Ive read the primer about brass frames.......

[aaronrkelly]

.......but that aside what kind of life can you expect out of the brass framed guns. Seems I may be getting one for Christmas......from a family member.

Im more of a collector then a shooter (for most of my guns). I have many WWII weapons that I basically shoot once (check for function) then clean and store.

Mostly this BP revolver will see the same service. Perhaps get shot a little more when my son gets a little older.....but likely less than 50 rounds a year.

Should I expect it to hold up reasonably to limited shooting.......

 

[mec]

bates started out with a brass frame navy about 40 years ago. He shot jackrabbits with it. Shot it a lot. shot it loose. screwed the arbor in a turn and shot it loose again. Got away with that twice before it quit altogether. One guy reported he was seating a tight ball in his remington and the frame colapsed at the lower front where the remingtons don't have much metal.

The author of The Black Powder Plainsman said his brass framed guns were shot quite a lot and never had any problems . He loaded no more than 28 grains of black or pyrodex. 28 gr/vol pyrodex is a fairly stout load and it might be better to find a lighter charge than that.

 

[bakert]

I don't really know how true it was back then or today but remember reading quite a few years ago that some gunsmiths expected about 800 or so shots before a brass framed gun really loosened up. A large number of people that buy one just to have it will never shoot one that much. Only shooting 50 rds or so a year, the gun would last a pretty long time. Also like mec said, the powder charges used would probably make a big difference.

 

[J.T. Gerrity]

Have had one of my .44 cal brass framed Navies for over ten years now, and I'm sure I've put over a thousand rounds thru it. It has loosened to the point where the wedge goes in pretty far, but is still very shootable. The trick is to never exceed 20-25 grains of powder, using filler to take up chamber space. I'd say no problems for many, many years with the shooting schedule you mention.

 

[aaronrkelly]

Thanks......I appreciate the responses.