Shooting an Original Colt 1860 Army

[@Leverguns50]

I love cap and ball revolvers, can’t even imagine what it would be like to shoot an original , Good job fixing that old girl up

[@josephadams7379]

I have an original M1851 Navy Colt made in 1861, passed down for several generations. Seeing this, it has the same issues of cylinder creep. I'll have to do some research and possibly get the old girl to put some lead down range once again. Awesome video as usual!

[@michaelguerin56]

Nice to see a genuine 1860 Colt being tidied up and shot. Thank you Mark for another great video. Also the fun of reviving old semi-neglected machinery. This is why (as a carpenter) I sometimes prefer new house building to renovation. Much less craftsmanship required but much more to see at the end of a day. It is good to save the work of an earlier tradesman (or woman) when you can, but the hours add up. You also spend a lot of time bent over measuring, cleaning, adjusting and checking your work. Good light, suitable work height, well maintained kit and the occasional moment when you step back to consider your progress are (as you know) essential parts of the process.

[@Master...deBater]

H Mark. I removed a stuck nipple using a spiral screw extractor. The spiral runs opposite to the nipple threads, so as you tighten the tool it turns the nipple the right direction to loosen it...worked like a charm!

[@CRiccioUSA]

Thank you for another great episode! I grew tired of breaking nipple wrenches and finally made my own from a 5mm socket (1/4" drive). I cut the slots in it, then deburred it. It hasn't failed me yet.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Great tip! I'm going to give that a try.

[@tomsellars4826]

Try to heat the outside of the cylinder where the stuck nipple is. Whilewhen hot dab a small amount of silver anti-seize at the junction of the nipple and the cylinder as it cools you can watch the anti-seize be drawn into the gap. While still slightly warm( but where you can hold the cylinder) try removing the nipple. This has worked for me many times on items as varied from 18 wheelers to Marlin screws.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks Tom. As I mentioned, I tried heat, Kroil soak, tapping. Actually, I tried them repeatedly to no avail on that one nipple. Also, it's hardened so I couldn't drill it out either. Will keep trying, though.

[@tomsellars4826]

Kroil is good …anti-seize seems better just what I do. Love your channel.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Anti-seize is great when you put in a new nipple to help keep it from rusting into place over time, but won't penetrate to help get out a part that's already rusted in place.

[@KW-qq7nu]

@@thecinnabar8442 Hi, I inherited a Remington Model 1858 (manufactured 1864) and did everything you did with the additional step of putting the cylinder in the freezer for a day, taking it out to thaw, then putting it back in, taking it out etc. and the nipples came out pretty well after that.

[@frankfisher99]

@@thecinnabar8442 a carbide bit will drill them out. I have drilled a couple out, with others I heated, softened, and then hammered in a torx key, and once cool, warmed the cylinder with a heat gun and all but two of the siezed nipples came out

[@titanbluestreak8709]

Nice work Mark, great video.

[@herrent]

Thanks for taking us along on your journey of growth and adventure with these wonderful classics!

[@thecinnabar8442]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching

[@samiam619]

@@thecinnabar8442”Joy to shoot”. Yeah, now ya gotta clean it!

[@terryderush2657]

If that old gun could talk. What some stories it would tell us. Thanks 👍 for sharing.

[@rochelleparker9575]

Great job Mark, very informative and fun to see you shoot these classic firearms. Steve

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks Steve!

[@jims9249]

Great to see it up and running again. Lots of history there no doubt.

[@JoeMartinez-eb3xc]

Man oh man, I really enjoyed this episode. First off, I admire your skills and enthusiasm for old firearms. This post brought back fond memories of my youth. By saving my earnings from yardwork, I was able to get my first pistol. It was one of them replica Colt 1851 Navies in .36 cal. Pure joy!

[@thecinnabar8442]

Lots of fun to shoot these old black powder revolvers. Bet you have some great memories of that 1851.

[@AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

Thanks for showing us how you repair an old Colt. I have a 44 caliber navy revolver copy from Italy and I shoot it now and then. It sure does make your hands dirty.

[@thecinnabar8442]

I certainly enjoy shooting these old black powder revolvers. A nice change of pace.

[@49walker44]

Interesting comments so far, I do love those old Colts and appreciate your work, thanks Mark.

[@flintrichards945]

Nice old colt glad you got it shooting agin.

