GambJoe
Member
How long can you keep a cap and ball revolver loaded and expect it to fire. Knew a gentleman that said he used a Walker for self defence. No doubt about it's potency but I would be concerned with reliability.
Loaded cap and ball revolver.
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Voodoochile
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I've once had my Pietta 1860 Army loaded for over a year & when I did have the chance to shoot her she fired all 5 chambers just like she was loaded that moment with no issues.
I would suggest if you intend this as a SD weapon to becom as proficient with it as you can by shooting it as often as you can, a loaded weapon is a great tool when in need but is just as worthless if one can not shoot it proficiently enough to defend one's life with it.
Do a search for some threads that talk more about this very subject including some info on ways to keep them loaded for extended periods of time & be as reliable as modern firearms "within reason."
I would suggest if you intend this as a SD weapon to becom as proficient with it as you can by shooting it as often as you can, a loaded weapon is a great tool when in need but is just as worthless if one can not shoot it proficiently enough to defend one's life with it.
Do a search for some threads that talk more about this very subject including some info on ways to keep them loaded for extended periods of time & be as reliable as modern firearms "within reason."
arcticap
Member
Voodoochile posted a thread about successfully storing his C&B pistols for up to one year by sealing the caps with melted candle wax and sealing the chambers with a 50/50 mix of beeswax/Crisco.
Keeping a Cap & Ball Revolver loaded.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=401991&highlight=wax
Keeping a Cap & Ball Revolver loaded.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=401991&highlight=wax
BHP FAN
Member
back East, and down South, folks are STILL getting shot by ''great grandpa's old Civil War gun''...
also heard of nail polish being used for the caps
personally I dont think it needs that even unless its perhaps sitting in a very damp enviroment.
I dont think reliability would degrade very much even after many years.
caps blowing off and jamming the hammer seems to be a bigger detriment to
reliability.
another problem I have had is grease hardening under the hammer and crisco gluing up the mechanism
I dont recommend crisco.
the grease hardenng under the hammer would only be a problem with the 58 if you load the way
i like to just remember to wipe the excess of before long storage
personally I dont think it needs that even unless its perhaps sitting in a very damp enviroment.
I dont think reliability would degrade very much even after many years.
caps blowing off and jamming the hammer seems to be a bigger detriment to
reliability.
another problem I have had is grease hardening under the hammer and crisco gluing up the mechanism
I dont recommend crisco.
the grease hardenng under the hammer would only be a problem with the 58 if you load the way
i like to just remember to wipe the excess of before long storage
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PRM
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Been shooting C&Bs for well over 30 years now. I never had a problem with leaving them loaded. Had some go six months to a year from time to time (military deployments). Your powder is not going to degrade any faster in the gun than in the can. I've shot powder that was well over 20 years old. Had it in a footlocker that was stored and forgot about it. Caps also are good about lasting.
Black powder that is unfired is not corrosive to the firearm. Start off with one properly cleaned, and I say you could keep it indefinitely.
Moisture is the main concern, and a loaded cylinder protects its contents pretty good. Just don't go swimming with your gun on and you'll be fine.
Black powder that is unfired is not corrosive to the firearm. Start off with one properly cleaned, and I say you could keep it indefinitely.
Moisture is the main concern, and a loaded cylinder protects its contents pretty good. Just don't go swimming with your gun on and you'll be fine.
The time frame which you leave your gun loaded is really not that important. How you load it is. Lubed wads will sooner or later foul the powder. I commonly carry a 1860 Sheriff on the bike as a sidearm. This particular gun, I would and do trust with my life. It has never cap jammed and it does not misfire. I can't say that about a lot of replica's unless they've been "tuned".
When this gun is loaded long term it gets NO lube either under or above the balls. I do not seal the nipples as the caps fit properly. Think about it, if you're using this for self defense, the most you are going to fire it is six times, and when you're done it's highly unlikely that law enforcement will EVER give it back to you. That said, chamber and barrel lubrication isn't gonna do much for you other than cause a possible misfire.
