Black powder and muzzleloaders

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Geoff Capes Vapes Apes said:
I've not seen caps in going on a year, and the government are making it harder for me to get pyrodex/777/proper black. I've a mind to just give up and get a converted nitro revolver.
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Real powder is hard to get but 777 and pyrodex shouldn't be impossible I know the DOT has more regulations on transporting real black but not substitutes
 
Devious Dave said:
Real powder is hard to get but 777 and pyrodex shouldn't be impossible I know the DOT has more regulations on transporting real black but not substitutes
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Here in the UK you used to be able to buy pyrodex and 777 without an explosives license (needed for BP) but they've changed that now. Can still buy as much nitro powder as I like though, because of course I can.
 
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I'm trying to get in touch with my southern roots, what are some good replicas of guns the confederacy used?
How is the market doing in terms of ammo and black powder?
 
NeonFlux said:
I'm trying to get in touch with my southern roots, what are some good replicas of guns the confederacy used?
How is the market doing in terms of ammo and black powder?
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Check your local sporting goods stores see if they have caps (not 209 primers) powder isn't as scarce but caps can be hard to get if you want a pistol I would just get a brass 1851. A lot of people get those
You can spend some time on GunBroker to find some good used guns and they ship to your door
 
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does muzzle-loaders.com ever have black friday sales or sales in general? I know to look on gunbrokers.com every once in a while and I'm settling for a 1858 New Army Revolver - .44 with a Brass Frame since it has more features and is more reliable.

I just want some history on discounts.
 
NeonFlux said:
does muzzle-loaders.com ever have black friday sales or sales in general? I know to look on gunbrokers.com every once in a while and I'm settling for a 1858 New Army Revolver - .44 with a Brass Frame since it has more features and is more reliable.
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1858 is a good choice it's a full frame so it can handle stronger loads and won't stretch over time just remember you can't use a cartridge conversion on a brass frame 1858 also is easier to disassemble you don't have to knock out a wedge like you do on colts to get the cylinder out
And yeah you can find sales sometimes
 
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Devious Dave said:
1858 is a good choice it's a full frame so it can handle stronger loads and won't stretch over time just remember you can't use a cartridge conversion on a brass frame 1858 also is easier to disassemble you don't have to knock out a wedge like you do on colts to get the cylinder out
And yeah you can find sales sometimes
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Oh shit, they make 45 ACP Conversions? Now I really want to get one eventually.


https://howellarms.com/product/pietta-steel-1858-army-45-acp-5-round-conversion-cylinder/
 
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NeonFlux said:
Oh shit, they make 45 ACP Conversions? Now I really want to get one eventually.


https://howellarms.com/product/pietta-steel-1858-army-45-acp-5-round-conversion-cylinder/
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Well You can't shoot just any ammo in a conversion it has to be certain ammo it can't have a metal jacket and it has to be a cowboy load. 45 long colt is the best conversion caliber
With 36 revolvers they make 38 conversions but you have to shoot wadd cutters or bullets with a smaller diameter than what's standard because the barrel is smaller than the average 38/357
 
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I did end up making my own black powder lube. Pretty easy to make just use Crisco and beeswax 50/50 melt it together on the stove (use a double boiler method). You can add plain candles to harden it more my first batch was too soft I added a couple plain tea candles. The lube keeps the foweling soft so you can shoot longer
If you use only beeswax and Crisco it could double for greasing a pan.
 
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Devious Dave said:
Well You can't shoot just any ammo in a conversion
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That's news to me. I've been feeding my 1851 .36 jacketed .38spl for a long time now. It's a steel frame though.

On another note, to solve the primer cap problem I've tried out those DIY solutions and they work fine and well when you mix your own priming powder etc. HOWEVER they absolutely SUCK when you do anything other than place them directly on the nipple after making them. They bounce around in your pocket at all and they'll knock the powder out. I've never solved this problem because I shoot black powder infrequently and when I do I just make the primers and then shoot a few cylinders until I run out of aluminum can scraps. However I'd be willing to hear if anyone else that's done this has a solution.
 
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Internet-Based Lobotomy said:
That's news to me. I've been feeding my 1851 .36 jacketed .38spl for a long time now. It's a steel frame though.

On another note, to solve the primer cap problem I've tried out those DIY solutions and they work fine and well when you mix your own priming powder etc. HOWEVER they absolutely SUCK when you do anything other than place them directly on the nipple after making them. They bounce around in your pocket at all and they'll knock the powder out. I've never solved this problem because I shoot black powder infrequently and when I do I just make the primers and then shoot a few cylinders until I run out of aluminum can scraps. However I'd be willing to hear if anyone else that's done this has a solution.
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Idk if it'll help with that but people use hair spray and it helps seal the cap.
I've also heard there's a certain type of super glue you can use.
 
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Devious Dave said:
Idk if it'll help with that but people use hair spray and it helps seal the cap.
I've also heard there's a certain type of super glue you can use.
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I'll look into the glue. Could put a really thin amount around the paper seal and hope it locks it in. I've thought about using nail polish like people were doing with their primers to seal them up (I believe that was for moisture concerns?) and see how that fares.
 
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So as a very bored gun and history dude I am wondering if there are any replica wheel locks in production? Cursory internet search seems to think the answer is either no or only if you pay through the nose for a custom job.
 
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Rainbow Idiot said:
So as a very bored gun and history dude I am wondering if there are any replica wheel locks in production? Cursory internet search seems to think the answer is either no or only if you pay through the nose for a custom job.
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I would keep an eye out on GunBroker for one. But yeah there's no company that I know of that's making them. Even historically I don't think they were ever mass produced
I would take a look at this site if you're wanting something around that time period
 
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