Would you open carry a BP revolver?

[45-70 Ranger]

Sounds familiar

This sounds much like a thread on BP for home defense that ran a week or so ago. Now I am not against the use of BP revolvers for defense. In fact, C&B revolvers are all I have for pistols now. But as I read the responces, it sure sounds like many folks are looking to justify their BP revolvers. I think that these weapons spoke for themselves years ago. Kinda loud, but they still do it well. Shucks, have fun with your weapons, be safe, and have fun.

Wade

 

[Foto Joe]

First to answer the question, yes. Also concealed from time to time, an '60 Sheriffs Model loaded with 30gr and RB's. This is a formidable weapon, but normally not my first choice. I have also open carried my Dragoon up in the mountains, but the weight of it tends to tire out the mule I'm riding on.

As far as the quandry of open carry makes you a target, I think that it can go both ways. If someone is pointing a gun at me because they view me as a threat (whether they fire or not), it's highly unlikely that I'm going to draw that weapon and successfully kill them. On the other hand, if I am just like all the other victims in the eyes of the perpetrator, I might just have a chance to live through the experience.

What I DO NOT want to do is make the situation worse. Worse could be getting myself or my loved ones killed. Personally, I don't like to fight fair when it comes to my survival, I will take every advantage that I can, including concealing the fact that I am armed.

My attitude is, if that gun clears leather, someone is going to die and my intention is that it not be me or mine.

Besides, on more than one occasion (one of which led me to being handcuffed by a Federal Marshal), I have been detained simply because I was wearing a visable firearm. Also, if you want to be on every China-Mart security camera within 60 seconds, walk into a big box store with a gun on your hip. Visible guns make people nervous and nervous people can cause you grief, again I reference a Federal Marshal.

 

[nalioth]

Visible guns make people nervous

Which is the primary reason that more folks need to exercise their rights and open carry. The more folks open carrying and not doing anything Hollywoodish will slowly but surely relieve all those frayed nerves.

Sure wish we had OC in Texas (Real OC, not the licensed OC that is currently being discussed in Austin)

 

[Foto Joe]

I am surprised to hear that Texas does not have open carry. Of all the states that do not, Texas is not one I would have guessed. I'm assuming that a Concealed Carry Permit would negate the issue, but how hard are those to obtain in Texas? Also, if you have a CCP are your required to only carry concealed in your state?

 

[nalioth]

I am surprised to hear that Texas does not have open carry. Of all the states that do not, Texas is not one I would have guessed. I'm assuming that a Concealed Carry Permit would negate the issue, but how hard are those to obtain in Texas? Also, if you have a CCP are your required to only carry concealed in your state?

Perhaps you don't read as much of THR as you should

A bill to allow licensed open carry has been introduced in the Texas legislature this term. Right now, only concealed carry is legal with a permit and open carry in public isn't allowed at all.

 

[Foto Joe]

Perhaps you don't read as much of THR as you should

Touche'

"Ignorance is curable, stupidity is not. author unknown

I have fought a life long battle to cure my ignorance, sometimes though it feels like the malady might be terminal.

But seriously, I want to make sure I'm understanding your statement about open carry in public so humor me for a minute. What you're saying as I understand it is: Even with a valid Concealed Weapons Permit recognized by the state of Texas, you are forbidden to open carry and you must have the weapon hidden from view at all times?

Don't get me wrong, I AM NOT trashing Texas here, if it weren't for the summers down there, I'd love to live there.

 

[MCgunner]

The gun cannot be "noticeable to the general public" or something like that. If there's a lump in your pocket, it'd better look like you're happy to see me. They did back off the printing thing a bit, though, just the weapon cannot show, flash, whatever or you can be charged and permit yanked.

For a CHL in Texas, you need 15 hours of instruction/qualification and a background check, finger prints, 2 passport photos, and a blevy of paperwork to be notarized, and 140 bucks, I think it's still, though they have talked of reducing the fee and I think might have. NOW, when I reup, I won't have to take the reup class (12 hours IIRC). I've taken it three times, but they passed a deal that you only need take it every other reup now.

