I bet you guys eat this up

J

JenniPooh

Inactive
I bought my husband what I thought was a regular antique replica pistol. It's not. It's a 1851 Cofederate Navy .44 Caliber Revolver replica thats made by F.LLI PIETTA. I had no idea that it doesn't use bullets. The b@$t@rd that sold it to me informed me today they don't make bullets for it when I tried to buy a box. It's a blackpowder muzzle loading pistol, instead of bullets I know have to buy a whole list of stuff that'll probly cost as much as the gun. It just so happens the store will not take returns on firearms that aren't broken. It's hard to believe they didn't screw me over because I'm a woman and don't know crap about guns. I need to know what to get to make the gun perform as good as a regular pistol. That is if my husband can even load it, which I doubt. Somebody please help me make this $200.00(and growing) mistake shoot before Christmas!!!!!

JenniPooh
jamieandjenn@bellsouth.net
 
Welcome to the Forums young lady.
That revolver will make a fine Christmas present for your husband, here is a few things that he'll need to go along with it.

Does he have any cleaning equipment for other firearms?
If he does then he'll need:

Nipple Wrench = http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=7624

Powder Measure = http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0003249210263a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntt=powder+measure.&Ntk=Products&sort=all&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

.454 Round Ball = http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat602007-cat603821_TGP&id=0040403212649a&navCount=9&podId=0040403&parentId=cat603821&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

Percussion caps = http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0006579210239a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntt=percussion+caps&Ntk=Products&sort=all&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

Goex FFFG Black Powder = http://www.powderinc.com/catalog/order.htm

Or Pyrodex P. = http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat602007-cat601638&id=0012634210235a&navCount=15&podId=0012634210235&parentId=cat601638&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=QZ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

Wads to go under the ball = http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat602007-cat603824&id=0054090216538a&navCount=20&podId=0054090&parentId=cat603824&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

Or he could just use a little Bore butter over the ball = http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0006158210247a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntt=bore+butter&Ntk=Product_liberal&sort=all&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

That will get him shooting & the Powder Inc. link is for buying the Black Powder in bulk, many gun shops & some Walmarts will have Pyrodex P so you can get that to shoot in that revolver just fine.

Also you can read this thread here & it'll give you a lot of information.
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=207028
 
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OK guys, let's keep it nice in here please, this is a real firearm it just needs a few things to make it function compared to one that just take cartridges tis all.
 
Here is the problem with this pistol, Miss Jenni.
As a muzzleloader, the powder that is used is corrosive.
This means, that any time you shoot the pistol you have to clean it.
If you take even one shot, you have to clean it, and this involves taking the gun all apart. Maybe 20 different little pieces to wash in the sink with hot soapy water.
Takes 20 minutes and is a stinking mess.
You take a few shots one day, you are in a hurry, you don't clean the pistol, you stick it in a drawer.
A month later you remember you need to clean the gun, you pull it out of the drawer, it is a hunk of rusty crap! The pistol is ruined 'cause you didn't clean it.

It is "Love it or Leave it" with these old time pistols, loading them is not too bad but cleaning them is a mess.

If you buy a modern revolver, you can shoot a whole box of shells and not clean it, the modern cartridges are not corrosive.

The gun is beautiful, hang it on the wall and buy your husband a nice .22 or .38 revolver.

Since you like the looks of the old time guns, get him the Ruger Single Six. This is a .22 revolver that looks like the old time cowboy guns, rugged, reliable and accurate, shoots regular modern cartridges, any guy would love to have a Ruger Single Six.
 
As usual, Simon is a little over the top. Yes, it is necessary to clean the gun after shooting it, something one should do with cartridge firearms as well. It is NOT, however, necessary to take it completely apart to do so. A complete teardown and cleaning is certainly recommended on a regular basis, how often depending on how often the gun is used, but certainly NOT every time. Which, by the way, is exactly how one should treat any fine, expensive firearm, black powder or smokeless powder.
 
Any time you shoot the cap and ball pistol you have to, at least, take out the cylinder and remove the nipples. That is 10 pieces, counting the wedge, barrel and receiver.
You MUST do at least this much every time you shoot it, even if you only take a few shots.
And this minimal cleaning does take 20 minutes.
Some guys do a complete teardown after every shooting, which does get up to around 20 pieces, and takes even longer.

And any way you slice it, just removing and cleaning the cylinder and nipples and barrel is a stinking mess.

You certainly don't need to clean a modern pistol every time you shoot it. You could shoot a modern pistol a dozen times over the course of a year, and not clean it, and no harm would come to the gun. And when you do clean a modern pistol it is nowhere near the mess of cleaning a muzzleloading pistol.


Mykeal don't let your love of the old-time pistols cloud your description of what a hassle they are to clean, when compared to a modern revolver.

I have given this girl a fair and accurate comparison of the cap and ball vs. the modern pistol.

Mykeal why are you tossing the personal insults my way?
 
It doesn't take me that long to clean any of my C&B revolvers when I only remove the barrel assembly, cylinder from the frame & then the nipples.

I use hot soapy water to clean in a 5 gallon bucket then change the water to rinse all, then use WD40 to displace the water from everything & dry patches to get everything dry.

