Unless you're going to CCW a Colt Walker, most .44 cal cap & ball revolvers have a muzzle velocity and weight of ball = to a poor lead round nose 38 special loading.
That is definitely an understatement of these types of guns. An 1860 Army or '58 Remington loaded with a full charge pushes a 140 grainer up to at least 1000 fps, and more with powders such as good Pyrodex P or Swiss. Do the calculations, and that is well within the .45 ACP to medium .357 Magnum territory. Many desperados and outlaws, as well as a great many good men, have found their departure at the wrong end of a cap and ball Colt or Remington LONG before cartridge guns came into general use.
And the larger caliber single shot pistols? Don't even get me started on those. They may be cumbersome, and slow loading, but a .50 .58 or .63 roundball out of a flintlock or wheel-lock cavalry handgun inflict a level of damage that will make the service 9mms, 45s, and .357s seem like peashooters. During the Siege of Vienna in 1683, when the Ottoman army under the leadership of Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa reached their highwater-mark in Europe, the city was saved by a charge of the Polish Winged Hussars. The Hussars' sabers and lances may have been a terrifying sight for the Muslim attackers, but it was the large caliber wheel-lock pistols that seemed to be the favorite of the Polish riders. There are many accounts of the incredible damage that the balls done to the many, many unfortunate Turks who got the receiving end of these. Stories of heads removed cleanly, limbs blown into shattered pieces, rotting corpses on the field with their backs blown out completely. The balls made complete pass-thrus on many accounts, going through even the multiple heavy coats of chainmail and scales worn by some of the
Sipahi, elite heavy cavalry of the Turks.
A Youtube user by the name of Iraqveteran88 made a video showing what a matchlock musket did to a ballistic torso AND a stack of wooden baffles. It was incredible. The musket used was the same type that the Pilgrims would have carried when they landed here.
Yes, shot placement trumps all
Yes and yes indeed. It is VERY FORTUNATE that many, if not most violent criminals cannot aim at all, or are very poor at it. If they are proficient shots, the great multitude of police officers fired upon, or injured by gunfire on duty may turn into much sadder conclusions. Just this week in NYC, two incidents where shots were fired at police. No officers were hit and the perp was dead in one incident. The other perp, (two unrelated cases), was found in his homie's apartment hiding under the bed with a stolen and defaced .22. Multiple arrests in the histories of both.
That's why I say, if you're going to carry, carry the biggest thing you can get away with carrying.
CCW weapon of choice is a Pietta 1858 here. I have no doubts that it will be a one-shot instant stopper with a Kaido 240-grain conical and 30 grains of FFFg. That is one massive round with over 400-foot pounds of stopping power. Plus "Old Reliable" is much more accepted even in places where guns are normally frowned upon. I've had even ardent anti-gunners give me positive remarks about my revolver when I am carrying in an Open Carry state. I HAVE introduced at least FIVE former anti-gunners to the world of guns with my 1858 over the last 7 years. The 2 that I still have contact with are both pro-CCW and carry on a daily basis too.