Howdy everyone,
First a quick intro.... I'm new to cap and ball revolvers. I have an 1860 Pietta Army that I love to shoot and have been shooting for a few months now. Come from a background of reloading and casting for rifle calibers in 30wcf, 223, 30-06, 22 hornet, and 303 Savage. I have never owned any other handguns than the two C/B revolvers I have now.
Having so much fun with my 1860, I recently purchased an 1849 form Dixie. I wanted something more mobile for walkin about the woods and well, it just looked so dang nice! My 1860 works great, I can put a whole cylinder in a 8" bull at @25yards off sandbags. Most of the time I can get 5/6 shots inside 4". I don't think that's anything to brag about, I'm just trying to give you an idea of what I have experienced so far accuracy wise.
So... I received my 1849 pocket last Monday and was able to get out the range yesterday and do some shooting. This pistol I just cannot get to shoot. @25 yards on a bench with sandbag. I couldn't get anything to work on a target the size of 24" by 20".
I tried holding low, I tried holding high, and right and left and all combinations in between. At no place on the target was I able to get more than 2 hits per cylinder, often non per cylinder. I finally got a little bit of holes if I held low right. But only then, out of 4 cylinders (loaded on frame) I had only 6 hits. If I shot the target with a shotgun and buckshot, the group would have been better. The range/club I shot at yesterday doesn't allow BP pistols in the indoor range. So I was stuck at the minimum yardage of 25. I'm going to go somewhere and try 15 this week, but I cannot see it being all that much of a difference. I bought this gun having read that it's good to go out to 25 when the shooter does their part.
More detail... I tried loading the cylinder off frame and on frame. I tried various charges of 3F from 9gr to 12gr. I tried with and without lubed felt wads. Tried round balls from dixie that are advertized at .321 (sprue facing out). I tried #00 buckshot (.330). Oddly enough the buckshot was much easier to seat than the dixie round balls. I'm getting the lead shaving when seating the roundballs. I'm using Rem #11 caps.
Non shooting wise.... This revolver works great! It cycles nice, no binding issues. The cylinder always rotates and puts the nipple in the right spot. But keep in mind this is my rookie eye. My 1860 just plain works. So I have never had to think about any of this.
I have been through the CASCITY archives and researched alot about this little pistol. I have read about the short arbor issues, but being a rookie I'm unable confirm if I have the short arbor. I most likley do, since they all have them. I have read pettifoger's articles. If I understand correctly the short arbor should not impact accuracy with the 5 roundballs loaded in a cylinder. The short arbor just means that when I remove the barrel/cylinder and put it back together it's not the exact same configuration as it was before. This is why I tried the test of 4 cylinders when loading on frame.
I know that is alot of detail and words written, but I figure you guys who really know your stuff would have asked for some of that detail. I'm basically stuck here.
Do I have a bum gun? Should I call dixie for a replacement even though I really cannot identify the exact issue?
Am I expecting too much out of it? 25 yards, bench and sandbags seems like something that is achievable. Honestly, I wouldn't have gotten the 1849 if the @25 yards is out of the question.
I'm at your mercy gentlemen. I can upload pictures and take measurements if that will help. Just let me know what you need.