1847 walker or 1848 dragoon?

B

bigcountry11

New member
I am looking to buy an 1847 uberti walker. I want to shoot this gun quite a bit. I see where some say the 1847 loading lever comes uncocked when shooting. Some say its designed in because the original had this issue? Is this really true with full 60gr loads?

Would I be better off with a 1848 dragoon model?
 
It's true. The original had the problem and the repros follow the originals pretty close so they have it too. The Walker has no catch under the barrel like other guns do. The latch on them is at the rear of the lever and with use will weaken. There are fixes for it or you can do what the owners of originals did and tie it up with a leather thong.
 
A minority of folks have reported having a problem with the latch on their Dragoon, but it's usually not a very difficult fix.
A stronger replacement spring from an electric guitar pick up often provides the solution which can be found at a music shop, or a little filing to better mate the end of the latch with the stud can sometimes work to produce a more secure fit.
 
Thong and all.

I'd still get the Walker. From what I understand it is the most highly respected revolving "Hand Cannon". And for that reason it is quite a conversation piece. It's been in some really good movies as well.
 
I found the Walker to be too heavy for my taste, and the square back trigger guard was also a little uncomfortable. I'd prefer the 3rd model Dragoon with its round trigger guard but that's just me.
 
arcticap said:
A minority of folks have reported having a problem with the latch on their Dragoon, but it's usually not a very difficult fix.
A stronger replacement spring from an electric guitar pick up often provides the solution which can be found at a music shop, or a little filing to better mate the end of the latch with the stud can sometimes work to produce a more secure fit.
Click to expand...

+1

I have had to mod several Dragoon latches because they would unlatch with heavy(40gr+) loads. Changing the spring and profiling the notch does the trick. You can profile the notch on the Walker and get a improvement in the latches ability to keep the lever in position, but a 60gr load well unlatch most of them every time.
 
If you are going to go big, go BIG. Get the Walker. The style points are worth the hassle with the loading lever.
 
The answer is pretty simple. If you want a BIG, 4 1/2 pound revolver, capable of accepting 60 grains of powder, get a Walker. If you're looking for a handier sidearm, get the Dragoon. If you want to be a "gunfighter," go with an 1851 Navy or the nearly as handy 1860 Army.
OR, you can use my standard answer when faced with a question like this and get them all!
If your Walker's loading lever drops due to recoil, snap it back up between shots. It ain't exactly a rapid-fire weapon.
 
Or a Ruger Old Army. Or a Rogers & Spencer. Or...

Oops. Sorry. that wasn't very helpful, was it?

The Dragoon is more useful. The Walker is more fun.

Does that help?


I still like the ROA and the R&S....
 
Walker, brainstorm modification.

I just thought of a way cool mod that might be possible for the walker.

Using very small pieces of rare earth magnets one could make a magnetic latch for the Walker. Just JB weld to tiny pieces of rare earth magnet appropriately.

You could shoot an old hard drive for fun to get the magnets also. :D
 
The Walker for history, the Dragoon for shooting. Of all the BP revolvers I find the Dragoon feels best in my hand, when firing it it feels like an S&W N frame
.357 firing 38 Specials.
 
I like the way you guys think. I want the walker colt signature, but don't want to shoot that one. Figured a nice uberti would be the ticket.

Thanks for all who replied.
 
I have an unfired 3rd gen colt 150 year anniverary Walker. I'm thinkin about loadin it up and firing it. Tell me no!
 
Get the Walker.

You don't understand. That is not "really" a loading lever. It is an original tactical "Monopod" to aid in aiming. It is all the rage on the rifle shooting guys now.

Mine drops at 60 grns but what the heck. I just reach up there and put it back. At 55 grns it does it occasionally.

The walkers are fun to shoot. Get some history and enjoy it.
 
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