LightningLink
Member
Just got my first cap and ball revolver today. It's an excellent condition used Pietta Remington Model 1858 New Army .44 cal. The pistol and accessories look like they came from Cabelas and would cost around $290 to buy new, I paid $160 shipped. I know NOTHING about these and want to make sure I do everything right and use the right accessories.
Here's what I got:
* Pistol with holster
* Extra .44 cal cylinder with cylinder pouch
* Powder flask
* 200 .44 cal Wonder Wads 1000 Plus wads
* 65 .44 cal balls
* Lee double cavity .451 bullet mold
So now the question is, what else do I need? To make it easy I'll just make a list of specific questions:
1) Do I need things like extra nipples and wrench?
2) Do I need a capper or can it be done by hand?
3) Lubes - Do I any additional lubes for shooting? Or are the wads enough?
4) Cleaning - Do I need any special solvents? I've used Break-Free for all of my "regular" guns including when I shoot corrosive ammo have always had good results (ie, no rust ever).
5) Except for powder and caps, Cabelas has a "Starter Kit" for $59.99 that would seem to have all of the above. Is this a good way to start?
6) #11 Caps - should I use Remington or CCI?
7) Powder - should I use Hodgdon Triple-7 FFFg or Pyrodex P?
8) While reading the instructions for the Wonder Wads, it says to lube the bore, cylinder, and everything else with Wonder Lube only. Is this really necessary? Do I really have to use Wonder Lube only if I use their wads?
9) Charging the cylinder - Do I use the powder flask to charge the cylinders? If so, how do I know how much powder to use? Do I use a full tubes worth? Cabelas description of the flask (it's one of theirs) says the spout holds 24 grains of BP, but the manual that came with the revolver says to use 35 grains of FFFg or 28 grains of Pyrodex P. Hodgdon's website says to use 20 to 25 grains with a 44 cal 1858 w/wad. So can I just use the powder flask spout with Triple-7?
10) Seating the bullet - Assuming I use a wad, do I just seat the bullet firmly until it stops?
I know I know, I should have just bought a book with this many questions. Thank you for taking the time to read this much and I would greatly appreciate any answers or advice you can provide.
Thanks,
LL
Here's what I got:
* Pistol with holster
* Extra .44 cal cylinder with cylinder pouch
* Powder flask
* 200 .44 cal Wonder Wads 1000 Plus wads
* 65 .44 cal balls
* Lee double cavity .451 bullet mold
So now the question is, what else do I need? To make it easy I'll just make a list of specific questions:
1) Do I need things like extra nipples and wrench?
2) Do I need a capper or can it be done by hand?
3) Lubes - Do I any additional lubes for shooting? Or are the wads enough?
4) Cleaning - Do I need any special solvents? I've used Break-Free for all of my "regular" guns including when I shoot corrosive ammo have always had good results (ie, no rust ever).
5) Except for powder and caps, Cabelas has a "Starter Kit" for $59.99 that would seem to have all of the above. Is this a good way to start?
6) #11 Caps - should I use Remington or CCI?
7) Powder - should I use Hodgdon Triple-7 FFFg or Pyrodex P?
8) While reading the instructions for the Wonder Wads, it says to lube the bore, cylinder, and everything else with Wonder Lube only. Is this really necessary? Do I really have to use Wonder Lube only if I use their wads?
9) Charging the cylinder - Do I use the powder flask to charge the cylinders? If so, how do I know how much powder to use? Do I use a full tubes worth? Cabelas description of the flask (it's one of theirs) says the spout holds 24 grains of BP, but the manual that came with the revolver says to use 35 grains of FFFg or 28 grains of Pyrodex P. Hodgdon's website says to use 20 to 25 grains with a 44 cal 1858 w/wad. So can I just use the powder flask spout with Triple-7?
10) Seating the bullet - Assuming I use a wad, do I just seat the bullet firmly until it stops?
I know I know, I should have just bought a book with this many questions. Thank you for taking the time to read this much and I would greatly appreciate any answers or advice you can provide.
Thanks,
LL