Revolver calibers

Captchee · October 20, 2013, 01:29 PM

For some this maybe a stupid question . But frankly I know diddle when it comes to revolvers .
So today while casting some heeled bullets for my 1851 conversion, I got to wondering .
What was the most common and popular caliber .
Did the 36 fall away fast to the 44 ?
When the cartridges started hitting the markets , did the 38 out sell the 45 or did it fall away in popularity .
Surly there were those who preferred one caliber. That much im sure of . But market was did a majority of folks seem to group into the larger calibers ?

Hawg · October 20, 2013, 02:15 PM

That's a hard question to answer. Going by Colt production numbers Colt sold more 51 navies than 60 armies but not by a wide margin. So I would tend to say the two calibers were equally favored. Colt sold more SAA's in .45 Colt than anything else but many of those were government contract plus the .45 was chambered longer than any other cartridge beginning in 1873 whereas the 44-40 came about in 1875 and the 38-40 in IIRC 1877. The 38-40 isn't a .38 it's a .40. I think the .38 Long Colt came about in 1879 and eventually evolved into the .38 special. They were all very popular cartridges but I think the edge goes to the .45

Kappe · October 20, 2013, 04:06 PM

In terms of percussion revolvers, I think they were, and still are, equally popular.
.36 because it had been around longer due to metallurgy, and .44 because it was adopted by the Army and soldiers brought home so many.
Both held on during the cartridge era in the form of rimfire and centerfire conversions.

As far as newly-made cartridge guns in the 1870s and 1880s go, the concept of the Navy revolver basically died off. Most .38 caliber guns were of the spur trigger pocket variety.
The .38 WCF is an oddity and doesn't count as a .38.
Colt did offer the SAA in .38 Long Colt, but it didn't sell in enough numbers to be significant. S&W had a little more success with the .38 S&W, but for the most part .44 and .45 caliber guns dominated.
By the time the US military adopted the .38 LC in the 1890s and certainly by the time of the .38 Special, the age of gunmen and single action revolvers was over.

Captchee · October 20, 2013, 08:41 PM

thanks for the replies .
Ironically while in the service , I really liked my 45 cal side arm . It did its job very well and I found it rather odd that the army would even think about going to the 9.
But then at the same time I also like this 38 and while it doesn’t have the knock down of the 45 , frankly it to would still do the job when called upon

I was just wondering if one caliber seemed to be more favored then the other .
When it comes to designs like the open tops . That probably was a sign of the times . But does that really play a part in the caliber itself other then strength of design and its ability to withstand the higher limits of a caliber

Hawg · October 21, 2013, 04:34 AM

All the open tops were .44's.

Captchee · October 21, 2013, 07:00 AM

44 and 36 .
which converted, then became 38 and 45 ,did they not ?
So then it would seem to me that the open tops were 38 ,45 cartridge and 36, 44 cap and ball . Excluding earlier open and strapped revolving cylinder pistol designs of course

I just got to wondering how great a disparity in sale there were for the different calibers . Not sure why I got to thinking about this as this morning it would seem to me to be overly logical that things probably would have stayed relative to past sales as much as they are probably comparative to today’s sales

Kappe · October 21, 2013, 11:30 AM

Quote:

All the open tops were .44's.

I think Captchee is using "open top" to refer to all Colt revolvers with an open top.

Hawg is referring to the 1871/72 Open Top, which was not a conversion but a cartridge gun made in .44 rimfire.

Captchee · October 21, 2013, 01:44 PM

ahhh gotcha , thank you

ZVP · October 22, 2013, 03:12 PM

The open frames aren;t as strong and thus better suited to to the lower pressure charges of the .36 Besides the .36 fits into smaller frames and is easier to carry and draw!
The ball is moving around 1000 fps at full charges and is a proven penetrator and expander! The flatter trajectory makes it more friendly when plinking!
Thee is no doubt the .44 Army is STRONG! It can handle full loads!
The inhereant power of such a ball makes it a formidable tool for manstopping under any conditions!
The different frame sizes make it good for a Horse pistol ( dragoons) and nice belt Pistols (the Army version)

I guess the best way is buy one of esch! I did!
BPDave

swathdiver · October 23, 2013, 01:20 PM

Most common and popular, it was the .31 caliber. Followed by the .36 and then .44. Prior there was also the .28 at the dawn of the percussion era, quickly supplanted by the .31-100.

n5lyc · October 29, 2013, 05:03 PM

The great caliber debate was in full swing even back then..

I personally, think the 36's were very popular with civilian population after the war.

Less weight to carry, also, colt percussions were in .44 for the 1860, and .36 in the 1861 & 1862 models.

I wonder why the caliber shift in the same(similiar) design?
Something had to drive them in that direction..

I do own a 1851 navy .36, a 1860 .44 army, a 1861 .36 navy, and a 1862 .36.

I have to say, I grab the 1861 or 1862 .36's more often than the .44

They just FEEL different..

