aw man, I had just convinced myseIf didn’t need to buy a baby dragoon

My father, a combat marine in the 1st in WW2 always carried a pocket 22. He said a 22 is absolutely a deadly round and that the 22 will be the round that will probably save our nation in the next revolution

Just made me make up my mind. Guess my Dragoon is gonna have a child. 🤣

GREAT JOB SIR..IN MY TEST I ALSO FOUND THE 4f THE BEST CHOICE AND BERFORMANCE WAS VERY CLOSE TO WHAT YOU SHOWED..ELMER KEITH SAID HE USED A 49 AS A DISPATCH GUN FOR BIG BOBCATS IN TRAPS SO IT IS TO BE RESPECTED..THANKS FOR THE VIDEO..SAFE JOURNEYS

I think movies do cap & ball pistols a great injustice, because they were fully up to the task. The .31 was no exception!

With round ball, yes, a .22. With conicals more like a .32 acp or 32-20.

Very impressive. It went a lot further than I thought it would. Great camera work as well.

I bought a second generation Colt 1862 Navy in 1980, right as they were remaking their cap and ball revolvers, carried it and a model 94 as home defense weapons, as a Marine on active duty, picked up a new Uberti, "pocket police", a 71, in the box, almost forty years ago, not well finished, spent a couple years stoning the frame square, flat, re-color casing it, and used it twenty years, at our home, "retired", in farm country, NC, next to a creek, and that pistol killed at least a hundred substantial snake, copperheads, water moccasins, eastern diamond backs, with both ball and shot, and along with a North American Arms 22 magnum, was the mainstay as we cleared fifty years of brush, wife and I, over about five years. This was no surprise to me, I've never chronographed or tried to measure energy, simply because I was quite please with its "live performance". I still keep one in my chair in the living room, it's deadly, accurate, and I never have to buy ammo, I just make it. I've got five or six 32 acp's, a 25 acp, and they only barely reach a similar, not equal performance. I used to think the non-expanding full metal jacket responsible, but now consider the higher velocity, with less friction, resistance, is responsible for the better performance. The thirty six navy has usually been fired with 25 to 30 grains of Goex, and a 38 doesn't compete. Thanks for the chronograph, and the clear evidence of "penetration". Semper Fidelis, John McClain

I'd love to see a modern cartridge conversion for this in something like .32 ACP or .32 S&W Long. A lot deadlier than people give it credit for. While I've not heard as many people say it's as deadly as a .22, one thing they forget is that's .22 out of an 18 or 20 inch barrel usually. This is a much smaller gun by comparison shooting a bullet that's double the weight from a much shorter barrel.

VERY impressive! Quite a rupture effect on the first jug too. You've effectively demonstrated that, properly loaded, the little .31 packs considerable wallop with the conical. A .22 LR will not do that much damage even with HP. A .22 Mag will. Also Swiss 4Fg would likely hit 950 + as it is a hotter powder than GOEX. Swiss would pretty well approximate the true ballistics of the Hazard powder actually used in the 19th Century with these revolvers. Swiss 4Fg is similar to Hazard #1 Pistol Powder, and Swiss Null B (5Fg) is close to the Hazard Cartridge powder provided to makers of revolver combustibles. The cartridge powder was made by Hazard at Sam Colt's request when Colt began revolver cartridge manufacture in 1855 with the unpopular short lived foil cartridges. Colt switched to paper envelopes in 1858 and revolver combustibles became very popular.

My first pistol! I shot single "0" buckshot (.32 caliber) through it and learned to clean it with Ballistol.

I double checked because I thought I saw Clint Eastwood using one of these in the outlaw Jose Wales. Sure enough he did and had it in a shoulder holster. I just received mine and have started the molds on it can't wait to try it out.

That was truly impressive, who would have thought this would be the results of a shooting test, I'm impressed to say the least that a small caliber would have that much penetration, Thx Mark for the vid.

You do your job, and the little .31 will do it's job. I love shooting black powder pistols. It's a lot more enjoyable that burning through cased ammo. Thanks for the demo.

