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  1. S

    Keeping an 1858 loaded indefinitely

    Amen
  2. S

    Keeping an 1858 loaded indefinitely

    I know in my part of the country (Memphis TN vicinity) everything is kept loaded. And very close to hand. I carry my badge, qual card and a service weapon whenever I leave my farm. There are 14 loaded unmentionables within 3 short paces of my bed. Between the wildlife, the druggies and the...
  3. S

    Keeping an 1858 loaded indefinitely

    I fired off a caplock double barrel 12g in 2011, that had sat around loaded since 1921… Figured I would unclog the spiderwebs in the barrels by popping a couple caps… 🤬🤬🤬
  4. S

    Unplugging patent breech? Loaded rifle…

    Punched through the breech blockage. When the rain stops (Hurricane Francine remnants) will try shooting it clear. Nipple pick and a stiff paint gun cleaner, think wire core plastic bristel pipe cleaner…
  5. S

    Unplugging patent breech? Loaded rifle…

    Magnum caps were all that was available the last few years. Freshest tin I have. I keep 10s and 11s on hand. Have taken the TC hunting years ago, only shot the GPR for fun a couple times. Friend I inherited them from rarely shot either, so got probably 300 11s along with the rifles.
  6. S

    Unplugging patent breech? Loaded rifle…

    All I use in my ROA if I can’t get my hands on some Swiss 3F or any real deal 4F. Never an issue in the revolver. I have around 3/4 pound of Swiss 3F. Will switch to it, 20-30gr under a couple 50gr T7 pellets. Last time I shot that load (.54 GPR) it holed a beer can at 60yds the first shot.
  7. S

    Unplugging patent breech? Loaded rifle…

    I scrubbed it out with a new .22 phosphor bronze brush. Mop and soggy patches, cleaner ran out the nipple. The “oil” was T-17 that melted, was 98*F outside when I cleaned it. Swabbed it out with 91% rubbing alcohol before loading, forgot to clear the nipple/breech with a couple caps before loading.
  8. S

    Unplugging patent breech? Loaded rifle…

    I did not, never have to with the ROA, so didn’t even think of it for the rifle. Completely spaced the odd travel path in a patent breech. I’ll try to pop it out with some Swiss 3F. If that doesn’t work, I’ll just pull the ball. Thanks for the reminder.
  9. S

    Unplugging patent breech? Loaded rifle…

    Deep cleaned my TC .50 “Hawken” last week. Had fluid running out of the nipple. Dried, lightly oiled, kept muzzle down. Got it out this evening. Loaded in the house, went out back, brand new tin of CCI #11 Magnum caps. Triple 7 3F 100gr load, lubed patch and ball (noidea how old, was white). 5...
  10. S

    Storing rifles prior to shooting?

    I move it from the room with a/c to a part of the house that deos not. At least a week before, but in the case of my .50, 3 months before hunting season. Had it downstairs for a deep cleaning and some stock touch up/dress up. Going to move the “using box” downstairs as well. Powder, caps...
  11. S

    Who among us are PIPE smokers?

    It was a jet black grown in Connecticut. Usually used for all leaf cigars. Absolutely zero stem or seed particles, no flavorings. Last place I found it was on the Muckleshoot reservation in Auburn WA. Very cool temperature smoke, no “brush fire” effect like you get from cheap tobacco. Used to...
  12. S

    A recent vivid lucent daydream...

    I could actually see that as I read it… Just getting back into caplock rifles. I remember my first trip to a rondy shoot (1986) like it was yesterday. Now I’m the grizzled old timer, right down to needing a cane pretty frequently. I wore out a library copy of Sam’s book back then, I would turn...
  13. S

    Here is What I Love About Muzzleloading

    I have a pretty decent collection of modern SHTF guns. If I’m on a contract harvest (feral hog thinning) I use those. All eating size pigs are hauled to a private processing plant and distributed as food relief in the county where harvested. Hunting on my farm? Ruger Old Army loaded with a 40gr...
  14. S

    load question

    Shoots cleaner than 2F, more complete combustion due to the finer particles. I normally use 3F in a revolver, prefer 4F as it is more historically correct. Historic pistol (cap and ball revolver)powders were 4F or even finer. 2F is more of a shotgun or cartridge powder, but works fine in most...
  15. S

    TC .45 Question

    Previous owner, could be his wife, daughter, the gun’s name or even the owner’s name. Inherited a TC .50 Hawken last year. Getting ready to stamp my late friend’s name, date of birth and date of death on it. I added the brass nails around the buttplate, patchbox and wrist like he wanted to do...
  16. S

    What Remington 1858 to Buy?

    I can shake a .452 right out of the chamber. Can “seat” them with a pencil.
  17. S

    What Remington 1858 to Buy?

    The ROA is a Whitney with coil springs and a larger bore. A true .45 (.457) versus a .44 (.451). 1858 cylinder notches, retained double pin compound action loading ram. Spiller and Burr was a brass framed 58 clone scaled down to .36, currently only available in a Traditions blister pack starter...
  18. S

    Wads Vs Lube Vs Paper Cartridges

    My standard goofing off load is 5-10gr of 3F topped with a 30gr Pyrodrek pellet. Add lubed felt wad, ball, quick smear of T17, cap it and make some noise. My serious business load is 35-40gr of Swiss or T7 3F, .457 swaged round ball, as much T17 or Bore Butter as can be forced into the...
  19. S

    .36 vs. .44 "Stopping Power"

    I’ve compared my .45 Old Army against a modern .36 revolver. The 7.5” barrel ROA can put all 6 in a paper plate at 100 yards. The 2” .36 (.38Spl) is good to 7 yards, tops. Too short of a sight picture. .45 will hole a 5 gallon bucket of roofing tar, the long way. .36 will hole the same bucket...
  20. S

    Pietta 1858 New Army Revolver .44 Cal 8" barrel

    Missed out on a really clean Pietta .44 a couple years ago, wanted to get my ROA a “baby brother”. And then was okay with that. 1 .44/45 is plenty, the “baby brother” needs to be a Spiller and Burr, preferably a pair of them. Unless I luck into a clean Leach and Rigdon… 🤔 For giggles, 20-25gr of...
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