Thinking about a Black Powder Pistol & need advice.

[Vaquero]

Al, you are right about the caps jamming things up some, and more pieces to clean, but
they are still fun. I've thought about a SS, but I just never pursued it very much.
And I've never seen one except up at Dixie Gun Works but they weren't fer sale.

RP

[dave77]

I have been eyeing one of these for awhile now....might just happen in 2022....
https://www.davide-pedersoli.com/en/pro ... ky-pistols

I have one of those in 54 cap. I also have a Lyman Plains pistol in 54. The trigger in the pedersoli is terrible. I had a guy work mine over to make it better. The front sight is also to thick. I changed mine. I like the Lyman better. Get what you like though Im just giving you my review. Now that I have them both tuned they both shoot awesome.

So the Pedersoli Kentucky doesn't have a set trigger? I remember mostly setting it back when I was shooting my Pedersoli Le Page. It is still a very nice trigger when not set but when it's adjusted for minimum pull you had better be pointing it down range as just the lightest of touch will set it off. (FYI, I always had it pointed downrange whenever it was cocked, even not set the trigger has no take-up, just requires a couple of pounds of pull).

[BigAl52]

Al, you are right about the caps jamming things up some, and more pieces to clean, but
they are still fun. I've thought about a SS, but I just never pursued it very much.
And I've never seen one except up at Dixie Gun Works but they weren't fer sale.

RP

Agree Randy on the fun its just what each person wants. Just giving a review from my perspective. Another thing with revolvers I had issues with was getting a capper to work right with the space allowed to cap the nipples. Lastly if you are a one size fits all person shooting 50 and 54 cal a guy can use the same ammo in rifle and pistol. No need to buy more round balls if you have 50 cal rifle. If you want a good revolver that’s built like a tank none better than a Ruger Old Army but they are about 800.00 now YMMV

[BigAl52]

I have been eyeing one of these for awhile now....might just happen in 2022....
https://www.davide-pedersoli.com/en/pro ... ky-pistols

I have one of those in 54 cap. I also have a Lyman Plains pistol in 54. The trigger in the pedersoli is terrible. I had a guy work mine over to make it better. The front sight is also to thick. I changed mine. I like the Lyman better. Get what you like though Im just giving you my review. Now that I have them both tuned they both shoot awesome.

So the Pedersoli Kentucky doesn't have a set trigger? I remember mostly setting it back when I was shooting my Pedersoli Le Page. It is still a very nice trigger when not set but when it's adjusted for minimum pull you had better be pointing it down range as just the lightest of touch will set it off. (FYI, I always had it pointed downrange whenever it was cocked, even not set the trigger has no take-up, just requires a couple of pounds of pull).

No set trigger Dave. Its just a regular trigger. The Le Page is a target model and now sells for about 1000 at Dixie gun works

[Vaquero]

Al, you are right about the caps jamming things up some, and more pieces to clean, but
they are still fun. I've thought about a SS, but I just never pursued it very much.
And I've never seen one except up at Dixie Gun Works but they weren't fer sale.

RP

Agree Randy on the fun its just what each person wants. Just giving a review from my perspective. Another thing with revolvers I had issues with was getting a capper to work right with the space allowed to cap the nipples. Lastly if you are a one size fits all person shooting 50 and 54 cal a guy can use the same ammo in rifle and pistol. No need to buy more round balls if you have 50 cal rifle. If you want a good revolver that’s built like a tank none better than a Ruger Old Army but they are about 800.00 now YMMV

What kinda powder charge for something like that Al? The 50 cal. that is.

RP

[dave77]

No set trigger Dave. Its just a regular trigger. The Le Page is a target model and now sells for about 1000 at Dixie gun works

Wow, that makes it my most valuable gun. I guess I should start keeping it in my gun safe.

Unfortunately my bp rifle has to live outside of my safe.

[fortyshooter]

Check out one of these! https://americanguncraft.com/product/de ... un-pistol/

[mlrifleNY]

Wow! How you doing Jim? Nice looking BP shooter there. You still playing that Gretsch?

Yes I am along with my Haggard Telecaster. I have 2 gigs next month.
JIm

[mlrifleNY]

This is my only pistol, Flint of course.
Jim[/attachment]SANY0001.JPG

Did you build that one its really nice.

Thanks Al. Yes I did build it some years back. Can't say I am any good with it. LOL
Jim

[BigAl52]

Al, you are right about the caps jamming things up some, and more pieces to clean, but
they are still fun. I've thought about a SS, but I just never pursued it very much.
And I've never seen one except up at Dixie Gun Works but they weren't fer sale.

RP

Agree Randy on the fun its just what each person wants. Just giving a review from my perspective. Another thing with revolvers I had issues with was getting a capper to work right with the space allowed to cap the nipples. Lastly if you are a one size fits all person shooting 50 and 54 cal a guy can use the same ammo in rifle and pistol. No need to buy more round balls if you have 50 cal rifle. If you want a good revolver that’s built like a tank none better than a Ruger Old Army but they are about 800.00 now YMMV

What kinda powder charge for something like that Al? The 50 cal. that is.

RP

30 grains of 3FG swiss is what Im using and at 25 yards Randy when that 535 round ball hits my half inch ar500 8 inch round steel plate it smacks it with authority

[BigAl52]

No set trigger Dave. Its just a regular trigger. The Le Page is a target model and now sells for about 1000 at Dixie gun works

Wow, that makes it my most valuable gun. I guess I should start keeping it in my gun safe.

