Had an epiphany this weekend...

[TTv2]

With the way things are right now in regards to guns and ammo, I decided that since I'm having difficulty securing cartridge guns and ammo at reasonable prices, I'm going to entertain myself and make use of my club's range by buying black powder guns, pretty much any and all that I have an interest in shooting, but not necessarily keeping. I figure with how simple it is to ship them, I can put them up on gunbroker for auction and they'll be sold within a week and I don't have to get FFL's involved.

Normally I would focus on modern guns, but that's not going to happen this year. So, I'll be getting pretty much all manner of percussion guns and I may even finally get a flintlock. On my list is going to be the NAA .22 with the 4 inch barrel, the .31 Pietta 1863 Pocket, a Lyman in .54, an 1860 snub nose, and I think if I can score one an American Guncraft Diablo shotgun.

Beyond that, I think I may pick up some antique .22 rimfires for black powder and reload those to shoot them too. S&W Model 1 would be at the top of that list.

EDIT: For the record, I already a few cap and ball revolvers and I bought them to be "keepers" because I knew I would like them, but as stated with how things are right now, I'm now going to be buying black powder guns I only had a passive interest in that I'm not sure I will like or shoot well and will sell them if I don't.

 

[earlthegoat2]

You must have a nice stock of caps. Those are pretty scarce right now too.

 

[Jeff62]

I love 1911’s and I shoot often. This year I find I’m taking my black powder guns more often. I’ve hunted with muzzle loaders for years but I got hooked on cap and ball revolvers and I like shooting them best.
I don’t have anything in flintlock..........yet.
I think there is something to the idea of genetic memory. The smell of black powder strikes me like the smell of a blacksmiths forge. A Seamus Heaney poem comes to mind.

 

[Armored farmer]

The essence of shooting sports.
I won't say I prefer bp over smokeless guns, but i certainly have friends that do.
NMLRA membership and the magazine that comes with, and MUZZLELOADER magazine will fuel your desire.

I enjoy all forms of bp shooting. I prefer flintlock over percussion, but i have both. The c&b revolver is maybe the most enjoyable of all. Bp shotgunning is hard to beat too.

The ammo shortage has not been too depressing for me, thanks to my bp guns.

 

[Gus Chiggins]

I just sold two modern cartridge rifles this weekend to fund the purchase of a flintlock .45 rifle. The modern rifles sold in a matter of minutes.

 

[noelf2]

The fact that they are easy to sell at the moment is why they aren't so easy to get at reasonable prices, new or used. Your selection for powders and primers are limited as well.

 

[TTv2]

You must have a nice stock of caps. Those are pretty scarce right now too.

The tool to make them from aluminum cans and the compound can be bought for $70. It's something I intend to get into making my own caps as they are $70/1000 anyway and I'd like a cheaper alternative for caps and making my own seems like the way to go.

 

[PapaG]

The essence of shooting sports.
I won't say I prefer bp over smokeless guns, but i certainly have friends that do.
NMLRA membership and the magazine that comes with, and MUZZLELOADER magazine will fuel your desire.

I enjoy all forms of bp shooting. I prefer flintlock over percussion, but i have both. The c&b revolver is maybe the most enjoyable of all. Bp shotgunning is hard to beat too.

The ammo shortage has not been too depressing for me, thanks to my bp guns.

BP shotgunning was my families big thing for years. Wisconsin BP shotgun championships every July, driving to Friendship for spring and fall nationals, local shoots, went through a pile of five dollar powder and six dollar a bag shot.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

With the way things are right now in regards to guns and ammo, I decided that since I'm having difficulty securing cartridge guns and ammo at reasonable prices, I'm going to entertain myself and make use of my club's range by buying black powder guns, pretty much any and all that I have an interest in shooting, but not necessarily keeping. I figure with how simple it is to ship them, I can put them up on gunbroker for auction and they'll be sold within a week and I don't have to get FFL's involved.

