Nice photos, Ken.  I always enjoy poring over gun-related historical records.

Here is a photo from the Hawaii Archives of Masonic Temple Squad 5 of the Citizen Guard, Hawaii, taken in 1895.  In a squad of 27 men (and one small boy, who appears to be unarmed), I think I see four Trapdoors, four 1876 Win Muskets, one 1876 Win Carbine, three Sharps-Borchardts, one Mod 1879 Rem Lee, seven full-length magazine Winchesters (I think they're '92s), maybe a couple shotguns, and a few others I can't quite identify.  I feel I should recognize the one tucked under the arm of the gent in the light-colored suit near the center of front row, but just can't quite make it out, although some features suggest a rolling block. 

It looks like it was a fun, "bring your own gun" kind of rifle squad, but a logistical nightmare if it ever came to fighting.

Agreed,  mine was a .44
I have used T.G. for years but now I'll be trying some CFE Pistol  powder.  I'm almost at a thousand rounds in "Beauty and the Beast " ( the original one) and all have been factory rounds.  The rest will probably be  reloads  including the +p's. 
Looking forward to shooting the Dragoons with some "proper " loads !! Lol
And, I meant to say RRio, that load sounds like a good load!!

Mike

Thanks. I like to fit some holsters to the old model vaquero sometimes that way more of a variety fits it. The 1875 fit it well also.

Nice. Thanks.

  Oh Goodie Goodie 

Absolutely love this question.  First up, I MUST agree with the Dragoon.  The original 71/72 Open Top cylinders have scary THIN chamber walls.  I have worked on several that had spit the super thin little piece out of the bottom the locking bolt slots.  I have been of the opine, the Uberti 71/72 Open Top should NEVER have been chambered in 45 Colt.  My pair were very early guns and were chambered in 45 Schofield.  Won't accept 45 Colt.  My particular guns were the pair of Open Tops originally sent around to the Scribes when the Open Top was released.

Now we get to get down to the real "Brass Tacks."  I don't like, have never liked, and don't miss Trail Boss.  I have always used TightGroup.  Now the kicker > > > My 71/72 Open Tops are chameleons.  I have fitted .44 Special Cylinders/Barrels and .38 Cylinders/Barrels to my guns.  I no longer shoot smokeless powders, but my Go-To smokeless "was" tightGroup.  These days I shoot APP in everything.  Keeps it real, real simple, and real FUN!!  When I was foolish enough to shoot smokeless, I shot 3.8 to 4Gr TightGroup with 130Gr Barnstormer bullets in Either 45 Schofield cases or C45S cases.  Nice manly "Bark" and low recoil.

Then we have to consider some "other" Open Tops.  I also shoot a pair of Pietta 1860s with Kirst Konverters.  I managed to do something really stupid and ruined my original Kirst cylinders.  I replaced them with the Second 45 ACP cylinders from Kirst.  Some Kind of FUN you betcha.  I load them with Cowboy 45 Special cases with 3f APP and 130Gr Barnstormer bullets, or, 45 ACP cases with 3F APP same same for bullets or 160Gr RNFP.


Yes Agnes, People ARE Hazardous to Yer Health