Civil War / western era BP revolvers?

[G27]

I'm interested in picking up a recreation BP revolver from the civil war / western ear, something along the lines of a Colt Army 1860 or a Walker Colt. Really looking for one to shoot, not as a collector, so which brands should I consider? Cabellas has quite a few kits and such, but outside of a long time love of these old revolvers, I know very little about what to look for...

Any ideas?

[Guest BEARMAN]

From my experience with them, the fixed sight models are not very fun to shoot, unless they are accurate out of the box.

Most are not, so you might want to consider adjustable sight models, for accuracy sake.

I kind of favor the Remington New Model Army, for it's simplicity of cylinder change outs, and easy cleanings.

Good luck...whatever you decide on.

[Mike.357]

Crimson,

Uberti or Pietta are the premier makers of BP reproduction revolvers. As far as I have ever seen none of them have adjustable sights.

Pietta used to be lower on the food chain than Uberi but I do not think that is so true anymore.

Can't really go wrong with Walker but the downside is the size and heft of that monster.

An entry level BP revolver would be under 150 beans and it would be a brass framed 1851 Navy. Even though it is a bastard caliber in that model the .44 cal is going to be the most economic. An original Navy would have been in .36 cal.

Either Uberti or Pietta is a fine firearm, the Uberi might be slightly better finished, but as well it will cost slightly more. It is not a better gun.

I have revolvers made by both, both are fine pistolas.

If you wish to stay less expensive go for the 1851 made by Pietta. Get it in .44.

My preference is the 1858 Remington in .44. it is a stout pistol with a top strap (the '51 is topless) I like the '58 Remmie better and there is really no reason for it. Get the one that looks most appealing to you . They are both fine shooters.

Brass or steel framed? Steel is going to be stouter but the brass will serve you well and be reliable through many rounds.

Cleaning is a toss up, neither one is difficult to strip and clean.

The one advantage to the Remmie is changing out cylinders, but again it is not that important.

We can delve into particulars as this thread develops.

Like I stated get the one that looks the best to you. There is not really that much difference when it all boils down. JMHO.

Welcome to the black side.

To add, they are sighted in for 25 yards, and once you work up a load your pistol likes they are very accurate.

[Guest bheard]

I love the smell of black powder in the morning. It smells like ????? You will love any good brand.

bh

[Guest gcrookston]

I've only ever owned one black powder revolver, a Ruger "old army". I've also had several black powder rifles, including a Colt 1855 and a Spencer 1865. I'm hardly qualified therefore to guide you. I would suggest you might take a day and go visit the folks at Dixie gun works in Union City.

The folks there seem to know their stuff.

Dixie Gun Works muzzleloading, blackpowder and rare antique gun supplies.

[Mike.357]

+ 1 to what gcrookston said about Dixie Gunworks. They have anything and everything you need.

The Ruger Old Army is a fine pistol, though it is not a accurate historical replica such at the '51 Colt or '58 Remington. They do not make them anymore, but if I was looking to buy a BP pistol and I found one it would be a real good purchase. I also believe an adjustable sight was available on the Ruger Old Army.

There are so many combinations that can be found on PB pistols. Between brass, steel, case hardened frames, and various models of Colts, different calibers from .32 to .44.

And you willl also need to learn about proper care of the thing, they are not so much like smokeless cartridge handguns. But it is a lot of fun to learn about.

Actually High Road has a subforum for black powder guns. There is a wealth of information at the site that really is not going to be here on TGO. That would be a good place to start, even before going to Dixie if you so choose.

[Guest BEARMAN]

Be sure Crimson you use a wad over each chamber end after you have loaded it.

I use bore butter to fill mine, BP pistol's have been known to "chain fire" other chambers....could be a nasty situation, if you know what I mean.

The new age BP revolver's come in target model's w/ adjustable sights. Go to www.Cabelas.com and look at their wide selection of BP revolver's.

And the good part is, you don't have to send it to a FFL store to get it either! shoot safe.

[Mike.357]

wad over each chamber end after you have loaded it.

I use bore butter to fill mine,

wad between ball and powder, crisco over the ball. The crisco will act as lube and keep the BP fouling from becoming hard.

[Guest BEARMAN]

wad between ball and powder, crisco over the ball. The crisco will act as lube and keep the BP fouling from becoming hard.

__USERID__

http://reviews.cabelas.com/8815/217048/submission.htm?bvpage=reviews.htm&action=AddReview&format=embedded&user=__USERID__&return=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cabelas.com%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Ftemplates%2Fproduct%2Fstandard-item.jsp%3Fid%3D0075257217048a%26navCount%3D4%26podId%3D0075257%26parentId%3Dcat601638%26masterpathid%3D%26navAction%3Djump%26cmCat%3DMainCatcat20712-cat20720-cat601638%26catalogCode%3DIA%26rid%3D%26parentType%3Dindex%26indexId%3Dcat601638%26hasJS%3Dtrue

Have you used this product?

Be the first to Write a Review. Share this Product: [/url]

| Write a Review

Have you used this product?

Be the first to write a review!

Product Reviews

Dry-lubricated, high-density 100% woven wool. No grease needed. They safety-seal each chamber and prevent fouling. Per 100.

