New to Black Powder and have a few questions.

B

Bpcurious

New member
Hello :D

I looked through this forum a bit and found a lot of useful information. Thank you all!

I own several firearms already, but like a bolt of lightning out of the sky I suddenly have an inexplicable desire to own a black powder revolver! The problem is I know nothing about such things :eek:

So my question is: What company(s) makes high quality replicas that won't break the bank and would be good for a beginner?

Any other advice on black powder firearms in general or good sources of information are appreciated! I'm starting at square one here, very limited knowledge of BP firearms.

Thank you :)
 
Many years ago I picked up alot of black powder info from the Dixie Gunworks catalog also The Black Powder Bible was good. Enjoy.
 
There are stickieson most of the BP forum sites that will answer your questions. The " So you want a cap and ball revolver? " thread at the top of this page is a good start. Blackpowder for Dummies by George Baylor (http://www.curtrich.com/bpsubsdummies.html) is another source for the beginner. You can also find threads on CasCity and The High Road forums.
 
Try out any of the Pietta or Uberti offerings. In general they are of excellent quality and reliability but there's always a lemon here and there from both of them. Stick with the pocket or holster sized revolvers before playing with the horse pistols.

Cabela's has a number of them on sale right now. Buy one and then we'll help you get the stuff to go with it so you can make some smoke.
 
No brass frame

Since you are a newbie stay away from any BP revolver with a brass frame as they are not as strong. A brass grip frame will make little difference but the brass frames stretch. Go to the C store and pick one out and soon you will succumb to a Uberti Walker and their gentle push in your hand.
 
What's wrong with a Pietta Griswold & Gunnison in .36 with a brass frame?

Not going to shoot that one loose with round ball and 24 grains of real BP.
 
What's wrong with a Pietta Griswold & Gunnison in .36 with a brass frame?

Not going to shoot that one loose with round ball and 24 grains of real BP.
Click to expand...

What makes it so special? I'd like to have a G&G but I wouldn't go over 15 grains.
 
I think it's not so much that the frames stretch so much as the cylinder rams into the frame and peens it, eventually sinking into the frame face.

Steve
 
I think it's not so much that the frames stretch so much as the cylinder rams into the frame and peens it, eventually sinking into the frame face.
Click to expand...

That's the biggest thing but the frames do stretch some.
 
My 9 year old daughter shoots her G&G with 20 grains regularly and has yet to peen the frame. I've shot it a few times with 24 grain charges with no ill effects but it's hard to get the ball seated proper with that much powder. Chambers are .369.
 
I have not owned a Pietta but I have handled them and know people who have them. I would recommend a Uberti over a Pietta.

Jim
 
As you can see, everybody has their individual ideas about what is best! It all comes down to personal preference. One of mine is the preference of Pietta '60s over Ubertis. The reason is that with a gated conversion (kirst konverter), factory ammo will fit while hand loads are needed for the same set up in the Uberti. This doesn't have anything to do with quality, I think Uberti has the edge in that department (meaning less lemons get through insp.). They both make very nice products for the price!! That said, they ALL can be made into unbelievable machines!!

45 Dragoon
www.goonsgunworks.com
 
I've got C&Bs from just about every maker since the 60s. My main match guns for SASS include 1861 Navy Uberti's, 1860 Army Piettas, and 1861 Navy 2nd Gen Colt's. Right now my 2nd Gen 1861 Navies (worked over by 45Dragoon) are being used more than the others.

For a newcomer, I always recommend that you try as many models and makers that you can. Barrel length, grip shape, weight and balance affect individual shooters differently. Get whatever "feels right" to you. Now days, Pietta and Uberti quality is about equal overall; recognizing that lemons can pop up at any time.
 
For a beginner which I was not too long ago and now I don't Know as much as I did when I was a beginner. But--the uberties are easy to break down as compared to economical piettas as referring to removing nipples and wedge. They are finished better. When I had my store, folks were eager to buy 3rd gen colts which are basically uberties just polished and hopefully honed and finished better. I could find them on the guns international site and others unfired for just --um maybe sometimes for 400 for a 51 navy w/silver back and trigger guard and pockets were popular that could be bought unfired w/ boxes, diplay and accessories for 550+/- So if you can find these for less than 400 and no more than 600 for just your navies and armies -buy them- but care for them. Make sure the boxes are not cracked/ have manual and hopefully white shipping box. I do not check thes sites anymore but Fingers is right the 2nd gen are good if you can find them. Colt does not make either of these anymore.
 
Thank you all!

Thank you all for the advice and links, etc. I have been away on business so that is why I'd did not reply or thank you all sooner.

Now the shopping can begin :D
 
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