Unfortunately my bp rifle has to live outside of my safe.

That looks like a nice rifle Dave.

[dave77]

It's a custom made 45 cal by a rifle maker I met I at a rendezvous. Good rifle, accuracy was there if I shot it with a rest but could never shoot it as well off hand as the much shorter barreled 54 cal. I started out with. Just too muzzle heavy for me. Was going to try to have a local guy put a swamped or tapered barrel on it but never got around to it. I did OK with it I just could not hold it steady enough to be really competitive with it. I shot a friend's similar length flintlock with a swamped barrel and it was much lighter.

[beaverislander]

I have lots of reading to do and things to follow up on so thank you all for the suggestions. Thanks to Ranch Roper I've thrown a Kentuncy Pistol in to the suggestion box

As you can see, I'm not looking for anything in particular.... I just want to try something different to stimulate the gray matter.

Im not fond of the revolvers as I have shot them and the single shots. The revolvers are harder to clean and you will get cap jams from caps coming off the nipples. This is just me. I shoot a 54 cal Kentucky and a Lyman Plains pistol. The Lyman is a good pistol. 50 or 54 caliber would be no problem. Pyrodex is still available but I dont like it. I use black and you should be able to get it online delivered to your door. If you need help finding any let me know. Caps have also been available

Thank you Al, I'd like to take you up on that once the dust settles from the holidays.

[beaverislander]

I'd like to thank everyone for telling me a little about what you have chosen and the pictures are a nice bonus. You have some beautiful firearms from an era I had never looked at before.

[GunnyGene]

I'd like to thank everyone for telling me a little about what you have chosen and the pictures are a nice bonus. You have some beautiful firearms from an era I had never looked at before.

Before you know it, you'll be making your own powder. BP these days runs around $35/lb, and is very hard to find. Even the common subs like Pyrodex or Triple Seven is rare. You can make your own charcoal (softwood like fir or pine work well), and the other ingredients you can buy on-line. Find somebody who can teach you, it can be dangerous. Or you can more easily find pelletized BP substitutes.

https://powderinc.com/black-powder/ or other suppliers for commercial BP.

[dave77]

Before you know it, you'll be making your own powder. BP these days runs around $35/lb, and is very hard to find. Even the common subs like Pyrodex or Triple Seven is rare. You can make your own charcoal (softwood like fir or pine work well), and the other ingredients you can buy on-line. Find somebody who can teach you, it can be dangerous. Or you can more easily find pelletized BP substitutes.

https://powderinc.com/black-powder/ or other suppliers for commercial BP.

Wow, back when I was shooting a lot of BP it was just a few bucks a can, me and a friend and his wife that I shot with would buy it by the case. No one answered my previous question about whether a mostly full can of black powder with a date stamp of 03-95 would still be OK to shoot. I also have some percussion caps from the same time frame.

Edit, did a search and apparently it should still be OK.

https://www.survivalistboards.com/threa ... an.248866/

[GunnyGene]

Before you know it, you'll be making your own powder. BP these days runs around $35/lb, and is very hard to find. Even the common subs like Pyrodex or Triple Seven is rare. You can make your own charcoal (softwood like fir or pine work well), and the other ingredients you can buy on-line. Find somebody who can teach you, it can be dangerous. Or you can more easily find pelletized BP substitutes.

https://powderinc.com/black-powder/ or other suppliers for commercial BP.

Wow, back when I was shooting a lot of BP it was just a few bucks a can, me and a friend and his wife that I shot with would buy it by the case. No one answered my previous question about whether a mostly full can of black powder with a date stamp of 03-95 would still be OK to shoot. I also have some percussion caps from the same time frame.

Edit, did a search and apparently it should still be OK.

https://www.survivalistboards.com/threa ... an.248866/

Yeah, BP (the real stuff like GOEX) is good forever if you keep it dry. I still have a lb or 2 from the '80's. Btw, if you have the old metal cans (most BP is in plastic now), you should put a layer of wax paper under the cap and around the threads to prevent any unintentional ignition.

The high cost is partly due to the Hazmat shipping fee. ATF classed BP as an explosive several years ago.

[dave77]

It is GOEX. Was looking in my BP chest and found another full can and my powder flask is almost full too. 4 tins of caps and probably 75 balls. I still have at least a couple of hundred pounds of lead so more balls are not a problem, just have to dig out my casting stuff.

[GunnyGene]

It is GOEX. Was looking in my BP chest and found another full can and my powder flask is almost full too. 4 tins of caps and probably 75 balls. I still have at least a couple of hundred pounds of lead so more balls are not a problem, just have to dig out my casting stuff.

And just to clarify, some States (Massachusetts in this case) will put you in jail for having a BP gun they don't know about.

https://bearingarms.com/tomknighton/202 ... ice-n53845

[Vaquero]

And just to clarify, some States (Massachusetts in this case) will put you in jail for having a BP gun they don't know about.

https://bearingarms.com/tomknighton/202 ... ice-n53845
[/quote]

Really? Hell, in most states I thought you can get them delivered right to your front door, and no ffl involved.
Heck it's not even considered a firearm but a replica and convicted felons are allowed to own them.

RP