BP for HD?

Springfieldkid, perhaps you are confused by the terms. "Cap-and-ball" refers to revolvers ("pistol" is also a historically proper term for cap-and-ball revolvers, and many still refer to "cap-and-ball revolvers" as "cap-and-ball pistols", hence maybe your confusion?). "Cap lock" is the proper term when referring to single shot pistols, rifles, muskets, and shotguns using percussion cap ignition. But, for goodness sake, don't call them "cap guns"!

BTW, many of us who are familiar with black powder arms most likely already knew from the OP's first post that he was referring to a cap-and-ball revolver, since .451" is a ball size used almost exclusively in cap-and-ball revolvers. I wouldn't expect anyone unfamiliar with the subject to know that, or to even know the capabilities of black powder arms in general. Stick around and learn something on the subject, buy a cap-and-ball revolver, and have some real fun while gaining some insite on how well-armed our forefathers really were.
 
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Brian45, this is what I actually said:
But, why is keeping a BP Revolver capped a bad idea? You could keep one chamber unloaded and hammer down on that one or leave it in half cock with 6 chambers. Or do the old "trick it into setting down between nipples" move.
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That doesn't sound like I don't know what I'm talking about. Also, I've always wondering about the half-cock position on the hammer's way down. Isn't that the safe carry position or is it some kind of stop that exists solely as a byproduct of the first stop?

I'm also amazed at how much violent debate this topic has sparked and how amazing it is that a .50 Hawkins couldn't stand up to three guys with AKs. I would'a thought that Hawkins would have won out. Just kidding.
 
XD Gunner said:
Maybe, and Not personally.

I don't like to take unnecessary chances with my, or my loved ones lives. I personally deem a BP pistol an unneeded liability. There are great advancements in handgun reliability, and ammunition type, not too mention handgun power and speed. With all that being said, my HD weapon of choice is a Remington 870 with 00Buck in the waiting, and slugs as backup.

One could argue that it is viable, but there are BETTER tools for the job at hand.
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You are right, there are a huge number a very reilable & very capable firearms out there due to developement & technology that would be better suited as a S/D or even a H/D firearm but I've also had my hands a few sidearms that were supposed to be a great S/D pistol & some of them would jam way too often & just like C&B Revolvers where a possibility of a FTF could occur I've also experienced FTF's with modern store bought ammunitnion to, Through the near 30 years of me using Muzzle loaders including C&B Revolvers I've learned how to load them to be reliable in most weather conditions & accurate to within a resonable distance.

I also agree that there are better tools for the job but if you have one & possibly keep it loaded & you are proficient in it's use, then why not if it was the closest one to get your hands on at the time?
 
I've always wondering about the half-cock position on the hammer's way down. Isn't that the safe carry position or is it some kind of stop that exists solely as a byproduct of the first stop?
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The half cock position is not a safety in any gun. It depends solely on the integrity of the sear, a thin, hardened (and thus brittle) piece of metal in the trigger mechanism. Dropping the gun such that the hammer strikes a hard object could break the sear and allow the hammer to fall. The half cock position is for loading and maintenance only. The only safe position is with the hammer down on an uncapped nipple or open frizzen, or, on some revolvers, a special safety pin/notch between chambers.
 
Also, the few shootings involving a percussion revolver that have happened in the last 12 years in my state always have ended up with "home robber killed after being shot with col. colts equalizer".
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To what would you attribute this amazing 100% lethality performance? Have any citations? I find nothing via Google.
 
I also agree that there are better tools for the job but if you have one & possibly keep it loaded & you are proficient in it's use, then why not if it was the closest one to get your hands on at the time?
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What if you have to reload?
 
What if a cap fragment jams the works after one shot ?
What if the cap pops and No boom ? You would sound like you are shooting a cap gun .....as in toy gun
Granted my black powder guns are not prone to fail , but strange things do happen with them ...like Murphys law ..some of the problems I have had were due to the nature of the beast , other problems have been from poor quality control on the part of the maker .
One might be as well off with a steak knife or a ball bat .
If it were all I had or could have I suppose I would consider it .
Other wise I want the best I can afford to defend my life and the life of my loved ones .
My first choice isn`t cap & ball nor is it made in Italy .
My choice at home is a SXS loaded with 00 buck with 5 extra shells on a stock holder ....its a real crowd pleaser ...hard to beat at close range in the home .
 
What if you have to reload?
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What if the first round ball hits the assailant right between the eyes?

I would just use my 1861 Navy to fight my way to my gun safe and pull out my Thompson M1972A1 with the 100 round drum and proceed to shoot up the whole damn house:D
 
XD Gunner said:
I also agree that there are better tools for the job but if you have one & possibly keep it loaded & you are proficient in it's use, then why not if it was the closest one to get your hands on at the time?
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What if you have to reload?
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In a sence of a Remington designed C&B Revolver the cylinder swap is very easy & can be done faster than even speed loaders for a D/A revolver "in the right hands" but like Madcratebuilder I'd be fighting twords a more formidable modern firearm like my Remington 1100 or one of my .45ACP's for instance.

sundance44s said:
What if a cap fragment jams the works after one shot ?
What if the cap pops and No boom ? You would sound like you are shooting a cap gun .....as in toy gun Granted my black powder guns are not prone to fail , but strange things do happen with them ...like Murphys law ..some of the problems I have had were due to the nature of the beast , other problems have been from poor quality control on the part of the maker .
One might be as well off with a steak knife or a ball bat .
If it were all I had or could have I suppose I would consider it .
Other wise I want the best I can afford to defend my life and the life of my loved ones .
My first choice isn`t cap & ball nor is it made in Italy .
My choice at home is a SXS loaded with 00 buck with 5 extra shells on a stock holder ....its a real crowd pleaser ...hard to beat at close range in the home .
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There is always the possibility of a jam or FTF in all firearms like for instance a stove pipe jam on a semi auto, or just a cartridge that did not have powder in it when the primer was struck, it can happen even in modern firearms.
 
Yes it can be done but why? There are too many possible "murphies" with a c&b and a bp cartridge makes too much smoke to be fired indoors. If you don't do it with the first you will be lucky if you can find the target for the second. There are just too many reliable modern firearms to trust your life and limb to a bp firearm.
 
You can take out alot of the Murphys law with a SXS with 2 triggers , so thats 2 triggers and loads that would have to fail .
Looks like I have my bases covered :D
And with a plus , my SXS is made in the USA and never failed me ......I can`t say that about my Italian made collection .
 
Yes it can be done but why?
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I think this is the consensus here, that it is not the best for the job, but would be more than lethal enough for most situations, and adequate if given no better options.

Are there still places in this country where about all that one can legally possess is a black powder arm? I seem to remember there were a few states back in the 1980s that were that way. Maybe they still are.
 
I believe in new york, BP is pretty close to the only thing you can easily get. I know that in Chicago and Oak Park that you can't even have BPs. And why are were arguing over how to spell defence?
 
For those who like a pistol in each hand, how about one of these in the right hand and a .45 ACP in the left. A 435 grain maxi hunter would be quite an introduction!
 
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Honestly i don't think i would want to keep my revolver for hd. Occasionally the caps don't fire, powder is liable to get wet, its messy, super slow loading... the list goes on. Modern ammunition is much more reliable and when I'm in HD I don't want to question whether or not my gun is going to function.
 
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