1847 Walker @ the AGC

[willtill]

Good day for some black powder at the AGC today Ambient temperature is perfect for this.

 

[willtill]

Makes BIG holes. This is at 50 yards on the Barnes 100 yard range. I had to use a rest for the revolver for accuracy. It’s a bit heavy And she likes to shoot high.

And for the first time, after shooting black powder all of these years, I was overwhelmed by the enveloping clouds of smoke and coughed from it….

 

[Occam]

That is some good wholesome fun right there.

 

[Squaregrouper]

Good day for some black powder at the AGC today Ambient temperature is perfect for this.

View attachment 428727

I shot it today with Will.

 

[willtill]

That is some good wholesome fun right there.

For sure.
I shot a total of 30 round balls. 14 hit the target (there is one high in the target frame). All of the rest of them went over or to the side; initially I was shooting free hand and realized from looking at the berm impacts beyond… I wasn’t “getting“ it.

Squaregrouper showed up for a bit too… and that was cool. He’s got some neat stuff.

 

[willtill]

I shot it today with Will.

Oh, you posted just above as I was editing my post. Fun midday today there….

 

[Squaregrouper]

For sure.
I shot a total of 30 round balls. 14 hit the target (there is one high in the target frame). All of the rest of them went over or to the side; initially I was shooting free hand and realized from looking at the berm impacts beyond… I wasn’t “getting“ it.

Squaregrouper showed up for a bit too… and that was cool. He’s got some neat stuff.

You shot that many 9mm out of my AP5 in under a minute.

 

[John from MD]

Makes BIG holes. This is at 50 yards on the Barnes 100 yard range. I had to use a rest for the revolver for accuracy. It’s a bit heavy And she likes to shoot high.

And for the first time, after shooting black powder all of these years, I was overwhelmed by the enveloping clouds of smoke and coughed from it….

View attachment 428748

Never shoot BP on a day without a breeze.

It shouldn't be hitting high at 50 yards. What kind of load were you shooting in it? Most of the Colt full size and Dragoons (without the higher sights spec's out by Taylors etc.) are regulated to 50 yards. The Walker should be shot with 50 grains of 3f and a tight ball. If you are using .454 balls and they are going in easy, switch to a .457 ball.

 

[willtill]

Never shoot BP on a day without a breeze.

It shouldn't be hitting high at 50 yards. What kind of load were you shooting in it? Most of the Colt full size and Dragoons (without the higher sights spec's out by Taylors etc.) are regulated to 50 yards. The Walker should be shot with 50 grains of 3f and a tight ball. If you are using .454 balls and they are going in easy, switch to a .457 ball.

I was shooting 50 grains of ffG Triple 7, then a wad, with a .457 ball on top. I had two targets vertically on the frame, and was holding low at the lower target to finally register hits on the upper target

 

[Occam]

I was shooting 50 grains of Triple 7, then a wad, with a .457 ball on top. I had two targets vertically on the frame, and was holding low at the lower target to finally register hits on the upper target

This is how my Walker shoots. "Center Mass" means "Haircut."

 

[tjiann]

Good stuff!!

 

[willtill]

Do you completely disassemble your 1847 Walker periodically to clean it? I have in the past. Next time I shoot it, I will completely break it down and clean it. I have received new Slix-Shots stainless steel nipples for it, and am anxious to try them out.

I just found a cool disassembly video to help. I've used other guidance in the past, but I think this video is premier and to the point:

 

[John from MD]

Do you completely disassemble your 1847 Walker periodically to clean it? I have in the past. Next time I shoot it, I will completely break it down and clean it. I have received new Slix-Shots stainless steel nipples for it, and am anxious to try them out.

I just found a cool disassembly video to help. I've used other guidance in the past, but I think this video is premier and to the point:

Slix Shots make for very consistent ignition.

As for cleaning, for Colt's, I pull the wedge, loosen the nipples about a half turn and drop the barrel assy, and cylinder into a bucket of hot water with dawn detergent. I clean the grip frame with an 8 to 1 mix of Ballistol and water using a brush and Q tips. The Ballistol mix will effectively neutralize the powder residue inside the action so it won't rust. I only take the grip frame apart once a year as too much disassembly will make them loosen up.

 

[willtill]

Slix Shots make for very consistent ignition.

As for cleaning, for Colt's, I pull the wedge, loosen the nipples about a half turn and drop the barrel assy, and cylinder into a bucket of hot water with dawn detergent. I clean the grip frame with an 8 to 1 mix of Ballistol and water using a brush and Q tips. The Ballistol mix will effectively neutralize the powder residue inside the action so it won't rust. I only take the grip frame apart once a year as too much disassembly will make them loosen up.

I did order and recieve Ballistol last week. Haven't used it before. I hear it smells like licorice.

Contrary to popular belief, I don't completely disassemble some firearms every time I shoot them. They will be cleaned each time though. Maybe I'll just at least pull the furniture off of it (hand grip) besides the barrel and cylinder.

As for the nipples, I always remove them, clean, grease the threads and reinstall.

 

[WatTyler]

I did order and recieve Ballistol last week. Haven't used it before. I hear it smells like licorice.

Contrary to popular belief, I don't completely disassemble some firearms every time I shoot them. They will be cleaned each time though. Maybe I'll just at least pull the furniture off of it (hand grip) besides the barrel and cylinder.

As for the nipples, I always remove them, clean, grease the threads and reinstall.

Ballistol smells like licorice with just a hint of something truly awful. That said, the stuff works fine.

 

[willtill]

Pic today, just before installing my new nipples.

 

[Muleskinner]

I've had one for decades. I've hunted deer with it a few times. Killed a fax that was terrorizing my neighbor's chickens. They tend to shoot high because of their weight. I usually aim a bit low.

 

[willtill]

I've had one for decades. I've hunted deer with it a few times. Killed a fax that was terrorizing my neighbor's chickens. They tend to shoot high because of their weight. I usually aim a bit low.

Interesting. So do you think the inherent design of the front sights was to shoot high, because of the revolvers excessive weight? If this is so, that is some pretty forward thinking back then.

Reason why I’m saying this, is because when hefting this pistol, the muzzle always seems to droop a bit from weight, even when you are concentrating.

So, error correction in elevation pre-built in.

 

[willtill]

Man! That fricken main spring is a serious mo-fo. I forgot how difficult it was to compress it when putting the brass guard back on. Had to get out the vice grips and a little padding to protect the brass. The strength in my hands is not what is used to be. Getting old I guess.

And Ballistol smells like shit. I don't like it.

 

[John from MD]

Man! That fricken main spring is a serious mo-fo. I forgot how difficult it was to compress it when putting the brass guard back on. Had to get out the vice grips and a little padding to protect the brass. The strength in my hands is not what is used to be. Getting old I guess.

And Ballistol smells like shit. I don't like it.

View attachment 432771

That bottle of Hoppe's No9 is made for smokeless powder. Their BP cleaner looks like this.

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