When this gun is loaded long term it gets NO lube either under or above the balls. I do not seal the nipples as the caps fit properly. Think about it, if you're using this for self defense, the most you are going to fire it is six times, and when you're done it's highly unlikely that law enforcement will EVER give it back to you. That said, chamber and barrel lubrication isn't gonna do much for you other than cause a possible misfire.
Smokin'Joe
Member
Foto Joe, Do you remove the loading lever when you use the 1860 Sheriff as a Carry? I was thinking of removing the loading lever and barrel latch on my 1851 Sheriff. Any thoughts on this?
45-70 Ranger
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I have an old Spesco import '51 that I cut down to 5", removed the trigger, ground off the hammer serations, and removed the loading lever. It is a classic "Slipgun" and is a great close quarter combat pistol for a BP wheelgun. I leave it loaded for months on end. My old 2nd Mod. Dragoon was once loaded for three years. Fired all six just like I had just rammed the last one in and capped it off.
While gunsmithing for over 40 years, I had a customer bring in an original 1861 Springfield Rifled Musket. He wanted it checked out to see if it was in shooting condition. Taking the rod and running it down the bore to check for a loaded round (something I ALWAYS DO) I found it to be loaded. Aksing how long he's had the weapon, the reply was 2 years, and got it from grandpa, who had it in a closet for the last 60 years...Pulled the bullet and the BP that was in the bore was fresh and taking a portion of it in an ashtray, it lit up just like it was straight from the can.....I have no doubt that if I capped that old piece it would have sent that round downrange!
That help in your answer....
Wade
While gunsmithing for over 40 years, I had a customer bring in an original 1861 Springfield Rifled Musket. He wanted it checked out to see if it was in shooting condition. Taking the rod and running it down the bore to check for a loaded round (something I ALWAYS DO) I found it to be loaded. Aksing how long he's had the weapon, the reply was 2 years, and got it from grandpa, who had it in a closet for the last 60 years...Pulled the bullet and the BP that was in the bore was fresh and taking a portion of it in an ashtray, it lit up just like it was straight from the can.....I have no doubt that if I capped that old piece it would have sent that round downrange!
That help in your answer....
Wade
Noz
Member
One of the things you have to keep in mind is that black powder that has been wet and allowed to dry will still fire with authority. Old attic/closet guns are very dangerous.
Smokin'Joe
Member
Thanks Wade, I'd like to see yer "Slipgun". Got any photos?
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junkman_01
member
I think he said SLIPgun not Spilgun.
Smokin'Joe
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Thanks Junkman, I'll edit that post.
45-70 Ranger
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Smokin' Joe,
I'll take some pics tonight when I get home. Hope the camera in my phone works ok for that. The weapon is an old Spesco steel frame .36 1851 Navy that was in 7 1/2". I shot it so much that I rebuilt it twice! The second rebuild was when I cut it down and taking a page from my great uncle, removed the trigger and smoothed the hammer so it is now fired by holding it in one hand and thumming the hammer with the off hand. I don't fan it! Just draw the hammer back and let it fall with the off thumb. Real fast and good up close. My great uncle lived in Montanna in the latter part of the 1800's and had a Colt .45 in 4 5/8" and he was deadly out to 25 ft. with that old gun well into his 90's! So I did the same with my old '51....kinda cute!
Wade
I'll take some pics tonight when I get home. Hope the camera in my phone works ok for that. The weapon is an old Spesco steel frame .36 1851 Navy that was in 7 1/2". I shot it so much that I rebuilt it twice! The second rebuild was when I cut it down and taking a page from my great uncle, removed the trigger and smoothed the hammer so it is now fired by holding it in one hand and thumming the hammer with the off hand. I don't fan it! Just draw the hammer back and let it fall with the off thumb. Real fast and good up close. My great uncle lived in Montanna in the latter part of the 1800's and had a Colt .45 in 4 5/8" and he was deadly out to 25 ft. with that old gun well into his 90's! So I did the same with my old '51....kinda cute!
Wade
Smokin'Joe
Member
It's unlikely the loading lever will be needed on a carry gun. I don't bring ammo and removing the lever and barrel latch streamlines the gun and cuts down on some weight.
Funny we should be discussing this. I took the Sheriff Model out to run some Chrony tests with filler versus no filler, I'll post those in the next day or so, but...
