Anyone Else Shoot BP More Accurately Than Centerfire?

Kvon2 · January 27, 2018, 05:11 PM

I'll admit my handgun accuracy leaves something to be desired.

With that being said, I shoot my 1860 army better than any of the 3(.22, 9mm, and .40sw) modern handguns I own.

Has anyone else experienced this?

44 Dave · January 27, 2018, 05:29 PM

A friend of mine, retired police officer, emptied his service revolver at a shave cream can with out hitting it. I handed him my 1860, which he had never even held, and he hit it with the first shot !

Hawg · January 27, 2018, 06:06 PM

Depends on the guns. Some yes, some no.

TruthTellers · January 27, 2018, 08:26 PM

My 8 inch Pietta NMA is very accurate, but I attribute that to the long sight radius. I'm sure if I had a 7 inch or longer barrel revolver, I'd be just as accurate with that as the NMA.

Kvon2 · January 27, 2018, 08:44 PM

Quote:

I attribute that to the long sight radius

This probably does play a major factor and is something I didn't think about. Good point.

Hawg · January 27, 2018, 08:55 PM

It still depends on the gun. My 7 1/2 inch Colt navy is more accurate than my 8 inch 58's and my dragoon with a 9 inch barrel. It's my most accurate bp revolver. I have modern guns that will beat it plus some modern guns it will beat. All with shorter barrels.

Sure Shot Mc Gee · January 27, 2018, 08:55 PM

Nope!! I can't say the same.

A bold claim I'll make tonight:

My S&W Model 41 and especially that (weighted) Browning Medalist I happen to own will group tighter at short or longer distances than any of those antiquated revolver type B/P firearms. All of em.

44 Dave · January 28, 2018, 10:57 AM

Sure Shot, we talking match grade against match grade or every day shooters?

zipspyder · January 28, 2018, 11:24 AM

Depends on how much effort you put into tuning and getting the right load, bullet weight, powder, etc. for both. Find what each weapon loves and you should be very accurate with both. Of course my old ass isn't as steady as it used to be!

B.L.E. · January 28, 2018, 12:00 PM

Nope, can't say I can shoot muzzle loaders more accurately than centerfire.

That's five shots at 100 yards with my Ruger #1 single shot in .22 Hornet. I have never matched this with my ML rifles, but then my ML rifles don't have a modern scope mounted on them either. Wind drift is brutal with a patched round ball while a modern spitzer bullet barely notices it. Yes, they drift too but not near as much as roundballs do. This group was shot in wind free conditions.

Sure Shot Mc Gee · January 28, 2018, 01:16 PM

Quote:

44 Dave

As what I read the OP commented "better than any modern."

No category's of this or that type Action only? Just a generalization _ he can do.

Now that bold statement the OP made was a head turning challenge to All who shoot some really accurate modern-day weaponry no matter the Action held in hand. I hope I've explained my theroy as to how I interpreted this OP's _Threading. "For me It was a fun Thread to return a comment.

Kvon2 · January 28, 2018, 08:24 PM

I guess I should clarify I meant handguns specifically!

B.L.E. · January 28, 2018, 10:15 PM

I shot this target with an open top 1860 Army Colt, 25 yards one hand hold offhand. But I've shot higher scores than this with other guns.
I used an aiming point that was below the target frame to get the group on the bullseye.

drobs · January 29, 2018, 03:29 AM

Finding I enjoy shooting my black powder revolvers more than my cartridge pistols but wouldn't say I'm more accurate with them.

B.L.E. · January 29, 2018, 07:21 AM

I would say my most accurate pistol is this muzzle loading target pistol made by Ten Ring Precision, definitely capable of giving my Smith and Wesson model 41 a run for its money.
Both can shoot better than I am capable of holding.

Jakeway · January 29, 2018, 01:22 PM

Assuming you're talking hand guns instead of long guns...I don't own any centerfire handguns. But the few I'f shot recently were either double action revolvers or semi-autos that had very heavy trigger pulls and short barrels...so my 1851 and 1860 with light trigger pull and long sight radius were about 1/4 the six groups as the centerfires.

In the video below I was using a tripod rest, since I was testing the relative accuracy of several loads.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLV6wbQDg9M

chasep255 · February 3, 2018, 08:55 PM

I recently got the Pedersoli 1860 volunteer rifle. Currently I can do about 1 - 2 inches at 100 yards. That is better than some smokeless powder rifles I own.

January 27, 2018, 08:26 PM	#4
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,887	My 8 inch Pietta NMA is very accurate, but I attribute that to the long sight radius. I'm sure if I had a 7 inch or longer barrel revolver, I'd be just as accurate with that as the NMA. __________________ "We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."

