BP pistols

[AugustusMcCrae]

Which of these BP pistols would you pick for someone who has zero experience with BP?

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...602007&parentType=category&parentId=cat602007

Must be under $500 including shipping to NC. Must be a version with starter kit. Must be in a fairly easy to find caliber for ammunition & decent man-stopper cartridge.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[ArmedBear]

Them things don't shoot cartridges, man-stopper or otherwise.

That said, if you have a $500 budget, I'd consider the stainless Remington. If you want authentic, get the standard sights. If you want modern-style sights, get those. I find the original sights to be fun to shoot.

If you want to save money, get the blue Remmie in .44. Just note that BP is corrosive and should be cleaned soon after shootin, often with water. It can feel kinda wierd to wash a blue gun with water. Doesn't hurt it any, it just feels wierd when you do it.

 

[AugustusMcCrae]

Them things don't shoot cartridges, man-stopper or otherwise.

:banghead: Your right. I don't know why I said cartridge.

As for my budget, the lower the better but I do want one that's enjoyable & easy to clean. As far as the sights go, I just want to plink at distance's of around 50'.

 

[Jamie C.]

For $500, I wouldn't recommend any of those, I'd go with an Uberti. ( Those are Pietta. Nothing wrong with 'em really, it's just that for the money, I think the Uberti's are a slightly better value. )

Some folks claim that Remingtons are better "first BP guns" than Colt, but honestly, it really comes down to what you like, and what will hold your attention long enough to learn the ins and outs of BP revolvers.

Starter kits... ugh. I hate 'em. They're generally cheap and cheesy, and only end up being replaced in short order any way. Better to make a list of the things you'll need and buy good quality items right from the start.

The basics you'll need are:
A nipple wrench
Screw drivers that'll fit your gun
Balls or bullets the right size for your gun, or a mold for the same, if you want to cast your own.
Caps - #10 or #11, depending on what your gun likes.
Powder - either real black, or the substitute of your choice. ( These last all have advantages and disadvantages, compared to both each other and real black powder. )
A powder flask and/or a powder measure. You can get a flask that takes different spouts, and this will pretty much eliminate the need for a separate measure.
Lube of some kind. Store-bought stuff will work, or you can make your own.
Wads, pre-lubed or otherwise, are optional, but may be something you're interested in.

That's all I can think of, at the moment. And I'm sure I'm forgetting something.


J.C.

 

[AugustusMcCrae]

If the Cabella's BP pistols are no good, what about these Uberti models?

http://www.uberti.com/firearms/Walker.tpl : I admit I like the looks of the Walker version, but what do I know?

http://www.uberti.com/firearms/1860Army.tpl

http://www.uberti.com/firearms/1858NewArmy.tpl

 

[ArmedBear]

I have a Uberti 1858 in Millenium Finish. It was not expensive, and the finish is not so pretty that I'm bummed if it get scuffed a bit. The Ubertis have a dovetailed front sight, so you can tap it over to adjust POI. That's an advantage, I think.

I'll recommend the Uberti without reservation. However, I was assuming that Augustus McCrae had a gift certificate to Cabela's or something. (Did I mention that Augustus McCrae is the name of our new dog?)

I'd go with the original sights. They're absolutely fine at 50 feet. I have them.

One reason I recommend a Remington is that the sights are generally a lot better. They're usually set to shoot POA at normal pistol distances, and the rear sight is a notch on the frame like a SAA. Colts shoot very high and are very hard to adjust if they're off, and they usually are. The rear sight is on the hammer. A Remington is a very solid, simple design that's clearly the forerunner of the modern revolver. The frame is one simple part, and doesn't unscrew into a bunch of parts like the Colt.

The .36 revolvers will be a tad cheaper to shoot, since the bullets are a bit cheaper, they take less lead if you mold them yourself, and the powder charges are smaller. But they're not man-stoppers. They work on rabbits, though. If you want to hunt something bigger or have the gun as a self-defense gun in any way, get the .44.

I would not recommend a Walker as a first gun, though they're neat. They're very, very heavy and the loading lever is problematic. They have the same sighting issues as other Colts. Replicas are also expensive.

I think a Remington NMA .44 is a great first BP gun, though I'm prejudiced, since it was my first BP revolver. When the old one got tired (early '80s low-end Italian gun with soft parts), I replaced it with another, this time a Uberti 1858. So I must have liked it.

Another cool choice is a Rogers and Spencer from EuroArms. It's top-quality and a great shooter.

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/
http://www.buffaloarms.com/
http://www.texasjacks.com/ sometimes has good sales

Note that various manufacturers do vary in quality. It's often worth paying an extra $50. Uberti has been consistently good, though word is Pietta is good now, too. I looked for Uberti, myself, since I wanted to be sure my new gun would be a lot better than what it replaced.

 

[DixieTexian]

Don't get a Walke yet. If you do you won't have something to look foreward to...

 

[Yankee John]

Nothing wrong with Cabela's BP pistols- I would take a new-made Pietta any day of the week. I even think some of them are better than their Uberti counterparts!

