Blowing Smoke

[Mark@Sea]

Thought I'd start a cracker barrel thread...

Hey, Mike, you get the hang of the flask yet? It makes loading quicker, I think.

Had the dickens of a time getting the wedge out of the .44 - maybe shooting that 50 cal ball put a little stress on it? I scratched the bluing, so I may be trying some rust bluing next time I am home for a while.

XD's '51 sure has some pretty case hardening. Those grips, though - I'd be carving a set PDQ. XD, when'r you gonna shoot that thing?

That brass-frame '51 from Cabela is a heck of a step up from the stuff that was selling in the '70s. Nice pistol, and as you said, they practically give 'em away.

Tried to pull the nipple on my squirrel rifle - it has frozen solid in the 6 or 7 years since I last shot it. Soaked it with KROIL, maybe that'll help.

Must say, that '62 police is a nice little piece. If the barrel was a couple inches shorter it'd be a dandy pocket gun.

A gentle reminder to all who think of these as toys - they ain't. Just as dangerous now as they were in the war of Northern Aggression. Just something to keep in mind while we're playing with them...

[Mike.357]

I have not shot BP since Saturday but I will give it a whirl this weekend for sure.

For one using the flask will enable me to not have to use a loading stand therefore giving me another loading option. Also if I am in the field I can haul less items now. Just balls, caps and powder and wads/lube.

I don't see anything wrong with XD's grips, mt Remington has a screw in it and loos fine. I do not even feel it when shooting. If I was going to replace them I would order a set already near finished. I do not have time to look right now but I found a grip site one time that gave instructions about tracing your grips. Then they could make replicas that fit good.

I love that brass framed '51. It is a really good shooter. Though if I had it to do over I would spend the extra money and get a steel framed on like XD did. but as long as I keep the loads moderate the gun will last a long long time.

And for sure them revolvers are as deadly as any newfangled tacticool handgun on the market. When we shot with Mars we used his contraption and measured the speed of the lead coming from my percussion revolvers. I was averaging near 800 fps. Certainly enough to cause massive trauma or death to those hit with one of them balls. Lead poisoning at the very least. And if you get shot close up with one there is a very good chance you will be set afire as well as shot.

Any reason why you are trying to pull the nipple on that rifle? I am guessing the Kroil will work.

I have seen pics of a .44 cut down into a snubby. At best it was a two inch barrel.

It definitely would make a heck of a hide-out gun. You pocket police is sweet. I would love to see on with a 3 inch barrel. The slenderness of it would lend itself to concealment. That would conceal well enough even with the 6 inch barrel. theonly concern I would have with shortening the barrel is how much speed would the ball have when it was shot. i guess being shot from a few feet it would not really matter.

If I was not emotionally attached to my old '51 I would consider cutting it down.

[Guest Loaded247]

I've got two 1860 Colts (Uberti's) with the 8 inch barrels. One is fluted cylinder, the other standard. I have two 'snub nose' 1860 Colts, with 3 inch barrels. I have an 1849 Pocket Colt as well. I've owned Walkers, Dragoons, Pattersons, and Navies, and I've owned Remingtons as well, but the 1860 is my favorite.

I've got a pair of .44 calibre Starr Self-Cocking Army Revolvers as well, that are a lot of fun...but I'm still trying to refine my load for them...

I've also got an 1851 Navy Conversion to .38 Long Colt (7 1/2 bbl) an 1872 Open Top in .44 Colt (7 1/2 bbl), and an 1860 Conversion, also in .44 Colt (8 in. bbl) I've two 2nd. Model Dragoons, converted to .45 S&W (7 1/2 bbls.).

I shoot blackpowder in all of them....

[Mark@Sea]

The nipple has to be replaced, because I hadn't cleaned it since the last time I shot it. It rusted up. DumME.

XD got a nice one, no doubt. Waiting for a range report, or just a big grin.

So, think I need a bigger cannon?

[Mike.357]

Loaded, that is some inventory:up:. Got any pics of the snubbies?

[xd shooter]

Hi guys! Sorry for the long pause, i've been pretty busy. Acually too busy to get started with the Colt. I love the pics of yalls shoot (nice line up), & the cannon looked to be a hoot. I did order me a rough grip for it from Dixie, along with a ball mold. I've been haveing trouble finding balls in .454, though I've not had alot of time to look. Now I have an alternative:pleased:.

Guys the wife & I along with the 2 youngens are thinking about takeing a trip this weekend to ET. I'm trying to talk her into taking our guns along & seeing if it was ok to come meet you guys. Let me know what you think.