[@codered7453]

So neat to see an original Colt 1860 being fired off for the first time in ages. I own a 3rd Gen that I use as my EDC and shoot it every weekend without fail. Only one misfire (using 1 self-made paper cartridge that took 2 tries to ignite) I've since only used loose powder (777) and .454 roundball, and over many rounds I have never had another misfire, cap jam, or chain fire thank God. It goes everywhere with me every waking moment and it's the most beautiful pistol I've ever seen. Gush over.

[@blackpowderfirearmenthusia3194]

I love the open top percussion Colt revolvers. Thanks for sharing.

[@toyotaBrad62]

Excellent video ! Love cap n ball !

[@mikemccollum4521]

Thank you. I really enjoyed this video.

[@martinkavanagh196]

Good Work Sir.

[@mantistobogganmd6580]

As a machinist and black powder enthusiast, this is one of the coolest videos on the 1860 I have seen. You didn’t run into an issue with the thread pitch when changing the nipples?

[@terryqueen3233]

You're a lucky man! I have a Traditions black powder pistol it shoots okay but it's just for plinking. It looks like you done a pretty good job on that pistol. Have a great day and stay safe and keep your powder dry!

[@jeffryrichardson9105]

Great information! Awesome video!👍🏽😀❤️🇺🇸

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks, Jeffry!

[@tomvawter4531]

Great video, very interesting gunsmithing challenge. Good work! 👍

[@scottmarilynpestell8112]

You should do a video on how to instal and time a new cylinder stop.

[@bretrobinson4897]

My 218 bee model 65 is so cool. I’ve not grouped it yet. Been busy trying to kill a field grizzly with it but they’re elusive!

[@thecinnabar8442]

Those 65's are wonderful rifles. Will be doing an episode on them soon.

[@bretrobinson4897]

I’m glad to hear it! It’s a dandy rifle. Can’t wait to give it to the kids to shoot

[@thomastommy1192]

Another great awesome video. Many thumbs up thanks for sharing. I truly wish you and your family a fun safe blessed 4th of July. Stay well & safe.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks so much Thomas! Same to you!

[@joezaloga]

A Wolf reduced power Smith & Wesson trigger rebound spring might do the trick to tighten up the ramrod latch

[@thecinnabar8442]

Great tip! Thanks.

[@Tammy-un3ql]

enjoyed this episode👌👌👍

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks, Tammy!

[@richardhutchinson4016]

Another great video. I have been trying to get the nipples off an 1851 but too timid. I guess after a century being together they do not want to come apart.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Boy, they can be a real challenge. The other 5 came out relatively easily, but the other one has resisted everything I've thrown at it. I finally decided to drill it out and us an easy-out, but it's hardened and just dulled the drill bit.

[@millcreekrange]

Nice!! 👍👍

[@errolpoxleitner7901]

Good video thank for the info.

[@jamesparlane9289]

A gun shop here in New Zealand has been selling a modern new Win. mod. 94 in .38-55 made by Miroku, I think. Can you give us any info. on these? It has a long magazine and a half hex barrel.

[@richardhughes7008]

A year later, but they are supposed to be great rifles, and the caliber is desirable as well.

[@chrisevansgunshorsesranchi699]

Mark you are amazing. How is your 9 to 5 gunsmithing business doing ? I hope the best for you Keep the good videos coming

[@Matzah1982]

You can see the place in my shooting video posted on my channel and I managed to hit the small cantaloupe a handful of times out of 20 shots fired at that 15 to 18 yard distance. After I stopped recording as I was fixing to leave that’s when the hikers complained. Nice old piece btw. My favorite cap and ball revolver to shoot loose black powder and cap and ball from is the Uberti 1860 army but for doing cartridge conversion I prefer my Uberti 1858 with a Howell drop in cylinder

[@chrischiampo7647]

Could You Weld a Nut on That Last Nipple Mark and Spin it Out With a Socket The Heat From Welding Will Usually Free Up a Frozen Fastener 😀 Great Job Mark

[@Matzah1982]

Good point about shooting safely. I had to give up the only place where I could shoot for free which you can see me shooting at the last time I went there over 3 months ago last fall shooting my Uberti 1858 new model army revolver using my Howell .45 colt conversion cylinder shooting HSM .45 colt 200 grain cowboy loads because after going there for years with other guns to shoot at this spot under some high voltage power lines over 65 miles away from where I live and having taken my new revolver there after having bought it and the cylinder and a couple of boxes of the cowboy loads at the end of the summer and then a few times last fall and I did a few sessions shooting cantaloupes from 15 to 18 yards distance away it came to my attention that there is a path behind where I was shooting about a hundred yards behind it and hikers were complaining about me shooting there so I had to give it up because it wasn’t safe

[@patmurphy3410]

I have a Colt Signature 3rd Model Dragoon with excessive endshake. Should I send 'er up to you?

