686 Shooter
Regular
I have been recently bitten by the black powder revolver bug. (Yes I said black powder, but this is about BP revolvers and I am posing my query to all handgun shooters so I'm posting in this forum.)
I am wondering why more handgun shooters don't shoot these? I have been thinking about this and came up with some pros and cons:
Pros:
1. These revolvers are beautiful. I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but come on, look at the two below......
2. They are relatively inexpensive compared to a centre fire handgun. The extra goodies you need add to the initial expense but once you have them they work for all your BP guns. The revolvers are generally less expensive than a centre fire revolver, unless you are buying low end centre fires. Also since the rate of fire is substantially slower due to the reloading process a day at the range with a BP gun is a lot cheaper!
3. Shooting a BP revolver is not so much something you do as it is something you experience. You have to measure the powder, seat the ball/bullet, cap the cylinder, then shoot. The recoil is not a sharp smack, but rather a softer push. The sound is a satisfying whoomp. And you cant help but smile when you see all that smoke.
4. You get to meet a lot of people. When others at the range hear the sound and see the smoke they come over to check it out. If there is one thing I love its talking about guns with other gun nutz. Plus I am always willing to let other try my guns.
5. You have to clean them right away. Okay so maybe that's not a pro for everyone. But I consider cleaning and working on my guns a form of therapy. So I enjoy the time spent cleaning after a range session.
Cons:
1. They need to be cleaned right away. Some folks don't enjoy cleaning guns as much as others do.
2. Its a little messier than smokeless.
3. Its a slow process. Some folks love to get rid of their ammo as quickly as humanly possible.
4. BP revolvers are not "tacticool". You know who you are.
5. They require a financial output to get all the do-dads you need to shoot them.
That is not an exhaustive list by any means. I, personally, feel the pros outweigh the cons. Don't get me wrong, I still love shooting my other guns. BP is just another fun way to enjoy our hobby. If you get an opportunity to give it a try, I strongly suggest you do. It is great fun and I am hooked now. If you see someone making a whole lot of smoke at the range, go talk to them. I'm sure they will happily let you give it a go. The bug may bite you too!
Below are my Uberti 1860 Colt Army 44 cal. (top) and 1851 Colt Navy 36 cal. (bottom)
[/url]
I am wondering why more handgun shooters don't shoot these? I have been thinking about this and came up with some pros and cons:
Pros:
1. These revolvers are beautiful. I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but come on, look at the two below......
2. They are relatively inexpensive compared to a centre fire handgun. The extra goodies you need add to the initial expense but once you have them they work for all your BP guns. The revolvers are generally less expensive than a centre fire revolver, unless you are buying low end centre fires. Also since the rate of fire is substantially slower due to the reloading process a day at the range with a BP gun is a lot cheaper!
3. Shooting a BP revolver is not so much something you do as it is something you experience. You have to measure the powder, seat the ball/bullet, cap the cylinder, then shoot. The recoil is not a sharp smack, but rather a softer push. The sound is a satisfying whoomp. And you cant help but smile when you see all that smoke.
4. You get to meet a lot of people. When others at the range hear the sound and see the smoke they come over to check it out. If there is one thing I love its talking about guns with other gun nutz. Plus I am always willing to let other try my guns.
5. You have to clean them right away. Okay so maybe that's not a pro for everyone. But I consider cleaning and working on my guns a form of therapy. So I enjoy the time spent cleaning after a range session.
Cons:
1. They need to be cleaned right away. Some folks don't enjoy cleaning guns as much as others do.
2. Its a little messier than smokeless.
3. Its a slow process. Some folks love to get rid of their ammo as quickly as humanly possible.
4. BP revolvers are not "tacticool". You know who you are.
5. They require a financial output to get all the do-dads you need to shoot them.
That is not an exhaustive list by any means. I, personally, feel the pros outweigh the cons. Don't get me wrong, I still love shooting my other guns. BP is just another fun way to enjoy our hobby. If you get an opportunity to give it a try, I strongly suggest you do. It is great fun and I am hooked now. If you see someone making a whole lot of smoke at the range, go talk to them. I'm sure they will happily let you give it a go. The bug may bite you too!
Below are my Uberti 1860 Colt Army 44 cal. (top) and 1851 Colt Navy 36 cal. (bottom)