I fired through the Chrony for probably the 20th time this afternoon and noticed something fly back to my right from the gun. As I turned to look, I noticed that the loading lever was hanging down i.e. Walker Style. The latch had deployed right off the barrel and it took me ten minutes to find the thing in the gravel.
This is the third gun this year that I have had to get the latch piece re-set on. If they would install these things the way they do the wedges and nipples they'd never come off!!
I fired through the Chrony for probably the 20th time this afternoon and noticed something fly back to my right from the gun. As I turned to look, I noticed that the loading lever was hanging down i.e. Walker Style. The latch had deployed right off the barrel and it took me ten minutes to find the thing in the gravel.
This is the third gun this year that I have had to get the latch piece re-set on. If they would install these things the way they do the wedges and nipples they'd never come off!!
black_powder_Rob
Member
GambJoe I had a colt pocket model that I left loaded for over 3 years to test just this, Each cap went pop with a followed bang (no delay). I do miss that colt pocket but it was a Palmetta and not of good quality. Anyways I know have a 51 and will soon be adding another to the ranks.
Good luck with your shooting.
Ain't Richmond Grand?
Good luck with your shooting.
Ain't Richmond Grand?
dogrunner
Member
Several years back I had occasion to leave my '58 Pietta loaded for almost precisely one year. Gun was stored in my safe in a climate controlled area. The piece had been loaded for a hunting trip and first thoroughly cleaned and very lightly lubed externally, the load included felt wads & a cap of heavy grease on each load. Incidentally, that gun was loaded in that climate controlled room and never taken on that trip.
When I fired it & inspected the respective chambers for cleaning EACH bore some evidence of light rust and the beginnings of noticeable pitting. Now that issue might just be a matter of regional concern as the humidity level in Florida is usually quite high, still as that gun was totally sealed to the elements as it was even left capped, surprised me! Anyway, I've never left one loaded that long since.
When I fired it & inspected the respective chambers for cleaning EACH bore some evidence of light rust and the beginnings of noticeable pitting. Now that issue might just be a matter of regional concern as the humidity level in Florida is usually quite high, still as that gun was totally sealed to the elements as it was even left capped, surprised me! Anyway, I've never left one loaded that long since.
swampgeek
Member
I have to agree with dogrunner, anyone down south or in high humidity will run into corrosion problems eventually. Most powders are hygroscopic and even if sealed will have absorbed enough moisture in the loading process to potentially cause problems. If sealed you are still sealing moisture in with a mixture of carbon, sulfer and some form of nitrate.
We could go back and forth about specific cases were it did not cause problems but I would wager we could find an equal amount of cases that did result in rusting and other forms of corrosion. Everbody is free to do as they see fit but personally I do not leave any blackpowder, bp sub or muzzleloader loaded, if not used they get cleared and cleaned the same day.
We could go back and forth about specific cases were it did not cause problems but I would wager we could find an equal amount of cases that did result in rusting and other forms of corrosion. Everbody is free to do as they see fit but personally I do not leave any blackpowder, bp sub or muzzleloader loaded, if not used they get cleared and cleaned the same day.
mdauben
Member
I seem to remember that some famous wild west gunfighter (Wild Bill Hickock?) recomended shooting out the exiting loadings in his 1851 Navy revolvers and re-loading on a daily basis.
While it is true that "live" charges have been found in blackpowder guns after years of storage, for SD application I don't know that I would want to rely on "old" loads.
While it is true that "live" charges have been found in blackpowder guns after years of storage, for SD application I don't know that I would want to rely on "old" loads.
45-70 Ranger
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Smokin Joe, Not wanting to hijack this thread any further, I posted a new one with that slipgun.
Wade
Wade
ontarget
Member
I just purchased a Kentuckey rifle from a pawn shop that was on the rack with a live charge in it. When I pointed this out to the shop keeper he said," Yeah, I know, that old thing was hanging on my dad's office wall for years. " Now, I have no idea how many years he meant, but when I got it home and pulled the ball out the powder basically poured right out of the barrel. I'm sure it would have gone BOOM, but not knowing if it was loaded properly to begin with, I wasn't going to chance it.
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