[Mark@Sea]

XD, your timing would be perfect. I intend to come home this weekend, and probably won't be home again until July sometime.

Bring the wife, bring the kids, bring a tent. Hey, come to think of it I have a cabin tent (and a couple of very comfortable camping cots) I could loan you. Could also loan you a lantern (or two, or a dozen) and a campstove, if you need them.

[xd shooter]

Yea i'd bet you would have the ligthing situation covered. I will talk to her some more about it, though she is at work now.

I would really like to camp but she don't like it , she is a city girl. After 12 yrs she is very slowly comming around thanks to me!!!

Just in case do you have any .454?? If I can't find any & can acually make it.

[Mark@Sea]

I have a partial box of .454, but I have a mold, and a few pounds of lead.

[xd shooter]

Cool!! Maybe I can talk her into comming by. I just watched the vids of your cannon "nice".

[Mike.357]

I wish I could come back up this weekend. I always enjoy being up at your place.

You have as much crap to get into there as I do here, probably more there.

Gave my tires a good looking at yesterday and discovered my right front is shot, Bald big time on the inside. I knew it was getting to be time but though I had another thousand miles left in them. Called and got prices today and made a appointment to get new ones Monday at 7:30am. I was suprised they are open being its a holiday. If time works out it is possible I could get them on Friday.

So being I really can't travel I will have to settle for making smoke by myself out in the woods. Hopefully my favorite lil shooting buddy will be over this weekend and we can go can plinking for a few hours. he don't mind if I shoot the front stuffers at the same time.

XD, what do you and the boss have planned on your weekend trip up east? If she don't care none to much for campin' where yall stayin'?

[xd shooter]

I don't know right now she was wanting to go that way, for the most part i'm trying to convert the trip & see where it goes. She & I both just want to leave for a while & it really don't matter what we do. We just like to come over to ET just to go.

[Mark@Sea]

I regret I can't offer the guest bedroom this weekend, but hope you guys can visit anyway.

[Guest Loaded247]

I don't have pictures of the snubbies yet, but hopefully soon....

[Guest Angel 24/7]

NO Camping! There has to be a hotel close by!!!! Don't get excited Allan, you have got that in the bag yet! I would love to meet you guys & get to see him finally shoot that thing! Maybe I could shoot my Bersa. I just like the peacefulness of the mountains.(for a short time) As long as get to shop a little I am good! He knows that is all I need!

[Mike.357]

As long as get to shop a little I am good!

do you like second hand/antique stores?

[Guest Angel 24/7]

I love them. As long as no kids. I don't take them with me when i go to them because they are usually packed & have no room to move.

[Mark@Sea]

Angel, the last time I checked there were over 100 antique shops within a 50 mile radius of my house. There are a good dozen (including 4 HUGE ones) within 10 minutes.

As for the kids, I dunno. I might be able to find you a trustworthy babysitter for a day.

There are also several hotels, ranging from <50/day to >150/day, depending on your inclinations.

You can, of course, shoot your Bersa. If you want to try a rifle or shotgun, that is easily done, as well. Might even haul out the cannon again, if you are so inclined. OTOH, I have a very cute little BP pistol that would probably be just the ticket (Ask Mike, he liked it).

[xd shooter]

Now your talking Mark. Maybe you can get her started too.

[Mike.357]

very cute little BP pistol

oh heck yeah, I am all about cute pistols.!!

And besides cute that is a fine firearm to be reckoned with.

[Mark@Sea]

The '62 police - best way to describe it is a 1/2 scale '51 with round barrel, melted lines, and a fluted cylinder. Lots of shooty goodness, as someone once said.

[xd shooter]

I did look at thag gun I think on Cabela's. Nice piece!! I'm just gonna have to wait a while for another one,(unless Angel wants one). though Mark I have not bought as much as you in the last month, I have kinda gone over my limit for now.

[Mark@Sea]

Oh, I went way, way over my limit. Dang it, Mike!

Overtime and per-diem are covering my butt for now. I could've, and probably should've made wiser choices (#1 is paying off the house so I can quit living at sea).

No regrets, though - been fun playing with these.

[towerclimber37]

Mark, you have 6 pounds of lead!

That was my small gift to you for giving me that hogleg!!

that's an awesome early Bday present!!

[Guest Angel 24/7]

Yes, Allan is way over his also! I know I don't want to shoot a shotgun, I will try most everything. He is so using the excuse of "unless Angel wants one" way to often! I having been shooting in about a month so I am ready.