How to Load a Replica Blackpowder Revolver
By Gary Lewis
A lot of blackpowder hunters have revolvers because they are interesting and a link with Civil War history, the various Indian wars, cattle battles and westward expansion of the late 1800s. Many don't employ them for hunting, but these guns were used by our ancestors to take everything from bunnies to bison.
My favorite blackpowder revolver is the Colt 1860 Army in its various iterations. Other good 44-caliber choices are the 1858 Remington replicas and the 1851 Navy replicas. A 44-caliber blackpowder revolver is not the best choice for big game, but it can be put to use for everything from ground squirrels to coyotes and bobcats. I'm taking my old sixgun off the wall and putting it back in the holster where it belongs.
Loading for and shooting a blackpowder revolver is easy.
Prior to loading, make sure the gun is in safe working order. This might require a trip to a gunsmith for a check-up. MAKE SURE GUN IS UNLOADED FIRST. Snap percussion caps on each nipple to ensure there are no blockages. Point the gun in a safe direction when performing this task.
Assuming a clean, operable, safe, unloaded gun, here's how to load a 44-caliber blackpowder revolver. Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
1. Set the hammer at half-cock.
2. Turn the muzzle up and pour a measured powder charge (recommend 20-grains of FFFG or FFFFG or blackpowder substitute) into the cylinder chamber closest to the loading cutout. Rotate the cylinder and load 5 out of 6 chambers.
Note: it was common practice in the old days to load five chambers out of six. This was so the revolver could be carried safely on an empty chamber. This is how the gun should be loaded and carried - with five rounds and the hammer on an empty chamber.
3. Set the ball over a charge of powder. And rotate the cylinder until the ball is poised beneath the loading lever. Operate the loading lever with even pressure to seat the ball firmly on the powder charge. Load a ball over each powder charge.
Note: revolver balls are oversized so that the lead seals the chamber. A .44 is usually loaded with a .451 round ball.
4. Apply grease over the loaded chambers. Types of grease that are acceptable include: bear grease, Crisco, Wonderlube, black powder lube.
Note: the grease inhibits chain-firing.
5. Place a percussion cap on each loaded on each loaded chamber. It helps to give the cap a squeeze prior to insertion as the compression holds the cap to the nipple.
6. Set the hammer down on the unloaded chamber. DO NOT CARRY THE REVOLVER WITH THE HAMMER IN HALF-COCK OVER A LOADED CHAMBER.
Click here to look at the Traditions 1858 Steel Army Revolver
Click here to look at the Traditions Nickel 1851 Navy Revolver
