Help me get started please!

[DrDanke]

By a stroke of luck, an uncle has 2 Navy type replica .36 caliber revolvers and he said he would let me have one. It don't have any instruction manual or anything, but it can't take a rocket scientist to shoot this thing.

What am I gonna need to shoot this thing?

Here's my checklist thus far:

Powder Flask
Powder Measure
.36 caliber round balls
Percussion Caps

What kind of powder should I use? FFG or FFFG? I'm thinking I am going to use a BP substitute, as I don't think gander mountain would have real BP?

Hodgedon Triple 7, Pyrodex P, are all of these good? I don't know which they would have in stock, but would either of these work fine?

What else do I need? Should I use wads between the powder and ball? What kind of lube should I use over the ball to prevent chainfires? Will TC Bore Butter work for that? Gander Mountain has plenty of Bore Butter. I noticed the bore butter wasn't as messy as using grease or crisco, I like that, but the tube didn't specifically mention that it can be used as cylinder sealer.

I can use any guidance you can give me to get started.

Is it better to put something between the powder and ball? I know you don't have to, but what are the benefits?

Quoted from a website "The basic load for the .36 is 15 to 20 grains of 3F".. Is this statement true? Is Pyrodex P considered 3F ? Can anyone give me or confirm how many grains of powder is standard for .36 caliber.

 

[DrDanke]

Is there a good online newbie guide to shooting BP revolvers?

 

[4v50 Gary]

check out these links here

Where to start #1 You want to read uglycat (Gatofeo) posts as they are very informative.

Where to start thread #2 Again, check out Gatofeo's post there.

They're pretty good places to start. Please feel free to post any questions you have after you read these two threads and welcome to the Black Powder community.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

As another newbie, I asked the questions about the Walker.

My approach has been to milk the old posts here reading about every one trying to learn. I hit the old firing line, SASSnet sit, lots of google search and then tried to assimilate it all together. My conclusion is it looks like a very fun sport and I am looking forward to getting my first revolver. I still need to research more and understand it better!

Probably this fall I will get a Walker (yes I know I should not, but its a Texas thing) or a Dragoon from Uberti. Now I am just sort of cruising the gun stores and the internet learning before I try out my book knowledge with some old fashioned personal experience.

 

[Gatofeo]

DrDanke, you will need:

a. FFFG black powder or Pyrodex P. I have no experience with others.
b. Caps, either No. 10 or 11. Buy both to find out which size best fits on the nipples.
c. Buy .380 inch balls if you find them, but if you can't then get .375 inch balls. The .380 are usually more accurate, however.
d. Stiff felt wads. Ox-Yoke makes some called Wonder wads. Melt some Crisco or lard in a can and soak the wads in them a bit. Wonder Wads claim their dry lubricant works fine but I've found it lacking. The addition of a moist lubricant like Crisco or lard keeps the fouling softer, which aids accuracy.
e. A long cleaning rod with .40-caliber brushes and a .38-caliber patch holder, for cleaning.
f. A small bottle of soapy water for cleaning at the range. You may add a little alcohol to the water if you like. You don't need some fancy black powder cleaner.
g. Assortment of brushes, both the side-sidescrubbing and the bottle variety. But you need very small bottle brushes to get into tight spaces inside the frame when you do a major cleaning.
h. Small tube of Crisco or black powder lubricant to place on cylinder pin and keep it from binding with fouling.
i. A medium sized fishing tackle box to keep your stuff together.
J. Nipple wrench, to screw nipples out of cylinder for cleaning.

Visit my other posts. I elaborate on this stuff but this will give you an idea. Keep in mind that the Colt design almost always shoots high at 25 yards. Find an accurate load first, before you starting filing on sights.