BP Defense Gun Question

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The answer to the original question is simple. Since conditions are far from normal for most of us clean, oil and load the pistol. Inspect every couple of days for signs of corrosion. If you don't see any after one month take the pistol and fire it. Clean, oil and load it again. After a month fire it again. You'll need to do this each month. This will tell you that you're OK with your method for cleaning and oiling and loading that the bore and exterior do not rust after one month of exposure. It also tells you that your methodology is sufficient to seal the powder from moisture for up to one month. If you want to trust it for a while repeat using a two month interval.

But to load it and expect it to shoot 4 months or a year later? I seriously doubt if anyone can assure you of that.

Now.... You don't have anything other than a single shot percussion pistol to use for self defense? I'm sorry but that seems a little odd since you say you manage to shoot often enough to maintain your skills. I love my BP guns but if I were looking for a reliable and long term storage self defense firearm a BP single shot percussion pistol would be far from my first or tenth choice.
 
For ease of cleaning, and the ability to change out cylinders for reload, I would suggest going with a 1858 Remington style revolver.

Get one in stainless, to reduce the chance of rust.

R&D and Kirst make 45colt drop in conversions to give your gun more versatility.

Load your powder, ad a wonder wad, and seat your ball then cap off the chamber with a dollop of bore butter/wonderlube 1000+.

Cap wise, CCI caps are good and hot, and magnum caps will help with ignition should the powder be a little damp.

I dont oil my C&B revolvers. instead I coat them in bore butter/wonderlube 1000+. It prevents the rust, and keeps fouling from becomming an issue.

I bought a Remmie from a lady who's deceased husband kept it in the house for protection. The gun was loaded when I bought it, and had been loaded for 5 years prior to me getting it. When I took it to the range, all chambers fired, even after having been loaded 5 years ago.:D

Avoid synthetic powders that are hydrostatic, as they will attract moisture.

You may find that 30gr 44cal pyrodex pellets will fit your needs. Makes loading a snap, and eliminates the need for a powder flask. My gun loves em!:D
 
Rereading the OP, he already has a pistol so I doubt he is interested in getting something else.

As far as why he wants to use blackpowder, it none of my business. He doesn't owe me, or anybody, an explanation.

It's kind of funny how these threads unravel.
 
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BHP FAN ...Col. Colt used to charge his revolvers, bee's wax over the caps, and drop them in a tank of water, while extolling the virtues of his revolvers, then take them out of the tank of water, and fire them, regularly as part of his sales exhibitions...
Click to expand...

BHP FAN,

I am aware of the lectures and the demonstrations but I am not aware he used onything on the caps to waterproof them. I was given to believe he merely used the proper sized caps and a tight fitting ball (no grease or sealant on either end of the cylinder). After 5 or 10 minutes, he would reassamble the revolver and shoot it. Any references you can cite would be apprecaited. I enjoy research.
 
Arcticap - Ballons on the muzzle? In 'Nam we used condoms - second best use you can put them to;)

Gentlemen:
  • I choose to use BP in a double barreled pistol, not revolver because
    1) it's unregistered;
    2) it's adequately deadly;
    3) I've built and shot them for decades; 3) with a big enough bore I've got a legal mini-shotgun,
    4) at boat cabin distances most adequate man-stopper cartridges will penetrate a perpetrator, my boat and the two or three boats next to me before stopping in something significant. This is not true of cast lead BP projectiles. There is such a thing as too much gun.​
  • I've shot competitive pistol with BP and a variety of cartridges for decades; and I've had to use a handgun in combat.
  • Handgunning is like riding a bicycle - you don't forget how to point and pull. If you need to shoot weekly to "keep up your skills", I can only offer you my sympathies.
  • The most useful posts have been the couple that actually addressed my question, not questioned my abilities and choices:
    Use of dessicant packages in a container with the pistol.
    Use of a ballon, finger cott or condom over the muzzle.
    Estimates of one to six weeks useful life of a loaded pistol.​

Thanks for your time and efforts.
 
Good point on the penetration issue. And given your explanation in this last post I can see why you're considering the option.

If you agree that it's a good idea to work on your own particular length of trust time by discharging the gun periodically to test it then perhaps set up to shoot one of those rounds through a slab of meat or gelatin which somewhat replicates a BG and set a hunk of whatever your boat is made from in behind it. Again, such a test would build up your trust in your load both from the time of exposure to the salty moist air as well as knowing more about how far it'll penetrate if you do need to shoot.

From what I've read about round ball there's no lack of penetration with them. Maybe not as much as with heavier and more ballistically "dense" conical or modern bullets but there are still lots of stories about shooting through a body. Especially if your pistol is one of the heavier calibers. Or have you already considered this and would load a reduced strength charge?
 
BPRider;

I know I'm going to have to field test the "trust time", but posted this question to get some starting parameters so that I could skip a few stages from say Every Day to Weekly Weekly to Monthly.

