Preparing New Black Powder Guns Question
In the past, the black powder guns I have purchased have been used - so there was no need to do anything special before shooting them.
Now I have several new black powder revolvers and rifles that have never been fired.
I'd like your recommendations on how to prepare these guns for their first firing. Any advice will be appreciated along with the brand name(s) of whatever materials I should use.
One other question - in one (only one) of the instruction manuals it states that the revolver nipples should be removed and cleaned seperately when cleaning the gun after shooting it. I've always simply run boiling hot water through the cylinder chambers letting it run out of the nipples. I've never heard of removing the nipples before - what do you do?
Thanks
John
The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of past wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.
-George Washington
DAV Veterans Voice
DAV Chapter #10
July/August Bulletin
Now I have several new black powder revolvers and rifles that have never been fired.
I'd like your recommendations on how to prepare these guns for their first firing. Any advice will be appreciated along with the brand name(s) of whatever materials I should use.
One other question - in one (only one) of the instruction manuals it states that the revolver nipples should be removed and cleaned seperately when cleaning the gun after shooting it. I've always simply run boiling hot water through the cylinder chambers letting it run out of the nipples. I've never heard of removing the nipples before - what do you do?
Thanks
John
The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of past wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.
-George Washington
DAV Veterans Voice
DAV Chapter #10
July/August Bulletin
0
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I believe their referance to removing the nipples for cleaning is to prevent them from rusting in place if the pistol is not cleaned properly. I put anti seize compound on them all to prevent this from happening. Odds are that eventually you would cross thread one of them if you take them out too often. I have always cleaned my revolvers in the kitchen sink with hot water followed by WD-40 then a better lubricating oil.
My border collie is smarter than your honor student.0 -
I always remove the nipples, and so does everyone else I know of. As was stated, they would rust in place eventually. I have not ever cross threaded one. Just get a good nipple wrench, it isn't too much trouble to remove them.
As for preparing a gun for the first firing, the important thing is to remove all bore and cylinder protection gunk, God knows what may be put on these parts at the factory. You can go to an auto parts store and buy a spray can of brake cleaner. Spray it on a patch and run patches down the bore, and cylinders, until they are clean. Lighter fluid works pretty well too.
On a rifle I would remove the nipple and make sure to clean the area under the nipple very well, using the brake cleaner and a pipe cleaner.0 -
Go ahead and remove the nipples. I do most often, unless I have to hurry off somewhere because I didn't plan my time correctly.[:D] If you miss a time not removing them they should still be alright, but as a rule I would remove them. The antisieze is a good Idea too.
Oh yea', on the other. Just a good cleaning and oiling. Want it to be like you cleaned it don't you?
Oh yea'an I assume they have been proofed.
When you wrestle a 'gator, there ain't no good end!!
"Molon Labe!" Spartan General-King Leonidas0 -
Okay guys, I learned something new - I'll make a point of removing the nipples when I clean the guns after firing them. As far as proofing them - they're all from well known manufacturers and I assumed that they would proof their guns before exporting them.
What I am a little confused about is ball size. Are these ball sizes correct: 31cal Remington Spur Revolver (.315"), 31cal Colt Pocket Revolver (.315"), 36cal Navy Colt (.380"), 44cal New Army Colt, 44cal Walker, 44cal Remington (all.454"),
What size ball do I use for a 45cal Kentucky? Can you give me the name of the anti-seize you use on the nipples?
Thanks,
John
The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of past wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.
-George Washington
DAV Veterans Voice
DAV Chapter #10
July/August Bulletin0 -
Okay guys, I learned something new - I'll make a point of removing the nipples when I clean the guns after firing them. As far as proofing them - they're all from well known manufacturers and I assumed that they would proof their guns before exporting them.
What I am a little confused about is ball size. Are these ball sizes correct: 31cal Remington Spur Revolver (.315"), 31cal Colt Pocket Revolver (.315"), 36cal Navy Colt (.380"), 44cal New Army Colt, 44cal Walker, 44cal Remington (all.454"),
What size ball do I use for a 45cal Kentucky? Can you give me the name of the anti-seize you use on the nipples?
Thanks,
John
The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of past wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.
-George Washington
DAV Veterans Voice
DAV Chapter #10
July/August Bulletin0 -
As to a 45 Ky you shoud use a .440 patched RB. As to the 44s there are 3 ball sizes, .451, .454, &.457 depending on model and manufacture. You can not go wrong on any 44 by using the .457 balls because all you do is shave an extre 3 to 5 thousands of lead when you load them into the cylinders. .380 sounds a bit large to me for a 36 cal. revolver. Dixie Gun Works recommends a .376 for 36 caliber revolver reproductions. On the 31 caliber they recommend a .320 as well. Hope this helps.
God protect me from my friends, I can take care of my enemies...0 -
The .380 ball is NOT too large for any .36-caliber revolver. In fact, it is preferred.
The larger ball gives better accuracy in all .36-caliber revolvers I've fired.
I believe this stems from the larger ball creating a wider driving band around the ball when rammed into the chamber. This wider driving band gives more of an area for the rifling to grip.
I use .380 diameter balls in all of my .36-caliber revolvers: a repro of the Remington Navy made by Pietta, a repro of the Colt 1862 Pocket made by Armi San Marcos and a Colt 2nd generation 1851 Navy.
The black powder books and writers will tell you to use the .375 inch ball. It works in most guns (it's a slip-fit in my Colt 2nd generation 1851 Navy so I don't use it there), but the .380 inch is better.
I order my .380 balls from Warren Muzzleloading of Arkansas. They are pure lead and don't have the troublesome sprue mark that must be aligned up, dead-center.
I also use .457 inch balls in my .44 revolvers. Accuracy with it is much better than the .451 inch balls usually recommended.
Check out Warren Muzzleloading at www.warrenmuzzleloading.com
"A hit with a .22 is better than a miss with a .44!"0 -
Thanks for the info guys - I'm going to print it out and do a little more research.
I've got to check to see what molds I have that I bought years ago.
I know I have the .454.
I'll check out tht website now and see what they offer.
Thanks again,
John
The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of past wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.
-George Washington
DAV Veterans Voice
DAV Chapter #10
July/August Bulletin0 -
Capecod,
According to the DGW catalog (you really really need to get one of these); 31 cal. .315 RB, 36 cal. .376 RB (.004 is not going to make that much difference), 44 cal. .451, .454 & .457 (depends on what your shooting).
DGW also reccomends .445 for the 45 cal Ky rifle (seems a little big to me but I'm not the expert on that.
When you wrestle a 'gator, there ain't no good end!!
"Molon Labe!" Spartan General-King Leonidas0 -
i use .440 patched RB on my 45......Works real well....I would think larger would be too much.Just my 2 cents......L.H. 0
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