Cap and ball revolvers - getting started

BattleRifleG3 · 07-24-2003, 11:45 PM

Can anyone say what all is required to operate cap and ball revolvers? Like tools and supplies?

So far I have -
consumables: caps, powder, bullets, wads
tools: powder measure, ? Somethin to ram down the bullets

PAPA G · 07-25-2003, 03:17 AM

seems you have about everything but the revolver

rammer comes on the full sized pistols.

Big Dog · 07-25-2003, 06:59 AM

Don't forget targets!

Have fun and be safe.

BattleRifleG3 · 07-25-2003, 07:43 AM

Both Cabelas and FAC offer 1858 revolvers. The FAC one that I'm looking at is by Traditions (I think). Not sure who Cabelas' is by. I think the price is same, or within $10. I'd get the blued steel model. Anyone know if one is better or if they're both by Traditions?

alan c. · 07-25-2003, 09:29 AM

Look into the Ruger black powder.

BattleRifleG3 · 07-25-2003, 11:35 AM

Ruger's a little high priced for me at this point, if the prices are as I imagine. The ones I'm looking at would be sold directly to me for $160 + shippin.

Dallas · 07-25-2003, 12:16 PM

I fire a reproduction Model 1858 Remmington with brass frame. It's a lot of fun and you will come to understand the term fog of war if you fire off all six rounds quickly. Becareful of the possiblities of a chain fire though. Two or more rounds going off in order because of the sparks of the first round. If you properly use lubed "patches" at the end of each opening you should be ok.

Michael M · 07-27-2003, 10:21 AM

Cabelas carries Pietta. I have an '58 Rem and a Colt navy, both by Pietta, and they look great, nice fit and finish. Not as nice as the Ruger or Colts, of course, but every bit as accurate. It is fun to see the reactions of fellow shooters, especially when they see the groups at the 25 yd line. Fun for the money, but a different pace for sure. Get some Windex with vinegar. It really cleans things in a hurry. Bring your favorite oil and the Windex for extended shooting, spray things down when they foul enough to quit working, dry them off,swab the bore, run a set of caps only to clear the cylinder, and you are ready to go some more. I know the wads are supposed to make grease unnessary, but I still use grease. Had a buddy forget, and the chain fire from his Walker was not something to forget!

PAPA G · 07-27-2003, 10:27 AM

must have been awesome, i'm not a blackpowder user. but i noticed Cabela has an 1873 Colt SAA reproduction, made for only cap and ball. whats the advantage in that???

fred · 08-03-2003, 03:02 PM

Additional tools: a good screwdriver properly sized for the screws of your gun, a good small needle-nose pliers, SHOOTING GLASSES, a small aluminum or plastic cake decorating tube to put grease in for preventing chain-fire, nipple wrench, a nipple pick (heavy paper clip will do), a stout wooden dowel just less than the caliber of the gun and about an inch longer than the barrel (for clearing a ball from the barrel), a second smaller wooden dowel that just fits thru the threads that hold the nipple in the cylinder (for clearing a seated ball only AFTER powder has been removed), and rags to wipe your greasy hands with. A long time ago they sold Italian percussion caps that were very very stiff - these would occasionally misfire as the foil was small enough to prevent the percussion charge from resting against the end of the nipple. The first hammer strike would merely seat the cap properly and it would take a second hammer strike to fire it. IF YOU EVER HAVE A MISFIRE KEEP THE WEAPON POINTED DOWNRANGE AND SLOWLY COUNT TO 20. DO NOT RECOCK THE REVOLVER UNTIL YOU KNOW THE CHAMBER ISN'T A HANGFIRE. DO NOT TRY TO PRY THE CAP OFF THE NIPPLE IN THE EVENT OF A MISFIRE OR IT MAY GO OFF LITERALLY IN YOUR FACE. When you load your ball, always seat it firmly on the powder leaving no void space. If you wish to experiment with reduced loads, you can use a filler between the powder and the ball (they sell vegetable fiber wadding for this or you can use a small amount of cornmeal). Be careful about reducing the load as too small a charge of powder will leave a ball lodged in the barrel. Reducing loads like this with blackpowder works but I do not know if it is safe with Pyrodex or other blackpowder substitutes and would ask before trying. Have fun & be careful because toys these are not.

