Quote:
Originally Posted by McCoy
I'd say Colt M1860 "Army".
|
Good choice McCoy. I fire a replica of the 1860-Army. It loads to 40gr. of powder, a round that later would become the favorite .44-40 cartridge of Winchester and Colt fame. An advantage of this model was it's quick cylinder replacement. Several pre-loaded cylinders could be carried and replaced by simply pulling back a center rod, the spent cylinder falls out for quick reloading.
That said: The Navy models were also quite popular. Remember, many of these men were slight of build and the lighter framed, lighter recoiling .36 cal. load was easier to handle for many cavalry personnel.
(Sidelight), the .36 was good enough that James (Wild Bill) Hickock carried them long after cartridge weapons were available in the 1870's.