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1872 Navy open top and some pumkin carvin'
- fortyshooter
- Ranch Foreman
- Posts: 7044
- Joined: Sat Dec 09, 2017 10:37 am
- Location: Va.

1872 Navy open top and some pumkin carvin'
Spent a wonderful Fall afternoon down at the range getting the first shots in with my new Cimarron 1872 Navy open top .44 special. Also took the Henry
Evil Roy .22 Carbine along for some pumpkin carving and when carving with a .22 bring at least 50 rounds with you!
For the tiny sights the 1872 OT has I think it shoot very well with the loads I had on hand shooting a bit high at 1.5 to 2 inches above point of aim.
Loads were 240 gr. MB bullets loaded with 5.0 Red Dot and 6.0 Unique. Also had 200 gr. plated Xtreme bullets with 7.5 Unique and all shot well.
All shots where from 10 yds. standing and one handed shooting.
I thought that the 18 Bhn hardness of my 240 gr. MB bullets might be a bit hard for the light loads and a 11 or 12 might be the best. However
the barrel look really clean after shooting 60 rounds today with no leading present. No function issues with the revolver and the cylinder gap was the same .005 after all the shooting as when new. Have read up on issues some have with the wedge lock pin but I have had it apart a couple times and now have shot it and all seems fine with gap staying the same. Those sights though make you really have to concentrate on finding the front sight in that tiny rear groove. Depending on the light I made do okay. If I caught the sun angle right the front sight would shine a bit when in the groove just poking up a bit. Later was able to hit the small gong and some cans with it. Seems to shoot very well.
Then on to carving the small pumpkin which turned out well for a .22 hole puncher.....takes a lot of them to fill out your cuts...shots!
Evil Roy .22 Carbine along for some pumpkin carving and when carving with a .22 bring at least 50 rounds with you!
For the tiny sights the 1872 OT has I think it shoot very well with the loads I had on hand shooting a bit high at 1.5 to 2 inches above point of aim.
Loads were 240 gr. MB bullets loaded with 5.0 Red Dot and 6.0 Unique. Also had 200 gr. plated Xtreme bullets with 7.5 Unique and all shot well.
All shots where from 10 yds. standing and one handed shooting.
I thought that the 18 Bhn hardness of my 240 gr. MB bullets might be a bit hard for the light loads and a 11 or 12 might be the best. However
the barrel look really clean after shooting 60 rounds today with no leading present. No function issues with the revolver and the cylinder gap was the same .005 after all the shooting as when new. Have read up on issues some have with the wedge lock pin but I have had it apart a couple times and now have shot it and all seems fine with gap staying the same. Those sights though make you really have to concentrate on finding the front sight in that tiny rear groove. Depending on the light I made do okay. If I caught the sun angle right the front sight would shine a bit when in the groove just poking up a bit. Later was able to hit the small gong and some cans with it. Seems to shoot very well.
Then on to carving the small pumpkin which turned out well for a .22 hole puncher.....takes a lot of them to fill out your cuts...shots!
- Attachments
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- Cimarron 1872 Colt Open Top 44 Special.jpg (154.1 KiB) Viewed 952 times
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- Target showing results of various loads.jpg (80.04 KiB) Viewed 952 times
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- Target showing POI when holding at 6 o'clock with various loads.jpg (81.26 KiB) Viewed 952 times
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- carved pumpkin for 2021 with Henry Evil Roy 22 Carbine.jpg (253.07 KiB) Viewed 952 times
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- back side of pumpkin.jpg (224.4 KiB) Viewed 952 times
Last edited by fortyshooter on Sun Oct 17, 2021 9:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- fortyshooter
- Ranch Foreman
- Posts: 7044
- Joined: Sat Dec 09, 2017 10:37 am
- Location: Va.

Re: 1872 Navy open top and some pumkin carvin'
Forgot this picture of the sight line up. Look hard and you can see the front sight peeking up!
- Attachments
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- First 5 shots with them tiny tiny sights. 10 yds one hand.jpg (91.52 KiB) Viewed 949 times
Re: 1872 Navy open top and some pumkin carvin'
Nice shooting. Thats a fine looking gun there, but those sights would be real tough for my old eyes. I'm not sure I could pick up that front sight under any conditions.
Paul
Paul
- North Country Gal
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Re: 1872 Navy open top and some pumkin carvin'
For sure, those sights would be a deal breaker for me, too. In a pinch and if you have no plans to ever sell the gun, you can do something drastic and open up that rear sight a bit with a file to let a little daylight in around the front sight. Drastic for sure, but I have done it on some reproduction single actions and it really does make them much easier to shoot.
- RanchRoper
- Forum Ambassador
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- Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:14 am
- Location: Land of Shining Mountains, Alberta

Re: 1872 Navy open top and some pumkin carvin'
Sure looks like a good time to me! Love the pistol.
Pedersoli Frontier Flintlock .50
Ohkínohkomit - Shoot skillfully
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zara_puppy
- Cowhand
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- Joined: Wed Nov 13, 2019 8:52 pm

Re: 1872 Navy open top and some pumkin carvin'
Sure does look like fun!! May have to give that a try!
- fortyshooter
- Ranch Foreman
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- Joined: Sat Dec 09, 2017 10:37 am
- Location: Va.

Re: 1872 Navy open top and some pumkin carvin'
I looked at opening up the V groove slot but have to be careful as there isn't much side material around it. Might be able to open it up .015 of an inch or 1/64th. Could stand to go a bit deeper to but not much rise there above the barrel. I was pleased how I shot it for the first time with my old eyes and how well it functioned. Thing is built really tight as in just enough fit for the cylinder to rotate without end shake and the cylinder lock up is better than a lot of other big name revolvers. My 1858 Remington is the same way. Both are good SA revolvers for the money!North Country Gal wrote: ↑Sun Oct 17, 2021 8:43 pmFor sure, those sights would be a deal breaker for me, too. In a pinch and if you have no plans to ever sell the gun, you can do something drastic and open up that rear sight a bit with a file to let a little daylight in around the front sight. Drastic for sure, but I have done it on some reproduction single actions and it really does make them much easier to shoot.
Have a set of grips on order that should really look good on it.
- fortyshooter
- Ranch Foreman
- Posts: 7044
- Joined: Sat Dec 09, 2017 10:37 am
- Location: Va.

Re: 1872 Navy open top and some pumkin carvin'
Yeah get you a pumpkin and see what you can carve out....fun! I was shooting the CCI 22 LR CB ammo which is all you need.
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zara_puppy
- Cowhand
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Wed Nov 13, 2019 8:52 pm

Re: 1872 Navy open top and some pumkin carvin'
The wife has three pumpkins out front for decorations. When it is their time the son and I will head out to grandpa's - we've got his marlin 60 set up so he likes it - should be a good day.fortyshooter wrote: ↑Sun Oct 17, 2021 9:37 pmYeah get you a pumpkin and see what you can carve out....fun! I was shooting the CCI 22 LR CB ammo which is all you need.
- fortyshooter
- Ranch Foreman
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- Joined: Sat Dec 09, 2017 10:37 am
- Location: Va.

Re: 1872 Navy open top and some pumkin carvin'
Sounds like a fun plan zara! Don't forget some pictures!