Stan, we would take the civil war black power pistols to the city garbage dump, back in the days when they did not cover it, and shoot the gofer rats. We had to wave away the smoke clouds to see what we hit or missed. I can see why a soldiers would lie down to shoot, but when charging on horse back it must have got real confusing. Last year at a company sponsered gun show I shot a 454 and my middle knuckle still hurts. I don't recall anything like that happening with the Remington 44. On my wish list is the Ruger black power you mentioned. My grandfathers were in the Alabama Seventh Cav. but it was more like a mounted inf. they rode to battle, dismounted and fought with long rifles. Had to furnish their own horse and tack. My 17 year old great grandfather was captured at Franklin while he and another 17 year old were behind the firing line holding the horses and like a pair of 17 year olds, not paying close enough attention. He spent the rest of the war at Douglas prison. The Andersonville of the North and survived it.

Always good to hear from you, Ken