October 20, 2013, 01:29 PM	#1
Captchee Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 2013 Posts: 439	Revolver calibers For some this maybe a stupid question . But frankly I know diddle when it comes to revolvers . So today while casting some heeled bullets for my 1851 conversion, I got to wondering . What was the most common and popular caliber . Did the 36 fall away fast to the 44 ? When the cartridges started hitting the markets , did the 38 out sell the 45 or did it fall away in popularity . Surly there were those who preferred one caliber. That much im sure of . But market was did a majority of folks seem to group into the larger calibers ?

October 29, 2013, 05:03 PM	#11
n5lyc Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2009 Posts: 180	The great caliber debate was in full swing even back then.. I personally, think the 36's were very popular with civilian population after the war. Less weight to carry, also, colt percussions were in .44 for the 1860, and .36 in the 1861 & 1862 models. I wonder why the caliber shift in the same(similiar) design? Something had to drive them in that direction.. I do own a 1851 navy .36, a 1860 .44 army, a 1861 .36 navy, and a 1862 .36. I have to say, I grab the 1861 or 1862 .36's more often than the .44 They just FEEL different.. __________________ I make 2 predictions: ON THE DATE WHEN US TROOPS ARE ISSUED AN Energy Pulse Weapon, 1. The US Soldier will have on his person a version of the Colt 1911. 2. He will be aiming the NEW Weapon at someone carrying an AK.

October 20, 2013, 02:15 PM	#2
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	That's a hard question to answer. Going by Colt production numbers Colt sold more 51 navies than 60 armies but not by a wide margin. So I would tend to say the two calibers were equally favored. Colt sold more SAA's in .45 Colt than anything else but many of those were government contract plus the .45 was chambered longer than any other cartridge beginning in 1873 whereas the 44-40 came about in 1875 and the 38-40 in IIRC 1877. The 38-40 isn't a .38 it's a .40. I think the .38 Long Colt came about in 1879 and eventually evolved into the .38 special. They were all very popular cartridges but I think the edge goes to the .45

October 20, 2013, 04:06 PM	#3
Kappe Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2013 Location: New Jersey Posts: 149	In terms of percussion revolvers, I think they were, and still are, equally popular. .36 because it had been around longer due to metallurgy, and .44 because it was adopted by the Army and soldiers brought home so many. Both held on during the cartridge era in the form of rimfire and centerfire conversions. As far as newly-made cartridge guns in the 1870s and 1880s go, the concept of the Navy revolver basically died off. Most .38 caliber guns were of the spur trigger pocket variety. The .38 WCF is an oddity and doesn't count as a .38. Colt did offer the SAA in .38 Long Colt, but it didn't sell in enough numbers to be significant. S&W had a little more success with the .38 S&W, but for the most part .44 and .45 caliber guns dominated. By the time the US military adopted the .38 LC in the 1890s and certainly by the time of the .38 Special, the age of gunmen and single action revolvers was over.

October 20, 2013, 08:41 PM	#4
Captchee Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 2013 Posts: 439	thanks for the replies . Ironically while in the service , I really liked my 45 cal side arm . It did its job very well and I found it rather odd that the army would even think about going to the 9. But then at the same time I also like this 38 and while it doesn’t have the knock down of the 45 , frankly it to would still do the job when called upon I was just wondering if one caliber seemed to be more favored then the other . When it comes to designs like the open tops . That probably was a sign of the times . But does that really play a part in the caliber itself other then strength of design and its ability to withstand the higher limits of a caliber

October 21, 2013, 04:34 AM	#5
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	All the open tops were .44's.

October 21, 2013, 07:00 AM	#6
Captchee Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 2013 Posts: 439	44 and 36 . which converted, then became 38 and 45 ,did they not ? So then it would seem to me that the open tops were 38 ,45 cartridge and 36, 44 cap and ball . Excluding earlier open and strapped revolving cylinder pistol designs of course I just got to wondering how great a disparity in sale there were for the different calibers . Not sure why I got to thinking about this as this morning it would seem to me to be overly logical that things probably would have stayed relative to past sales as much as they are probably comparative to today’s sales

October 21, 2013, 01:44 PM	#8
Captchee Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 2013 Posts: 439	ahhh gotcha , thank you

October 22, 2013, 03:12 PM	#9
ZVP Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2009 Posts: 1,102	The open frames aren;t as strong and thus better suited to to the lower pressure charges of the .36 Besides the .36 fits into smaller frames and is easier to carry and draw! The ball is moving around 1000 fps at full charges and is a proven penetrator and expander! The flatter trajectory makes it more friendly when plinking! Thee is no doubt the .44 Army is STRONG! It can handle full loads! The inhereant power of such a ball makes it a formidable tool for manstopping under any conditions! The different frame sizes make it good for a Horse pistol ( dragoons) and nice belt Pistols (the Army version) I guess the best way is buy one of esch! I did! BPDave

October 23, 2013, 01:20 PM	#10
swathdiver Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2012 Location: Treasure Coast, Florida Posts: 335	Most common and popular, it was the .31 caliber. Followed by the .36 and then .44. Prior there was also the .28 at the dawn of the percussion era, quickly supplanted by the .31-100.