so guys i have two 1851 colt navy's 36 caliber and a carbine rifle 1866 remington revolving carbine in 44 caliber 18in barrel and i might be out in the rain hunting some this fall season so what do you guys do to waterproof your BP guns?? thanks!!
thats a cool idea thanks, never thought of that before!An old trick we used 35 years ago was to put clear fingernail polish around the edge of the cap where it overlaps the nipple, and grease over the ball.
Did the same with a Flintlock pistol and rifle, around the pan/frizzen joint and between the frizzen and the bbl. Both worked really well in the rain and wet. With the Flinters, if you could get a spark (and they will spark in the rain) it'd go BOOM in the rain.
Beeswax.
This rants a bit but has some photos unlike most discussions, and has some other useful hints:
https://blackpowderguide.com/how-to-waterproof-a-cap-and-ball-revolver/
I had never heard of better nipples providing better waterproofing, but it's good info.
Note that many candles and other formerly-wax things are not great waxes so old school methods don not always work with modern materials. I also think dripping from a lit candle is sorta asking for it with BP but maybe I am paranoid. Anyway, go out of your way to buy proper beeswax for this purpose alone. I also have some on hand for woodworking etc. I like it.
If you have beeswax lube (tallow and wax) that can work also, but make sure it's stiff enough to stay in place.
Also: this will be more water resistant, and is likely a good idea even in super humid areas. If actually pouring rain, you also want to keep the gun from direct exposure. Keep under a coat, in a flapped holster, etc.
For long arms you can get lock covers (or action covers, etc). These are authentic, period correct things, okay to use even if trying to stay that way. Most are leather, some were (not sure if anyone makes such today) waxed fabric. Make sure it is treated to be weatherproof, dry it properly between uses etc. Also look at how it fits, and make sure you don't carry so that water runs into it. If not trying to be period correct, I bet you can easily sew (or have sewn) the same out of modern fabrics, with modern fasteners to be quicker releasing as well.
I have also seen covers themselves once or twice, waxed onto the action. But that may be a bit much, will leave a rim to be removed later on if you want to keep the gun pretty
Tucked it up under your shirt?I leaned an old pallet against a tree and put my Hawken on it and sprayed it down good with a water hose. I let it sit there for about 15 minutes and fired it to prove to my BIL a sidelock wouldn't misfire in wet weather. I didn't do anything any different than I normally do. I've loaded and fired my 51 navy in a light rain without any cover. Safety anal people probably don't want to know how I did it.
Tucked it up under your shirt?
Well if the caps were not on it then I don't see a thing wrong with it. People get all bent out of shape over nothing. My wife still flips out when I look at a used rifle by checking to see that the breach is clear then looking down the bore from the muzzle end holding a white piece of paper up to the breachNo but I was looking down the muzzle of a loaded gun. Well not really loaded since a C&B revolver isn't loaded until its capped but you know what I mean.
Well if the caps were not on it then I don't see a thing wrong with it. People get all bent out of shape over nothing. My wife still flips out when I look at a used rifle by checking to see that the breach is clear then looking down the bore from the muzzle end holding a white piece of paper up to the breach
This.Holster with a flap...don't pull it out till your ready...
That’s what Colonel Cooper called a “half loaded” gun. When he wanted to tweak someone’s nose…No but I was looking down the muzzle of a loaded gun. Well not really loaded since a C&B revolver isn't loaded until its capped but you know what I mean.
That’s what Colonel Cooper called a “half loaded” gun. When he wanted to tweak someone’s nose…