JMO,
John

 

[AugustusMcCrae]

(Did I mention that Augustus McCrae is the name of our new dog?)

I believe you did. Does your dog like to lay around & drink whiskey?

So I don't get the Walker yet. Ok.

Another cool choice is a Rogers and Spencer from EuroArms. It's top-quality and a great shooter.

Isn't also the gun Mal uses in "Firefly"? That's even cooler than the Walker! I'll look into it & the 1858 Remington you mentioned.

 

[ArmedBear]

I do prefer the Remington's safety notches, BTW, but the R&S cylinder is easier to cap and clean. The space the Remington uses for the safety notches is wide open on the R&S. Tough call.

He does drink a bit of beer already, but he's only 12 weeks old.

 

[johnnytang24]

Hi, I am also interested in starting with BP. Can I order a Remington 1858 through the mail without using an FFL?

Thanks.

 

[ArmedBear]

Unless you live in Newjersistan or something, yes.

 

[AugustusMcCrae]

I guess I'll go with this 1858.

http://www.impactguns.com/store/037084410005.html

Should I get the stainless version or the blued version?

 

[Tommygunn]

Hi, I am also interested in starting with BP. Can I order a Remington 1858 through the mail without using an FFL?

Thanks.

That depends on what state you live in. I used to live in Connecticut and at that time I could order a BP gun and UPS would deliver it to my doorstep. About the same time I scadaddled out of Ct the laws changed and I would no longer be able to mail order a BP pistol. Now I live in Alabama -- and can still mail order the BP pistols.

 

[Jamie C.]

I've had good luck ordering from these folks:
Taylor's & Co.

Their prices are pretty good, and if you live on the eastern side of the U.S., shipping doesn't run much.

P.S. Augustus - The gun at the link you posted says "Out of stock". You could be a while getting one from them. Give Taylor's a call and they'll tell you if what you want is in stock or not. ( I called about 5 different places before I found my Uberti Remington, back in May. )


J.C.

 

[ArmedBear]

Why not order the same gun for less money?

http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,6691.htm

 

[mike101]

How about a Ruger Old Army, stainless steel. Don't sweat the starter kit. All that other stuff is easy to find.
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...id=d72e1a620883d06524d586b49671a20e&x=17&y=10

 

[AugustusMcCrae]

ArmedBear, at the bottom of the link you just posted, it said that BP will expose you to lead which can "cause birth defects & cancer".

Is shooting BP a higher risk of contracting something like cancer?

Mike101, at the link you posted, it said the Ruger "Old Army" is chambered in .45 blackpowder. Is that easy to find?

 

[johnnytang24]

How can I figure out if PA will allow shipping of BP pistols? I guess I could just buy it at Cabela's or some store.

Thanks.

 

[Jamie C.]

ArmedBear, at the bottom of the link you just posted, it said that BP will expose you to lead which can "cause birth defects & cancer".

Is shooting BP a higher risk of contracting something like cancer?

That's a standard warning/disclaimer that's no doubt required by some law or the other, these days.

Shooting any gun increases your exposer to lead. BP guns may entail a slightly greater risk due to handling the the balls or bullets, but over all, as long as you don't lick your fingers while you shoot, are shooting in a well-ventilated area, and wash your hands afterward, risks should be minimal.

Holding your bullets in your mouth while you load the gun would probably be a bad idea too...


J.C.

 

[mykeal]

Or perhaps even less money (it's a Uberti, Millennium finish:
http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/BlkPowder/CA104-58RemArmyMillennium.htm#

Ditto on do not buy a Walker as your first bp revolver.

If $500 is the budget, and you want a great gun (regardless of historical perspective) consider the Ruger Old Army. There is no better made bp pistol at any price. It is a modern gun, however. That is, it is not a reproduction of any historical gun but rather a modern implementation of a historical technology using modern materials and ideas.

I too, like the Rogers and Spencer as a first gun, and the Colt 1860 Army. Can't hardly go wrong with any of those.

 

[AugustusMcCrae]

If I get the 1858 .44 version, what type of projectiles do I need?

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/projecti_ehi.htm

That "Old Army" looks & sounds good. Which projectiles would I need for that?

 

[mykeal]

.451 or .454 round balls, no patches with any 44 cal revolver. The .451 will load easier but may not be big enough. Look for a small ring of lead to be shaved off as the ball is rammed home - if no ring, go to the .454 ball.

30 gr fffg black powder with a lubed felt wad under the ball, or a bit of Bore Butter on top of the ball if you don't want to use the wad.

 

[Jamie C.]

Uberti recommends .454 dia. for their .44 guns, so of your choices there, I'd say these should do just fine.

I've heard that the Pietta .44s take a slightly smaller -.451 dia. - ball/bullet.


J.C.

 

[ArmedBear]

No!

Ruger Old Army takes an odd-sized bullet, a .457 I think. It does not take the standard .451 or .454 that everything else does.