Percussion revolver question:

[fatelvis]

I know this may be a strange place to ask this, but I'm always impressed with the knowledge base here.
In the old days, before cartridges, did one carry a cap and ball revolver without unloading it and charging it with fresh powder/cap from day-to-day? Or was it common to shoot the five or six balls at the end of a day, so it may be reloaded for the next day? It seems like tempting fate, by trusting a cap and ball revolver being loaded for several days at a time. Just watched a Clint movie and was curious. Thanks for any input guys....

 

[rogn]

Think about it. Its not really any different than a BP rifle. Keep it dry and clean ands its good to go the next day. The other end of pragmatic if you have a revolver youve got another 4 tries to go assuming you only loaded 5 in the 6 holer. Besides powder and shot were limited and expensive.
Another factor- shoot it and its dirty and will abet corrosion. Cleanit with water and you have introduced the uncertaintity of a cleaned BP weapon. Fire a cap to clean and dry nipples- start another cycle.
No just keep it DRY and clean and youre set.

 

[Bob L.]

I believe Wild Bill Hickok discharged and reloaded his daily.

 

[Uthink Uknow]

I’m not that old so I’ll just say Okay.

 

[jds holler]

As a former user of percussion revolvers, I'll just say that fail to fire, hang-fire, chain fire, -- were all present facts of life in the world of gun-play.

It was fairly common to carry extra loaded cylinders on ones person, and I'd guess that many guys died from poor pistol maintenance. jd

 

[Hotrod6.5]

As a former user of percussion revolvers, I'll just say that fail to fire, hang-fire, chain fire, -- were all present facts of life in the world of gun-play.

It was fairly common to carry extra loaded cylinders on ones person, and I'd guess that many guys died from poor pistol maintenance. jd

I have shot percussion revolvers in competition in years past and have two national championships in the master division so I know quite a bit about the cap and ball revolvers. One of the worst things that can happen with one of these things is a chain fire where more than one chamber cooks off and only one is lined up with the barrel. the other problem is failure to fire. both problems are eliminated by using something like Crisco cooking grease over the ball at the front of the cylinder for the chain fire and it keeps moisture from entering the powder charge. the other end where the cap goes over the nipple is also a source for moister to enter so for extended periods I use a candle to drip wax over the caps to seal that end. I believe this would allow your piece go bang ten years after loading. And NEVER carry a loaded cap under the hammer. If five rounds wont get it done, you aren't doing your part.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Go watch hell on wheels. Thats some fine percussion revolver work

 

[clowdis]

If you want to carry six rounds in the cylinder then it's ok, but you have to let the hammer down in one of the notches between the nipples. They keep the cylinder locked so it can't rotate. Revolver is safe.

 

[Bob L.]

I’m not that old so I’ll just say Okay.

Calamity Jane told me that, but she never was real reliable.

 

[jwink]

Just for the heck of it, I went to the old gun safe and picked up my percussion pistol and a loaded cylinder, went outside, put cylinder in, cocked it, pulled trigger and it fired just fine, emptied the other cylinders with no malfunctions at all. The cylinder was loaded in summer of 2016. I use wax to seal over the ball. and it's only 15 degrees here.

 

[pirate ammo]

if you use Crisco, get the butter flavor, smells like french fries,,,

 

[Outrider27]

if you use Crisco, get the butter flavor, smells like french fries,,,

Hey, I like that. Much better than the automotive grease or vasaline I used to use to seal over the loaded chambers. We'll remember that if we ever get that revolver out of retirement.....

 

[SSL]

Thicker consistency T/C lubes and equivalent are better than Crisco in most cases. I used Crisco with my first percussion revolvers and the heat from summer temperatures caused it to melt and run out of the chambers. Ended up with greasy holsters and pants legs. Some people make thin lube disks and seat them over the powder and then seat the ball. If the disk is a bit larger than chamber dimensions, this should work. A bit fussy to load though I would think.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

T/c bore butter?

 

[SSL]

T/c bore butter?

Either that or their patch lube. Can't remember now. I do remember that it was almost a paste consistency and stayed put real well. Been a lot of years.
I seem to remember that people made the disks I mentioned out of a combination of beeswax and just enough grease to make them slightly pliable.

 

[jds holler]

I also had runny problems with crisco in the summer. I've heard that the waxy felt discs work good, and less messy. I've never had a chain fire, and don't want to.

Something else I always wanted to try and didn't, was conical bullets. I sold my revolver a few years ago, and like any other gun sale, I kind of miss it. jd

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I would like to have one of those griswolds

 

[fatelvis]

I casted a bunch of these up, sized them to .454" and lubed them. Very accurate!

 

[JohnKielly]

I casted a bunch of these up, sized them to .454" and lubed them. Very accurate!

The English Tranter came with balls somewhat like that.

http://uniquearmscollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/DSC_1508.jpg

 

[spaniel]

I have an 1858 replica. I once left a cylinder loaded (out of the gun) for a year, in a house environment. It fired fine. I used Crisco over the balls when I used them. But the pistol was far more accurate with Buffalo Bore conicals, and they did a far better job of sealing the chambers, so I could go without the Crisco.

But the cleaning of such pistols is such a pain, I got a 45 Colt conversion cylinder and shoot in 20X as much now.