sparrqhme
Member
im have a 1851 navy revolver and im going to start doing civil war re enactments and i need to load the gun without a ball , what is the best way to do so to keep the powder from falling out while holstered and draw to shoot ?
1851 navy revolver no ball load
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Disclaimer: I haven't tried this but I've watched it done.
I was at my first Civil War Re-Enactment this spring down in Livingston Texas and spent the better part of the day BSing with the re-enactors and learning some tricks.
One of my questions to a Mounted Cav officer was how do "You" load your blanks, his answer surprised me. He was carrying multiple Walkers into the battle and he showed me how he loaded them. Basically it was 50gr 3f compressed and then instead of using a RB is used.......(drum roll here).......
"Cocoa Puffs"
I kid you not. He said he used the Cocoa Puffs because they would compress and keep the powder in the cylinder. He'd tried corn meal and cream of wheat and it would jar loose on the first shot and the second would result in a chain fire but the Cocoa Puffs never failed.
I must say, I watched the entire show and he was one of the few that had NO chain fires. Keep in mind most re-enactment guns are not exactly shall we say, "well cared for", no offense to those of you who do re-enactments.
I'm sure that there are dozens of ways to effectively load blanks but I thought this one was at least entertaining and possibly informative.
I shall now go crawl back in my hole.
I was at my first Civil War Re-Enactment this spring down in Livingston Texas and spent the better part of the day BSing with the re-enactors and learning some tricks.
One of my questions to a Mounted Cav officer was how do "You" load your blanks, his answer surprised me. He was carrying multiple Walkers into the battle and he showed me how he loaded them. Basically it was 50gr 3f compressed and then instead of using a RB is used.......(drum roll here).......
"Cocoa Puffs"
I kid you not. He said he used the Cocoa Puffs because they would compress and keep the powder in the cylinder. He'd tried corn meal and cream of wheat and it would jar loose on the first shot and the second would result in a chain fire but the Cocoa Puffs never failed.
I must say, I watched the entire show and he was one of the few that had NO chain fires. Keep in mind most re-enactment guns are not exactly shall we say, "well cared for", no offense to those of you who do re-enactments.
I'm sure that there are dozens of ways to effectively load blanks but I thought this one was at least entertaining and possibly informative.
I shall now go crawl back in my hole.
sparrqhme
Member
i would have never thought of that
I'm not a re-enactor. For 4th of July I did load up blanks in my ROA. I used 50 grains 3Fg and a Crisco/beeswax lubed felt wad. I did not holster the weapon so I can't say what happens when you bounce the revolver around. Theoretically, the powder should stay in place. I didn't experience any chain fires using this method. FWIW.
sparrqhme
Member
i did try wads and some of them popped out when carried in the holster its why i was looking for something else
Fingers McGee
Member
Bluehawk said:
Cause felt or fiber wads become projectiles that do not disintegrate. Cocoa Puffs will usually disintegrate as long as they're fresh. A pardner I used to do gunfight reenactments with got hit in the chest by a stale Cocoa Puff a couple years ago. Raised a pretty good sized welt and left a big bruise. I've always used Cream of Wheat doing gunfight re-enactments. Have never had the cofw come dislodged when firing. Green Florist foam also works well.
Bluehawk said:
Fingers gave a good reason for not using them for Gunfight re-enactments where the distances are not too great. For the Civil War Re-enactors I can assume that they spend enough money on supplies, travel etc. that spending two to three cents per shot extra is considered unneeded.
I've thought about loading some blanks in my Walker just to chase the deer out of my garden this summer. Unfortunately the town of Cody would probably have less than an understanding point of view when 50gr of bp went off downtown and rattled the windows in the bank across the street.
Gotta go to work so I can ride to Billings this weekend and pick up powder and work on a trade for an 1860.
robhof
Member
Wife's got an uncle thats a ranch manager in Gillette, lives in a guest house on the ranch with a small fenced in back yard, huge field behind yard. Each morning there's at least 4 deer rooting in the grassless yard, they've even gnawed on the wooden stairs down to the yard.
sparrqhme
Member
uuuuhhhh ok
From a fellow reenactor, invest in a pack of newsprint(youll need it for musket blanks anyways) tear a small piece off and roll it into a ball. Then compress it over your powder. for my .44 i use 35 grains 2f. I know it works good walkin around but for horseback im not sure. Ive heard of the cocopuffs and flourists foam as well. Unless youre cav, an officer or nco, most units will not let you carry a side arm (As artillery we sometimes get away with it.
Welcome to the hobby
Gambit
Welcome to the hobby
Gambit
We usually just put a dab of gun grease sold by one of the local sutlers over the powder already packed in the chamber, and you're good. Just make sure the grease doesn't get contaminated with powder from the previous chamber, or you'll get a chain fire going, and it'll get hot quick, if you know what I'm saying.
Cocoa puffs, cream of wheat, etc., will work, too, but be sure to use fresh, as when it gets stale, it won't pack worth a hoot.
I'd avoid wads of any sort, as a friend was shot in the leg with a Wonder Wad, and it left a welt and bruise for quite some time. Anything that does not immediately dissolve is bad news, IMO.
Crisco is another option, as well as making your own grease from beeswax melted with some bore butter to get the right consistency. I say this because at some hot events, the grease will melt out and run down your leg, and I see that you are not exactly in an area known for it's frigid climate.
Good luck, and be safe- if you ever make it to Missouri, I'll be more than happy to shoot with you, or at you, depending upon the circumstances!
Cocoa puffs, cream of wheat, etc., will work, too, but be sure to use fresh, as when it gets stale, it won't pack worth a hoot.
I'd avoid wads of any sort, as a friend was shot in the leg with a Wonder Wad, and it left a welt and bruise for quite some time. Anything that does not immediately dissolve is bad news, IMO.
Crisco is another option, as well as making your own grease from beeswax melted with some bore butter to get the right consistency. I say this because at some hot events, the grease will melt out and run down your leg, and I see that you are not exactly in an area known for it's frigid climate.
Good luck, and be safe- if you ever make it to Missouri, I'll be more than happy to shoot with you, or at you, depending upon the circumstances!
Pulp
Member
Back in my gunfighter days, we'd just use toilet paper for a wad, then some Crisco over that.
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