Can't decide whether to get a Black Powder Revolver or Rifle?

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isaacdavis1214

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Hey everyone i have always been drawn to Old war guns like the Civil War and Rev. War ect.And i am thinking very heavily about getting into black powder shooting,i just don't know whether to get a black powder cap lock rifle or revolver.

Which is easier to clean,more affordable,funner in your opinion?Is ammunition and everything you need to shoot relatively cheap and readily available?I am leaning towards the rifle more.And if possible i want a Civil War model rifle,doesn't matter which side,i am from Tennessee and my ancestors fought for both.3 for the Confederacy and 4 for the Union.Should i use Pyrodex or Black Powder in the firearm?I know most people swear by BP but i have read that if the grainulation isn't right for the gun it could have bad results?

I would like to point out i do not have enough money for this right now,but i hope to as some point in the future.I would just like your guys opinions on which you like better,pros and cons of each.And answer the questions i have above if possible.BTW,this is random.But like i said i have always loved old guns.But ever since i have been doing genealogy,or tracing my family ancestor by ancestor if you will.

I have wanted a black powder gun even more,and they look awesome lol.
 
Welcome to THR!

C&B is the best plan for a budget. You can pick up used or sometimes even new ones for $150 to $200--Italian repros mostly. A rifle musket repro is going to run you $500 to $600 for a *used* Italian and more for a new one. The best will run over a grand.

The revolvers are not something I've gotten too far with but a lot of folks know a ton about them here. They are a hoot to shoot and you can clean them in the sink. But they have their quirks and you should check out some of the vids folks here have posted for tips and techniques.

The rifle muskets of the CW era are big honking beasts with caplocks. They do eat a fair chunk of powder. I absolutely prefer the real stuff--Goex mostly. But it's not always easy to get in some places. With sufficiently hot caps and nipples you can use the replacements OK.

Most people tend to shoot roundball in them because it's cheap and easy. Minnie balls are available, too.
 
Isaac
Howdy. Glad to see your`e taking an interest both in blackpowder shooting and in your family`s Civil War heritage.
If you get intererested in CW reenacting, you`ll probably need a musket. Except for officers, cavalrymen and certain other groups, the CW infantryman was issued a musket, usually with a bayonnet, as his main battle weapon. Some men did buy or obtain a handgun in addition to their musket. The uniforms, equipment can be costly.
Some of the reproduction muskets are very accurate and you may be able to use them for hunting as well. If you do go in for re-enacting, a more experienced reenactor may be able to help you find a good used musket and or other equipment.
Good luck!
 
Thanks for the replies everyone!That 1858 looks very nice,by the time i get enough money though i'll probably have to settle for a Brass one,which from what i know is fine as long as you shoot lighter loads.I'm not looking to go into re-enacting yet,but you never know what the future holds.I would love to see a re-enactment though,i'm surprised the Rifles cost more than the pistols in the black powder circle.Usually it's the other way around (i think,i have limited knowledge when it comes to guns lol).But it makes sense,the rifles in my opinion are very nice.The cap n ball revolvers are great as well.
 
If your budget is cramped you might want to go with a rifle.

Around here locally, you can pick up a nice used percussion side lock rifle for well under $100. In the off season (like now) $50 or $60 deal can be found with a little bit of patience. e.g., CVA, or Traditions branded stuff.

It seams that if it's not an inline that utilizes a 209 primer the market is much smaller than the supply of available rifles

I know a guy who has had a very nice CVA 50 cal with a blued barrel, wood stock and double set triggers for sale for 3 weeks asking $90 and no takers.
 
Malachi, I live in Michigan and I'll buy all those $50 rifles you can find (assuming, of course, that they're shootable) cash money right now. Just tell me where and when to meet you.
 
Malachi,thanks for the suggestion.I will have a look around,you never know.I know there is some hunters around where i live.
 
mykeal, There is a 50cal Investarms Black powder for sale right now for $65 in The Muskegon Chronicle classifieds. You can also find it on MLive. I'd be surprised if he wouldn't take $50 or at least $60 for it. Give him a call.
 
Unfortunately Union City,Tennessee is way on the other side of TN.I live in Eastern Tennessee,i'm not sure if we have any muzzleloading shops here or not.I know walmart a couple of years ago used to sell muzzleloaders for $100 or so.But i don't think they do anymore.
 
Around here locally, you can pick up a nice used percussion side lock rifle for well under $100.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind these aren't CW repros. So if you have your heart set on something from that era, it will cost you.
 
