Black powder revolver starter list

Status
Not open for further replies.
Guns and Guitars

Guns and Guitars

Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2022
Messages
56
I bought a Pietta 1851 Navy 44 about a month ago (took some effort to find one), but I know nothing about black powder revolvers. Can someone please provide a list of supplies I will need to start shooting? Website links would also be very helpful. I’ve done some reading, but I’m still worried I’m going to overlook something or buy the wrong thing. Thank you very much in advance.
 
Last edited:
2F or 3F powder, 3 is preferred or a substitute but 2F will work fine. Substitutes are measured by volume as is real black but real black can be weighed. .454 balls, #10 caps, lubed wads or a suitable vegetable based over ball lube. A flask and powder measure. If your gun is a brass frame I wouldn't go over a 20 grain charge. If it's steel as long as you have room to fully seat a ball you'll be fine. Cleanup is with hot soapy water. A set of hollow ground screwdrivers that actually fit the screws. Don't go cheap on screwdrivers. Don't use a petroleum based lube where the heat of combustion can get to the fouling. There's no need to ever remove the wedge screw. All it's for is to catch the wedge spring to keep it from coming all the way out and possibly getting lost. That's all I can think of right now but I'm sure others will have some input.
 
Instead of a flask I use these to pour my powder into the measure. I am a tight wad. Not quite historically correct. That 44 is more than likey gonna shoot like crap with having cap jams. Once you get settled in, research cap rakes on here.

20220130_090528.jpg
 
Last edited:
Cables and Bass Pro.. is another source. THEY WONT SELL powder and caps online anymore so it is hit and miss of you go to the store.
 
You’ll have a hard time finding primers. If you have Runnings nearby check for them every time you go in. I’ve gathered up a few hundred that way just checking the shelf . If I see 4 or 5 I buy all but one and stash them in sealed containers . You won’t see them very often lately so grab plenty when you can. The same goes with powder , thanks BRANDON
 
jpricewood said:
Do you all have a favorite place to buy your supplies?
Click to expand...
The cheapest place....is my favorite place. :D

I used to buy caps at Gander Mountain but only because I didn't have to pay a hazard fee. But, they went belly up. For powder, I would place a bulk order which is really what you want to do for all your supplies to minimize shipping costs.

Starting off, you just need powder, caps and balls. I'd recommend lubed felt wads and Ballistol. It wouldn't hurt to have a powder measure and a good set of screwdrivers.

SEE LINK Below....and yes, you have to have a Sherrif badge. o_O

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...es-list-for-bp-revolvers.516458/#post-6416154
 
Last edited:
Oh and a good nipple wrench.Here is a dyi one. And a tube of Anti Seize.
Watch all the videos on how to take it apart completely. The first time I took one apart it was hell getting it back together. Now it is a breeze.
index.php
 
1kperday did a nice video on what you need to shoot a BP revolver:


duelist1954 - Mike B. has many great videos on shooting BP revolvers. Here's a few to check out.




In his loading video he uses the powder measure to load the chambers. This is the safest way to do it but it really slows everything down.
In all his other videos, he loads from the powder flask.

I load from the powder flask.

The fear (irrational or otherwise) is that a spark could be sitting in the bottom of the chamber waiting for you to put that powder flask near it.The flask could then (in theory) become a grenade in your hand.

When shooting, I move my powder and powder flask and pound of black powder away from (behind) my immediate shooting area.

index.php


Above is my Pietta 1860 Army and almost everything I use to shoot it. Not pictured is a 1 pound can of Graf's Schutzen FFFg powder, a powder measure, Remington #10 caps, a nipple wrench, and a tube of Thomson Center Bore butter.

Here's all the accessories I use and examples of them from the web. Shop around you might find some of these at Walmart, Bass Pro, or Cabela's for less $ than what I'm linking here.

Real black powder can be difficult to find locally, very few gun shops carry it as it requires special storage requirements. Call around.

Bass Pro advertises that they carry it. You have to ask for it as it's not on the shelf nor near the gun area. A clerk needs to walk and get it from their secure location. I have Bass Pro's HQ store in Springfield, MO. They rarely have it in stock. When they do it is the most expensive BP around. A local shop carries BP in Springfield and beats Bass Pro on the price of a can by $10 or more.

Walmart usually carries substitute powders. Pyrodex P and RS will work. Triple 7 FFg and FFFg will work. Real black powder is more fun and can be less expensive.

Pietta cap & ball revolvers work best with Remington #10 caps. Problem is they are hard to find right now.

I shoot Hornady .454 diameter ball in my 44 cal Pietta revolvers. This will shave a ring when you load it and is the perfect size for Pietta revolvers.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/shoo...er-pistol-round-balls-per/739962.uts?slotId=0

Wool Felt Wads - 44 cal. I load powder, wad, ball.If I don't have wads, I will shoot lube over ball. I also like to experiment with powder, wad, lube, and ball.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/shoo...-powder-revolver-wads-per/706908.uts?slotId=5

I've started making my own wads and lube:
http://1858remington.com/discuss/index.php?topic=11514.0

Bore Butter - I rub a dab of this on the arbor (AKA cylinder pin). This will allow the gun to keep shooting for days. I have also been putting a dab between the wad and ball.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Thompson-Center-Natural-Lube-Plus-Bore-Butter/728389.uts?slotId=0

Nipple wrench - needed for cleaning the revolver:
http://www.cabelas.com/product/shoo...-wrench-with-six-nipples/1739303.uts?slotId=1

I find the barrel wedge on my newest Pietta 1860 Army is almost impossible to get out. A mallet and a punch will get it out.

Video by Pietta on removing the barrel wedge:


The flask that is pictured above, I bought at Walmart - it has a 30gr spout which is perfect for the 1860 Colt.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1002225580?pid=711044

Ted Cash capper. These can be a little tricky to use at first but are easy to get the hang of.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/shoo...pistol-and-rifle-cappers/740649.uts?slotId=16

You'll want a powder measure to check the spout on whatever flask you buy. Here's an example similar to the one I have. This price seems extremely high to me - shop around. Walmart carries these. Get a rifle sized powder measure as you can use it for both a pistols and rifles. No need to have 2 of these.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/shoo...-revolver-powder-measure/733537.uts?slotId=41

I'd recommend you get a set of gunsmithing screw drivers. This will keep you from munging up the screw heads on the gun. Pietta sells complete screw sets so if you do.

Here's a 3 piece set of Grace Screw Drivers for the Colt Peacemaker on ebay that is perfect for these revolvers:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/272046884581
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

C
  • Locked
Black powder snake shot for BP revolver?
Replies
1
Views
354
StrawHat
StrawHat
C
  • Locked
Black powder snake shot for BP revolver?
Replies
8
Views
4K
Hellgate
Hellgate
Sharpie443
  • Locked
Shooting steel with my Remington 1858 revolver. Back yard CBA
Replies
1
Views
390
zimmerstutzen
Z
arcticap
  • Locked
New Pedersoli Colt Revolvers?
2 3
Replies
53
Views
5K
expat_alaska
expat_alaska
C
  • Locked
Just bought my first black powder gun. Now what??
Replies
14
Views
593
coltdoctor
C
Back
Top