CIVIL WAR question..Ballard .44 rimfire single shot

[CutlassCollector]

Google tells me that speed loaders were invented in 1879.
Strange how they did not make it into our TV cop shows or movies until a hundred years later!

I don't know for sure whether there were cartridge pistols with quick change cylinders, but as some percussion guns were converted it seems likely. The need, however, would be much reduced as bullets could be reloaded much more quickly.
It would be highly unlikely that a percussion revolver could be reloaded in the midst of an action.

It takes all the actions of any muzzle loader. Powder in, ball in, ramrod, wad - even for one chamber multiply by six for a full load. Then the fiddly bit of getting a percussion cap on to each nipple - hopefully with the aid of a dispenser.

The percussion revolver also had an additional requirement - each loaded chamber had to be sealed with grease. This was to prevent any discharge setting off another or all the other chambers, as the ignition flash was so close, as a part of it exited at the junction between chamber and barrel.
This not good for the gun or your hand.

[urbanspaceman]

Thank-you CC. I was not aware of the percussion ignition spreading, but now I look at my Colt (made for export to London) pocket pistol I see just how much damage was done to the surrounding surfaces. Ouch! indeed.
When I was researching my Remington Rolling Block pistol, I read that the (US) Navy wanted to return the 5,000 percussion pistols they had recently acquired.
All you have said, plus salt-water, and freezing cold wet fingers attempting to get the caps fitted, rendered them useless a lot of the time. They were exchanged for the new .50 rim-fire cartridge, rolling-block pistols. It's not hard to see why. As I've said many times, I would sooner have one of those, with a bandolier full of ammunition, than any revolver - any time.
All but c.140 were soon returned for conversion to center-fire and a shrouded trigger. I was lucky to find that first generation model: it is a superb job, even with the spur trigger.

[urbanspaceman]

Well, I got to thinking about what a hell of a good move Josie Wales is and well worth a quiet Saturday afternoon's viewing, seeing it has been some time.
Mostly he was using what looked like big Colts... Dragoons maybe, chambered for cartridges, but he was packing at least six pistols counting the saddle holsters.
The final showdown got the bad guy... Red-legs, pig-stuck with his own sabre. So I am wrong on both counts: it wasn't Josie Wales and there was no Remington cylinder swap. It definitely happened at the end of one of his movies.
Any takers?

[kahnjar1]

Hi Jim,
I have refrained from posting here but I did wonder if your rifle was used for competition shooting because of the type of sights fitted.
Stu

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Hi Jim,
I have refrained from posting here but I did wonder if your rifle was used for competition shooting because of the type of sights fitted.
Stu

Hi Stu,
Im glad you did come in! Im certainly no expert on guns, but I have gotten a few over the years just out of historic interest.

That is surely a good possibility, as these rifles were made by Ball & Williams in 1862-64, and if I understand, the production runs of those for prospective military issue were interspaced with civilian in the serial sequences. While the original order for 5000 for military was outrun by costs and other makers, Sharps in particular, and the run of 5000 fell far short.

While many of these are known to have gone to Kentucky, there may have been numbers to other private groups in the manner of militia, and these would not have had issue marks.

As they were in some degree intended for sharpshooters, the sights may have been intended or used for either. As I understand these were good 'sporters' and used even for buffalo hunt by large caliber. '

As I say, I dont know for sure, but I have thought competition shooting was typically smaller calibers.
I hope others with expertise in these matters might join in.

Thank you for the entry Stu, much appreciated and sorry I dont have a better answer.

Jim

[kahnjar1]

Hi Jim,
I assume by "sharpshooters" you mean "snipers". I did not think that way, but meant competition shooters, and large calibers were definitely used for this purpose. An example would be the Bisley shooting competitions in the UK.
Above someone has mentioned Flaydermans Guide to American Weapons. I did have copy of this once and found it most informative so if you can get hold of one it would be well worth your while. I do note that ABEBOOKS.COM have copies available quite cheaply.
Stu

[Jim McDougall]

That makes sense Stu, and good tip on the Flayderman book!
So then I could see why these might be used for competition.
Were sights used for competition different than those used in military or for hunting?

Jim