The '51 Navy and the "Pointability Myth".....or is it?

[Captainkirk]

....just a myth, that is.
IMNSHO, NOT!!!!!
Sure, all revolvers will shoot in the general direction you're pointing them. Duh.
Most of the time, we figure out how to compensate for their misgivings and generally hit what we're pointin' at.
But those of you who are Navy fans like myself, try this simple test and see if'n you don't agree with the Cap'n.
1) Take your Navy, and your second favorite revolver
NOTE: MAKE ABSOLUTE SURE THEY ARE EMPTY BEFORE PROCEEDING!!!!!!
2) Hold the Navy down at your waist and stare at an item across the room...preferably 15 feet or better. Now, close your eyes, raise the gun without opening, and point where you "think" it is. Open your eyes and see how far off you were.
3) Try this again with your "second favorite revolver".........
See a difference? I sure do......by several inches at the target, in some instances.
The Navy simply points where your eyes were looking when they were open....at least for me. What say you?

[Hawg]

The Navy simply points where your eyes were looking when they were open....at least for me. What say you?

I say aye.

[ssb73q]

Hi Captain, IMO all the Colts are natural pointers. However, practice with other handguns will have the user as proficient. A laser boresight is a useful tool to test pointing.

Regards,
Richard

[Pat/Rick]

SSB, good idea with the laser, I'll have to try that.  It's a good idea to get the feel for these fine weapon's because the cartridge era is simply a passing phase.

[Pustic]

I find no difference in pointing a Colt or a Remington. They both point in the same direction.

[StrawHat]

I shoot both open tops and top strap revolvers.  I find they both point where I need them. 

[mike116]

I've never really understood the "pointablity" concept.  All my revolvers point in same direction... away from me.  I think in reality pointability is more a discussion of the feel of a gun.  If the pistol feels comfortable and natural in your hand then it will point where you want it to.

[Hawg]

  I think in reality pointability is more a discussion of the feel of a gun.  If the pistol feels comfortable and natural in your hand then it will point where you want it to.

That may be. The 51 certainly feels much better than the Remington but whatever the reason the point test works.

[Captainkirk]

I've never really understood the "pointablity" concept.  All my revolvers point in same direction... away from me.  I think in reality pointability is more a discussion of the feel of a gun.  If the pistol feels comfortable and natural in your hand then it will point where you want it to.

Well, I guess a better term would be "natural target lock". My Navy does this better than any other BP gun I own. Maybe why Wild Bill was able to pull off some of the stunts he did, and why he stuck with his Navies long after the advent of cartridge conversions?

[Pustic]

Well, to be fair, I just now did the test using my '51 Navy and a Remington, and to be truthful, I had the same results with both. I was very close to the target, but not quite on it.

[brazosdave]

I've always loved the way the 51's, 48/49's, and the Model P's just naturally felt right.  I have always found the 1860 to be a bit top heavy, but ET has a sherrif barreled 60 that is just fantastic!  Honestly, I find that i shoot better with shortys most of the time.