I'd do as Coffinmaker suggested, sounds like maybe you already have though and shot both the Remington and Colt styles, see what feels best to you. I started out with Colts (in fact a 51 Navy in 44 from Euroarms), then went to Dragoons, 1860's, and a Walker.. Did buy a 51 Navy and 61 Navy in 36, but like the 44's better. I have a Pietta 58 Rem in 44 that I like, but the two makes do have a different feel to them. The Rems sit higher in my hand than the Colts, but if I had started out with Rems, they may have been my favorite. Some shooters swear by them. They do have greater strength with the top strap and ease of cylinder take off. I've a Uberti Rem kit I bought sometime back that still isn't put together, on my list. I've had best luck with Remington #10 caps, they seem to stay on the stock nipples best before and after firing. Don't have to much problem with caps finding their way into the action, but never say never. I did buy some SlixShots recently, but haven't had a chance to try them yet.
I like the longer grip of the Dragoon, Walker and 1860 over the 51 Navy and even the 73' Peacemaker and have it as grips in my two Richard/Mason conversions and Open Top. Feels better in my hand than the Navy size grip. After having lost my first cap n ball, the 51 Navy in 44 in an accidental fire incident, I bought another a while back, a Pietta. It fills my hand better than the regular size Navy frame/grips. and as I said before, like that 44 caliber, .454 ball over around 30 grains of FFF. The Pietta Navy 44 has a more filling grip than the regular 51 Navy 36 set up.
I tried to download a picture of a top strap Colt Dragoon that was made back in the Colt factory R&D shop back some time in the 1800's. Not sure of the date, had to be prior to the 1873 Colt. If you can obtain a the book by James Servin called "Colt Firearms, from 1836" it is on page 93. I've seen it in other books also possibly by Wilson and/or Adler. It is a ungainly looking monster, suppose that's why it was never put into production as far as I know. I believe several types such as this are in the Colt Museum in Connecticut. There is another picture of another Dragoon with a big ratchet lever also. Pre-1860 Army I assume. A lot of those experimental guns along with drawings and information about them I've read were destroyed in the big Colt plant fire in the 1860's. When I tried to download, I couldn't get the picture downsized to attach to this post. A computer wizard, I am not!!!!!!
Sie haben einen guten Tag und gutes SchieBen zu Ihnen!!!! Crow Choker