Cap and Ball Revolver For Personal and Home Defense

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Rather be clubbed with a 44 caliber than shot with it. Is it like taking a toy gun to a gun fight? The guns are not modern, but they work just as good today as when they were introduced 150 years ago.And when the cylinder is empty, use it as a club.
IMHO, black powder guns don't get the respect they deserve, since you can't just load bullets in it. Try getting shot with one and see if you are any less dead than if you had had the honor of getting your ass blown away by a more modern firearm. Geez. give me a break.
My, friend, if you are so sure that a black powder 44 is such a timid, toy gun, try standing in front of one like these at the moment the hammer busts a cap on a properly loaded cylinder full of lead and powder: In your final moments, you may have a change of conviction............
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1) I NEVER said that BP guns were "toys". :rolleyes:

2) If a BP gun is all you have for self-defense, than I guess it's better than nothing, still ... if your concern is self-defense, most will agree that there are MUCH better options.

3) It's true that BP guns work "just as good" today as they did 150 years ago ... and so does a knife or a rock to the head. That doesn't necessarily mean it would be my preference for self-defense. :rolleyes:

To each his own, I guess. ;)
 
RemTim said:
The Remmy guys are gathering. By the way, Suzuki Bruce. I believe you own one of those toy 44's like mine. Do you think beating someone up side the head with it will do more damage than if you just, well, blow them away instead?
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AppaloosaSAA-3.jpg


"Colt makes a heavy firearm, that's a fact."

It believe that a Remington is equally massive.
 
1) I NEVER said that BP guns were "toys".
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Nope, but sticks are.:p It is all in good fun my friend.;) We are here to learn and share.:) We can fun every once in a while.:D.

I have to get back to ya'll in in few minutes. I felt so bad for Bam Bam:(, that I am prompted to write his eulogy, It must be properly worded for such a historical icon.:D
 
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Nope, but sticks are.
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... and just as effective for self-defense. :D

Just kidding, Tim.
In all seriousness, the best weapon for self-defense would be that in which you're most proficient. For some, that may be in fact a BP handgun. But it's just been my experience that BP handguns are much more prone to mis-fires than modern cartirdge handguns, thus less reliable.

That may not be a big deal when at the range or hunting, but it's quite different when my a$$ is on the line. ;)
 
Muzzle loaders, including C&B revolvers, have been my main shooting passion for more than 40 years. A clean revolver will remain firable indefinitely. It is the residue of burned black powder that is corrosive. A ball from a c&b revolver is not the 'stopper' we envision in these modern times for something like home defense. Death from those under-powdered (by today's standards) guns came from bleed outs and infection. That is why even the teensy .31 cal. revolvers were so popular. The bad guys really did not want to die a slow, painful and lingering death. Those little pistols were as psychologically intimidating as a .44 mag. would be today.
But, if I had to make a choice, it would be a LeMat revolver and my first shot at the intruder would be from the 20 gauge barrel
 
Here goes my tribute to our fallen friend Bam Bam...............

Good bye, Bam Bam
I am going to miss Bam Bam Rubble,
poor fella got into trouble,
by Dino's advice,
wrath he did entice,
give 'em a rock to the head,
now poor Bam Bam is dead.
If some of you guys are single,
Pebbles is a real cutie to dingle.
A son in law to Fred,
because of a failed rock to the head.
When you are in pleasure so divine,
be sure to thank your comrade Dino at the Firing Line.
Guys, feel free to join in,
saying good bye to a friend.
I'm having writer's block,
because of Bam Bam's rock.

Dino, I thank you for you help and advice, as always. I just love giggling.:D

BP handguns are much more prone to mis-fires than modern cartirdge handguns, thus less reliable.
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A variable factor dependent on the amount of love, care and devotion given to it by its owner.
Mine ain't failed yet.
What about your guns?:cool::cool:
But it's just been my experience that BP handguns are much more prone to mis-fires than modern cartirdge handguns, thus less reliable.
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Sounds like you don't love them very much or perhaps you are doing something wrong..;)
Yer move, varmit!!!
cowboypistol.gif
 
In all seriousness, I hope everyone one here enjoys this place as much as I do. You guys are a riot!!!:D
My wife just told me the were all a bunch of old men sitting around talking s$!@ and arguing. I know we ain't all old, just me.:D But anyway, I sure enjoy your company, We are all brothers not matter what your preferred weapon is.
How can we learn if we don't pick a fight every once in while in our pursuit of black powder perfection?:confused:
 
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Quote:
BP handguns are much more prone to mis-fires than modern cartirdge handguns, thus less reliable.

A variable factor dependent on the amount of love, care and devotion given to it by its owner.
Mine ain't failed yet.
What about your guns?
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Hmm, so all I have to do is declare my love, care, and devotion, and my gun will miraculously become reliable? ... Sorry, I'm not buying it. It didn't work with my first wife, I seriously doubt it'll work with my gun. :D

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But it's just been my experience that BP handguns are much more prone to mis-fires than modern cartirdge handguns, thus less reliable.

Sounds like you don't love them very much or perhaps you are doing something wrong..
Yer move, varmit!!!
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Oh, I do love them!
I love how they look and they're loads of fun to shoot, but at the end of the day, guns are tools and well ... some tools are just better than others for certain jobs. ;)
 
I need some help here, guys!!:o

Yea but I'll take my Remmies over your rock any day of the weeK!!!
cowboypistol.gif

and Bam Bam is gone gone because you told him to git a rock and stick and come kick my ass!! Varmit!!!
cowboypistol.gif

How can you live with yourself!!:( I know what it is, you were after Pebbles!!:D
 
Never mind, boys. His ass is mine!!!
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You got mice in your pocket? :D

Seriously Tim ... even Wild Bill Hickok knew that black powder had it's limitations.
And that was 150 years ago. :p
 
2 points here dino

1. it is a proven fact that revolvers are more reliable than autos, more accurate and more powerful. a black powder revolver loaded properly and well maintained will fire just as reliably as any other revolver.

