Newbie to black powder

[Witchdoctor]

Hello all, need some advise....I'm familiar with my surplus WW2 era and modern firearms but would like to get into black powder, wanted to start with a revolver but not sure which way to go. I see the Army and the Navy models and also two common caliber a for same, also brass and steel frames...any suggestions on which combo is best ?

[bunkysdad]

Well........I recommend a 44 cal, whichever you like the looks of most
However a steel frame Remington 1858 is strong, accurate, fun, and good looking. Cabela's online is good to check prices, some in starter kit form too. If you get a catalog from Dixie Gun Works for 5.00 it will give you lots of good reading.

[mogunner]

Go with a steel frame.

[Witchdoctor]

I thought the steel frame as well, from what I've researched, there are additional cylinders that take standard center fire Ammo but the brass frame models are not recommended for these....and the .44 cal seems to be the most popular, now is there a difference between the army and navy models that would cause someone to choose one over the other ?

[Junk Yard Dog]

Army .44, Navy .36, otherwise they function the same. Pietta makes a hybrid that is .44 built on the Navy revolver, they make this in both steel frame and brass, that's the 1851 Colt Navy, sometimes called the "Reb" revolver in brass frame, the South never made that particular revolver during the war. It works, and is sometimes the cheapest way to get into black powder. Go to Cabelas, or Dixie, buy their brass frame Pietta hybrid .44 "Navy", it's the least expensive way to get into black powder short of buying something used. You may not like the extensive cleanup, or the smoke, or the long loading time, if you find you do like it then get a more expensive steel frame model later. Brass frame is fine so long as you keep the powder charge under 30 grains, preferably 15-22 grains of FFFG. Read up in the other black powder threads here in this forum, many cover the questions you have about these.

[Witchdoctor]

Thanks Boss will do, I'm doing as much research as possible prior to getting into it, I'm also looking at the traditions Kentucky .50 cal muzzleloader as a start up rifle to go along with the revolver.

[Witchdoctor]

The only thing I would like to find but haven't yet is to get a revolver and a rifle in the same caliber, in order to not have so many different types of loading supplies.

[Junk Yard Dog]

I don't recall any of the rifles using a .454 bullet, but it's possible one of the older CVA's did.

[bunkysdad]

Tis true. A 50 Cal revolver uses a over size ball- .454 but a 50 Cal rifle uses a ball that is undersize- .490 and then takes a .010 or .015 patch.

[entropy]

I think bunkysdad means a .44 revolver, if there were a .50 cal Cap & Ball revolver it would require a ball of about .510-.515.

You could get a .50 cal Colonial-type pistol to go with the .50 cal rifle; they would both use the .490 ball. I had a nice Traditions .50 pistol, but let Skipper use it about 8 years ago; haven't seen it since.

For a cap & ball revolver, I recommend either a steel-frame 1858 Remington, or if the authenticity isn't paramount, A Ruger Old Army is the best BP revolver out there.

[bunkysdad]

Cripes! What was I smoking? Yes I was thinking 45 cal. actually I don't know what I was thinking.

[bunkysdad]

Yes, Ruger Old Army is my favorite BP revolver, but they sure are getting expensive since they quit making them. Plenty are available however. The Old Army takes a .457 ball.

[Longcolt44]

You need to be careful in making a choice on which one you choose. This is what happens when you can't make decision.

BP handguns 001.JPG

[Witchdoctor]

Nice collection, who has the best inventory and pricing on original not replica BP arms, I have my C&R now...oops could get bad

[Witchdoctor]

What am I saying, don't need one for BP, my bad

[steelbuttplate]

I don't recall any of the rifles using a .454 bullet, but it's possible one of the older CVA's did.

Yessiree, My first one back in the late '70s was a CVA kit Kentucky rifle that was '45 cal.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Wasn't that one .445 ? I have a 1970's CVA Kentucky and it's not .454, the bullet is a bit smaller. I think CVA just wanted to get people buying another size bullet from them. Maybe it was .440? It's been so long since I fired that one I forget what it eats.

[steelbuttplate]

I cant remember except I think the barrel said .45 cal. The bullets may have said .445 or .454 on the box, they were maxi balls that I used w/ grease, no patch. 40 yrs. ago What was I smoking? ( see episodes of that 70's show)

[ffuries]

Good deals are to be had from time to time. I found a 1979 Armi San Marco copy of the Colt 1851 Navy in 36 cal. It is unfired and I got it for $100.00, and I still haven't fired it yet.

[Junk Yard Dog]

I cant remember except I think the barrel said .45 cal. The bullets may have said .445 or .454 on the box, they were maxi balls that I used w/ grease, no patch. 40 yrs. ago What was I smoking? ( see episodes of that 70's show)

You don't have to use a patch with the maxi's, risk is the bullet moves off the charge after you tamp it down, this happens and your done, the other problem is the maxi fails to expand enough to seal the bore letting gas escape past it, your not done but accuracy will be in the toilet. I don't need to watch that 70's show, I saw it live, I knew every one of those characters. In my part of the world if anyone was smoking grass they were actually smoking real grass scraped off the bottom of the lawn mower.