I can carry in a lot of other states that have reciprocity now. Have to go to Oregon this summer and they don't have reciprocity. All the tree hugging libs up there, I guess. I think they have OC, but I'm not going to try that. I figure a NAA mini in the pocket, perhaps, better judged by 12 than carried by 6, and I do have a super companion which I HAVE carried, so I guess I already have carried a cap and ball revolver come to think of it.

 

[Foto Joe]

This is all very interesting and I apolagize for drifting the thread, but I think information like this is important.

Both Arizona (secondary residence) and Wyoming (primary residence) passed Constitutional Carry recently. Basically stating that if you are legally able to own a handgun, then you are also legally within your rights to carry said handgun concealed without any additional permit/license etc. Both states have as far back as I can remember allowed open carry.

Luckily Texas recognizes my CCW's but I will definitely keep in mind that open carry is a no-no, period.

 

[Pulp]

As far as totin' a percussion gun, open or concealed, for a primary self defense gun, no. As much as I love my percussions, for a self defense firearm I'll carry my 1911.

I did keep a '51 Navy knockoff in my truck for awhile. When Oklahoma passed the law that businesses can't keep legal gunowners from having guns in their vehicles in company parking lots, I chose the '51 for the reason that it was the easiest (cheapest) to replace if stolen from my truck. Not a good reason, but it was the best I could come up with at the time.

I have mixed feelings on open carry. I'd like to see it pass in Oklahoma, but even if it does I'll still carry concealed. I'd just feel a bit more comfortable when the wind blows my shirttail up and exposed the gun. Don't take that to read I'm against open carry. I'd love to see it pass in Oklahoma.

 

[MCgunner]

As far as totin' a percussion gun, open or concealed, for a primary self defense gun, no. As much as I love my percussions, for a self defense firearm I'll carry my 1911.

So, you forgo the older antique for the newer antique? Bwaaaa, ha, ha...1911s, not for me. There have been many improvements on JMB's original and I prefer reliable/affordable guns that don't weigh a ton for CCW. Heck, I figure a cap falling off in the hammer isn't any more disabling than a jam in a 1911 jammamatic (had two). I pocket carry either an Ultralite .38 or a modern, proven reliable subcompact high cap 9. I just think it'd be cool to dress up once in a while for a trip to walmart. But, maybe not. Interesting to hear all the opinions, thread drifts aside. If I ever get relocated to the hill country, I can just carry when I'm working around the place, I guess.

 

[scrat]

heck ya. any of them. im sure i would switch around from the WALKER to the 1851 heck ya

 

[Cowboy2]

No. When I carry a gun for self defense, I want the best and most reliable thing I can afford, each and every time. Pistols that have been obsolete for 150 years don't meet that criteria. Shootouts are life and death, I'm not looking for handicaps.

I like BP guns, but they belong at the range and in the woods. If you magically transported all the old gunslingers into the modern world this afternoon, they'd each buy an automatic before the sun set.

 

[rocky branch]

I been using BP revolvers since 1967.

The idea of using one for personal or family defense is delusional if not childish.
Take a toy gun to a gunfight.

I been in combat. It's the quick or the dead.
I've had way too many misfires to ever stake any thing serious on a C&B BP pistol.
Never had a misfire with a modern weapon.
This stuff is real-not some kid game.

 

[DoubleDeuce 1]

I agree with Mykeal, 100 %.

Why make yourself the intial target? If the bad guys don't know who is armed, it complicates things for them. I am in favor of open carry, if that is what makes you feel comfortable. In California, open carry means UNLOADED. It wouldn't take the criminal element long to figure out that those who open carry legally, carry unloaded. There is no way someone will be able to speed load a blackpowder revolver in a critical situation. It just ain't gonna happen. A good crook will be able to look at the face of your cylinder and see the revolver is empty. And don't forget, an adversary can cover approximately 21-24 feet in about a second. Most people would not even be able to clear leather in that amount of time after processing what was happening. The Walter Mitty types would be left mumbling to themselves, spitting out their teeth, and wondering what went wrong. Real life is not what you see on television.