2. the .45 long colt was a direct copy of the .44 cal black powder c&b load. same powder and ballistics as a cap and ball just faster on the reload. also it is a fact that the .45acp was designed to mimic the ballistics of the 45lc cart. so the .44 (.454) cap and ball is no less effective as a man stopper than the .45acp. thats a fact, jack. look it up...

do some ballistics research before you go spouting off your opinions. i have had several .45 acp pistols and the black powder has always been more accurate and reliable than any one of them. and if 6 .454 lead balls doesn't stop mr. perp, i doubt 7 .45acp will...
 
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it is a proven fact that revolvers are more reliable than autos, more accurate and more powerful. a black powder revolver loaded properly and well maintained will fire just as reliably as any other revolver.

2. the .45 long colt was a direct copy of the .44 cal black powder c&b load. same powder and ballistics as a cap and ball just faster on the reload. also it is a fact that the .45acp was designed to mimic the ballistics of the 45lc cart. so the .44 (.454) cap and ball is no less effective as a man stopper than the .45acp. thats a fact, jack. look it up...

do some ballistics research before you go spouting off your opinions. i have had several .45 acp pistols and the black powder has always been more accurate and reliable than any one of them. and if 6 .454 lead balls doesn't stop mr. perp, i doubt 7 .45acp will...
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What he said.:p
 
You want reliability?

It just so happens that a reliability thread was just posted at TGO:

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/c...liability-percussion-revolver.html#post530156

I've read on several other forums where some people have said they wouldn't trust a Colt or Remington black powder revolver for anything past being an amusing range toy, due to them being "unreliable".

I have one such gun, a Remington 1858 New Army clone, that I figure some of you might have an interest in hearing about, regarding that.

It's an Uberti, with a 5 - 1/2 inch barrel, that I've had for a few years now. I've tuned it up, "aged" the finish, and pretty much keep it as my house and yard gun. I also keep it loaded at all times, sometimes for 4 or 5 months between firings.

Knowing how y'all love pics, here it is:

I have to say, the only time this gun hasn't fired was once when I was experimenting with various ways of sealing the caps, to waterproof the thing. Managed to contaminate the primers and had to re-cap to get it to fire. Oh well, no big deal. In the end, I discovered it didn't need sealing, unless I planned on going swimming with it. ( I don't. )

Yesterday I happened to remember that I hadn't had the thing out in a while, so I went and got it from it's usual resting place... and discovered that all the rain and humidity here lately had done some ugliness.

There was rust in the bolt notches, along the back of the frame beside the hammer... and the caps were all turning a nice shade of green. ( This color --> )

I was sure it wasn't going to fire, or at best, produce a squib if it did go off.

Well, upon taking it outside and very slowly and carefully pulling the trigger on each chamber, every round fired. There was no difference in how it acted, after sitting for 2 or 3 months, and turning all sorts of interesting colors, than if I had just loaded it.

And here's the funny part: It wasn't even loaded with real BP, or even pyrodex. I last loaded it with APP... American Pioneer Powder. A powder substitute that's notorious for sucking water out of the air. And it was all loaded without lube, wads, patches or sealants. Nothing more than powder, caps and balls.

So I have to say if anybody has ever doubted the reliability of a percussion gun... Don't. If they're loaded even halfway right, and aren't kept in a bucket of water, they'll go "bang" just as readily as any modern gun will, no matter how long they've been sitting.

Oh, and after cleaning up all the rust and grunge, mine is reloaded and back in it's usual spot.

I'll have to try and remember to check it a little more frequently, but I know that even if I don't, it'll still do it's job when I need it to.

J.
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2 points here dino

1. it is a proven fact that revolvers are more reliable than autos, more accurate and more powerful. a black powder revolver loaded properly and well maintained will fire just as reliably as any other revolver.

2. the .45 long colt was a direct copy of the .44 cal black powder c&b load. same powder and ballistics as a cap and ball just faster on the reload. also it is a fact that the .45acp was designed to mimic the ballistics of the 45lc cart. so the .44 (.454) cap and ball is no less effective as a man stopper than the .45acp. thats a fact, jack. look it up...

do some ballistics research before you go spouting off your opinions. i have had several .45 acp pistols and the black powder has always been more accurate and reliable than any one of them. and if 6 .454 lead balls doesn't stop mr. perp, i doubt 7 .45acp will...
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1) Nobody said anything about semi-autos vs. revolvers ...
I guess when someone here disagrees, it's customary to mis-quote them
and/or put words in their mouth? :confused:

2) Your so-called "ballistics research" don't mean jack in a gun that is prone
to mis-fire. And even in the event that luck be on your side and your gun
does actually fire, do you seriously think a lead ball is more effective than
a hollow-point bullet? :rolleyes:

And since you brought up the subject of semi-automatics, let's go
there and discuss capacity ... Would you rather pack FIVE cap and ball
handguns, or one magazine? Let me guess ... you only need one shot,
right? :rolleyes:

As for "spouting off" opinons ...
At least my opinions won't mis-lead people into a false sense
of security in thinking that thier cap and ball handgun is providing them
with adequate protection for the purpose of self-defense. ;)
 
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