fred · 08-03-2003, 03:48 PM

One more comment: with blackpowder my Spanish Remington reproduction builds up enough fouling after 24b rounds that it is very stiff to cock and must be cleaned around the base pin to have the action function smoothly. My Ruger Old Army can be fired many more times than this before fouling starts to be an issue. If you ever have this start to happen, clean your werapon right away as it is possible that the cylinder may not rotate fully and leave the chamber slightly mis-indexed with the barrel: minor mis-indexing will spray shaved lead around; major mis-indexing could be pretty spectacular and disasterous. Some weapons may have taken this into account and may not allow you to fire when mis-indexed but I wouldn't bet the farm that all the brands out there are trustworthy in this regard.

NRAJOE · 08-18-2003, 12:40 PM

BRG3...hows that cap and ball shooting going? Now that I joined a range, I'll probably get back into it also!

dhermesc · 08-18-2003, 04:33 PM

Some company sells a replacement cylinder for the 1858 Army that allows you to shoot .45 Long Colt. You have to use a steel framed gun (no brass). Seemed like a good way to enhance the big hog leg. You then also have a totally unregistered NEW handgun.

BattleRifleG3 · 08-18-2003, 05:42 PM

When I said I have it, I meant I have it on the list. Still have yet to buy one, but I wanna. Quick reloading extra cylinders seems more attractive to me than the very pricey 45 Colt cylinders.

Dallas · 08-18-2003, 07:28 PM

Hey dhermesc, have you got a name or web address for those companies with the Remington 45 long colt cylinders. I shoot a Model 1858 and I'm interested.

07-24-2003, 11:45 PM	#1
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Images: 13	Cap and ball revolvers - getting started Can anyone say what all is required to operate cap and ball revolvers? Like tools and supplies? So far I have - consumables: caps, powder, bullets, wads tools: powder measure, ? Somethin to ram down the bullets __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

07-25-2003, 06:59 AM	#3
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,205	Don't forget targets! Have fun and be safe. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

07-25-2003, 07:43 AM	#4
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Images: 13	Both Cabelas and FAC offer 1858 revolvers. The FAC one that I'm looking at is by Traditions (I think). Not sure who Cabelas' is by. I think the price is same, or within $10. I'd get the blued steel model. Anyone know if one is better or if they're both by Traditions? __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

07-25-2003, 11:35 AM	#6
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Images: 13	Ruger's a little high priced for me at this point, if the prices are as I imagine. The ones I'm looking at would be sold directly to me for $160 + shippin. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

07-27-2003, 10:27 AM	#9
PAPA G Guest Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: somerset, kentucky Posts: 12	WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SEEN THAT CHAIN FIRE!!! must have been awesome, i'm not a blackpowder user. but i noticed Cabela has an 1873 Colt SAA reproduction, made for only cap and ball. whats the advantage in that???

07-25-2003, 03:17 AM	#2
PAPA G Guest Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: somerset, kentucky Posts: 12	seems you have about everything but the revolver rammer comes on the full sized pistols.

07-25-2003, 09:29 AM	#5
alan c. Banned Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pasadena,Tejas - also known as Texas Posts: 3,767 Images: 15	Look into the Ruger black powder.

07-25-2003, 12:16 PM	#7
Dallas PUKHA DAWG Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Virginia, just outside of Washington D.C. Posts: 3,595	I fire a reproduction Model 1858 Remmington with brass frame. It's a lot of fun and you will come to understand the term fog of war if you fire off all six rounds quickly. Becareful of the possiblities of a chain fire though. Two or more rounds going off in order because of the sparks of the first round. If you properly use lubed "patches" at the end of each opening you should be ok.

07-27-2003, 10:21 AM	#8
Michael M Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 58	Cabelas carries Pietta. I have an '58 Rem and a Colt navy, both by Pietta, and they look great, nice fit and finish. Not as nice as the Ruger or Colts, of course, but every bit as accurate. It is fun to see the reactions of fellow shooters, especially when they see the groups at the 25 yd line. Fun for the money, but a different pace for sure. Get some Windex with vinegar. It really cleans things in a hurry. Bring your favorite oil and the Windex for extended shooting, spray things down when they foul enough to quit working, dry them off,swab the bore, run a set of caps only to clear the cylinder, and you are ready to go some more. I know the wads are supposed to make grease unnessary, but I still use grease. Had a buddy forget, and the chain fire from his Walker was not something to forget!

