First BP pistol experience

[BHPshooter]

Yesterday my Dad graciously let me and my friends take his BP pistol out -- even accompanied me to make sure it went alright.

The pistol is a .45 Philadelphia Derringer caplock pistol that my Dad put together when he was 18 or 19 and is a nice piece. The barrel is about 2", so when loaded, that only gives the ball about 1" of barrel travel... Not very accurate. At all.

But boy is it fun! Why? I can't explain. Maybe it's the piratey factor.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share a photo:

Wes

 

[4v50 Gary]

One thing you don't have to worry about - chainfires. That is, multiple discharges from a BP revolver with the single pull of the trigger.

BTW, let's not sneeze at those single shot Deringers. It was good enough for Booth to kill Abe with.

 

[Burt Blade]

Uberti makes a whole bunch of nice blackpowder firearms, including replicas of the Colt 1851 and 1860, and Remington 1858/1863 revolvers.

 

[TerryBob]

"Not very accurate"

ummmmm.....your eyes are closed in the picture.


Sorry, I could not resist.

TerryBob

 

[mec]

I remember one of those from the 60s. A lot cheaper, more reliable and more accurate than the "authentic" repro made by Palmetto and sold through Dixie .

 

[BigG]

What's that smell?

One thing, if you fired real BP, it has a distinctive odor that makes you think of outdoor plumbing...

I didn't see anybody mention that.

 

[Stickjockey]

Yeah, but it tastes better than Pyrodex...

 

[P95Carry]

Great Wes - and man yeah - that IS short!!!

I guess the closed eyes was just at moment of pic!

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Thought I'd better ''meddle'' and get the eyes open!!

 

[mec]

Black powder is like a lot of similar odors. Your own actually smell Pretty Good!

 

[BHPshooter]

ummmmm.....your eyes are closed in the picture.

Yeah, hard to get used to the "double report" -- the pop of the cap and then the bang of the actual shot. You really have to learn the skill of a steady hold with one of these.

One thing, if you fired real BP, it has a distinctive odor that makes you think of outdoor plumbing...

Yeah, but it tastes better than Pyrodex...

We were shooting Pyrodex. Having shot both in the past (in a rifle) I think I prefer Pyrodex... BP has that rotten egg smell, Pyrodex has that weird taste when inhaled. The biggest thing is that you don't have to search far and wide to find Pyrodex around here.

Great Wes - and man yeah - that IS short!!!

I guess the closed eyes was just at moment of pic!

Yep, it had to be just at the right moment. And we were shooting before sunset, so I suppose it was the flash that made it look like we were playing after dark. But a lot of fun was had by everyone there.

After I got home I started thinking that it might've been a more appropriate range trip if I had waited a week and made it next monday (the 4th). I started to picture what it must have been like when my relatives stood in a line and loaded a rifle one shot at a time, and then -- as quickly as possible -- tried to fire it at the dude standing across the field.

It's amazing ANYBODY ever won a war with one of those. Experiencing it firsthand makes you appreciate it that much more.

Wes