Thanks for the history. I had heard bits of that, not the dragoon parts at all though.
I definitely agree with the last sentence get both. The walkers I've seen aren't really that much. I saw one NIB for something like $390
Yeah, the repro's all sell for right around $400.
Once in a very blue moon you might see one pop up on the used market but its pretty rare.
One note about these. They shoot way high. I've heard the original guns were regulated to 100yds. So the repro's front sights are too short and they'll shoot high at more normal pistol distances. Think like 12"-14" high at 50ft. This is normal. You can go thru the hassle of getting a new front sight or just learn to aim different. You'll just have to shoot yours enough to figure out where its hitting.
Cleaning is a whole other world on these and needs to be discussed in detail at another time. I'll just say this:the better you clean them the Moonpie Way the better they'll get. LoL.
Leather for both of them is available.
Components are easily. Caps, powder, ball, lubed wads.
Real BP can be difficult to source locally. I order mine on-line.
I do recommend the Remington brand caps as they seem to be made from a harder/thicker metal than the CCI brand. Thus they stay together better and the bits don't get down into the innards of the action nearly as bad as the CCI caps do.
Roundballs are readily available over the counter. Casting your own is about the easiest bullets to make. You need to use pure lead as alloy makes the balls too hard for proper bore obturation. Poor accuracy and difficult loading.
Sheeesh….it'll be easier to show you than explain it on here.
What day is C&B range day?