What are the pros and cons to pre-loading cylinders? Can loaded, un-capped cylinders be safely stored in a controlled environment for any length of time? I’m considering a black powder revolver, along with powder, caps, balls, and a mold as part of a bug out kit. Not as a primary firearm, mind you, but as backup for a back up of a back up. And I like the idea of have two three cylinders pre-loaded.
When I was doing Cowboy Action Shooting, I got into the cap-n-ball subclass, and used Colt style .44 revolvers. Swapping the wedge back and forth for each of the two revolvers, six times as we normally shot 6 courses of fire in a match, was tedious. Not to mention the matching "short barrel" revolver that I used on side matches. So I got five spare cylinders for each revolver, and loaded them up the Friday night before the match. They were stored, uncapped, in groups of three in Rubbermade food containers.
Pro: I used a solid brass wedge and a little wooden mallet instead of the stock wedge to hole the barrel and cylinders in place. It really made for an easy day of shooting, by simply dropping in a fresh cylinder at the loading bench, then capping.
Con: If for some reason moisture had gotten into the container(s) then getting the ball out and cleaning the cylinders would be a real tedious afternoon...depending on how many cylinders were kaput.
I'd really think hard about making a BP revolver part of your "bugout bag". (imho) you'd do better to use a Baker 20 gauge SxS shotgun,
Or a 20 gauge Howda hunter in 20 gauge and .50 caliber, pistol:
Although copies of Remington 1858 revolvers swap out cylinders faster than Colt style repros, it's still not a very viable system even if it's plan C of three plans. You have omitted the need for a
Tap-o-Cap tool, to be able to make your own caps, since caps are fragile. Simply because in a "bugout bag" such a revolver takes up space better used (again imho) for other stuff. Even a "takedown" Ruger 10-22 (perhaps even converted to an SBR) is a better choice. The pair that I mention above do dual duty as they work for SD and for harvesting large and small game, and with the 10-22 suggestion you have small game alone, AND a great many rounds for very little space and weight, and magazine options of more than 10 rounds. They aren't called the "KMart AK" for nuthin'
Now AT a location where you will bug-out to reach and fort up...., where they will be awaiting your arrival, they might have a purpose. I'd definitely find and pair the revolver with a used .45 rifle and have the bore reamed to .475 so I could use pistol ball in it out to 50 yards for deer, and to use shot for small game.
LD