January 28, 2018, 12:00 PM	#10
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	Nope, can't say I can shoot muzzle loaders more accurately than centerfire. That's five shots at 100 yards with my Ruger #1 single shot in .22 Hornet. I have never matched this with my ML rifles, but then my ML rifles don't have a modern scope mounted on them either. Wind drift is brutal with a patched round ball while a modern spitzer bullet barely notices it. Yes, they drift too but not near as much as roundballs do. This group was shot in wind free conditions. __________________ Hanlon's Razor "Do not invoke conspiracy as explanation when ignorance and incompetence will suffice, as conspiracy implies intelligence and organization."

January 28, 2018, 10:15 PM	#13
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	I shot this target with an open top 1860 Army Colt, 25 yards one hand hold offhand. But I've shot higher scores than this with other guns. I used an aiming point that was below the target frame to get the group on the bullseye. __________________ Hanlon's Razor "Do not invoke conspiracy as explanation when ignorance and incompetence will suffice, as conspiracy implies intelligence and organization."

January 29, 2018, 03:29 AM	#14
drobs Senior Member Join Date: July 17, 2015 Location: South Central MO / Africa Posts: 1,111	Finding I enjoy shooting my black powder revolvers more than my cartridge pistols but wouldn't say I'm more accurate with them. __________________ NRA Life Member

January 29, 2018, 07:21 AM	#15
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	I would say my most accurate pistol is this muzzle loading target pistol made by Ten Ring Precision, definitely capable of giving my Smith and Wesson model 41 a run for its money. Both can shoot better than I am capable of holding. __________________ Hanlon's Razor "Do not invoke conspiracy as explanation when ignorance and incompetence will suffice, as conspiracy implies intelligence and organization."

January 27, 2018, 05:11 PM	#1
Kvon2 Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2016 Posts: 757	Anyone Else Shoot BP More Accurately Than Centerfire? I'll admit my handgun accuracy leaves something to be desired. With that being said, I shoot my 1860 army better than any of the 3(.22, 9mm, and .40sw) modern handguns I own. Has anyone else experienced this?

January 27, 2018, 05:29 PM	#2
44 Dave Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2013 Posts: 584	A friend of mine, retired police officer, emptied his service revolver at a shave cream can with out hitting it. I handed him my 1860, which he had never even held, and he hit it with the first shot !

January 27, 2018, 06:06 PM	#3
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Depends on the guns. Some yes, some no.

January 27, 2018, 08:55 PM	#6
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	It still depends on the gun. My 7 1/2 inch Colt navy is more accurate than my 8 inch 58's and my dragoon with a 9 inch barrel. It's my most accurate bp revolver. I have modern guns that will beat it plus some modern guns it will beat. All with shorter barrels.

January 27, 2018, 08:55 PM	#7
Sure Shot Mc Gee Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,876	Nope!! I can't say the same. A bold claim I'll make tonight: My S&W Model 41 and especially that (weighted) Browning Medalist I happen to own will group tighter at short or longer distances than any of those antiquated revolver type B/P firearms. All of em.

January 28, 2018, 10:57 AM	#8
44 Dave Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2013 Posts: 584	Sure Shot, we talking match grade against match grade or every day shooters?

January 28, 2018, 11:24 AM	#9
zipspyder Junior member Join Date: June 13, 2017 Posts: 429	Depends on how much effort you put into tuning and getting the right load, bullet weight, powder, etc. for both. Find what each weapon loves and you should be very accurate with both. Of course my old ass isn't as steady as it used to be!

January 28, 2018, 08:24 PM	#12
Kvon2 Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2016 Posts: 757	I guess I should clarify I meant handguns specifically!

January 29, 2018, 01:22 PM	#16
Jakeway Member Join Date: October 12, 2017 Location: Near Nashville, TN Posts: 62	Assuming you're talking hand guns instead of long guns...I don't own any centerfire handguns. But the few I'f shot recently were either double action revolvers or semi-autos that had very heavy trigger pulls and short barrels...so my 1851 and 1860 with light trigger pull and long sight radius were about 1/4 the six groups as the centerfires. In the video below I was using a tripod rest, since I was testing the relative accuracy of several loads. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLV6wbQDg9M

February 3, 2018, 08:55 PM	#17
chasep255 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 727	I recently got the Pedersoli 1860 volunteer rifle. Currently I can do about 1 - 2 inches at 100 yards. That is better than some smokeless powder rifles I own.