Blackpowder handgun? PICS ADDED

[CouesWhitetail]

So I was talking to my neighbor, who I love because he is an avid hunter, reloader and gun nut. He has taught me tons about reloading and guns over the years. Anyway, I mentioned the women's javelina hunt coming up and started talking about handguns with him. he started showing me his collection and one of the guns was a black powder revolver. I had never thought about black powder in terms of anything other than a muzzleloader so I got all interested and now I want to use that pistol to kill a javelina next month. Has anyone ever used one? This is a 6-shot revolver.....44 caliber if I remember right...I think it's cool! Who here owns one? what have you shot with it?

[billrquimby]

So I was talking to my neighbor, who I love because he is an avid hunter, reloader and gun nut. He has taught me tons about reloading and guns over the years. Anyway, I mentioned the women's javelina hunt coming up and started talking about handguns with him. he started showing me his collection and one of the guns was a black powder revolver. I had never thought about black powder in terms of anything other than a muzzleloader so I got all interested and now I want to use that pistol to kill a javelina next month. Has anyone ever used one? This is a 6-shot revolver.....44 caliber if I remember right...I think it's cool! Who here owns one? what have you shot with it?

 

Hi Amanda:

 

I have a reproduction Navy-style cap and ball .44-caliber revolver that I bought as a kit in about 1984 or so, but I can't help you. I was losing interest in muzzleloading about then and never fired it after putting it together.

 

Earlier, I had built a 1700's-style, single-shot .50-caliber flintlock pistol from a section of barrel I'd cut off from one of the Kentucky-style rifles I built back then. I fired it a couple of times, but that was all.

 

I can't hit the inside of a 747 hanger with a handgun, so I never considered hunting with either of them.

 

Bill Quimby

[oz31p]

I've got a spiller and burr in my safe that i ve planed on using for a ham hunt I never have. I have a ham tag this year but ill be bow only. They are fun to shoot.

[azslim]

I made a single-shot 50 cal pistol in HS from a CVA kit, it was okay.

 

Have shot revolvers at paper a few times, thing is to work up an accurate load - like any firearm. Since the hunt isn't too far away you better start practicing now.

[CouesWhitetail]

Thanks for the replies....surely there is someone out there who has actually hunted with a blackpowder revolver? Let me know how it went. I figure I will practice with the revolver and if I am not good with it, I will just use my bow. But I am looking forward to trying an all new weapon type.

[POJV]

Amanda,

I have not hunted with my cap-n-ball but did run into a father and son during ham hunt in 34A a couple of years ago and they both were using cap-n-ball revolvers. I had to leave prior to them so I do not know how they faired.

Phil

 

[db cooper]

I used a 45 cal Kentucky pistol, last year and plan on using it again this year. It is a blast (no pun intended). single shot, round ball cap gun. Last year, I missed one but pulled my back up gun (.45 1911) and double lunged one running at 17 yards. This year, I am leaving the back up in the pack and getting one with the muzzleloader.

 

Shooting this pistol has taught me so much about consistency in loading. Between powder charge, patch, and tamp down so many things can effect accuracy. I can hit a paperplate up to about 15 yards with it. Loads of fun but remember you only get one shot.

[rogeti]

A guy gave me a New Army .44 cal cap and ball revolver for high school graduation and i have yet to fire it. I plan too but just havent had the time. I have all the stuff just haven't done it yet.

[CouesWhitetail]

here are some pics of the one I am going to use. We went out the other day practicing with it. I was pretty accurate with it out to 40 yards after we moved the sights a little. I will use shooting sticks to increase accuracy if I can.

 

I was joking with my neighbor (Pat Termain) that we were baking cookies because we used crisco to seal each chamber to keep each shot from igniting the other chambers. And we used corn meal to take up the extra space in the chamber after we put powder in.

 

here are some pics of the process. I loved it! Used round lead balls, even though my neighbor has made his own conical ones for hunting.

 

 

 

chambers filled with powder and cornmeal before adding lead ball and tamping down.

 

 

photo showing one chamber with lead ball before ceiling it, and one with cornmeal before adding lead ball and tamping it down to depth of the one where you can see lead ball.

 

 

 

here is the final crisco sealing on the chambers:

[WFGinNM]

One of my neighbors about 20 years ago had one, we liked to shoot it at night and watch all the flames.

 

--Bill

[willhunt4coues]

Hey Amanda call my dad he shot a Javelina with his last year. He wanted a bow shot but got tired of trying to hit one he pulled out his old revolver and hit that pig in the head. Funniest thing I have ever seen. He is planning on going out this week and somewhat sighting it in (you can't sight them in) so really see where it is shooting so he knows. Maybe you guys could go out together and he can let you shoot his. He is going to use it again on this ham hunt this year and I may try it if I can pry it from his hands (it is old and very expensive/still new).

[willhunt4coues]

Here is my dads pig from 2010 ham 24a blackpowder pistol. I don't know what kind but I will ask him and get back with ya all.

[CouesWhitetail]

Cool clay! I will give him a call.

[HaYen]

Every year at the AZ Outdoor Expo, I a chance at shooting a BP 6 shooter, BPCR lever rifle, and BP Shotgun Shells (vs ML shelless) over at the AZ SASS range.

[tjhunt2]

That sounds petty interesting Amanda. I've never gone there but it sounds to me if you continue to practice and can group out to 40 yrds then you'll have a really good chance of harvesting a pig if you get in to them. I'm really looking forward to that hunt coming up.

 

TJ