Smoked Badger

[meles meles]

We had a chance to shoot a bald monkey's black powder revolver this weekend, oomans, and liked it. It was a .44 Uberti jobby, nitro converted (Anvil ?) We popped some primers on the nipples, poured in some powder from a nice brass thingummy, then dropped a ball onto each chamber and used the rammer to drive it home.

We took up a proper shooting stance, rear paws at 45 degrees and held the revolver in our right forepaw, left forepaw behind our back, and fired 6 rounds. Recoil was a gentle shove and the muzzle didn't flip much, nowhere near as much as a Brownin' Hi-Power or Sig. We made a 5* round group of just over 9 inches at 25 mards, which might not be super impressive but the shower of sparks and oooj clouds of smoke brought a smile to our face.




* We're not sure the where the first round went, it wasn't on the (12x12 inch) paper.

[meles meles]

If we were to be converted to the Dark Arts, would we just need to apply for a Blacke Powder licence and then simply ask for a variation for a rifle in .58" calibre ? (We like the idea of an olde style muzzle loading rifle...)

[ovenpaa]

You would also need a licence to acquire and keep black powder, luckily they are free of charge.

[Classic Rifles]

I think you also need a wooden storage box for your true black powder to go in, and I have heard (although correct me if I'm wrong) that the local Fire Brigade need to be notified of its location. Otherwise, go for a substitute and save the faff with another license and more storage issues

[FredB]

The fire brigade are not involved---most fire officers consider a can of hairspray to be more potentially dangerous than a can of black powder. The substitutes are rubbish. They give high pressure spikes and are almost unbelievablely corrosive. Black powder is not very corrosive--it earned its reputation in the days when corrosive primers were used.
The substitutes have one advantage---they are more readily available.
Fred

[meles meles]

*ikkle brain fries*

We were told that not only were substitute powders better than ye olde sulphurous dragon's breath, they were also more consistent and less corrosive too.

[Sim G]

No, the substitutes have all sorts of issues with them. Proper B/P is the way to go, but as said, the substitutes have the advantage of being readily available with no additional certification.

[meles meles]

We were about to say, "get ye behind me, Satan," but then, on reflection, we think we'd rather have Satan in full view afront of us, 'tween cross hairs well sighted...

[dromia]

*ikkle brain fries*

We were told that not only were substitute powders better than ye olde sulphurous dragon's breath, they were also more consistent and less corrosive too.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

They saw you coming there! What a gullible old badger.

Personally I have too much respect for my black powder guns to use substitutes.

Black Powder substitute is a real oxymoron.

[meles meles]

So, would the same apply to a single shot (ie non revolver) muzzle loading pistol like a duelling pistol ? We fancy a muzzle loader, fired by percussion caps, but still aren't sure about the whole black powder route...

What is the reasoning behind not using a tiny charge of modern smokeless powder?