Caliber: .31, .36, .44-.45.

They safety seal - each chamber and prevent fouling.

[leroy]

Crimson:___________

You may want to take a look at this series of posts:

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/hunting/28242-black-powder-revolver-question-2.html#post372347

Mike has covered a bunch of good info. We have used most all the variations on the old open top colts. I like the 51 navies the best. They are period correct and are about the same heft as the colt saa. We used Uberti or Cimarron (...same stuff...). You may want to take a look here too: Buffalo Arms Company - We sell Swiss - Schuetzen Black Powder, Cowboy Guns, Buffalo Guns - over 7,000 Items! as well as Dixie Gun works. They are both great to do business with.

The biggest problem with all the percussion pistols is getting them to work every time and be fun to shoot. It usually takes some tinkering with the action (... no big deal, just smooth up the parts...), and getting the right cap and nipple combination. The big problem we had with all the black powder stuff was mating the right caps to the right nipples (...we always wound up changing ours to get a good fit...). And getting the spent caps to fall off the nipples after each round was shot. Most guys just raise the pistol muzzle up as they re-cock after each shot and the spent caps will fall off.

The other big hitter is cleaning BEFORE AND AFTER SHOOTING. Before you ever shoot a black powder gun, make sure you wipe all the petroleum based oils out of the bore and cylinder. I always swabbed them down with denatured alcohol to clean out ALL the oils. Petroleum based oils turn into a tar like fouling really quickly and is almost impossible to clean out. We also used a mixture of windex (without ammonia), hydrogen peroxide solution(...the one you buy in the first aid section at Wal-Mart or the drug store...), and water in equal parts (... check the North-South Skirmishers web page for cleaning recipes....) to clean down the barrel and cylinder after shooting. Lots of folks just use hot, soapy water. It works just as well. We always lubed the pistols after cleaning with either a synthetic oil (...remember no petroleum based oils...) or Balistoil (...a water soluble vegetable type oil...). All of them work really well.

We always used real black powder in our pistols. Lots of white smoke and a great, throaty "KABOOM". They are a great thing.

Have fun.

Lind regards,

Leroy

[gregintenn]

I've only ever owned one black powder revolver, a Ruger "old army". I've also had several black powder rifles, including a Colt 1855 and a Spencer 1865. I'm hardly qualified therefore to guide you. I would suggest you might take a day and go visit the folks at Dixie gun works in Union City.

The folks there seem to know their stuff.

Dixie Gun Works muzzleloading, blackpowder and rare antique gun supplies.

+1! If you can't find it here, you don't need it. They have a very extensive line of BP stuff. You'll likely find something you like and did not even know existed. A LeMat would be cool.

[Mike.357]

the wad is not something you HAVE to use. It is just a precaution from getting a chain fire. I have never had that happen and mostly just use crisco over the ball to fill the cylinder. Crisco shortening is cheap.

Wonder Wads and specialty lubes like Bore Butter just add expense. But there is nothing wrong with using them.

There is tons of info at High Road, lots of PB shooters over there.

[G27]

Very nice, guys - thanks for all the valuable info! I'm really looking forward to digging into this now!

[Guest Synghyn]

I don't have one currently, but used to shoot one quite a bit. I never got into re-enactments or anything, just enjoyed the history of the firearms. Like any other firearm, good common sense and proper care and they are a safe, fun and really different alternative to the standard fare. I had a blast with them before and will be picking another one up when I have a few bucks to spare.

If I had any advice to give it would be to just pick up one that appeals to you for whatever reason, use proper care and all that and have fun. They really are a blast both literally and figuratively. Big boom, big cloud of smoke, and real nice accuracy if you do your part.

Good luck and have some fun with it when ya get it!

Syn

[gregintenn]

I have a copy of a 1858 Remington that came from Cabela's several years ago. It shoots great. You can also buy a 45 Colt cylinder to fit them.

[Mike.357]

I have a conversion cylinder for my 58 Remington, it cost as much as the darn pistol did, LOL.

I think R&D makes conversions for most of the Colt reproductions as well.

[gregintenn]

I have never had that happen and mostly just use crisco over the ball to fill the cylinder.

My cylinder shaves a tiny ring of lead off each ball when seating. I don't see how a spark gets by that seal to ignite a charge of powder. I've yet to have that problem, but it would get your attention. Crisco isn't so great when it gets hot and runs into your holster.

[Mike.357]

My cylinder shaves a tiny ring of lead off each ball when seating. I don't see how a spark gets by that seal to ignite a charge of powder. I've yet to have that problem, but it would get your attention. Crisco isn't so great when it gets hot and runs into your holster.

Mine shave lead too, If I use a .451 ball there is not so much lead shaved, with a .454 there is a nice ring that comes off. I have posed this question to some knowledgable people, all seemed to believe that chain fires comes from the cap end of the cylinder, not spark getting past the ball.

I only shoot BP for fun, I don't holster the thing while I am shooting it so I never had crisco run into it. Mainly use it to keep the fouling soft. And to keep some lube on the cylinder pin. If I was going to shoot and holster the gun the wonder wads would be the way to go then. Don't know how people fought wars with them, I don't imagine they got too many shots off before the gun failed.