Penetration tests are on my horizon too, even though some of that can be calculated by comparison to say .38 wadcutter
 
I've found out that I really have to push the caps down on my Pietta replica 1858 Remington. Once I started doing that, I've had no problems. Simple, I know, but until you do it a few times, you don't know how hard to push 'em down. Just my experience.
 
Maybe it's just me but it seems like the broken caps jam the mechanism pretty often. I think as a self defense weapon, one shot is all you can really count on. It would make a decent club if need be.
 
As I said in my initial post, there have been many previous threads on the subject of the longevity of black powder loaded in a firearm. Most of those have been from people interested in keeping a black powder revolver around for self defense. It's not inconceivable that someone with just 23 posts on this forum who asks that question again would be unfamiliar with the idea that it takes practice to be proficient with a handgun, especially when self defense is involved.

So, I made that assumption. There was no intent to question your ability; I still am surprised you would take what I wrote as a personal affront. It was a general statement about a philosophy.

I remain personally convinced that the question of long term reliability of black powder in a personal defense scenario is moot. It is my opinion, backed up by many tactical shooting instructors and schools, that regular proficiency exercises with the weapon that is to be relied upon is not only important but mandatory.

I understand your opinion of your skills makes that unnecessary. That's fine. You may be that three sigma individual to which that applies. I've never seen you shoot, so I couldn't possibly have an opinion about your personal skills or capability, and I don't. I do have an opinion about the subject in general; it applies to the general population, not any one individual. How you could infer that was a personal statement is a mystery to me, but since you did I'll take the initiative to apologize. It was not intended.
 
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As has been stated before, the viability of Black Powder over a long period of time has been proven time and again via vintage firearms being left loaded for decades and still firing. Personally I tend to re-load BP guns after cleaning just 'cause an unloaded gun is a paper-weight. Although BP isn't "my" first choice for self/home defense.

Basically what you're proposing is being a "test pilot" on this question. Given where you live I'd be interested in knowing how this works out. I'd ask that in a month or so you test fire your pistol and let us know your results. Also, I as well as others would be interested in "exactly" what this pistol is. From your description what comes to my minds eye is the word "Howdah".
 
Let's see...
You're on a boat, presumably alone
You need personal protection, so the logical choice is a defensive handgun
You're concerned about penetration into surrounding vessels

You chose a BP percussion pistol?

I'd go get myself a .22LR semi-auto pistol or a .25ACP.

NOBODY wants to be shot. NOBODY.

Not even with a teensy weensy little .22

NOBODY.

The idea that you'd make a conscious choice to pick a BP weapon over a modern weapon is, in my opinion, crazy. Sorry. Thats just..... well...... crazy.

If you were ever convicted of a federal crime and therefor legally prohibited from owning a modern weapon, then I'd understand your choice. Afterall, a BP gun is better than no gun at all. But if you're not a convicted felon and you CAN posess a modern weapon - you SHOULD. I know I sure as heck would.
 
OK, a DOUBLE barreled pistol. this is making a LOT more sense. no parts to jam, and a quick follow up shot, too. I have a .44 Corsair pirate pistol, made back in the '70's, but I think the Howdah pistol another member mentioned would be about perfect, in a 20 ga. smooth bore double configuration.
 
BHP Fan, I have a 20 gauge Howdah pistol and love it. With .61 caliber round balls cast from wheel weights, it makes big holes and penetrates deeply.
We're talking 348 grains per ball. Pure lead would be heavier and flatten out better on impact, but I can guarantee that nobody wants to be shot with this thing.

Then, you have buckshot or buck 'n ball loads in it. They're also impressive.
After all, it's a sawed-off double barreled 20 gauge without the legal hassles.
I was going to get a Serbu shorty, but the percussion Howdah did away with the legal hoops.

If you haven't tried the Howdah, you really should get one. It's 4.5 pounds of fun.

Yeah, it's as heavy as a Walker.
Yeah, it's only 2 shots.
BUT, those 2 shots are devastating.

While I prefer my 12 gauge coach gun or my Mossberg 590 for HD uses, one could do a LOT worse than a 20 gauge Howdah pistol

I do believe that if I lived on a boat and was using a double barreled BP pistol for HD, I'd also buy a Cold Steel 1917 Naval Cutlass. The blade is longer than a big knife, yet shorter than a saber. They were designed for naval boarding parties and repelling boarders.
It's really sharp from the factory and hell for stout. I love mine.
 
You could always store it in a ziplock Zerust bag.
The only thing I don't know is if the volatile corrosion inhibitor will adversely affect the priming compound.
I guess I need to test it by putting some caps in a Zerust bag for a few months or so, and then load up the C&B and shoot it with them.

To those who rail against the OP's choice of an HD weapon, all I can say is, "To each, his own".
My Howdah may not be my first choice for HD, but it sure wouldn't be my last, either.
 
Howdah's aleady two shot's Busyhands. Seems to me like it would kick butt. I also seem to remember someone made nipples for musket caps that would fit the Howdah....
 
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