BP is really fun!!

[dgray64]

I was going to limber up my new 1851 Navy today (finally), but went to a gun show and wouldn't you know, I ran into an 1860 Army that had only been shot a couple of times, though they didn't use a brass hammer to remove the wedge.

I took it home after buying some balls, BP and other supplies. Couldn't find a powder measure anywhere, so I weighed out some loads on my reloading scale. I found that a .40 S&W casing will hold just under 20 gr of FFFg GOEX and that a .45 casing will hold 25 gr.

I took it to my range in the pasture, fired off two caps on each cylinder (the helpful hint about rotating your wrist after each shot to dump the old cap was a real help!!). I loaded one round with 20- gr and a ball and fired it off. Went great! I loaded the cylinder (all 6 holes) and was about to cap when I remembered the Chrisco. Back to the house for chrisco (buttery flavor). Slathered the balls and capped them. Fired off 6 without a hitch.

I loaded again with 25 gr this time and a ball and Chrisco. I was getting good by this time, though slow. It shoots a little high (as you guys advised) It looks like I'd have to add to the top of the front site. All shot well and high again (still all on the target (paper plate). I was so good, that this time I forgot to Chrisco. Whew...no chainfire!! I quit and went back to clean it.

Cleaning took a long time then I oiled it up with olive oil and wiped the cylinders dry and the barrel, nearly dry. but left the outside a little oily like I do my other guns. Is this how you guys do it?

BP is a blast, but don't get carried away like me and forget the Chrisco!!

Dave
I hope I did the pictures right.

 

[Im283]

I feel ya there dgray. I shot two revolvers yesterday. Did the first six shots out of each two fisted. One gun in each hand alternating shots, thirty grains and .454 balls. I did not realize until I was done with all twelve shots but I was laughing dang near like a hyena. I only hit the target about half the time and could not even hardly see it by the time the twelth shot went off. But that was fun right there, I don't care who you are, that was fun!

 

[fineredmist]

BP is great deal of fun and it will make you a better shooter because of the work you have to do to load and shoot. You have the basics down and you will be able to load faster with a bit of practice. Forget about changing the front sight as you will be hard pressed to find what you are looking for. Remember, these were not target guns, they were defensive pistols intended to engage man size targets out to 50 yds and more. The more you shoot them, the more you learn about them you will realize that the men who designed and built them knew what they were doing.

 

[bigbadgun]

Bp shooting is very very addictive next try to get your hands on a walker if you want to have some fun.

 

[Pancho]

The pictures came out great. The wood on your gun looks great. Did you say who made the gun?

 

[Fat Jimbo]

Finally got to the range as well....

I can't keep up with you guys. I finally got the range with my new Cablelas 58 Remme and the CVA Colt 51 Navy ket that took only 20 years for me to fnally get put together and shoot. I had a blast or two or more... The recoil on 58 remme on my first shot knocked all of the caps off the other cylinders. After I finished laughing and picking them all up off the shooting bench I finally got all cylinders to fire. I think I need to try number 10's next time. I was a little surprised to make a 6 inch group at 50yds. What a kick. I had about 4 cylinders on the 51 Navy not fire the caps. I am guessing the main spring may not be strong enough. What do you think?
Your right BP is so much fun.

 

[dgray64]

Last question first. From what I have read, many times a smaller, number 10 cap will misfire at least once. I started out with # 11 and though they were a little loose, none fell off.

I can't imagine the charge you put in that Remmy to blow the caps off. My .44 with 25 gr didn't have much kick, but it was more than 20 gr.

I didn't mention the name of the gun as I haven't figured it out yet. It says on one side of the round barrel 1860 Army and on the other side, .44 caliber black powder only. On top it says Euroarms Brescia. I checked the site for makers marks and it seems like it used to be an Armi. According to the chart it was made in 1974 "XXX", but then it said that Euroarms took over the Armi in 2001. It doesn't look very old and has not been fired much.

One other question...How to you guys clean your cylinders. I washed them, brushed them using Ivory dish soap and cold water, but the only way I got the insides really clean was to ball a cleaning rag that was run through the holder slot on top of the holder and twist it in each cylinder several times with cleaner rags. Finally I dried the whole mess with my air compressor and rags and coated the inside and out with olive oil. After that I wiped the inside of the cylinders and barrel with a dry rag and left the outside a little oily. Whew, takes longer to clean it than load and shoot it! Have a great day!

