So I've been thinking about black powder powder guns....

Here in UK you can own ANY kind of genuine antique BP handgun, even those that would have shot a cartridge that is now unobtainable.

But you can't shoot it.

If you want to shoot your antique handgun, you must have a Firearms Certificate.

If you want to buy a modern replica of ANY kind of antique-style handgun - apart from those that shoot an obsolete calibre cartridge - then you must have a Firearms Certificate.

On mainland UK - England, Scotland and Wales, you cannot possess ANY kind of cartridge-firing handgun without a set of requirements and conditions that makes YOUR restrictions appears as nothing. Only in Northern Ireland can you own a cartridge-firing handgun, old or new.

I have a ROA, bought on March 2nd, 1986 - my birthday present. It gets an outing most every guest day, when I take it along so that the visiting guests, most of whom will never have had ANY kind of real handgun in their hands, can give it a try.
 
Puma said:
One that has always interested me is the Ruger Old Army. BP in a "modern" cap fired revolver.
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Then there's some interesting aspects. ROA about the only commonly available BP pistol that was made also stainless steel. The Belt Mountain Convertion kit to fairly quickly swap out a cylinder. Kirst or Howell auxiliary cylinder to use either 45 Auto or 45 LC and/or 45 Schofield cartridges.
Spare black powder cylinders for Classic Ballistix in the USA.
 
Kind of curious as to the concern with pinching a caps prior to shooting. I'm under the impression that too big is better than too small. Too big wi11 drop off after firing. Too small doesn't always fire, as they don't always seat right down...mind you, we ain't gunfighting here.
I'm under the impression the caps were supposed to 'Banana Peel' so they dropped off when one cocked the pistol...that has to go hand in hand with only cocking the hammer when the pistol is vertical of course.
The ROA...didn't actual like it...not that pointable in my hands. 1851 is the best I've had for natural pointing pistols...it just is. It has it's shortcomings as well. But it is like an extension of my index finger as far as that goes... better than ROA or Remington 1858's.
I'm a smaller fella, 5' 10", 165 lbs with hands sized accordingly. My Colt New Service shoots OK...but it is too big for me mitts too. Might be why the 1851 fits so fine?
 
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One thing cited as a possible problem when using the wrong caps is chain firing.

The theory is too big cap falls off or has enough gap around the edge that the blast off the recoil shield sets off adjacent cylinders. Seems like something that could happen in a freak event.

I've fired hundreds of cylinders over the years and never seen a chain fire so can't really say how likely different things are to cause it to happen.
 
vagrantviking said:
One thing cited as a possible problem when using the wrong caps is chain firing.

The theory is too big cap falls off or has enough gap around the edge that the blast off the recoil shield sets off adjacent cylinders. Seems like something that could happen in a freak event.

I've fired hundreds of cylinders over the years and never seen a chain fire so can't really say how likely different things are to cause it to happen.
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I believe that chain fires happen...but does anyone here actually know someone whom it happened to? For that to happen you would have to have powder trickling out of the nipples I'm thinking. Sort of assumed that the caps were supposed to drop off after firing, no? Beats prying them off mid gunfight.
 
Some people talk like it's common to have chain fires. Glad they aren't at my range.

It would be a nightmare to have caps stick on a revolver. It's a royal pain on a rifle where it's not too difficult to get a knife or pliers in to remove them.
All of mine split and fall loose, sometimes into the action but flipping to the side while cocking usually keeps them out.
 
tokguy said:
Kind of curious as to the concern with pinching a caps prior to shooting. I'm under the impression that too big is better than too small. Too big wi11 drop off after firing. Too small doesn't always fire, as they don't always seat right down...mind you, we ain't gunfighting here.
I'm under the impression the caps were supposed to 'Banana Peel' so they dropped off when one cocked the pistol...that has to go hand in hand with only cocking the hammer when the pistol is vertical of course.
The ROA...didn't actual like it...not that pointable in my hands. 1851 is the best I've had for natural pointing pistols...it just is. It has it's shortcomings as well. But it is like an extension of my index finger as far as that goes... better than ROA or Remington 1858's.
I'm a smaller fella, 5' 10", 165 lbs with hands sized accordingly. My Colt New Service shoots OK...but it is too big for me mitts too. Might be why the 1851 fits so fine?
Click to expand...

There's another appeal regarding the open top design. I once owned an ASM Walker I foolishly sold.
After a shooting session, removing the wedge for cleaning its very easy to clean it very well.
Lickety split clean with relative ease.
 
Brutus said:
There's another appeal regarding the open top design. I once owned an ASM Walker I foolishly sold.
After a shooting session, removing the wedge for cleaning its very easy to clean it very well.
Lickety split clean with relative ease.
Click to expand...

I have an ASM Walker...and the nipples are a weird size IIRC...maybe 12?
 
I like the ROA and have owned 4 or 5 over the years. Might be because they handle so similar to the Blackhawk.

The GF has a couple Colts including a Walker. That's not a gun for everyone! I'm sure we own rifles that weigh less and it can hold considerably more powder than a 45 Colt shell. The Colts slim lines are more aesthetically appealing and they do point nicely.
 
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