open carry for blackpowder revolvers ?

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6emees said:
On the other hand some yanks found that depending on the caliber (.380 and up) 13-17% of SD shootings did not result in incapacitation no matter how many bullets hit the assailant
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That is misleading. It implies that however many hits are made, they will not stop.

What the data actually tell us is that there were encounters that did not end with stops.

Surely, more hits would have resulted in stops.
 
I didnt realize this thread would turn into a huge thread haha... Very good dicusssion and points everyone is making
 
Black rifles said:
One problem with carrying an old style black powder firearm like that is you need to unload, clean, and reload it every morning. I’ve never had any experience with them (although I’m thinking buying one later this year), but if you do much research about the old west and in particular the lawmen of the time. There are several stories about how they practiced every morning because they had to unload (which is why they fired them), clean, and reload. This is apparently because moisture gets into the unsealed chambers contaminating the black powder, causing the charge to shrink and possibly lose contact with the firing cap. Along with the simple fact that moisture makes it much or dificult to ignite.

That’s what I’ve read. I am not an expert nor claim to be. (ok I "CLAIM" to be an expert at a lot of things but not this):tongue: I would be willing to "guess" that one day wouldn’t be that much of an issue, but each following day would make it worse.
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You need to find better reading material. Not being nasty, just sayin...
 
Jackrabbit1957 said:
And then there are those of us who don't know any better and leave a black powder revolver loaded for months and it goes bang when the hammer drops on one those unsealed primitive unreliable percussion caps. Who would've thought??
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My NMA was loaded for around 72 months loaded with the dreaded and inferior Triple 7, and yet all chambers went off with the authority I recalled. And that’s here in humid Texas.
 
There's a London Navy setting on top of my gun cabinet as I write this, and I assure you it is loaded. It has been loaded for quite some time, but I have no doubt it'll fire just fine should I require it to. It always has, and has been left loaded for several months before being used. Normally if I need a pistol, I use one of the cartridge guns, but sometimes the occasion warrants the use of the Navy.

Mac
 
Well i went to the range yesturday to just fire off my cylinders. I mainly wanted to shoot my new shotguns. But all 24 rounds fired in 4 cylinders.. and ive been carrying them over a month in the humidity. And in the rain once.

Didnt have any issues. Think im going to give them a break carrying em though. And just carry my 1911 for a bit. My 1851s keep getting attention from people and its starting to get annoying.

Top 5 questions are.

1. What are they ?
2. They look expensive. (The brass and blued steel makes em look expensive)
3. Are they are loaded ?? (Yes they are) Then the follow up question. Wow really ?
4. Are they real ?? People think they are toys lol
5. Whats black powder lol.

But ill be honest.. even my 1911 gets attention.. i always get the what gun is that question. And what caliber.. etc
 
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candymancan said:
Well i went to the range yesturday to just fire off my cylinders. I mainly wanted to shoot my new shotguns. But all 24 rounds fired in 4 cylinders.. and ive been carrying them over a month in the humidity. And in the rain once.

Didnt have any issues. Think im going to give them a break carrying em though. And just carry my 1911 for a bit. My 1851s keep getting attention from people and its starting to get annoying.

Top 5 questions are.

1. What are they ?
2. They look expensive. (The brass and blued steel makes em look expensive)
3. Are they are loaded ?? (Yes they are) Then the follow up question. Wow really ?
4. Are they real ?? People think they are toys lol
5. Whats black powder lol.

But ill be honest.. even my 1911 gets attention.. i always get the what gun is that question. And what caliber.. etc
Click to expand...

I am sure you are tired of hearing it, but all of this is why open carry is not a good idea. Even a 1911 can be concealed without a lot of fuss, at least in cooler weather.
 
candymancan said:
Well i went to the range yesturday to just fire off my cylinders. I mainly wanted to shoot my new shotguns. But all 24 rounds fired in 4 cylinders.. and ive been carrying them over a month in the humidity. And in the rain once.

Didnt have any issues. Think im going to give them a break carrying em though. And just carry my 1911 for a bit. My 1851s keep getting attention from people and its starting to get annoying.

Top 5 questions are.

1. What are they ?
2. They look expensive. (The brass and blued steel makes em look expensive)
3. Are they are loaded ?? (Yes they are) Then the follow up question. Wow really ?
4. Are they real ?? People think they are toys lol
5. Whats black powder lol.

But ill be honest.. even my 1911 gets attention.. i always get the what gun is that question. And what caliber.. etc
Click to expand...

