.36 caliber

[ZVP]

I like all mine, good shooters!
why are they and have they always been so popular?
I like the balance of the '51 best!
Thanks, ZVP

[g.willikers]

Blame it on Wild Bill.
He made them famous.
Everyone wants to be Wild Bill.
It's a wonder we even use holsters instead of a sash.

[Kappe]

I was under the impression that .44s are more popular. Round balls and wads always seem to be in slightly wider distribution than .36.

And I don't really like my '51 Navy because it's a .36. I like my .36 because it's an 1851 Navy

[Fingers McGee]

There were more 1851 (215,348) and 1861 (38,843)Navies made back in the day than all the .44 caliber revolvers (200,500 1860s, 19,800 Dragoons of all models). Then you add the 47,000 Pocket Navies and Pocket Police; and the .36s outsold all other models - EXCEPT for the lowly .31 caliber pocket models that sold over 340,000.

[Hawg]

Smaller balls, less powder, highly effective, just plain feel better in the hand.

[Hellgate]

Fingers,
You left out the REMINGTON 44s of which some 115,000 were sold. So the 44s were more numerous than the 36s. I'm just being nitpicky.

[Fingers McGee]

You're right Hellgate. I always forget about the Remingtons. I'm just a Colt guy at heart and only included them in my comparison. Mea Culpa.

I don't have my Remington book at hand; but there were a few of them in .36 as well; and don't forget the Manhattans and Metropolitans, and Savages, etc.

[Model12Win]

I love a .36! Here's mine:



His name is Navy Bean, and he don't play games.

I love the .36 caliber because it has less recoil than the .44s, but has plenty of stopping power for defensive work. And yes, I do in fact use this revolver for defense. It is very reliable, and when the caps and chamber mouths are sealed with melted beeswax, the powder charge is nearly impervious to moisture and will fire every time, even under trying conditions.

I keep it loaded with 25 grains of GOEX FFFG real black powder under a .380" cast lead ball. The Remington #10 caps and chamber mouths are sealed with beeswax. History has shown the .36 round lead ball to be a very effective load. Elmer Keith, writer of the excellent book Sixguns tells how he talked to old Civil War veterans, primarily Confederate calvary, who loaded their .36 Colt Navies with round ball and full charges of powder vs. the conical bullets typically issued in paper cartridges. These cartridges also usually didn't contain the exact amount of powder to fill the gun's chambers all the way. These calvarymen told Keith how this was a more effective load than the conicals, and produced telling death to the enemy.

It might be 150 years later, but no doubt the .36 round ball is as lethal today as it was back then. Coupled with the great accuracy Colt Navies typically exibit (mine is no different), these old war horses remain effective defense weapon even today. Of course it is prudent to use proper loading techniques and materials to ensure full reliability, with much testing and shooting needed to put confidence in any specific specimen intended for defense.

So yeah, I love .36 caliber percussion revolvers, and even trust one with the weighty task of self preservation. It's a great caliber, every black powder revolver shooter should own at least one .36!

[44 Dave]

My .36 '51 was my constant companion, in a shoulder holster, all last winter working in he woods.
I would shoot it, clean it and reload it about once a week but always trust it.

[bedbugbilly]

The ..36 '51 would still be the most popular revolver today if those #$%^@#$ metallic cartridges hadn't caught on!

They were made up until 1872 when the 1872 "open top" came out in 44 Henry. I think one of the reasons they were popular goes right along with what Hawg points out - for the average person they used less lead and less powder and still got the job done. I have to believe that a lot of game were taken with these revolvers. I haven't done it in years but hunting bunnies with one is a lot of fun as well as tree rats.

I'm partial to the '51 and basically it's because I like the balance and weight of it and it shoots well. I'm sure that the .44 Armies - Colt and Remington were liked by their owners though and a lot of them came home with returning soldiers. You also have to remember that generally, folks wee not as tall/big as they are today. I'm sure that may have had something to do with the popularity of the '51 as well - lighter and easier to handle. While many of us are taller and tip the scales at 200 + - it makes sense that the 44 Armies might feel better in our hand - but of course - all of that is assumption on my part.

[James K]

Colt was making the 1851 Navy when "Duck Bill" was still in knee pants.

Jim

[Hardy]

Im BACK

Got a 3rd gen colt 51 navy that I took all the bluin off of barrel and cylinder. Should I re blue it or have it plated---or just keep polishing it and keep shooting it?



WB Hickup

[ZVP]

The .36 surely had a dedicated following, simply because it worked very well against man and some forms of beast. It seemed very reliable against man! It penetrated wellthrough clothing and got to vital areas when in a gunfight!
Economical and effective!
ZVP

[Hawg]

Hey Hardy, where ya been? I wouldn't plate it. If I had your money I'd have it professionally blued. If it was mine I'd just keep it oiled.

[brazosdave]

It does make for a more economical day at the range to shoot .36, that's for sure. I am at somewhat of a quandry, last poll i took, i chose .36 as my favorite caliber, but lately i've been shooting mainly .44
I go through phases i guess. This is the old man version of being a teenager, lol!

[ZVP]

Model 12 Win,
Is that a Case Sod Buster Knife in the picture?
I carry a Sodbuster Jr constntlly, It's my favorite knife!
ZVP