The added weight of the conical definitely improved performance over the round ball. The 4F probably gave it a little more Ummph over 3F powder.

So, those who are sold on size and power, lemme tell you from experience, shot placement rules the day, every day. You are now free to carry any caliber you choose, happy choosing.

Othias sent me. Great channel.

Interesting video, Mark. A simple solution for my Dropping Loading Lever was to snap the spring loaded catch out several times. Using a flat blade screwdriver push the catch into the rod all the way. Slide the screwdriver out of the way to allow the catch to pop out quickly. By doing this several times the catch stuck out slightly more than originally and provided for a stronger grip.

Thank you for doing this, and thank you for using *conical bullets!* Everyone else always uses round ball.

Fine vid Sir!

Excellent video.

Good job, I would not have expected that!

great review and amazing sir thanks for sharing

Great job Mark. Impressive to be sure. Now I want one.

Excellent! Thank you.

Good demo!, Your bullets make that little gun perform. Now I am thinking (again) about getting one of those little guys! - if I could find one LOL!

Very impressive.

That's because you were using soft water, the hard water at my place would have stopped it in 2 jugs! Lol! Great video I need to pick some of those up soon.

Thanks for putting some actual data out on this gun!

Surprisingly impressive! I like others assumed it to be a shooter of about 450-500 fps with little penetration and better results from throwing a rock but this ain't no punk and I sure as hell would NOT want to be the unlucky recipient of a shot from it! Its closer to a .38, which was an equally popular choice in the 20th century prior to 9mm autos taking the lead before everyone started buying crazy big calibers today.

Very impressed ..!

I bought one of these in the 90s along with a 36, both are fun plinkers

Awesome video and bullet molds. Just wish they were in stock.

Thank you so much for this video. The funny thing is I just got this same pistol Friday.

Proud to be the first to see this! Thanks for sharing Mark!

Very interesting results, ffff is perfect powder for low capacity, some of Samuel Colts powders looked like the granulations was about as fine as the 4 F powder we use today, which is why the later colts had smaller cylinders because they started using better powder, a lot of people complained that they kicked too hard , if you load them like modern people they have no recoil, so either the powder was different or people were wimps back theme lol, Nice looking bullet, looks like it performed really good

That looks like a big velocity jump over 3f in my experience. 700ish with a 50 grain ball.

Great video, I tried the baby Dragoon 330 77 conical bullets in my Uberti .31 caliber Wells Fargo revolver and I was very impressed with the penetration over round balls. Thank you for the video.

That was some cool video. I really like the 49 pocket model. I didn’t realize they were that powerful. I have 32 long a fun gun to shoot. Guess I gotta get a 49 now. To go with my 44 sheriffs model.

Great video! Very informative. I have several cap and ball revolvers, all Navy caliber, save for my 1849 Uberti Pocket. Small as it is, it is my favorite. I recently purchased one of your .31 bullet molds but have yet to try it out. Now that the warmer weather is here, I shall remedy that very soon! (I always cast outdoors). Again, a great video with some really useful information!

I wonder how easily I can convince my wife to let me spend the money on another black.powder gun and bullet mold? Very impressive demonstration, Mark. I never expected a 31 Colt Pocket to stand up to 32 ACP. Wow.

That looks like a real fun gun to shoot.

Bravo, I had one, man slick little pistol, accurate, and as close to perfect black powder , having shot 54 cal plainsman,

80 gr at 900 fps really ain't that bad for a pocket gun.

The number one pocket defense pistol of gamblers and miners post BP Single Shot Derringer and Pre Center Fire 2 Barrel Derringer. They put a lot of hurt out there for it's size.

I kinda like this small gun which has some kick! I would like to see some long-barreled replicas one day.

Also keep in mind that in 1848 a huge amount of pistols you came across were still single shot. Given that the odds of a my adversary carrying a single shot or even a bow I probably would have felt quite comfortable carrying this revolver.