I open carried just a block or two to drop some mail in a box. A young guy with California plates wheeled his car around and stepped out to ask, “Is that legal?” I said, “Yeah.” He said, “And it shoots?” I said, “Sure does.” He said, “Could I just walk around like that too?” I said, “Yes.” He took a moment to process and shook his head bewildered as he smiled thinking of the possibilities. He said, “That’s unbelievable!” I said, “Welcome to a free state.”
 
Black rifles said:
One problem with carrying an old style black powder firearm like that is you need to unload, clean, and reload it every morning. I’ve never had any experience with them (although I’m thinking buying one later this year), but if you do much research about the old west and in particular the lawmen of the time. There are several stories about how they practiced every morning because they had to unload (which is why they fired them), clean, and reload. This is apparently because moisture gets into the unsealed chambers contaminating the black powder, causing the charge to shrink and possibly lose contact with the firing cap. Along with the simple fact that moisture makes it much or dificult to ignite.

That’s what I’ve read. I am not an expert nor claim to be. (ok I "CLAIM" to be an expert at a lot of things but not this):tongue: I would be willing to "guess" that one day wouldn’t be that much of an issue, but each following day would make it worse.
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I’m sure there are such stories about how things were done back then but experience tells me that those stories should be taken with a lot of salt. I routinely load revolvers and rifles too and they stay that way for weeks or months. (What good is a gun that’s not loaded?) they discharge when needed and not before.
 
This reminds me, I still need (er, want) to get a centerfire conversion cylinder for my Pietta. I haven't fired it yet, and I'm not sure want to bother with pouring powder and ramming lead balls.
 
If you make paper cartridges you don't have to worry about pouring loose powder. I won't go back to loose powder again unless it's reeeaaaly necessary.
 
Jimster said:
I don’t like attention. Makes me nervous.
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Good point, please read the links in my initial post in this thread regarding OC. Drawing attention might be an ego stroke but it is foolish. It might work in areas of little threat, without significant predators. That's what I get from most of the OC folks, it's posturing for the most part as compared to tactical utility.

BTW, don't tell me that you live in heat. I lived in TX for over twenty years and carried concealed.
 
SquidBubble said:
This reminds me, I still need (er, want) to get a centerfire conversion cylinder for my Pietta. I haven't fired it yet, and I'm not sure want to bother with pouring powder and ramming lead balls.
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It’s not for everyone. I’m not sure I understand the rationale behind the conversion cylinder though. All told you’ve spent as much or more than if you went straight to the 1871 conversion models in the first place...
 
By the way, Gem, I did read those great links and they are spot on. Thanks for posting those.
 
woodnbow said:
It’s not for everyone. I’m not sure I understand the rationale behind the conversion cylinder though. All told you’ve spent as much or more than if you went straight to the 1871 conversion models in the first place...
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I was completely new to black powder guns at the time, and was unaware of the existence of conversion cylinders. Even if I had been aware, I still would've gone the route I did - not to save money but to avoid going through an FFL. It's nice to get a new gun shipped straight to my door, a la pre-1968.

Mine is an 1858 Remington, by the way.
 
Ok, the '71/'72 open top was a cartridge gun from the ground up, not a conversion.

As far as the why, a conversion cyl is cheaper than a new center fire revolver. If you already have a cap gun, for $360.00 (or cheaper) you can have the same familiar revolver with cartridge ability.

Mike. "45 Dragoon"
 
SquidBubble said:
This reminds me, I still need (er, want) to get a centerfire conversion cylinder for my Pietta. I haven't fired it yet, and I'm not sure want to bother with pouring powder and ramming lead balls.
Click to expand...

Ah, pouring powder and ramming is part of the fun. It also helps make it easy to do your load development as you can twiddle charges etc. on the fly. That said, now that I have my charges down I will make up a bunch of cartridges.
 
gtrgy888 said:
I open carried just a block or two to drop some mail in a box. A young guy with California plates wheeled his car around and stepped out to ask, “Is that legal?” I said, “Yeah.” He said, “And it shoots?” I said, “Sure does.” He said, “Could I just walk around like that too?” I said, “Yes.” He took a moment to process and shook his head bewildered as he smiled thinking of the possibilities. He said, “That’s unbelievable!” I said, “Welcome to a free state.”
Click to expand...


That happened to me in the grocery store.. cashier was like is that legal ? Im like yep.. th3n he laughs and said he didnt think it was still.. Im like welcome to virginia. Where the state is still free... at least for now... its getting bad though as far as laws
 
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