Cap n' Ball Revolver Questions

[iwuzwhatiwuz]

I'm looking to get my first cap and ball revolver, a Remington New Army, and have a few questions. How many rounds will one get from a pound of powder? I know it depends on how heavy I load the pistol but whats a fair estimation? 300? Also what's your cost per shot? Gracias Amigos!

[mogunner]

A lot.

And it depends...

You gonna buy your round balls or cast them? How much are caps in your area? You gonna use felt wads under the balls,and if you are, are you gonna make them or buy them? How much is the powder that you are going to use?

All these factor in to what it will cost.

[desdem12]

A lot and then some more. I am not sure I have emptied more then one. It takes a lot to empty a pound. I have emptied ffg a few times but only one fffg that I can remember.

[Junk Yard Dog]

I never counted because the same pound of powder is feeding more than just one type of revolver.

[iwuzwhatiwuz]

Yes, don't know, maybe and depends.

I'll probably buy balls at first but I will get a couple molds ( round and conical ). As far as caps go they're $5 a hundred most places. If I do use flet pads I will make them, but being a cheapsake Ill use Crisco to start. I'm sure I'll try many different powders, after all isn't that half the fun? But I'm sure I'll gravitate toward propellants that are under $15 but I'll buy a can of 777 or Black MZ every once in a while.

[mogunner]

Pyrodex is right at $18 a pound here for fff and the others are more expensive even if I drive on up to the city and go to Cabela's. Sure wish I could find some under $15!

[Junk Yard Dog]

I mail order BP but I tend to buy 50 pounds at a time and get volume pricing around $13-$14 a pound.

[Sgt. Rob]

Do some research on 777, it is my understanding that out of all the black powder substitutes, it may be possible to use too much 777 in a Walker or Dragoon cylinder, as it is supposedly more powerful then the others. Honestly I have never used 777 so don't know myself if it is true, but did read a few threads about 777 over on the Cas City board lately.

Can't rightly say how many shots a pound of powder will give, but it is alot. Mostly I use pyrodex, and I fill my flasks and never really keep track. The whole loading process is slower then with cartridge guns so your not gonna shoot as much in a range session as you would with cartridge guns, but it will seam like it if your having fun. I enjoy the time it takes to load up, but some folks I have taken out to shoot C&B get impatient with it.

Semper Fi, Rob

[Brian the Brit]

I use 16grans of powder and 12granes of corn starch in my 44cal , so now you can work it out LOL.
PS , only load 5 of 6 for safety,
Dam it , I have to go fire mine now , don't you just love that smell and the smoke , well , I love my Black powder toys.

Have fun

[Repawn]

I shoot my 1851 Uberti London a lot. I think I get about 350 or so rounds out of a 1lb can of Goex 3f. I make my own felt wads and generally load 22 grains over cast bullets I bought from masscaster over at the castboolits forum. I think i paid about 6 per 100 plus flat rate shipping. His bullets fit my gun better than buying the hornady or Speer - shaved a perfect ring if lead when loading them.

Be warned - it can be addictive! I have about 2500 rounds through mine - and plenty of empty Goex cans. Goex is 18 a lb here - making it the cheapest powder of any type in my area.

[Junk Yard Dog]

I have used 777 and if you reduce the charge by 5% there should be no problem. Any overpressure problems would only come into play at maximum charges, and most people do not use them for target shooting.

[entropy]

I recommend Pyrodex 'P' for your Rem.1858. You can get a lot of loads from a pound, particularly if you stick to light plinking loads. Brian's load of 16 gr. with cornstarch filler sounds like a nice plinking load. 22 grains as repawn shoots is a good normal load.

I bought some 777 for the .50 hunting rifles, but haven't tried it in my .36 1851 yet. My son loaded some up in his CVA Bobcat and the Plains Pistol for deer hunting, but he didn't say anything about it, except how much easier it was to clean than even Pyrodex.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Pyro is probably your best bet as real Black can be hard to find, shops have to have special licenses and storage to carry it ( black) you can mail order up to 50 pounds for your own use from Grafs and other places, there is a one shot haxmat fee of $25 if it's 1 pound or 50.

[Repawn]

I have never used any of the bp substitutes - for those that have used both how so they compare performance wise, cleanup, etc. are they smokey?

[iwuzwhatiwuz]

Thanks guys! The reason I went to the gun show this weekend was to feel various black powder pistols. I must admit the Colt copies feel nice but the Remington clones aren't far behind and the ease of clean up has me sold on one for my first cap and ball. When one uses cornstarch (or Cream of Wheat) as a a filler I have read that one has to "salt and pepper" it, i.e it has to be mixed with a measure of powder so it doesn't clog the works.True or false? Most people say 777 is safe to use as long as one doesn't compress it. Hodgdon recommends reducing loads by 15% FWIW.

[Junk Yard Dog]

I have never used any of the bp substitutes - for those that have used both how so they compare performance wise, cleanup, etc. are they smokey?

Pyrodex shoots almost as dirty as real BP, it will not flash well enough to be reliable in a flinter but is fine for cap locks . The subs are more powerful than BP, reduce load by 5%.. 777, Clean shot and other modern subs shoot clean, you clean them with boiling water to wash off the salts much like cleaning a Mosin after shooting corrosive ammo.