Looking at getting a BP wheelgun

[cleardiddion]

So, I've recently gotten into collection handguns; more specifically I've come to adore wheelguns in the proccess.

I figure, if I'm going to go ahead and try to satisfy this new found hunger for revolvers I may as well go ahead and start off old school. Plus, as far as I understand, BP is not considered an actual firearm by the federal government and they tend to be a bit cheaper than modern center/rimfire firearms. As a eat or shoot college student, this is rather appealing.

So, I suppose what I'm asking of the BP section, is to help me pick out a BP wheelgun for a beginner somewhere around a $200 budget if that's possible.

Thanks in advance for the replies!

 

[Donny]

wheel gun

Even cap and ball guns have gone up in price lately but you can still get good quality brass framed revolvers for less than $200 at Cabelas. Many will try to advise you not to buy a brass framed revolver and instead buy a steel framed one. This is not bad advise but most if not all steel framed revolvers are well over $200 in price now. I have 4 brass frames revolvers and all are sound, safe and servisable guns. What you need to know is that they will not last long if you use heavy powder charges on a consistant basis. I regularly use 25 grains of Pyrodex P in my .44 cal brass framed revolvers and have had no signs of excessive wear or damage. However, charges of 30 grains or more will quickly stretch the frame and render it a wall hanger. Even with just 25 grains of powder the gun is quite potent and accurate. Heavy conical bullets may also stress the frame so I've only used round ball in mine. Other than that you just need to clean thouroghly and religiously after each shooting session and a brass framed gun should last many, many years.

Good Luck,

Don

 

[cleardiddion]

Just out of curiosity, would this be a good deal?:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...parentType=index&parentId=cat20817&id=0006186

 

[Smokin_Gun]

Get yourself a Remington 1858 NMA .44 in 7 1/2" or 5 1/2" barrel you won't be sorry. Period correct is a Steel Frame 7 1/2" bbl.
Google Cabelas, Traditions, EMF, Taylors, Cimarron, Midway, or S and S Firearms, to name a few. All have websites and mail order of various models of C&B revolvers. Welcome to the Club...whichever you buy there will be a second one at least:O)

SG

 

[Donny]

revolver

Yes, thats a good deal and a great way to get your feet wet. If after getting it you decide that BP revolvers are too much work then you havn't busted the bank and I'll buy it off you, at a discount of course.

Don

 

[mykeal]

Cabela's has a Pietta 1858 Remington New Army (.44 cal) on sale for $190, down from a regular price of $220. It's a steel frame and a better deal by far. The item number is 9IS-210082.

 

[pohill]

It's not a bad deal but I'd hesitate getting a brass frame in .44 caliber. I've seen what happens to brass from a .36. Like Donny said, keep the charges low and you'll probably be OK.

Also, this is not quite true:

It has a brass frame like those used by the Confederacy

The South used brass but never in .44 caliber. And the Colt 1851 Navy was never made in brass.

There's some pretty good deals out there on used BP revolvers.

 

[cleardiddion]

Just out curiosity, are there any recommended blackpowder sites?

 

[RSVP2RIP]

dixiegunworks.com
trackofthewolf.com
thegunworks.com

There are several others but if you can't find it at these places, you probably don't need it.

 

[Donny]

Revolver

Pohill.

I have one revolver in .36 brass frame and have put little through it and I already have slight damage to the recoil shield. I have put many more rounds through my .44's with no sign of damage. As with my .44's I used reduced loads with the .36. I can't agree that the .44's would be more vulnerable. I think Mykeal's suggestion is a good one. If he can afford $190 plus shipping it will be better but if that still is too much $ then he will be well served by the brass framed gun. As someone else pointed out, its likely it won't be his last revolver.

Don

 

[pohill]

I gotta admit that I've never owned or fired a .44 caliber brass framed BP gun. I see what a BP load under 20 grs does to a brass gun, so I assumed (there's that nasty word again) that a larger load would do more damage. If you say that your .44 is holding up well, I believe you. If that's the case, $129 is a great deal on a new gun.
This is the recoil shield of a Spiller & Burr that I have (I bought it like this). Someone abused the heck out of it.
Then again, this is the gun that might be an original (no, not that gun again). I'm kidding.

 

[madcratebuilder]

That brass frame Colt is a good price, and if you keep the loads light it should be an OK shooter. I have three brass frame revolvers, two in 36 and one 44. I keep the loads light and I'm not showing any wear on the recoil shield....yet. I think for starting out in BP, a steel frame, like a 1858 Remington would be a safer choice. Brass or steel, they are fun to shoot.

 

[tx gun runner]

I need money and are going to sell these cons number . They a super shooter . 2 guns and loading press $625 shipped . less that 6 mo old in like new condition .

 

[cleardiddion]

Those look rather nice tn gun runner, but sadly, as a college student it's kinda hard for me to scrape up that much cash. Best of luck though!

 

[scrat]

Cleard its a good idea before purchasing a bp revolver. go to the first post on this site. black powder essentials. Then go through and look through the information. You will be able to get all the information on learning about black powder revolvers. its important to know and understand black powder pistols. As they are not like regular guns. Most people who shoot regular guns are used to putting in bullets and pulling the trigger in a few seconds. However black powder revolvers can take up to 5 minutes to properly load. the maintenance is a little longer. Im not telling you this to discourage from buying one. its imporatant to know what a black powder revolver is all about before purchasing one. otherwise in a few months like others you will be coming here to try and sell a very good condition black powder revolver.

 

[cleardiddion]

I've been slowly digesting in information as time allows.
I tend to lean towards soviet surplus so I figure I'm close enough to BP already.

 

[CAMPBELL49T]

Muzzleman

I have 2 mosin nagant rifles, the long ifantry with bayonet and the short non bayonet one. Which was for tankers and cannon cockers. Also a mosin nagant pistol. They are fun and part of history. But i still like all my smoke poles

 

[madcratebuilder]

I've been slowly digesting in information as time allows.
I tend to lean towards soviet surplus so I figure I'm close enough to BP already.

Cabela's is going to be your best price right now. They have several bp revolvers on sale. The used stuff on gunbroker is starting at higher prices than what Cabela's has listed. I would recommend staying away from the 'starter kits', it's cheap stuff. If you end up with a revolver, PM me and I'll send you a capper and a nipple wrench, I have a lot of them, they breed in my safe at night.

 

[Snowdog]

Pietta 1858 Remington New Army

These were among the best going at the time of my purchase (from Cabelas) a few years back and I still love mine wholeheartedly today.
I figured the extra investment of a few dollars for the steel frame (and topstrap). Years later, my Pietta '58 Army has seen hundreds of .457gr round ball over 30-35 grains of Pyrodex Pistol with no wear to show for it. A friend who puchased the brass frame 1858 Remington "Buffalo" model with the 12" barrel at around the same time that saw identical loads now keeps his as a wall hanger as the root word "time" has apparently been lost on this revolvers timing.