 1851 Navy grips for my medium-sized hands.
As to reproductions being smaller than the originals, I had an opportunity to compare an original Remington New Model Army with a Pietta and they were virtually identical in proportion. I find the Remington "1858" easier to shoot well -- and to clean -- but the grip shape jams my middle finger knuckle against the trigger guard and the revolver quickly becomes no darned fun to shoot. Agree the 1861 Colt has it all nearly perfect, except for being a .36 and not a .44.

[sharps4590]

I think my ideal would be the 1860 Army fitted with 1851 Navy grips for my medium-sized hands.
As to reproductions being smaller than the originals, I had an opportunity to compare an original Remington New Model Army with a Pietta and they were virtually identical in proportion. I find the Remington "1858" easier to shoot well -- and to clean -- but the grip shape jams my middle finger knuckle against the trigger guard and the revolver quickly becomes no darned fun to shoot. Agree the 1861 Colt has it all nearly perfect, except for being a .36 and not a .44.

Yes sir, I would prefer the 44 but, I do find the 1862 just plain ol' pleasant. The only thing wrong with it is I waited 50 years to experience one...

[kootne]

I want the one Goldilocks likes;)

[Walks]

I have both, full length. Just like Sam Colt made 'em.
But since I don't have to choose.......................... I will

1860 w/8" bbl

[ascast]

no Lemats out there? I do not think repos are made to 7/8ths size. I have been fortunate in that I have handled a lot of originals and repos. Seem the same to me. I like the Walker for shear power, but it is not fast handling. I need a Dragoon or two.

[FISH4BUGS]

For me,, the best handling percussion revolver has been the Ruger Old Army. Between the weight, the sights, it's proven to be MY personal best choice.

I agree. Back in the day when I shot BP guns, that was my go to handgun.
Shot it for years. I have no idea what I did with it but i don't own it any more.