So how do you work this confangled thing?

[gtodave]

My grandfather just gave me this BP pistol. He thinks he's had it 50 years, and never fired it once. I doubt it's that old since he got it at Cabela's, and he's terrible at timelines. It is my first BP gun. So I just pour some powder in the hole, squish a bullet in there, lock a cap and then bust a cap? What about everything else....Where does the magazine go? Where do you put the tritium night sights? Where's the slide release? It's all so confusing....

It came with some .451 round ball...can I cram those bad-boys down in there?

What kind of powder and how much? Are there different kinds of primers? I've never even fired a ML before, much less loaded and shot one.

I watched this video, but am interested in your thoughts. And I have no intentions of modifying this gun as this guy did:

 

[TI-tick]

Owners manual?

 

[alucard0822]

There is the "purist" way of holy black and smearing bore butter over seated balls, then there is the convenient way I do it. 1/2 cock, 777 in the charge holes from a flash with 30gr spout, then push wonder wads in, and seat balls over them with the Ram. last step, place #10 percussion caps on the back, and let her rip. 777 cleans up easy, wonder wads are a ton easier and cleaner than smearing bore butter over the balls, and seem more accurate. You can also seat 2 wonder wads to make a "blank" for fun. To clean up I Just use Hot water from the faucet and brass and nylon brushes with soap. Once it's clean, Dry it thoroughly and coat in a protective oil, rem oil spray is fine, or whatever other protectant. Grease on the base pin and gun oil in the action.

 

[John from MD]

That gun is extremely dangerous to own let alone shoot. To possibly save your life, I would be happy to take it and dispose of it for you.

That said, I have three here at the house and I'll give you the quick and dirty. It is either a Pietta or Uberti replica of a 1858 Remington cap and ball revolver. If it is Pietta, it will say flli Pieta or something similar on the side of the barrel.

Piettas usually like .451 balls, Uberti usually like .454. It all has to do with the diameter of the cylinder chambers. You are lucky, this gun will use Pyrodex P Powder, which is available at Bass Pro for $26. With the nipples that come with the gun, it will like CCI #10 primers . CCI #11 will work but you have to squeeze them before pushing them on the nipples or they will slip off.

You will need a BP powder flask which usually have a 30 grain spout attached. You will also need either a can of Crisco or some pre lubricated wads.

Shoot single chambers until you get used to it. Load with 30 grains of powder, if using a wad, insert now, if not, insert ball and ram down till it stops then swab some crisco into the chamber on top of the ball. With the pistol pointed down range, place a cap on the nipple. Aim at your target, cock the hammer and then pull the trigger. After the smoke clears you can see if you hit the target.

Remington Beals type revolvers have a reputation for good accuracy and the reproduction models do as well. With any of mine, I can shoot a one inch group of six shots at 16 yards off hand if I am on my meds.

Fellow member "the Saint" may be able to help you out with supplies as he owns a gun shop that specializes in Black Powder firearms.

Have fun.

 

[The Saint]

I'm happy to help if you need it...hands on tutorial is the best and easiest way to explain.

 

[gtodave]

Thanks All! I guess I'll be picking up some supplies my next trip to the gun shop.

 

[John from MD]

Most gun shops won't have what you need that is why I recommended contacting The Saint.

 

[Mike OTDP]

OK. Get a supply of #11 caps, .454 round balls, and 3Fg black powder. I'd recommend some Cream of Wheat as well.

Snap a cap on each nipple to clear out the oil. Charge with 15 grains of powder. Fill the rest with Cream of Wheat as a filler, leaving about 3/8th inch empty. Put the ball on top, ram home. Bear in mind that you do NOT have to use excessive force to ram the ball, merely enough to get it flush with the front of the cylinder. Put a dab of grease on top. Cap, aim, and fire.

 

[John from MD]

OP, if you are willing to drive to ANP, I will invite you to AAF&G as my guest and supply all that you will need for say 50 rounds of shooting.

 

[tjiann]

OP, if you are willing to drive to ANP, I will invite you to AAF&G as my guest and supply all that you will need for say 50 rounds of shooting.

OP, I would highly recommend you take John up on his offer. He is an incredibly gracious host. He did the same for me a few months back when I started down the ML path with a CVA gun I owned for 30 years, but had never shot. BP is now my favorite shooting and I've purchased 3 more guns since. Wait, does that mean John was a good or bad influence?