Normally I would focus on modern guns, but that's not going to happen this year. So, I'll be getting pretty much all manner of percussion guns and I may even finally get a flintlock. On my list is going to be the NAA .22 with the 4 inch barrel, the .31 Pietta 1863 Pocket, a Lyman in .54, an 1860 snub nose, and I think if I can score one an American Guncraft Diablo shotgun.

Beyond that, I think I may pick up some antique .22 rimfires for black powder and reload those to shoot them too. S&W Model 1 would be at the top of that list.

LD

 

[earlthegoat2]

I have bought 2 BP rifles this month as well in anticipation of a long panic.

 

[drobs]

I did the same during my last job in Africa. The 2 FFL's I used previously for transfers had both given up their FFL's. Not having much luck finding a local FFL for modern cartridge guns, I satisfied my gun purchasing urges with BP guns shipped directly to the house.

Have a bit of a collection now.

 

[brewer12345]

Way ahead of you. Bought a cap maker last year and tested it out last summer (thumbs up, at least for rifles). Only thing I was missing was black powder revolvers. Acquired two and stalking around for a third with the target sights (and preferably stainless) in an 1858. I have plenty of stuff for modern to keep me going in the drought, but I have a lot of fun with BP. I have 6 direct ancestors that I know of that marched off with volunteer companies in the Union Army, so I found a Zouave for a nice price and some say would like a full sized springfield rifled musket to play with.

 

[bannockburn]

drobs

Not having much luck finding a local FFL for modern cartridge guns, I satisfied my gun purchasing urges with BP guns shipped directly to the house.

That's what I have been doing the last couple of years as well!


Please overlook the EMF/ASM Hartford U.S. Cavalry Model as it didn't want to be left out of the long barrel, single action revolver photoshoot!

 

[OrangePwrx9]

Welcome to the party, Pal!

BTW, Conversion cylinders exist for most 44 cal. Revolvers that allow them to shoot 45 Colt. The cylinders are still available (probably because they cost as much as a BP revolver), though getting scarce. The 1858 Remington works well with the conversion cylinders. If you still have some 45 Colt on hand, might be worth picking one up....just in case.

 

[gtrgy888]

It’s not an epiphany, it’s good sense, and it guarantees that all of us are in for a long period of shortages, just like every shooter. Good steel frame cap and ball revolvers will become very rare and correspondingly overpriced along with caps, powder, balls, and every other damned accessory. Not good for people like me who like to shoot a cap and ball loose and buy a replacement just like it. Guess I’ll need to become less picky.

 

[arcticap]

I don't believe that increased BP gun sales are due to a panic. but mostly due to people receiving stimulus money.
Simply higher demand during a time of lower supplies.
What's there to panic about?

 

[TTv2]

Welcome to the party, Pal!

BTW, Conversion cylinders exist for most 44 cal. Revolvers that allow them to shoot 45 Colt. The cylinders are still available (probably because they cost as much as a BP revolver), though getting scarce. The 1858 Remington works well with the conversion cylinders. If you still have some 45 Colt on hand, might be worth picking one up....just in case.

Already have a cylinder for the two 58's I have, been wanting to get a steel frame 12 inch Buffalo for years to see how that'd shoot with the conversion cylinder, but never did and now they're gone and I presume won't be available for a long time.

I might have an interest in a .38 conversion for the 51 Navy, the 148 gr wadcutters might actually shoot to POA, but it's not a priority.

The 1860 snub with a gated .45 Colt cylinder to me sounds like heaven.

Zero interest in .32 S&W conversions for the .31's, there are plenty of .32 S&W H&R and Iver Johnson revolvers available and the prices for those have not changed from where they were a year or two ago.

 

[GMRevolver]

I've come to the conclusion that in order to save on my ammo stores, I've switched to blackpowder as well. Sadly, we're not the only ones as blackpowder supplies have also been hit. Fortunately, not to the same extremes as modern offerings but it's still a hunt.

