Best Black Powder SHTF gun?

I am ready.

marlin gg 45/70
c sharps 1875 45/70
rem rolling block 8x58r
rem rolling block 50/70
t/c omega .50 cal
CVA hawkins .50
All of my shotguns can shoot bp. And I use magtech brass shells for reloading.

And yes I have tons of primers for each.
 
The stuff to make black powder is out there and easy to get once you know what to look for in terms of natural sources. But what would be missing is the industrial base to produce primers or caps. So over the first few years any of the classic cartridges could be used as long as we could find lead. Heck, that even means that .38Spl and .357Mag cases loaded with black powder would be able to keep the modern S&W guns running. And .500S&W Magnums as well, although they wouldn't perform quite as well as with the higher pressure smokeless. For that matter I've even seen someone shooting "Wild Bunch" at our Cowboy Action monthly meets with .45ACP loaded with BP. He used a slightly lighter recoil spring and that was enough to get the gun to cycle reliably. Likely the bullets were only doing around 600fps though.

But as the years go on and the brass hardens and splits from overuse and the caps are used up or go bad and there's still no industrial base to produce replacements it'll devolve back to the good ol' flintlock.
 
Guys reread the first post this is a pre WWI shtf fantasy thread not post modern apocalypse. This game is just not as fun when SKSs and 357s get mentioned:(
 
breech loading or muzzle loading? close range or long range? How about a pattern 1853 musketoon a Whitworth for long range, as for breechloaders, I would have to say I would probably go with a Trapdoor Springfield. As for a pistol, probably something like a Webley, either top break or one of the solid framed ones with the loading gate (if you could find one), or a 1873 French service revolver. For a muzzle loading pistol, one of the Crimean war era British pistols, as that was pretty much the pinnacle of muzzle loading pistol design, before the switch over to percussion revolvers and cartridge pistols as far as I can tell.

Or how about one of those magic Elmer Fudd shotguns with the flared muzzle and memory metal? :p
 
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No shortage of firepower here, personally, for my precision shooting, I have a 50 cal flint/percussion rifle with an Ed Rayl barrel, I've put a 3 shots inside 2 3/4" at 180 yds.

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My other go to gun is my 62 cal/20 ga smoothbore, can be used as a shotgun or 62 cal roundball.

 
mooncoon said:
that would not be my choice; the extractors are very narrow and if you have a sticky shells, they will tear through the rim of the shell. I had one briefly and sold it for just that reason

cheers mooncoon
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Well i never had one so i dont know.
I seen a few used without any trobles tho.
Maby the 12 Ga ones are better.
how about a spencer pump 12 ga shotgun then ? they were ok wernt they?
 
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dingus said:
a 10 ga win lever shotgun.
a S&W schofield 45 cal revolver for fast reloading.

id like a winchester in 45 70 lever gun to if the skys the limit ;)

a remy derringer to! might wants play cards, lol
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The 10 guage lever was a model 1901 so you're a few years too early. An 1887 12 guage lever would be my choice as well though. Winchester lever rifle in 44-40 and a SAA to match.
 
tactical870 said:
The 10 guage lever was a model 1901 so you're a few years too early. An 1887 12 guage lever would be my choice as well though. Winchester lever rifle in 44-40 and a SAA to match.
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Ok Good to know.
I like a 12 Ga just fine and i like that 1887 lever action shotgun alot.

12 ga components would be easy to find to.
 
dingus said:
how about a spencer pump 12 ga shotgun then ? they were ok wernt they?
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the problem with pumps and presumably semi autos as well is that if you have a poor crimp and a loose pellet gets in the action, it jams the mechanism. I have a Spencer and have that happen. I think double shotgun is the most reliable, particularly a hammer double from the point of view of being the most reliable. They have broad extractors that always seem to pull out even tight shells and the internal lock work is a little easier to fix that some of the hammerless ones.
The problem with the winchester lever shotguns is the design of the extractor and it would not make much difference whether it was 10 or 12 guage. The lever itself is very easy to operate.

My choice of a rolling block rifle was based on price and availability. I like Sharps side hammer rifles very much and in some ways feel they are better suited to black powder than rolling blocks but they are also much more expensive. Even caliber is more a question of the ability of the owner to make their own dies and molds and so forth. If they have to buy off the shelf then they are limited more or less (by price) to the standard 38-55 and 45-70 and similar shells. If they can do a lot of their own machine work then shells like the 38-56 can be a nice choice because of low recoil and slightly reduced powder and lead requirements than say the 45 caliber choices. Even powder capacity in a practical sense in unimportant in the sense that unless you are shooting 1000 yards, shells like the 38-56 or the 44-60 are plenty find out to 4 or 500 yards ---- it is just a question of learning sight settings

cheers mooncoon
 
mooncoon said:
the problem with pumps and presumably semi autos as well is that if you have a poor crimp and a loose pellet gets in the action, it jams the mechanism. I have a Spencer and have that happen. I think double shotgun is the most reliable, particularly a hammer double from the point of view of being the most reliable. They have broad extractors that always seem to pull out even tight shells and the internal lock work is a little easier to fix that some of the hammerless ones.
The problem with the winchester lever shotguns is the design of the extractor and it would not make much difference whether it was 10 or 12 guage. The lever itself is very easy to operate.

My choice of a rolling block rifle was based on price and availability. I like Sharps side hammer rifles very much and in some ways feel they are better suited to black powder than rolling blocks but they are also much more expensive. Even caliber is more a question of the ability of the owner to make their own dies and molds and so forth. If they have to buy off the shelf then they are limited more or less (by price) to the standard 38-55 and 45-70 and similar shells. If they can do a lot of their own machine work then shells like the 38-56 can be a nice choice because of low recoil and slightly reduced powder and lead requirements than say the 45 caliber choices. Even powder capacity in a practical sense in unimportant in the sense that unless you are shooting 1000 yards, shells like the 38-56 or the 44-60 are plenty find out to 4 or 500 yards ---- it is just a question of learning sight settings

cheers mooncoon
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Good info.
I already have a Perscribed antique SXS 14Ga shotgun so i guess thats the one id take. its a great gun to.
 
I hear those 50 calibre rifles can take down a jumbo jet a mile away.:eek:
My 54 cal flinters only good for just over 100 yards thou.Must be the extra air drag on the round ball that does so poorly:popCorn:
If i needed a steady supply of food tho i would take up trapping but that may be too practical a thing to talk about:)
 
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Well, it would be a Winchester 1873 in .44 or .38 WCF, OR a Marlin 1894 in the same calibres. Sidearm would be a Colt SAA in a matching calibre. Remember, in 1895, the .44WCF was the 7.62x39 of its time. Available anywhere. The '73 is easier to maintain than the '92, and the 92's stronger action is a moot point in 1895.

Probably keep a Trapdoor in .45 or 50 Govt. just in case I needed more power, and maybe an old Colt or Remington 12 gauge double.

If it were 1905, or 2012, my only change would be the revolver. It would be a Colt New Service.
 
I'm still in for a long bow as things get harder to come by when the powder dries up .A longbow and a good axe and knife maybe all you got left arrows can be made you're good to go.
 
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