new iron

[Mike.357]

1851 Rebel Griswold & Gunnison replica .44 caliber

Can't wait 'til I can shoot it this weekend.

[Guest Len]

Very nice. Very very nice!

[Bigiron]

Kewl.

[Guest SUNTZU]

That looks like fun. YEEEEEHAAAWW!

[molonlabetn]

Man, now you've got me wanting a BP gun...

That's a nice smokewagon, there, can't wait to hear how it shoots!

[Mike.357]

lot of the BP crowd looks down on brass framed revolvers. But this particular revolver originally was only made in brass. The original Griswold and Gunnison's brass frame had a red hue to to it from the extra copper that was in that particular brass frame. I believe too that they were never made in .44 but were all .36 caliber. I donlt mind the bastard caliber really. My other '51 is a .44 and that is incorrect for the period but my '58 Remmy is correct in .44.

Anyway it makes it easier to keep my balls sorted out according to size.

The other great thing about percussion pistols is getting to say "nipple" a lot. LOL

"Gotta keep the nipples clean", "need a nipple pick", "don't dry fire because it might hurt your nipples, "I had a misfire because my nipples were clogged".

LOL I know it is juvenile. LMAO!!

Edited March 1, 2008 by Mike.357

[Guest price g]

Well sorted balls, clean nipples, and dry powder, a well organized shooter, I think...

[SHbicycle]

I was just thinking I have 22 nipples and that’s not counting all the spare nipples I have in my nipple box. That is why I don't use flintlocks they have no nipples.

[Guest HogMan]

Real nice looking .44.

[Mike.357]

Got my nipples all checked out and I think they will work just fine today!

Gonna wait a while to open the range. Probably will wait until it gets warm this afternoon.

Got the '58 and the new '51 laid out, got my BP ammo box with all the gear I need checked and ready to go. I am going to try .451 balls and start charges in the 15 grain range and work them up to 30 grains to see what the '51 likes best. The '58 seems to like .454 balls and about 22 grains of Pyro, but I will throw some rounds with 30 to 35 grains just to feel the thunder.

Probably will run a couple mags through the carry gun just to stay sharp too.

Gonna be a nice day so a lot on the agenda outdoors. Ride the quad, toss the ball with the grandson, heat up the shooting irons, fire up the grill and have a cool golden beverage or two. Might be a great Sunday 'round here.

[towerclimber37]

man..

I SO envy you Mike. Have a great Sunday!!

if I were in Tn, I'd ask for an invite for me and Julie:)

[Mike.357]

Tower you and Julie are welcome here anytime! It would have been nice if you had been here and com out for the day. You will be back in east TN soon enough and we can all make up for lost time.

Got to ride the four wheeler, played ball with the boy, just got done eating a little cook out food and am preparing to clean up the shooting irons.

I put near 50 rounds through the new '51. I found out a couple of things. It likes #11 caps, not # 10's like my other '51 does. And it prefers a diet of .454 balls over .451.

I started with .451's and 15 grains of Pyro. Not very accurate. The lead was all over the place. I bumped up to 20 grains and it got a little tighter but still very eratic.

When I loaded it with .454 balls it tightened up fairly nice. I was suprised at how smooth the action was on the new pistola. It was every bit as nice as the '58 when it was NIB. I was kind of suprised as a lot of times a 51 needs some smoothing out. Pietta is making good revolvers now I judge. I ended up with a cylinder loaded with a little over 30 grains and it was like a hand held cannon. Lots of recoil, smoke and sparks. A hoot to shoot! The Remmy is as nice as ever with 20 grains and .454 balls.

I did some out of that at 30 grains but it is a waste of powder, 20 does it just right.

I also put two magazines through the S&W for a little practice. I was doing point shooting and suprised myself with the first shot being dead nuts on the bullseye. Must have been blind luck though as I did not replicate it again.

Well it has been a full fun day. It sure felt like spring and makes me wish this weather was here to stay.

[SHbicycle]

I have never had anything that liked Pyrodex. FF or FFF is all I ever use.

[Mike.357]

I would prefer regular BP in fff but to get it around here involves about a 2 hour round trip which would easily double the price of it. I can get Pyro or 777 close to where I live. I have not noticed and performance issues with the Pyrodex.

I will be subbing for my driver who goes to Tri-Cities on Thursday here in a few weeks and I am going to try to make it possible that I can stop at Wideners in JC. I need bullets and primers for reloading .45 acp and I am hopeful they carry Goex.

[Guest dotsun]

Nice gun Mike, I look forward to checking out your nipples at the next shoot.

[Guest Boomhower]

He was flashin 'em around at the last shoot up on the pistola range....and I got to see 'em.....

[Mike.357]

see how much fun it is to have nipples!!

Yanno there were mosquitos out today. March 2 and mosquitos, yikes

[Guest dotsun]

They were probably coming to see your new nipples. I'm jealous Boom.

[Guest canynracer]

Nice gun Mike!!! congrats!

[Guest Nativoffla]

Great looking .44, I have been thinking for a while of getting a BP, getting the itch more and more. Is there a cowboy shoot for them? anyone know:confused:? Have been doing searches and it seems, one must also have a lever action, along with a stagecoach shotgun, to do cowboy shooting,

[Mike.357]

I am not sure about it just being a lever gun, I believe it has to be a lever or pump rifle in a pistol caliber. I guess most of the CAS shooters use the same caliber pistol and rifle. Expensive start up costs including the stage shotty.

I am sure that there are CA shooters who do black powder. I tend to fire them a little slow and deliberate so the caps do not fall back into the action of the revolver.

A brass frame is a good inexpensive way to get into cap and ball. But a lot of people do not favor them as the frame may bend and make the cylinder not lock up right, my experience tell me that is not always true. I have two in brass, one about 25 years old and the frame is just fine on it. The most recent addition to the C and B collection is only made in brass frame. The next will be a steel framed 1860 or if I can discipline myself a little I will save for a Walker.

BP also requires a bit more paying attention to detail when cleaning, and usin' petro based oils is a no-no. I use crisco to lube over the balls in the cylinder and olive oil for lubin' up the innards.

[Guest Nativoffla]

KK thanks Mike, I am sure it would be more than I am wanting to spend to start cowboy. Now I am thinking of just getting one to plink around with. I have an old 1858 army .44 brass frame, I have never fired because the cylinder can be rotated forward and backwards 1/16 inch or so.

I plan to take to a gunsmith and let them check it out, For now, I am going to wait for funds to reach all steel, or get a new 1858 Army SS that I saw in Cabela's. Thanks for tips.

[Mike.357]

I plan to take to a gunsmith and let them check it out

good luck finding a smith willing to mess with it. Probably, they would charge you more than the gun is worth. I have a '58 and do not understand how there could be that much play in it. Mine is so tight that visibly there is no space. But the cylinder turns just fine and the action is very smooth.

SHbicycle here knows about cap and abll too, maybe he will read you latest post and offer some points of view.

PS: is it possible that your barrel has rotated out and away from the cylinder?

Edited March 6, 2008 by Mike.357
just thought of something

[SHbicycle]

The bolt could be messed up are the cylinder. but most of the time it is the bolt.

http://www.coltparts.com/pt_61navy.html

#4

Most of the old CVA, Dixie, and other cheep ones did not care about the metal they used. the bolts would round off where it would grab the cylinder.

Edited March 6, 2008 by SHbicycle