Out hunting or on private property I would be fine with the open carry, loaded or unloaded. But for the sake of strutting around like a peacock in heat and showing off all the brass trim and square backed trigger guards, I know is asking for trouble. There will be someone who will take it from you just to prove they can.

 

[hogshead]

It has never crossed my mind that someone would take my 1858 from me. They may take but you can bet they will be sore.Thing makes a heck of a club when its empty.

 

[cavman]

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/95999354.html

Please provide us with any confirmed incidents where "the bad guy took out the open carriers first in the commission of a crime".

Kind of what you were asking for..

 

[nalioth]

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/95999354.html

Please provide us with any confirmed incidents where "the bad guy took out the open carriers first in the commission of a crime".

Kind of what you were asking for..

From the article:

The president of Wisconsin Carry, Nik Clark, says 100's of thousands of people open carry and he's never heard of anything like this.

"So it really is a very unusual situation, very unique," Clark said.

I will still stand by my statement, as the linked event was a statistical 'blip on the radar'.

 

[Busyhands94]

i dream of a day when i will have a 58 Remington on my hip in public legally. i will need to get out of Cali though. i guarantee nobody would dare screw with you unless they wanted to be jumping over hot coals in hell.

 

[SAA]

i dream of a day when i will have a 58 Remington on my hip in public legally. i will need to get out of Cali though

Not to worry. Carrying a 58 Remington open in public is perfectly legal, as long as it is unloaded and you are not within 1000 feet of a school or in a Federal building.

 

[Cosmoline]

I don't have a cap and ball revolver, but I have open carried my 11 bore blunderbuss and will again this spring.

 

[arcticap]

It does sound like California is only a "psuedo open carry state" and not the type of wholly open carry state that the OP was alluding to when he posted the question.
That California type of open carry sounds like a prescription for how to be
"gun jacked".

 

[Billy Shears]

I been using BP revolvers since 1967.

The idea of using one for personal or family defense is delusional if not childish.
Take a toy gun to a gunfight.

I been in combat. It's the quick or the dead.
I've had way too many misfires to ever stake any thing serious on a C&B BP pistol.
Never had a misfire with a modern weapon.
This stuff is real-not some kid game.

Spot on! I can't believe the number of people here who seem not only willing, but eager to carry a BP revolver for self defense. What in the world for? Self defense is far too serious a matter to engage in flights of fancy or to do something just because it would be "cool" or "fun." BP revolvers are obsolete. They are subject to a whole range of malfunctions that do not plague cartridge revolvers. Caps can slip off the nipples. Fragments of fired caps can fall down between the cylinder and recoil shield, binding up the cylinder. Moisture can invade the chambers. These things don't happen all, or even most of the time, but they can happen, and they can't with modern cartridge firing handguns, loaded with good quality ammo. Pistoleers of Civil War and immediate post Civil War era carried cap and ball guns because there wasn't anything better. You'll note as well that it was also common for many to carry more than one gun, and a large knife as a backup, in case their weapon failed. Once cartridge firing guns had been around long enough to prove their reliability, cap and ball revolvers faded from use rather quickly.

Leave the BP revolvers to recreational shooting. For defending one's life -- and you only have the one to defend, so don't handicap yourself by taking unnecessary chances -- you should choose the best, most modern, most efficient arms available. If you can carry, pick a good modern DA revolver or autoloader.

 

[DuncanSA]

All "might happen" stuff here. BP is fun, but in real life I feel comfortable with my .45
acp tucked away out of view.

 

[One-Time]

If nothing else was available heck yeah, the gun you have is better than the one you dont when you need it

 

[Busyhands94]

i agree with you One-Time, i would rather have a cap and ball revolver than nothing. besides, a .44 round ball at 900 FPS is not exactly a BB gun. sure it is not as good and as reliable as a modern firearm like a 1911 or a glock but if i had to choose between a cap n' ball and nothing i would choose the gun. if you are not allowed to own a modern firearm because you are a minor or a convicted criminal who wants to stay legal then a cap n' ball is better than a pellet gun or a knife.