 

[John from MD]

OP, I would highly recommend you take John up on his offer. He is an incredibly gracious host. He did the same for me a few months back when I started down the ML path with a CVA gun I owned for 30 years, but had never shot. BP is now my favorite shooting and I've purchased 3 more guns since. Wait, does that mean John was a good or bad influence?

 

[BFMIN]

You may have a bunch of "powder measures" without even knowing it.
Half the fun of B/P is "making stuff", called "accoutrements"
A paper mache egg carton (NOT plastic) & a punch as shown is one for making wads. Crisco (grease) melted lubes them.
DO NOT use petroleum-based lubes, it gets all funky & nasty with B/P.

Case name / H2O capacity
.14 Hornet 12
.17 Hornet 14
.17 Rem 27
.204 Ruger 33
.22 Hornet 14
.22 K-Hornet 15
.218 Bee 18
.22 Rem Jet 18
.221 Rem 21
.222 Rem 27
.223 Rem 31
.222 Rem Mag 32
5.6x50R 34
.219 Zipper 34
.225 Win 41
.22-250 Rem 43
.220 Swift 48
.223 WSSM 53
.22-06 65
.22-15 Stevens 17
.22 Sav 35
6x47 33
6x52R Bret. 36
6x70R 39
.243 Win 54
6 Rem 55
.240 Wea Mag 65
6x62R 67
.236 USN 51
.240 Fl. N.E. 58
.25-20 WCF 19
.256 Win 22
.25-21 Stevens 25
.25-25 Stevens 29
.25-36 Marlin 37
.25-35 WCF 37
.25 Rem 42
.250 Sav 46
.257 Roberts 56
.25-06 Rem 66
.257 Wea Mag 84
6.5x70R 39
6.5 Jap. 48
6.5x52 Carcano 49
6.5x53R 49
6.5x54 M-S(.256) 50
.260 Rem 53
6.5x55 57
6.5x57(R) 58
6.5 Rem Mag 68
.264 Win Mag 82
.270 REN 16
.270 Win 68
.270 Wea 83
.28-30 Stevens 37
7-30 Waters 45
7x72R 54
7-08 Rem 56
7x57(R) Mauser 59
.284 Win 66
.280 Rem 67
7x65R 68
7 WSM 81
7 Rem Mag 84
.30 Carbine 21
.30-357 AeT 25
.30-30 45
.30 Rem 46
.303 Sav 48
.300 Sav 52
.307 Win 54
7.62 NATO 54
.308 Win 56
.30 Fl.NE Purdey 58
.30-40 U.S. 58
.30-06 U.S. 69
.300 H&H 86
.300 Win Mag 89
.30 Fl. H&H 90
.300 Wea Mag 99
.30-378 130
7.62x54R 64
.303 Brit 57
.375/303 W-R 62
.32-20 WCF 22
7.65 Mauser 58
8x72R 59
.32-40 Ballard 41
8x50R Lebel 66
8x57(R) Mauser 62
8-06 70
8 Rem Mag 98
.318 W-R 69
.333 Jeffery 86
.33 WCF 63
.338-06 70
.338 Win Mag 86
.340 Wea Mag 98
.338-378 132
.348 Win 75
9x57(R) Mauser 62
.357 Mag 27
.357 Max 34
.357/44 B&D 35
.400/350 Rigby 78
.350 ME Guide 2 49
.35 Rem 51
.356 Win 57
.358 Win 57
.35 WCF 69
.35 Whelen 71
.35 Greevy 72
.350 Rem Mag 73
.358 Norma Mag 88
9.3x57 Mauser 64
9.3x54R Finn. 65
9.3x72R 67
9.3x62 77
9.3x74R 82
.360 No.2 NE 111
.375 Win 49
.38-56 Win 62
.375 2½ N.E. 67
.375-06 73
.375 H&H 95
.375 Fl. Mag 97
.375 Ruger 100
.369 N.E. 102
.378 Wea Mag 136
.38-55 Ballard 52
.38-72 Win 74
.38-40 WCF 40
.400 Whelen 75
.405 Win 78
.400 Jeffery 117
.450/400 NE 3¼ 123
.416 Taylor 92
.416 Rem Mag 107
.416 Rigby 130
.416 Wea Mag 134
.423 OKH 77
.404 Jeffery 113
.44-40 WCF 40
.44 Spl 34
.44 Rem Mag 39
.444 Marlin 69
.45 Colt 42
.454 Casull 47
.45-70 U.S. 79
.450 Marlin 74
.45-90 2.4" 90
.458 Win Mag 94
.458 Lott 108
.450 3¼ N.E. 129
.460 Wea Mag 140
.465 N.E. 144
.470 N.E. 146
.475 3¼ N.E. 137
.50-110 109
.50 BMG 293