Dave

 

[scrat]

i bought a 45 cal cleaning brushe best to buy a bunch of them. Then i cut off the tip of it. When you go to clean your cylinders remove the nipples. then i take the cleaning brush and go in and out of the cylinders. After that i go back old school. Take out the HOPPES put some one qtip then clean out the cylinders. Then when im done i Qtip them again with some gun oil. Then replace the nipples.

 

[Im283]

Scrat what gun oil are you using?

dgray I find that very hot water works pretty good along with dish soap. The hot water heats up the metal and helps evaporate the moisture.

I think I have given up on #10 caps. 11's seem more reliable. All I have to do is pinch them out of round and they always stay put. The 10's don;t go bang the first time all the time and they definitely do not fit on all of my guns, where the 11's fit all of them if bent out of round.

 

[mykeal]

I didn't mention the name of the gun as I haven't figured it out yet. It says on one side of the round barrel 1860 Army and on the other side, .44 caliber black powder only. On top it says Euroarms Brescia. I checked the site for makers marks and it seems like it used to be an Armi. According to the chart it was made in 1974 "XXX", but then it said that Euroarms took over the Armi in 2001. It doesn't look very old and has not been fired much.

Sounds like it's an 1860 Colt Army made by Armi San Paulo in 1974.

How to you guys clean your cylinders.

Same as the bore: TC No. 13 or Windex/vinegar on the range, hot soapy water at home. I use a cleaning jag of the appropriate caliber to run wet and dry patches through both. No brushes or solvents needed. Run hot clear water to rinse, dry patches on the cleaning jag to dry.

 

[scrat]

just regular gun oil. However i tried something a week ago. Now im kinda liking it. I took apart my 1860 and lubed with graphite. all the internals. Then i used a small amount of molly lube on the shaft that the cylinder rides on. Tell you what i never had a problem with the action at all. With gun oil, olive oil or any kind of oil. Stuff sticks to it. spent caps and all sorts of stuff. Nothing sticks to the graphite. nothing at all. so i think im going to be giving it a shot in all my guns.

 

[dgray64]

That sounds like it's worth trying scrat. I lubed my two with olive oil and after 18 shots each today, they still turned free. I love that 1851 Navy from Cabelas. The sights are right on with that one while the Army shoots high. Both are great to shoot. I just need to get a powder dispensor and a measure so that loading using a 40 S&W casing or a .45 Auto casing doesn't take so long. I cleaned up a lot quicker today now that I know what to expect.

Dave

 

[Fat Jimbo]

BP is some kind of fun

Thanks guys for the help on the caps. I'll try pinching the 11's and give that a try. I didn't mean to get off the topic of thread of BP shooting being fun, and forgot to mention that the occasion of shooting was that I went out with my father on his 83rd birthday. He pulled out his irons and man he can still drive tacks with his guns. I only hope I can still do that at his age. Nothing like a great day out making smoke and noise with a great guy. FJ

 

[razorback1010]

You should try soldering a small brass rod handle on your .40 case, or buy the complete set of Lee dippers, they're cheap and accurate. about forgeting grease over the balls, chainfiring is not likely to occure nowadays since we mostly use rightly sized bullets. It was a fairly common mishap 30 years ago when the only bullets you could find for BP shooting were the ones you casted yourself with the poorly designed brass molds sold at the time. The bullets were always undersized and chances were high that the flame could reach the powder behind, not to mention the fact that under the recoil the bullets were likeky to fall off the cylinder. capping them with grease was the solution. Now, grease acts mostly as a cleaner in front of the bullet ( and it's very important!) but it became mandatory for revolver shooting. Well, even if the balls are now nicely tight in the cylinder, a double security can't hurt, can it ?

 

[Steve499]

fineredmist wrote

Forget about changing the front sight as you will be hard pressed to find what you are looking for. Remember, these were not target guns

While that may be generally true, if you find you have one which will really shoot, it may be worth the effort to make it shoot where it's looking. I have added metal to existing front sights with a wire welder to bring the point of impact down. The most accurate handgun I own is a Pietta 1858 Remington replica which regularly groups better than even my S&W model 14 target .38.