Gun accuracy while riding

[Jolene Little]

In the movies you always see the hero being chased by outlaws.  The outlaws will invariably miss and never reload.  What is the distance and accuracy for different guns?  What is the probability of a miss while riding?  Who do you think was the best shot?

[Ralph Bernklow]

I own two 9shot High Standard Revolvers. One is a doubleaction style with 4inch barrel, nice little "Kit Gun".  The other is styled like a single action. Both are DA/SA action, and both use a transfer bar safety system.

[C. F. 'Charley' Eckhardt]

With the Winchester ctgs in a Colt SAA you could load 6, lift the hammer just off half-cock, rotate the cylinder until a flute rather than a chamber was under the hammer, then pull the trigger & let the firing pin rest on the face of the cylinder between 2 ctg rims.  The .45 Colt ctg's rim was too thin for that.  Ruger countersank the rims on the Super Blackhawk, making it impossible to slip the hammer.  You also could not slip the hammer on either the M1877 or M1878 Colt DA.  In spite of 6 chambers, those things were strictly 5-shooters.

Some original Colt c&b revolvers had small pegs set into the rear of the cylinder between chambers.  There was a notch in the face of the hammer to lock the cylinder.  I've never seen a repro with this feature & on most old Colts the feature is missing.  Remingtons had wedge-shaped hammers & cut-outs between the chambers for it to fit in. 

Incidentally, it takes only 3 lbs of pressure, suddenly applied, to fire either a percussion cap or a modern primer.  In 1866 in Williamson County, Texas, a drover had the hammer of his pistol resting on a cap. He saddled his horse with the near-side stirrup hung over the horn, then dropped the stirrup.  It hit the hammer of his pistol, the ball opened the femoral artery, & he was dead in a matter of minutes.

 

[patrick mark pazen]

I/d be happy to hit a target standing at twenty five yards 

[Dave McGowan]

Patrick;

I don't shoot much anymore, but when I did, shooting a gallon jug at 25 yards, standing, with the .357 was good for 10 our of 10 on a good day. Fifty yards with a rest about 8 out of 10. With the .44 mag I've hit a 2 foot beach ball at 300 yards with shot #4. Actually, I did it once with the first shot, but that just made the guys I was shooting with angry ... it'll never happen again.

[C. F. 'Charley' Eckhardt]

When I hit a Dr Pepper can at 75 yds with a Ruger Blackhawk .357, shooting 2-handed off-hand, I was told 'You'll never have to prove anyting again.'  That was nearly 50 years ago.  I couldn't do it again on the best day of my life.