08-03-2003, 03:02 PM	#10
fred Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: NC, USA Posts: 182	Additional tools: a good screwdriver properly sized for the screws of your gun, a good small needle-nose pliers, SHOOTING GLASSES, a small aluminum or plastic cake decorating tube to put grease in for preventing chain-fire, nipple wrench, a nipple pick (heavy paper clip will do), a stout wooden dowel just less than the caliber of the gun and about an inch longer than the barrel (for clearing a ball from the barrel), a second smaller wooden dowel that just fits thru the threads that hold the nipple in the cylinder (for clearing a seated ball only AFTER powder has been removed), and rags to wipe your greasy hands with. A long time ago they sold Italian percussion caps that were very very stiff - these would occasionally misfire as the foil was small enough to prevent the percussion charge from resting against the end of the nipple. The first hammer strike would merely seat the cap properly and it would take a second hammer strike to fire it. IF YOU EVER HAVE A MISFIRE KEEP THE WEAPON POINTED DOWNRANGE AND SLOWLY COUNT TO 20. DO NOT RECOCK THE REVOLVER UNTIL YOU KNOW THE CHAMBER ISN'T A HANGFIRE. DO NOT TRY TO PRY THE CAP OFF THE NIPPLE IN THE EVENT OF A MISFIRE OR IT MAY GO OFF LITERALLY IN YOUR FACE. When you load your ball, always seat it firmly on the powder leaving no void space. If you wish to experiment with reduced loads, you can use a filler between the powder and the ball (they sell vegetable fiber wadding for this or you can use a small amount of cornmeal). Be careful about reducing the load as too small a charge of powder will leave a ball lodged in the barrel. Reducing loads like this with blackpowder works but I do not know if it is safe with Pyrodex or other blackpowder substitutes and would ask before trying. Have fun & be careful because toys these are not.

08-03-2003, 03:48 PM	#11
fred Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: NC, USA Posts: 182	One more comment: with blackpowder my Spanish Remington reproduction builds up enough fouling after 24b rounds that it is very stiff to cock and must be cleaned around the base pin to have the action function smoothly. My Ruger Old Army can be fired many more times than this before fouling starts to be an issue. If you ever have this start to happen, clean your werapon right away as it is possible that the cylinder may not rotate fully and leave the chamber slightly mis-indexed with the barrel: minor mis-indexing will spray shaved lead around; major mis-indexing could be pretty spectacular and disasterous. Some weapons may have taken this into account and may not allow you to fire when mis-indexed but I wouldn't bet the farm that all the brands out there are trustworthy in this regard.

08-18-2003, 12:40 PM	#12
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 19,043 Images: 3	BRG3...hows that cap and ball shooting going? Now that I joined a range, I'll probably get back into it also! __________________ U.S. Army 1976-1979 237th Combat Engineers Heilbronn, Germany

08-18-2003, 04:33 PM	#13
dhermesc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: East Central Kansas Posts: 1,762	Some company sells a replacement cylinder for the 1858 Army that allows you to shoot .45 Long Colt. You have to use a steel framed gun (no brass). Seemed like a good way to enhance the big hog leg. You then also have a totally unregistered NEW handgun. __________________ Liberty is for those that claim it.

08-18-2003, 05:42 PM	#14
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Images: 13	When I said I have it, I meant I have it on the list. Still have yet to buy one, but I wanna. Quick reloading extra cylinders seems more attractive to me than the very pricey 45 Colt cylinders. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

08-18-2003, 07:28 PM	#15
Dallas PUKHA DAWG Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Virginia, just outside of Washington D.C. Posts: 3,595	Hey dhermesc, have you got a name or web address for those companies with the Remington 45 long colt cylinders. I shoot a Model 1858 and I'm interested. Last edited by Dallas; 08-18-2003 at 07:31 PM.