Got my first Cap n Ball

[Junk Yard Dog]

It's easy, you get a proper powder measure from Dixie gun works, or Cabela's, they run under $20 for most of them, you can use it to measure how much powder the cases will hold and form your own scooper from one. Black powder is measured by volume, not weight, and volume can change depending on the grain size of the powder, pistols use FFFG, never ever use FFFFG as it's way to fine a grain, but in a pinch you can use FG, or FFG the rifle and big musket powders.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Things to get
Powder measure
Powder flask
Capper
Bullet Mold
Powder
Caps
Extra Mosin tool pouch to use as a bullet bag

Thanks for the pics and list

I have the Powder measure and caps. But gander mountain was sold out of the flasks, powder and balls so still looking.

I have found the round ball mold online for $20 so I'm ordering that this week. And I found a local guy selling 75 pounds of lead for $1 a pound going to pick that up.

Good on the measure, bad on the lead unless it's cast into ingot form. I am a scrap yard so I know the current prices, right now the most I can get if I sold it myself would be a little over .50 a pound, we buy it for .20-.25 a pound. I only get $1.10 when I melt it down into ingots and remove most of the waste.

[warhawk77]

Things to get
Powder measure
Powder flask
Capper
Bullet Mold
Powder
Caps
Extra Mosin tool pouch to use as a bullet bag

Thanks for the pics and list

I have the Powder measure and caps. But gander mountain was sold out of the flasks, powder and balls so still looking.

I have found the round ball mold online for $20 so I'm ordering that this week. And I found a local guy selling 75 pounds of lead for $1 a pound going to pick that up.

Good on the measure, bad on the lead unless it's cast into ingot form. I am a scrap yard so I know the current prices, right now the most I can get if I sold it myself would be a little over .50 a pound, we buy it for .20-.25 a pound. I only get $1.10 when I melt it down into ingots and remove most of the waste.

Once I get my powder I'm going to get some spent brass and see what each one holds. But I know I need the right powder so I don't screw up. They did have FFFFG and I think FFG (but I need to call and be sure). I thought the FFFFG would be to fine to work thanks for letting me know for sure.



Sorry the lead is in ingots. I don't know how soft it is but both will work in the pistols.

[Junk Yard Dog]

FFFG is for priming flintlock pans, FFG will work in the revolver if that is all there is. Clink the ingots together, if they have a high ring like a bell then the lead is hard, if it's more like a dead clunk then it's soft lead. In the pistols you can use hard lead, problem is you will need to exert more force to crap it into the chambers. Soft lead is a must have only for miniballs. FG is just a larger grain size, that means you will get less powder into the chamber, but as you will be downloading it for plinking anyway this will not matter. So long as there is no air gap between powder and ball you are OK, remember to seal your chambers with Crisco, or use a wonder wad to prevent chain fires.

[warhawk77]

Thanks for that info. Man I say that a lot but means I learning right?

I will pick up some FFG if they have any.

My wife was making the grocery list last night and I had her add Crisco. I'm going to put some in a small jar so I can carry it to the range with me.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Just smear it over the top of the ball, and that should be fine

[desdem12]

You can use FFFG in pistols if you want but I don't think I would use 4f unless I dropped the charge some. 3f or 2f is ok.

[warhawk77]

Here are a few pics I took at lunch







This one has all 4 on a rack I found a a thrift shop for $4 on sat (same day I found the pistols)

[Junk Yard Dog]

That is a very nice revolver display rack

[warhawk77]

Thanks I don't think they knew what it was but even my 8 year old knew by looking at it.

Yeah just have to look past the leopard gecko tank in the back ground.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Is that what that is, I thought you were keeping a snake or something.

[warhawk77]

Is that what that is, I thought you were keeping a snake or something.

No snakes in our house wife doesn't like them. We have a few leopard geckos and two breaded dragons. The tank on my work bench is our babys the are about 5 weeks old. When they get a little older I'm going to move them and get my work space back

[desdem12]

[Junk Yard Dog]

Snakes don't bother me much, Chuck hates them, I have never met a Gecko except the one who keeps trying to sell me insurance.

[bunkysdad]

Whoa! I just read my original post and I had stated that those antique finish guns were defects. I had to edit it real quick. It is amazing how leaving out one little word can change everything. Anyway, call it personal preference, but I favor the antique finish more than the blued models, but I love them all. The pistol rack is a real find, and it has room for 4 more. How cool is that? I know for a fact that Cabelas has lots of stuff in stock online like powder measures and flasks and such. As for powder, you can get powder at Grafs.com cheap enough to absorb the hazmat fee if you order 3-4 pounds. They have free shipping, and only charge a handling fee of 6.95 and of course the hazmat fee of 27.50 I recently paid 24.95 plus tax for one pound of Goex fffg (it comes in a plastic can these days) at a local Bass Pro Shops so by saving 10.00 per pound there is your hazmat fee right there. You owe it to yourself to browse Grafs and Sons. Here is the link to their house brand of fffg powder, but they also carry Goex, as well as the fancy Swiss powders and bp substitutes. https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/pr ... uctId/5405

[Junk Yard Dog]

Uberti also had the "millennium" finish thing for a year in 2000, basically just a cheap parkerized finish on an otherwise ordinary Remington revolver. They were not popular and I was able to grab a set on the cheap a year or to later.

[Junk Yard Dog]

[warhawk77]

I bet you can answer a question.

How long ago did CVA make cap and ball pistols? My 1860 is made by CVA but I can't find any info on how long ago that was.

[Junk Yard Dog]

CVA never made anything, they sold pistols made in Italy and Spain, they started sometime in the late 1960's or early 70's. Close as I recall anyway.

[warhawk77]

CVA never made anything, they sold pistols made in Italy and Spain, they started sometime in the late 1960's or early 70's. Close as I recall anyway.

That would explain why I'm not finding much info. But I'm 99.99% sure it said CVA on the side and Connecticut valley arms on the barrel. I will take a pick tonight and post it.