This,is fantastic comparison, I have a very rare S&W 32 LONG.I HAVE SEEN OTHER TEST I THINK YOU DID ONE..HOW a 36 AND a 9mm comparison, it would shock a lot of people that's for sure

I ended up putting kirst 32 conversion only because to lazy for cap and ball loading

Great video, i subscribed! Can you do a simular video with a .36 caliber Colt Navy? Also, please use a round ball too to compare with.

Small rounds are underapreciated

I would like to see a comparison between FFFFG and triple 777. Also, penetration into ballistic gel would be nice.

Is everything okay Mark? It’s been awhile since your last post, just checking in buddy. Thank you for the awesome content.

I use pyrodex p in my remmington i top the cylinders off then smash a round ball in pretty powerful never crono it but seems like a powerhouse

Yes

Wonderful video , as I watched the video iam reminded as a reloader of 42 years * also designing and. Making special purpose. ammunition that at one time it was legal to shoot stray dogs damage ing property* I had problems with dogs getting in my trash* so my old speer reloading manual had a round ball load for my 44 special* , 433 round ball 120 grain and bullseye pistol powder 2,3 grains 504 feet per second* I thought to just put knots on there butts * at 30 feet it shot through 3 milk jugs of water * I decided not a good idea because I was looking to just put some rememberable hurt on the dogs not kill them* nanna and papa wishing you well

I've been thinking more about a scaled down breech loader modeled after the Sharps 1859 Carbine in .31 caliber for plinking and small game hunting.

If your going for a .31 cap and Ball, the Pietta "Remington" pocket revolver is the bee's knees. A little more difficult to find these days, but a sweet little pistola nonetheless. Solid as a rock... being so tiny with a topstrap.

A very interesting conclusion! The penetration of this light bullet is amazing, not sure what alloy you used, but the bullet was barely deformed after passing through 5 jugs, 5 jugs must be equivalent to at least two people, so it is more that sufficient for any self defence in the 19th century, and of course it was not the penetration that caused trauma, but the infection, with very little chance of medical attention, that would make a potential assailant think twice, stay safe! Chris B.

Mark, I don’t want to get shot with a 22, much less black powder 31!

Good to see justice here. I have always scoffed and known better , , than to listen to all the tak about how ineffective etc , . I fire my Pockets (Authentic colt) charged with 14g and the same elongated ball you have, cast from an actual Colt mold, and the ball passes through 3 pine boards from 50yds. Anyway, they have proved themselves with actual hunting kills. Good work.

Based on the fact that a .22 Short is still deady, I have no doubt the .31 cal is deadly. Anything bullet can kill if aimed right.

that's my carry gun. because black powder is "shooting done fun". Okay I use triple 7, but I have not had any cap problems with that powder. Thanks

Looks awesome! I'm still considering trying these in my 1863. Just loading the cylinder off the revolver. I too load mine with 4f. I'm not sure what what the powder capacity difference is between remingtons and the colts

I found that these small pistols don't set off caps very good I fitted two main springs in the one I had. I swapped it for a Pietta 1860 Army. I wanted to by another one lately but they are all on back order.

It may not be as powerful as a 44 but I'd say it's still a capable weapon

I wonder how a round ball compares

I may have mentioned this before, but given medical knowledge in the mid 1800, a wound from a .31 pocket revolver, though maybe not a one shot manstopper, could become infected and fester for days, followed by your demise.

NOW HAVE BY 31 CAL MY WIFE GOING BE PISS OFF AT YOU NOW LOL

That is actually pretty impressive. I am curious though, how different would 3Fg perform compared to the 4Fg?

1860 army 1858 new army maybe a 1851-61 Navy. You need that extra barrel length with cap and ball

Hmmm. 12 grains? My load for .32 S&W Long is 14 (volume equivalent, using American Pioneer Powder), IIRC, which is slightly compressed to give a cartridge length that fits my 1890s vintage H&R top break (probably originally made for .32 H&R, but no step in the chambers). Might get another grain or two in there with a different bullet and cylinder length for full .32 Long. Factory .32 S&W and .32 Long factory loads used slightly heavier bullets -- 95-100 grains cover most of them, and my load is a 100 grain wadcutter (because it was the cast bullet I could find when I ordered components) -- that cuts velocity some, of course, which reduces energy a little for the same powder load, but tends to improve penetration. The real measure here is powder load, other factors equal. Still, I'll call this equivalent to a .32 S&W or .32 H&R, neither of which was "as puny as a .22."

