Cap and ball revolver accoutriments?

A while ago, I picked up a nice stainless Ruger Old Army. It shoots well at the range but I would like to carry it around in the woods.

What I would like to know is what is the best system to carry such a gun on a foray?

I have a leather powder bag with a metering device on it. I also have a large capacity Ted Cash capper as well. But I need to figure out a good system. Could anyone here give me some advice? Thanks

 

Lube Pills, pre-measured charges (or paper cartriges if you really want to get fancy), in moist conditions you may want to seal your precussion caps on the nipples with wax.

Another option is to by several spare cyclinders and load them ahead of time, then you only need to swap them out and stick caps on. (Do not carry spare cyclinders with caps already on unless you enjoy having a live hand grenade in your pocket!!!)

 

Pray elucidate.... Accoutriments?

 

There are as many systems are there are shooters. The best way to determine your needs is probably to carry it in the woods a few times and see what you wish you had, and what you carry that you don't use.

For me, I carry a small flask, measure, capper, balls in a bag, prelubed wads, a small oiler full of Ballistol, and caps. I figure I won't be doing a whole lot of shooting, so I don't bring any cleaning gear. All carried in a belt pouch.

 

I carry a few quick load tubes, capper and lube pills in a pouch on my gunbelt. It gives me about 25 extra shots without carrying anything in addition to the gunbelt. I posted a picture on an old thread some time back, here's the link.

http://thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=35565&d=1140013432

Steve

 

Hi Afy

It's a fancy to say accessories. If anyone has not mentioned it a full flap holster in case of inclement weather or dew and comfortable eye protection which is an absolute must even if there is the remotist possibility you would shoot even 1 or 2 rounds.

 

Steve499, what's with the quick loads? Ain't seen anything like that. How is or where is the powder poured from them? They have caps on the other end? Nice rig. Simple,efficient, no frills,handmade?, and well broke in. Looks like something someone found in an old mine shack in Arizona that had been left there more than a few decades. Where did you get that custom crafted tin fer yer lube pills? The Trading Post where "Josey Whales Outlaw" gunned down those two ugly trappers?

 

Are percussion caps damp resistant or is it important to keep them in an airtight container?
If using a capper, would it be possible to make some caps waterproof by dropping some melted wax inside,or would this be too dangerous?

 

The caps used to be water proof. I remember shooting in the rain and my tin of caps was filled with rain water. hee hee I don't kow if the caps are water proof anymore. Wax in the cap would foul it fer sure. Thar sticky wax stuff that toilet bowl sealing wax can be used to smear around the edge of the caps on the nipples to water proof. If that was used to seal the caps on the nips and the other end of the chambers was sealed over the balls with the toilet sealer wax the gun could be put under water for a day and still come up and fire well. I seal my muzzleloading rifle while hunting with the nipples sealed with that sticky wax and stick a round piece of wax paper stuck on with the sticky wax on the muzzle and it works great. My brother dropped my rifle in a grasssy ditch running with water once while crossing it in a rain storm while hunting. The gun came out and I hunted a coupla more days and then when I fired the rifle it went off like it was just loaded. Stayed sealed fer sure. Other waxs to seal have to be melted on but the toilet bowl sealing wax is soft and sticky and doesn't need melted. Anywhooo....I don't know if the caps are still water proof or not. They used to be sealed over with shelac I think. Maybe that could be dripped in each cap to seal them.

 

Rifle, the quick load tubes are just vinyl with only one end open. You put a measured powder charge into the open end and the ball then seals off the opening. You can pinch the tube behind the ball and squeeze it out, then pour the powder straight into the chamber. I cut the ends of my .36 tubes off at an angle to make a sort of spout which helps me hit the chamber with the powder when I'm loading my pocket navy, which don't have a lot of clearance.
A year or so ago, I put some charged up ones down into a glass of water, left them overnight, then loaded and fired them. They all fired but there was some degradation in the powder from moisture in 3 or 4 of them. I did the test to see if they would be weatherproof enough for carrying in the pouch while hunting. I don't thing even total immersion, if only for a short duration,would hurt the powder any. I bought mine from Dixie. They had .36 caliber in white and .44 caliber in yellow. I guess you could make some out of any vinyl tubing, just use two balls instead of one and seal up both ends.

Here's a picture of my .36 pocket navy and the rig I carry it in. It's scratched up from wading through briars and brush but that's what I made it for. The belt pouch is divided to keep loaded tubes separated from empty ones. I can carry 35 reloads in it if I stack them just right. The Altoids tin of lube pills didn't come from that trading post you mentioned. I'd be too scared to go in THAT place!

DaveP, I've sealed caps with wax on the nipples but I wouldn't think putting wax inside the cup of the cap would work. I'd be afraid the wax would cushion the hammer strike and/or clog the nipple hole. Put in there liquid, it might kill the priming compound. The caps I have stored in a capper always have been o.k. but I carry a tin of caps in addition to the capper, anyway.

Steve

 

Don't know what happened with the pictures. I had to edit them out. They took forever to load and then, finally, would only show an error. I'll try to post them at a later date.

Steve

 

Just found it a little strange that one would use the term... that is all. But thank you for the meaning. That is what I love about this place.

Someone always steps up to help...

 

Steve; I just want to know where you got the Pouch and how much .

 

TnRebel, it's all home made. I didn't follow a pattern, just started sewing with a pouch in my imagination.
I think the pictures of my .36 rig will post now.

Steve