 

[K31]

There is the "purist" way of holy black and smearing bore butter over seated balls, then there is the convenient way I do it. 1/2 cock, 777 in the charge holes from a flash with 30gr spout, then push wonder wads in, and seat balls over them with the Ram. last step, place #10 percussion caps on the back, and let her rip. 777 cleans up easy, wonder wads are a ton easier and cleaner than smearing bore butter over the balls, and seem more accurate. You can also seat 2 wonder wads to make a "blank" for fun. To clean up I Just use Hot water from the faucet and brass and nylon brushes with soap. Once it's clean, Dry it thoroughly and coat in a protective oil, rem oil spray is fine, or whatever other protectant. Grease on the base pin and gun oil in the action.

This. I like Wonderwads and Triple Seven under my balls also (don't judge me). If you want to smear bore butter over your balls that's your lifestyle choice.

The only thing I would add is that some ranges don't want you to charge the cylinder directly from the flask spout, even if it has a measure with cut off. (And some really un-enlightened ones don't want you to charge your weapon on the firing line (bigots)).

 

[The Saint]

Most ranges don't have a clue about how black powder and substitutes actually work. You'll often find some range nazi RSO preaching how you NEED to swab between EVERY shot (even though all BP match rules require the exact opposite), how muzzleloaders aren't accurate past 50 yards, how lingering embers in the bore will explode the gun in your face, or some other garbage that, by numbers, you'll never fire enough shots in a lifetime to make it happen.

Inform yourself of the actual facts instead of the wives tales that plague ranges to this very day. It's always the same guys that can't be convinced otherwise that Arisakas blow up if you shoot them that spread this garbage...and just remember, they ALWAYS know more than you, even when you provide empirical data to prove them wrong in front of the whole range.

 

[Mike OTDP]

Most ranges don't have a clue about how black powder and substitutes actually work. You'll often find some range nazi RSO preaching how you NEED to swab between EVERY shot (even though all BP match rules require the exact opposite), how muzzleloaders aren't accurate past 50 yards...

Inform yourself of the actual facts instead of the wives tales that plague ranges to this very day.

I've rarely run into that, but I've also got the competitive credentials to shoot down the average RSO pretty easily. But I'll agree that there's a lot of old wives' tales and Hollywood hokum out there.

 

[brianns]

Where does the magazine go? Where do you put the tritium night sights? Where's the slide release? It's all so confusing....

You'll probably need to weld a rail on there somewhere to get some night sights on it.

 

[gtodave]

OP, if you are willing to drive to ANP, I will invite you to AAF&G as my guest and supply all that you will need for say 50 rounds of shooting.

Heck of an offer! Any particular days that AAFG operates?

 

[John from MD]

Heck of an offer! Any particular days that AAFG operates?

We have restricted hours but, being retired, I don't.

Monday through Friday, we can shoot between 10AM and 4PM. Saturday we can shoot between 10AM and 1PM. Sunday is limited to .22LR only.

If you take me up on my offer, we will be shooting on our plinking range. The 16 yard range allows you to shoot at paper or clay pigeons or tin cans. I'll round up a bunch of clay birds for after we get you sighted in.

 

[gtodave]

BUMP. Now I have a companion. Questions: where does the mag go? Where is the ejection port? How about the charging handle? So confused....

JK I'm sure this isn't the best ML on the planet, but it was a gift and i can't wait to fire it (PS, still haven't fired the pistol). I guess it will be a 2 for 1 when i get out!

 

[John from MD]

Be patient. It is so cold I threw a glass of water outside yesterday morning and froze before it hit the ground.