Dragoon ballistics

[DragoonRick]

What do you think is an effective range of a #2 dragoon.  Using 45 grns 3f powder, a soft lead .454 round ball and wonderwad patch over the powder.   I did a demonstration of home made caps with this load. Hitting the fifty yard target was easy enough. I could not guess the velocity. ?

Dragoon Rick

[Hawg]

Probably about 75 yards.

[DragoonRick]

That’s great. I can stand for 75 yards if I can shoot that well.

[Zulch]

That’s awesome Rick. 50 yard target hit? Handheld or did you prop/rest the gun? Picture of the target? Love to see the results after you try 75 yards.👍👍

[Captainkirk]

Supposedly they were sighted in at 75 yards with the purpose that there would be enough ME to drop a man or a horse at that distance. Purportedly (depending on which story you believe) the Hickok-Tutt duel shot was taken at 75 yards with a Dragoon. Davis Tutt did not remain earthbound to dispute the fact.

[DragoonRick]

My demonstration was hand held.  As a guest of the SASS club I wasn’t to picky.  I just shot at the target set up.  The range master said it was 50 yards. I hope to go to the armadillo gun range and store near Princeton,tx where we are moving.  In the next few weeks.

[Hawg]

Supposedly they were sighted in at 75 yards with the purpose that there would be enough ME to drop a man or a horse at that distance. Purportedly (depending on which story you believe) the Hickok-Tutt duel shot was taken at 75 yards with a Dragoon. Davis Tutt did not remain earthbound to dispute the fact.

Some say it was a .32 S&W. One of history's mysteries that will never be solved. I'm leaning toward the dragoon also but then I go back and forth on it, depending on which way the wind is blowing.

[DragoonRick]

A .32 S&W at 70 yards would hurt like a 25ACP or 22.  I dought  neither would punch through a pine2x4 at that range.

[Hawg]

A .32 S&W at 70 yards would hurt like a 25ACP or 22.  I dought  neither would punch through a pine2x4 at that range.

A .22 or a .25 ACP at 75 yards would kill you. I would imagine a bp .32 S&W would too. Hitting something at that range with a .32 S&W would be the trick. I once set up a quart brake fluid can in a big patch of sand at 90 yards. I fired one mag out of a 1934 Beretta .380 at it. I peppered the sand all around it and hit it once. I couldn't have done it if I hadn't been able to see where the bullets were going. I used to bust 2 liter Coke bottles at 200 yards with a .22 rifle. No scope.

[DragoonRick]

I guess my Dragoon obsession is growing.  It’s about the only pistol I want at the range.  I’ve traded for a Rossi 971 .357, and  fairly recently a Rossi 720 .44 special.  I am charmed by both and others I have. But the Dragoon is the only one that resides in the sock drawer by my bed.  If you treat it well the dragoon will do anything you ask of it.

[Hawg]

Yeah it will but if you fire it in a house make sure your first shot counts cause you won't be able to see anything to make another one. And don't fire it close to curtains or a tablecloth.

[Captainkirk]

Yeah it will but if you fire it in a house make sure your first shot counts cause you won't be able to see anything to make another one. And don't fire it close to curtains or a tablecloth.

If the shot don't get him the smoke will!

[DragoonRick]

Great answers