[@ricardodelano2205]

on the parts barrel could you add metal and work it back to where you could have it square again and then match it up with the action ?

[@StevenMMan]

Now this my wheel house. Though I am more a Remington and Rodgers and Spencer guy, I love muzzleloaders and cap and ball revolvers. There is a couple of different nipple wrenches out there that work much better for stuck nipples. Both have a fully enclosed profile much like a socket. And one I have even has inserts for sidelock #11,and musket cap with a 4" ratchet handle Mountain man

[@noiwanttobeanonymous3797]

What a lovely place to live.

[@bullseyedixon5660]

THANK YOU SIR

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks a bunch for binge watching and commenting on our videos! Much appreciated.

[@asherdog9248]

Like all of them another interesting video.

[@doranmaxwell1755]

did you happen to check the dia of the cyl/chamber and also slug the bore? On my Uberti the chambers were way undersized for the bore and I had to ream em.

[@snappers_antique_firearms]

I know this is a earlier video. but when you said the customer had a parts gun. I am in the market for a barrel. I am not worried about it not being perfect. Seeing it had been a little short. I have fixed them a few times by welding the forcing cone then Machining it back to perfect. But i have been looking for a barrel and they dont come up for sell often.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Sorry, that one's not available.

[@snappers_antique_firearms]

@@thecinnabar8442 ok thanks figured i would ask. Original barrels are not the easiest thing to find these days

[@skylersmith9465]

I can't hear anything in the video. I'll come back in a bit to check whether it's just from the video being just posted. Ah, it was cause of that. I'm never this early so not used to that. I enjoyed the video.

[@biglemms]

Wow...that is a seriously interrupted cut. Nice work on the old girl.

[@D989501L]

Morning Mark, a great video and interesting rounds, can you do a short Video on the evolution of the bullet and the meaning of the sizes, like 30-03 and 30-40, and 30 odd 6 ? And some of the other sizes you have shown over the past few months, as over here in England its a mix of Metric and imperial, like 7.62 and .22 .303. Regards Richard 🇬🇧

[@mikemoore9757]

I had a 1860 Army that was a non shooter that I gifted to my grandson. It was S/N#22xxx. I'm thinking 1860-1861. It had been in my family for over 100 years. It had a broken main spring and a bad bore.I told him to never restore it or try to shoot it or it could be ruined. It's tired and has already done it's job.

[@ricardodelano2205]

hey that look like mikes duelist 54 barrel.

[@mcbridecreek]

I’ve shot a few Italian copies of Colt 51’s and Remington 58’s. It’s always a challenge to get those nipples and caps to function perfectly. You sure did a nice job tightening up the cylinder gap. Makes me wonder how long that stuck nipple was in place? As usual, always fun to watch your videos!

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks a bunch.

[@guaporeturns9472]

I took some sand paper to my Slix shot nipples till I got the right diameter for easier cap seating on my Pietta 1860. Hardly shoot it anymore but I sure enjoyed it when I did.

[@matthiashellmann6211]

you are a real enthusiast, I guess you never would shoot an AK on your compound....

[@thecinnabar8442]

We have a couple of AR's. They're a tool for self-defense and defense of our livestock, but not interesting and fun like these old guns.

[@GenderSkins]

I’ve shot a few replica’s of that gun, and currently have an 1860 Army made by Pietta that I am having to mod to accept conical balls. Odd thing is I have never seen an open top colt, that didn’t drop the loading lever occasionally while being shot. Didn’t matter if it was an original Colt, or a reproduction Colt made by one of the many companies that made a reproduction colt. Every dang one of them would drop that loading lever, at least once in a while unless you took a piece of twine and tied it around the barrel and loading lever. And was worse if it was a Colt Walker!

[@blueduck9409]

You can adjust accuracy by taking a triangle file to the sight notch in the hammer. The 1860 army is capable of outstanding accuracy. You did a great job on that pistol!

[@63grandsport11]

🏆

[@olhemi1]

😁👍☕

[@joelowery6919]

Great vid! Never shot an original but, have shot pounds of black powder through replicas.

[@ridgerunner5772]

Open Top, Cylinder Gap are part and parcel with any Colt of that style.... Not so with any Remington as as side arm....

[@antoninolatorre8355]

hi, to you !!! i would like if you send me your email !!! i wish you a greatest thankyou in advance ... ciao, from Italia ...