Revolvers are probably the most widely owned type of muzzle loader
in the UK. After the handgun ban it seemed that most former pistol
shooters went out and bought a Ruger .22 rifle, an underlever
carbine and a black powder revolver. As muzzle loading revolvers are
a bit of an acquired taste many of the revolvers are seldom used
now, but plenty more are still in regular use, both for plinking and
serious competition.
Choosing a Revolver
So, what are the main factors to bear in mind for choosing a
revolver. Well, it all comes down to whether you want to shoot
competitions or not? If you just want to plink, then buy whatever
takes your fancy. Open frame Colts are delightful, Le Mat's are
impressive and English Civil War Pistols are monstrous - all great
fun. For competition shooting it's altogether different, and we
really need to digress here and look at the sort of competitions
being shot.
Firstly, there are the traditional Muzzle Loaders Association of
Great Britain (MLAGB) matches, which all involve shooting 13 shots
in 30 minutes, offhand at a round bull target 25 metres away. To
shoot these you need a spirit of the original (i.e. non-adjustable
or hammer adjustable sights), which really has to be either a
Remington or a Rogers and Spencer in .44 calibre.
Secondly there are the precision rapid fire comps shot two handed
at stylised "man type" targets from 25 metres down to ten. These are
what used to be called PPI and Service Pistol, but are now called
the "Bow Street Runner" and "The Cavalry Officer". There's also a
match called "Historic Revolver" which is much the same format, but
involves timed reloads between practices. For these, most people use
the Ruger Old army, but for pointability, I would say an adjustable
sighted Remington or Rogers and Spencer is a better choice. You can
of course shoot these matches with a spirit of the original, and a
well practiced precision shot with one of these will not be
seriously disadvantaged.
Finally, there are the oddball matches shot at meetings like the
Phoenix, which involve one or two handed shooting at a variety of
speeds, either one or two handed. For thes., anything will do, but
bear in mind that the Ruger Old Army is quite a weight to shoot
offhand?