Then I'll use Ballistol in & on everything to lubricate & protect & reassemble.

About once every 6 or so months I'll disassemble my revolvers completely to just check everything but most times I really don't need to because they come out clean & in great condition, & I've been doing that for over 25 years with only a few springs "that through time & use" have been broken.

On a normal basis I'll go through 400 shots minimum in either of my revolvers.
 
robhof

You also might check at the store you bought it and see if they have a b/p pistol starter kit; it will have everything, but the powder and caps, just be sure it is for the caliber of the pistol, as the kits are caliber specific. There are many advantages to the b/p guns; cheaper to fire, no registration hassle in most states and it's not even classed as a firearm in some states. Good luck.
 
I`d say take it back and talk to the manager if you have too ..if they won`t give you your money back you should at least be able to get a store credit for the price .
Your husband might enjoy the store credit also .
If a man hasn`t shown a desire to own a cap & ball revolver he more than likely doesn`t want one .
They are alot of trouble to load and clean and such .
 
mykeal said:
As usual, Simon is a little over the top.
Click to expand...

Just a little. Simon, you make it sound like drudgery, cleaning is part of the black powder experience, embrace it, make it your friend.


Raider2000 said:
It doesn't take me that long to clean any of my C&B revolvers when I only remove the barrel assembly, cylinder from the frame & then the nipples.

I use hot soapy water to clean in a 5 gallon bucket then change the water to rinse all, then use WD40 to displace the water from everything & dry patches to get everything dry.

Then I'll use Ballistol in & on everything to lubricate & protect & reassemble.
Click to expand...

I use a similar procedure, it's not much more time consuming that a modern smokeless revolver.

You need to know that black powder can be very addictive and this gift may led to other revolvers.
 
Jenni, reguardless of what the others say, I would like to offer some congratulations to you for at least being interested in your husbands' shooting.

Shooting a cap and ball revolver can be a fun experience and I would hope you really enjoy it. I would see if they have the starter kit, caps, balls and powder. Although I would probably go to another shop if you feel the guys at the original place took advantage of you.

When you go, just take the information about the gun with you and a knowledgeable sales person should be able to help you.

Have fun, shoot straight and never give up.
 
Welcome JenniPooh,
Another drawback to cap and ball firearms is they can't be easily unloaded. To unload them you need to fire them until empty or buy a co2 unloader which is messy and unreliable.
 
Here's the Cabela's starter kit:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...h/search-box.jsp.form1&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

But I would wait until your husband receives the gun and decides what he wants to do with it.
I agree with Springfield Kid that the gun shop owner may give your husband store credit to allow him to trade up or to purchase something else. And your husband may just know more about C&B pistols than you realize and he'll be more than happy with your gift selection.
Give it time and somehow everything will work out.
Don't worry, be happy! :)
 
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I bet he likes it - C&B revolvers are a blast to shoot IMO. Get one of the inexpensive starter kits and some Pyrodex P and he's on his way. It gets even easier if you use the Pyrodex Pellets made for a revolver but I actually enjoy the loading process.
 
JenniPooh,

At my wife's suggestion I bought an 1858 Remington replica by Pietta on July 5th this year. I didn't know anything about what a cap & ball revolver is (it's not actually a muzzleloader), anything about maintaining or firing it, and my wife expected I'd hang it on a wall somewhere.

I got online, found this forum and another one where there were knowledgeable people, and learned how to use it. Frankly, I *LOVE* my gun (I even named it after my momma and my wife).

Yes, I had to buy some supplies - every gun needs them.
Yes, I had to learn how to load and maintain it - every gun needs this, too.
Yes, I clean it after I use it (basic cleaning after each use and a good thorough cleaning every now and then) - every gun has to be cleaned, too, though maybe not as often.

Frankly I've enjoyed shooting it more than the more modern pistols that use chambered cartridges. At this point I've shot over 700 rounds through her, and the joy and pleasure of seeing the smoke & flames belch out of "Judy Kay" - as well as the looks of awe I see on the faces of other people at the shooting range - is well worth the time spent loading or cleaning it.

I've found that though it takes me more time to load her, I get to savor the experience of shooting her at the range a lot more than those people who simply show up, shoot BLAM, BLAM, BLAM, BLAM, BLAM, BLAM, as fast as they can and then leave. She's accurate and pretty (I have a brass frame), and contrary to what's been suggested by some, she's a *real* gun.

I've made a ton of new friends. I go out every couple of weeks with a group of "Cowboy Action Shooters" - many who have 1851s. We have a great time shooting!!!

People have their preferences, and I have no idea what your husband will or won't like. I don't blame you at all if you want to fight for the right to return it and get another kind of pistol (there are many great ones out there). However, for my part "Judy Kay" has been one of the best things my wife has ever given me!!
 
It really depends on what purpose the gun is intended to serve. If it's strictly a hobby thing & he likes to putter around, he may love it. If he wants a nightstand gun for home defense it is a very poor choice. If he might like to take quick, short trips to a firing range often, it's going to be more hassle then he will want to put up with.
 
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