[Omnivore]

I took some people shooting the other day, and caught this one-- a cap in mid detonation, with no powder buring evident. You can view an eight-frame sequence here (animated .gif):
http://www.ultimak.com/capballdynamics.html

[mykeal]

Very interesting sequence. Thanks for posting it.

[Bigwill]

Hi, I've never fired a cap & ball pistol of any kind before, so how do they handle when fired? recoil, trigger pull, and any delay prior to full discharge of the weapon. Just to add, I did own a .50 cal. black powder Hawken rifle I purchased as a kit, that I had to blue the hex barrel and finish the stock myself. Also, have you seen the thread started by "timuchin" on "How to make paper cartridges? have you tried or no?

[DixieTexian]

Black powder doesn't kick as much as a comparitive calibre using smokeless. It pushes the bullet instead of kicking it. Also, it isn't as loud. If you have good caps and they are seated right and you have loaded it correctly, you shouldn't notice any delay.

[mec]

That is a very good sequence. you mentioned .."..And yes, the 1851 Navy revolver was .36 caliber. This one is .44. So?...."

It sounds like you have one of the pietta .44 navies. People make fun of those because there was no navy revolver in .44. still, its a feasible revolver. The variations of the .44 60 army include the short navy grip frame, the navy loading lever instead of the improved ratcheted one and I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't find one somewhere with an octagonal barrel. On a different note, a modern .44 navy was used in one of the handfull of c&b killings I have heard about.

[Omnivore]

Bigwill: There is no apparent delay at all. In that respect its just like firing a modern metallic cartridge. Being sub-sonic in muzzle velocity (but so are many modern pistols) and due to the burning rate and inefficiency of the powder, the muzzle report is more of a "whump!" than a crack. (but a Walker can throw super-sonic lead) Handling is about equal to other revolvers. Power of the .44 Colt is very similar to classic loads in .38 Special or a .38 S&W, but with a larger .44 cal ball, and recoil is comparable. Obviously, the longer and heavier the individual gun, the more gentle the felt recoil, all else being equal.

The trigger pull will depend on the individual gun of course, but in terms of design there is little difference, other than the lack of a transfer bar safety or a hammer-block safety, as found on most modern revolvers. These are very basic instruments, built as designed 150 years ago. You therefore cannot leave the gun loaded and capped with the hammer sitting on a cap-- this could easily cause an unintentional discharge. However, there is no reason the trigger could not be made as light and crisp as any new Smith & Wesson or etc..

Powder fouling will cause the cylinder to become slightly harder to rotate (modern guns are not altogether immune to this either, but it is vastly less likely) and hence the hammer harder to cock as you fire more and more shots, but keeping things lubed up nice will help. The caps will open up, tear, and fall off after firing, and sometimes get stuch in the action, causing a "stoppage". Its part of the technology that you have to be looking out for this.

I tried a few paper cartridges in my replica Colt, but due to the dimensions of the gun, the cartridges cannot be dropped straight into the chambers without bending them so much that they tend to tear. I though it was a great idea, but its not a benefit for this Colt. I hear they're great for some of the other guns. Loading loose powder isn't all that bad once you get into the rhythm of it. I pour directly from a 30 grain spout, rather than use a separate measure. The brass spouts can be easily trimmed to any size for your own loading preference.

[Omnivore]

Mec: Yup its a Pietta. What can I say-- it was just sitting there in the store, all ready to go, and...

[Burt Blade]

Once to the Dark Side you turn, forever a Soot Lord you will be. :D