Ever try any Swiss black powder I'm still new to this but is it any better?

Very cool. Nope do not shoot me with one. Mark I put a heavier spring in my loading lever, works great.

Mark, thank you for the surprising results. I admit I was always of the mind that ffffg was only for priming flinters. What other cap & ball guns have you used it in or would you consider ok in? Thanks again.

I wonder what the velocity difference between 4f and 3f is.

It only gets 60 FPE with a round ball, but that would ruin someone's day.

That's very impressive, certainly much better than a .22LR. How much lower do you think the velocity would be if FFG powder was used?

I have one of these, been laying around for a few years. Never shot it. Can't find a decent nipple wrench.

Does anyone make a Kydex stealth holster for this model?

Cheese and rice that’s impressive.

Mark, I bought a conversion cylinder in .32 S&W for this revolver. Unfortunately that bullet is only .312 diameter, so it is too undersized for the bore. The conversion cylinder chambers are not bored str8 thru with the same diameter, but have a more narrow diameter than the neck of the brass, bored in the front of the chamber. If that narrow part could be bored out to the brass neck diameter and the brass could be reloaded with your EGB bullet or a .321 ball, I think those projectiles would engage the rifling in the barrel, thus giving real accuracy. up to 25 yds. What are your thoughts?

Any problems with the loading ram crushing the tip of the conical on the 31 cal, I have a Pietta pocket 31 cal dragoon, just wondering.

It would seem that if you missed bones it would blow a hole in one side and right out of the other

Where can I get a mold for these bullets??? I have a .31 cal cap and ball derringer...

Does anyone make a .32 cartridge conversion cylinders for these guns?

Now test 44 for velocity and energy ;) So if we got 32 acp energy from punny 31, 357 magnum energy is in reach of 44 with proper powder/bullet selection or is it? Your thoughts?

I got an average of 710 fps with ~12.5 grains 3F Swiss. I didn’t think there would be that much difference in 3F and 4F, so I’m going to test 4F next. Is there an official max charge for the conical bullet? I can fit 14-15 grains 3F when loading with a cheater bar

I have a Whitney pocket revolver. I may have to try these. Do you know if it will work with the Whitney

Although it has excellent penetration, I wonder how effective it is at stopping villains.

check the kill stats from a 22 there no joke

Where could I get one? Could I go to a gun store and buy one? I'm one of those people who prefers to look at something before I buy it.

I just got my three molds, .44, .36, and .31. Why is the .31 mold marked the same as the .36...? (.380-126)

Have you shot 3f in it? If so did you chrono it?

Id buy one if they were 6 shot and had a 5" barrel like most of the originals.

Does any body make a hollow point for the 31? I have some for my Griswold, they tear up pumpkins.

Ima keep it 100 higher end 22lr out of a long barrel is probably more effective than this. Tired of the hate on .22 look up actual self defense stories people have been dropped from one shot out of a pistol before. Aguila Supermax out of a carbine length barrel is about 190 ft lbs.

They actually are better than a 9mm. Bigger.

Uberti .31 cal Baby Dragoon, Puny or Deadly?......yu wanta hold my target ?

Before watching the chrono and penetration tests, I'd expect this gun to give results very similar to .32 S&W cartridge revolvers -- which sold *millions more* "puny" pocket guns. Depending how much powder it holds, it might even equal the .32 H&R (a slightly longer cartridge) or .32 S&W Long, which remained in production into the 1970s (when it was largely superseded by the .32 H&R Magnum and later .327 Federal). Given a choice, I'd surely prefer a top-break cartridge revolver in this bore (much faster to reload), but I surely wouldn't complain about the ballistics of this one, nor compare it to a .22 -- a mistake people make about .32 S&W, too, where twice the bullet weight at slightly higher velocity makes those folks sound like idiots.