I'll have to save up.But i was looking at Black Powder Rifles on gunsamerica.com and i saw two Civil War-esque .50 cal rifles for $350,the flint lock version was $375.I'm assuming this isn't a bad price,one was made by T/C the Flintlock by Traditions.There was also another one that looked similar in appearance that was made by C.V.A. that is available for $175 in good condition!

If only i had the money,i believe deals like that can still be found when i have enough saved up though.
 
Also from the same site i have found 3 .50 cal single shot pistols that to me,look like they are from the 1700's.For anywhere from $300 to $195 at the cheapest,looks pretty nice.
 
you mite try to find a old cva or the like, kit gun that has not been put together,from the early 80's. takes a bit of work but can be very rewarding.
 
Stepping into the world of muzzleloading is a large step for a modern gun shooter. The mindset of patience required of the sport is something not everyone has. As I would not suggest a newby jump into muzzleloading by getting a flintlock I would suggest a single shot rifle or pistol to a revolver as an introduction to the sport.
 
isaacdavis1214 said:
Which is easier to clean,more affordable,funner in your opinion?
Click to expand...

Even if it's only an inexpensive, imported carbine, a single shot rifle is easier to clean and more gratifying.
They shoot with better accuracy and can even be used for hunting.
Muzzle loading rifles come in large calibers that can't be matched by smokeless guns at such an affordable price.
 
Get what blows your skirts up.

My first I purchased was a revolver mainly because at the time most of my shooting was with handguns and "action" style. On the other hand my first experiences with other peoples BP guns were with a P53 Enfield rifle and a Two band enfield both originals BTW. Soon after the second I meet a repro 1851 an Army buddy had and got my intro to BP handgun.

If I was a deer hunter I would certianly consider a hawken-ish rifle, perhaps even a plastic stocked and scoped one like my neighbors which he shoots saboted bullets in. He tends to shoot 10-15 rounds in the two weeks before muzzle loading deer seaso and then one or two rounds at deer and that is is shoting for the year.

The nice thing about a traditional hawken style rifle is that it is simple to load, operate, and clean and short enough and light enough to actually take to the woods with.

On the other hand there is the cowboy and cavalry appeal of the BP revolver.


A acquantence who is into pirate re enacting ( OK playing pirate) swears the only BP guns work having are single shot pistols and lots of them

I truely think the "best" BP gun is the one that you will most enjoy having and the one that will nit make you constantly wish you had gotten something else.

Sorry not to have an specific absolute correct gun type for you , but there it is...

-kBob
 
Thanks everyone for the replies.I agree that Muzzleloading is a large step for a modern firearm shooter,i feel i would have the patience to shoot a muzzleloader,after all the slow process of reloading has one big advantage i think,and that is not shooting as much ammo.KBob and whoever wishes to reply,about the Hawken-style rifles.Even if your not a hunter is it still a good rifle for shooting at targets?I should have specified whether i meant to use said rifle or pistol as a hunting/target gun.Or can they easily be used for both?Most if not all of the rifles i have seen have been .50 caliber.
 
Isaac - A Hawken or underhammer or flinchlock; long or short barrel; doesn't care what you point it at. The bullet doesn't care what it hits; paper or meat.

Any muzzleloader can be used for paper; state regulations dictate what calibers can be used for which kinds of hunting.

Now if you want to get into competition grade 5-shots-in-one-hole paper punching with muzzleloaders, that's a whole other ball of specialized equipment wax. But your average run of the mill muzzleloader will do an adequate job on either paper or meat. The ball, charge, patch, and other factors are what you tweak to get the maximum accuracy.
 
Just making sure.I didn't know if different calibers in muzzleloaders were cheaper/more suited towards plinking.Kind of like the .22 is,it is also suitable for small game hunting.But the inexpensiveness of the round also makes it the perfect ''plinking''/target round.I didn't know if it's the same for Black Powder weapons be it a muzzleloading rifle or a cap n ball revolver.
 
Not really the best way to determine pricing is to go to a website like Cabelas and look at the diffrent muzzleloaders and compair prices that way the maker is what dictates the price.

if you are wanting a hawken style rifle that will give you good service and not cost you a large amount of money try to find a CVA Mountain Stalker 50 cal
no longer made but are still available if you look.
I bought one in 02 new from Bass pro shops for 70 dollars delivered I wish I would have bought a bunch because I could sell them new in today's market for $175.00 in new condition.
the mountain stalkers are equipped with a black composite stock and a quick detach barrel for easy cleaning and maintenance.
they are also available with a wood stock, not sure but probably maple stock.

you can probably find one used in excellent or very good condition for 100.00 or less depending on its NRA condition.

do a google search for "CVA Mountain Stalker For Sale" and see what the search renders.
 
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