Colt 1878 DA Question

[JohnHenryD]

Ok, it's a Colt but figured someone here would know. I have a Colt 1878 DA in 44-40. Mechanically tight, no finish, decent bore. Would this be ok with occasional cowboy action loads? I have shot a few thru it with no apparent ill effects but a buddy told me I should use BP only.

 

[JohnHenryD]

Ok, it's a Colt but figured someone here would know. I have a Colt 1878 DA in 44-40. Mechanically tight, no finish, decent bore. Would this be ok with occasional cowboy action loads? I have shot a few thru it with no apparent ill effects but a buddy told me I should use BP only.

 

[opoefc]

In my opinion, it's always some what of a risk to shoot any gun that's over 100 yrs old with any load, no matter how low the round's pressure will be. Metal gets fatigue and you don't know the history of how many hot loads may have been thru that gun before. Black powder or smokeless, it's the pressure generated that is the concern. Murphey's Law works.

 

[klondike]

I like to run a few rounds through my older guns. I have had few problems as I am easy on the loads. That said, things can go wrong. I did break a mainspring on a 44DA, which I was fortunate to find a replacement.
Check out 10x for their ballistics.
http://www.tenxammo.com/files/Ballistics_Data_Sheet_10-29-2008.pdf

 

[therevjay]

If in good cond. I wouldn't be afraid to shoot it. (once in a while) I would stick with BP or a BP substitute loaded cartridge.

 

[barnside]

Colt? What's a Colt? Oh, you mean someone else, other than Smith & Wesson, made revolvers?
I don't believe it.

 

[Gazz]

A guy I knew had a very nice one with the large trigger guard in .45 Colt. He loaded up some ammo for it which were fairly warm (I soon found out) and asked me I wanted to shoot it. After the third round, I felt the nice, original hard rubber grips giving way and then watched the pieces fall to the floor. Maybe mild loads wouldn't have done that - just an example of what could happen when you shoot an old gun.

 

[MikeyL]

The key on the M.1878 Colt DA is the serial number. Colt made these guns until 1905 or so, but only warranted them for smokeless powder from about 1900. I have a couple of these (both nickel plated, thankfully; easy to clean) and I do shoot them, but with only black powder loads! The early smokeless loads were a lot lighter than current smokeless. "Cowboy" loads might be light enough, but why take a chance?

MikeyL

 

[jjones33]

Originally posted by JohnHenryD:
Ok, it's a Colt but figured someone here would know. I have a Colt 1878 DA in 44-40. Mechanically tight, no finish, decent bore. Would this be ok with occasional cowboy action loads? I have shot a few thru it with no apparent ill effects but a buddy told me I should use BP only.

I'd say it was time to give the old girl a break and let her rest. Just my opinion.