 

[LNK]

I've come to the conclusion that in order to save on my ammo stores, I've switched to blackpowder as well. Sadly, we're not the only ones as blackpowder supplies have also been hit. Fortunately, not to the same extremes as modern offerings but it's still a hunt.

Check Graf's and son's. They always seem to have some.

 

[ThomasT]

I checked Grafs last night and they were out of all black powder.

I sort of did what the OP wants to do. I bought a Pietta 1858 Sheriffs model with 5" barrel. I got it from Cabelas but it was a fight to get it. I haven't shot it yet. All I have are #11 caps and both the CCI and Remington just fall off the nipples. I tried the socket resizing trick. Forget that. You can pinch them and they will stay on sort of. But I see TOW has replacement nipples that are made for #11 caps. I was going to order them today but we are in the group of N. Texans that lost their power. We were out since 2am last night and it has just came back on and we expect it will go off again.

But given the chance I will order nipples for it and go shoot it when I get the chance. I have lots of real BP and subs and several thousand primers so I can shoot my handguns and rifles for a while. Plus a lot of lead. I kind of wish I had also bought a .36 caliber gun just because they use a little less powder and lead.

The OP is going to like his new adventure. I have been shooting BP for several decades and found it to be very enjoyable.

 

[ThomasT]

OK the TOW nipples have been ordered. So when I get those I should be GTG.

I sure would like to buy one of the Traditions 50 caliber single shot Kentucky pistols to go with my other single shot pistols but my gun fund has really taken a hit the last couple of months. Maybe next month.

 

[arcticap]

Already have a cylinder for the two 58's I have, been wanting to get a steel frame 12 inch Buffalo for years to see how that'd shoot with the conversion cylinder, but never did and now they're gone and I presume won't be available for a long time.

On Jan. 30th, paul ham posted that he wanted to sell either of his two LNIB Buffalo 1858's, one steel frame.
He even posted his phone number to send him a text. --->>> https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/shortage-of-guns.882412/#post-11803954

And Fall Creek Suttlery may still have some guns in stock, but should call first. --->>> http://www.fcsutler.com/fccwrevolvers.asp?

 

[drobs]

https://www.powdervalleyinc.com/product-category/reloading-supplies/powder/black-powder-substitutes/

Is showing all Goex powders in stock to include FFFg. $20 per pound.
$19.95 hazmat + $15.95 shipping.

I would order at minimum 10lbs.

 

[ThomasT]

The best way to order powder is to order 25 pounds from Powder Inc so you get free shipping. I did that a few years ago even though I had a good supply already. I asked a couple of other people if they wanted to go in on the order. One said he wanted 6 pounds and the other wanted 5 pounds. So I ordered the 25 pound case.

Then when it got here and it was time to divvy up the order my buds backed out and one guy bought a pound and the other 2 pounds. So I was left with the rest and the bill for 23 pounds. So now I have 32 pounds of real BP on hand and am glad I have it. I would buy more if I found someone else in this area who wanted to split a case but next time I will get their money up front.

https://powderinc.com/black-powder/

But if you want less than 25 pounds the Powder Vally looks like a deal.

I looked at Grafs again and except for Swiss and Goex Musket they are still out. Has anyone used the Grafs brand powder and how did you like it? I still have some of the Elephant brand I bought from them 25 years ago. It seems to work OK. Never shot it over a Chrono but it always went off.

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/category/categoryId/3501

 

[jdavis123]

Grafs powder was made by Schuetzen but is now made by Goex so, it should be fine. I would keep checking back to Grafs as they wil be one of the first to get supplied because they are one of the largest sellers. I believe that there has been a surge in the interest in BP due to the current threats to gun ownership by the new administration. Guns (especially revolvers). powder, and caps have become increasingly difficult to find and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. My advice is to grab guns and supplies when you see them because they won’t be there when you look back!