.36 cap and balls and knockdown power

[Oregon Bill]

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I see some folks feel the .36 Navies sometimes don't have the steam to score cleanly. Is this more likely in an NCOWS shoot than a SASS shoot? Having never seen one of the former, I don't know if the targets are set up differently.

[Wymore Wrangler]

It's all how you hit the target, I shoot 38's and I feel I can take down any knockdown with them if I hit the target squarely, I've seen folks with 45's that don't....

[Will Ketchum]

Many shooters in the Pistoleer class shoot 36s.  Most NCOWS targets I have seen aren't knock downs but merely need to be hit.  We haven't found the need for knock down targets at the NCOWS shoots I have attended because our main concern is being authentic and not how fast we go.  Therefor there isn't the need for real light loads hence no need for knock downs.

Will Ketchum

[Lone Gunman]

There's a row of bottle knockdowns at NTR that I have to hit in the top half to get popped over, it just takes a little aiming. Anything a properly charged  .36 round ball won't take down will be just as bothersome for 32-20's and light .38 cartridges.
I don't recall Hickok ever complaining about the knockdown power of his '51 Navies. 

[US Scout]

I don't recall Hickok ever complaining about the knockdown power of his '51 Navies. 

But I heard some of his victims wanted to but were too dead at the time! 

[Ornery Orr]

In reference to the bottle targets that Lone Gunman mentioned, I had a couple that didn't go down with my .45's.  I shoot a full case of BP sub with a 200 gr. bullet but just hit 'em a little low.  I've seen them go over with the smaller calibers, you just gotta him 'em in the right spot!

[Dakota Widowmaker]

For BP shoots in my 36s Navies, I tend to prefer a connical bullet, as it has more weight.

That, or I up the charge a bit more with the round balls.

I know its not "period correct", but, Lee conicals work well. I have cast some conicals from the presentation brass moulds. They do weigh more...125gr vs. 90gr.

As other have stated, its also how you hit the target that counts.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Howdy!

As a matter of hysterical ... er, historical interest, there are published accounts of (un)Civil War veterans who said they preferred  the .36 cal over the .44 because the penetration and knock-down power was actually better.  It kinda goes against logic, but as we all know, what looks right on "paper" doesn't always turn out that way in real life.

Merry Christmas !!!

[Oregon Bill]

You know, I have read somewhere that Quantrill's boys also preferred Navies, but I can't be sure.

[Arcey]

Don't know if I oughtta be 'ere or not.  Ain't NCOWS.  Maybe shootin' Werkin' Cowboy class ala NCOWS a couple weeks ago at a place what don't give a damn will get me in for one post. 

Been playin' wit .385 round balls swaged down ta .358 'n loaded in .357 Magnum cases over the now 'standard' SASS load of 15 grains of BP.  Out of my 7 1/2" Ubertis they'll take down fallin' plates at one club I shoot with - no nonsense.

Balls dropped from the same mould over about 18 grains of BP take down the same plates when I shoot 'em outtah my 5 1/2" C&B Remington New Army/Police model.  When I hit 'em anyway.  Still ain't figgered out exactly where that thing shoots.  Cool 'nuff now to fiddle with it again.  Maybe I'll find out soon.

FWIW

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[Will Ketchum]

Arcey, you and I go back a ways so of course you belong here.  Besides we let all kinds of riff raff and saddle bums in here.

As for the round balls in the case.   I did the same thing for my very first CAS match.  I had a Colt clone in 45 Colt that shot about 10" high at 10 yards.  The only load I could get to shoot any where near point of aim was a .457 round ball over a minute amount of Unique.  Talk about a gamer loads.  It certainly wouldn't take down the IPSC pepper poppers were using for targets

Will Ketchum

[Arcey]

Arcey, you and I go back a ways so of course you belong here.  Besides we let all kinds of riff raff and saddle bums in here.

Will Ketchum

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!

The above noted description sure fits the bill.  Ya just can't sneek nuttin' past a Pinkerton.  Know ya ain't fergot my frustration when I bought that ROA 'n couldn't figger out how to load it.  Thanks again.

Need to get a handle on the '58.  We lost the Pungo range June past.  Ain't gottah place these days to sit, rest it 'n see where it's printin'.

Point was either will take those eight inch plates down.  The club don't pay much attention to how the racks set either.

Do appreciate the welcome----Arcey

[Wymore Wrangler]

Cuzin' Arcey, your welcome to any of my fires when ever you need a place to sit...

[Arcey]

Thankee, Wymore.

Lurk 'round a bunch.  Y'all gottah good camp here.

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[Mogorilla]

I think Captain Quantrill's men preferred what ever was available and plenty of them.  The 51s would have been plentiful, so I am betting many were carried.