[TheOldMan]

Something else to remember: NEVER NEVER NEVER use smokless powder in place of black powder or Pyrodex. I saw a .50 in-line with a blown barrel from some yahoo using smokless powder. He used a black powder charge also .. Blew the barrel in half length wise. You might be able to google search for the pics.

Not for the sqeemish..

[patret]

I have a 1858 remington pistol that uses number 10 caps which are hard to find. Lee makes a conocial bullet mold with a band around it that has to be shaved when seating the bullet into the cylinder. Always shave your round balls when seating them. Purchase a round ball that is about 4 hundreds to large so you can shave it when seating the bullet. Always reduce your recommended powder charge if you have a brass frame pistol. I have to clean the cylinder pin after 18 rounds because it wont cock. That means a q-tip is necessary.

patret

[gocritter]

Originally Posted by liftedtrucks4me

so with each reload i would have to measure the powder and pour it in, pushin the lubed cloth in and then jam in the ball. I'm sure they make fast reloads for a black powder pistol to where you don't spend 10 minutes reloading each cylinder

Yup, and then you have to put a precusion cap on each nipple. These are not "fill the air with lead revolvers" it's the enjoyment of the task.
And then you get to clean the thing which is about a 30 min. adventure which MUST be done directly after shooting or within a short time you have rusted junk.
The best part is that black powder shooting can become very addictive as it is great fun.

[MRFranks]

ARGH! Here be as fine as any pistol as made yon...the Lyman Plains Pistol.54. Me thinks it'll knock a lubber down, before me dispatchin' hisself with me big knife...

[sea_goin_dude]

[QUOTE=TXnorton;273521]Go buy and read the Lyman's Black Powder Handbook.

Yes do get the handbook. As for lubing the balls after loading, the book will explain everything but the grease which may be crisco will help lube the ball as it goes through the barrell but also prevents a flashover which could fire multiple cylinders. One good thing about the black powder revolvers is that due to the length of the cylinder you cannot possible load too much black powder as to be dangerous. The ball won't go deep enough to clear the barrell if you do fully load the cyl. You will never need that much powder for good shooting but some guys try to load as much as possible. I heard one guy and every time he fired it sounded like a grenade going off. Not needed and will not give you the most accurate shots either. I would be sure to get one with good adjustable sites for target shooting. Lots of fun too.
Do read the handbook "several times" for safety and you will have years of great fun shooting your BP pistol.

[Hawg]

Originally Posted by gocritter

And then you get to clean the thing which is about a 30 min. adventure which MUST be done directly after shooting or within a short time you have rusted junk.

From one who's been shooting bp for 42 years I have to disagree with both those statements. Cleaning a bp revolver is not a 30 minute chore unless you're using smokeless lubes or any petroleum based lubes in the bore or chambers. It is not necessary to do a complete teardown after each shooting session. I only tear mine down once a year or so. I sometimes let mine go two or three days before cleaning and I use Pyrodex which has a worse reputation for causing rust and corrosion than real bp does. I have also gone as long as nine days without cleaning one with no signs of rust or corrosion.

[sea_goin_dude]

I have also gone as long as nine days without cleaning one with no signs of rust or corrosion.[/QUOTE]

I can't agree with that as I would never leave my BP weapons even overnight with cleaning. Once I did leave my 58 cal overnight and normal cleaning next day wouldn't remove the "stain" from the chamber. I did use x fine valve compound on a swab to remove this stain after repeated strokes with the swab. No I'd never leave any of my weapons without cleaning immediately after a day of shooting. It's up to each of us as to how we want to keep/preserve our expensive weapons. I paid too much for mine to take a chance with possible damage, however slight, it may be, as this slight, hard to see damage will collect over time and might become more than we can correct with delayed cleaning.

Just my 2cents worth

[Theunsb]

They are true fun and cure one's flinch in no time.
They are real pieces of art.
And they are accurate.

[Hawg]

No rust.

[tiberius10721]

My load is 35 grains of fffg black powder ,cornmeal as a filler, .454 lead ball and crisco spread on top of the ball to prevent chain fires. I have used a chronograph with this load and averaged about 925fps. with great accuracy.