Leavin' 'em loaded

[Tom A Hawk]

I'm told muzzle loading weapons did kill an estimated 600,000 Americans during Mr. Lincoln's war.

Nevertheless, when protecting my one and only life, I carry a nice S&W cartridge revolver.
There are reasons why self-contained cartridges have been so popular for a century and a half now.

I agree. While I enjoy my BP firearms, they are ancient technology and those who depended on them back in the day often carried more than one in case of a jam or mis-fire. If I have a serious situation where lives are at stake I will reach for the most effective modern weapon available.

 

[Greg Blackburn]

Tom A Hawk,

Exactly. One would have to carry a brace of BP revolvers to ensure decent reliability plus be handy with a large knife, club, etc.

The only way I can realistically foresee a BP revolver having merit for self-defense would be if local law prevented the ownership of modern weapons.

The man I mentioned earlier, who kept one or two loaded for home defense, he was an odd person anyone. He did not have a landline (this was the late 1990's mind you) so when someone called, they had to call his mother who lived next door. If the call was for him or his daughter, the lady would clang an old triangular bell like in a western movie's cattle drive chuck wagon.

 

[Greg Blackburn]

Oh and the bad guy, he isn't going to limit himself in any way. Criminals don't obey laws by default and they tend to be very practical----I doubt any would limit themselves with historical arms. So if a self defender's cap was a bit slow or wet, the bad guy won't have that same problem.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

Powder, ball, cork wad, gulf canning wax. Will keep it ready for eternity.

 

[Phfinneuss]

I had a Second Dragoon that was loaded for 14 y e a r s ! ! !. I cleaned it, oiled it, capped it and fired all six charges.

 

[Treestalker]

I wondered if anyone would ask. While did I have to jump from a second story window, no shots were fired.

She and I just didn't have much in common.

Somebody once said the cure for boredom is Adventure!

 

[Carl in France]

I am sorry you guys need guns for self defence, but surely if you seriously percieve the threat and thus the need why on earth are you using cap and ball.
Centre fire works first time every time.

 

[Greg Blackburn]

I am sorry you guys need guns for self defence, but surely if you seriously percieve the threat and thus the need why on earth are you using cap and ball.
Centre fire works first time every time.

Don't be sorry.....reality is reality. Evil exists, no bad guy ever calls ahead, and we are not supermen. I seem to recall a certain concert in Paris along with a certain newspaper needing guns, not having those, and having to wait much too long for the police to do anything about it. I'll take my chances handling my own problems.

Centerfire doesn't always work every time, but generally works every time.

 

[B P Arn]

A cap and ball gun would be my very last choice as a self-defense tool (for several reasons), but it would be infinitely better than nothing.

 

[Greg Blackburn]

Hmmm.....my last choice is my bare hands.

Off topic but I think it needs to be mentioned....carry pepper spray, especially if one carries a firearm. You need less lethal. Get attacked by an unarmed person and all you have is firearm, that guy will force you to shoot him, and then your problems really start! I've carried it and used it since 2000. It literally saved an attacker's life once plus saved me a lot of stress and expense. Educate yourself on the law, pepper spray, and carry it. I carry Sabre Red.

Yes, my last choice is my bare hands.

 

[Carl in France]

Don't be sorry.....reality is reality. Evil exists, no bad guy ever calls ahead, and we are not supermen. I seem to recall a certain concert in Paris along with a certain newspaper needing guns, not having those, and having to wait much too long for the police to do anything about it. I'll take my chances handling my own problems.

Centerfire doesn't always work every time, but generally works every time.

Appreciate reality, and still sorry of your necessity, your example fails to give a good comparrison the countries we live in are just too different.
Centre fire is not just generally better it is realistically the only sensible safe option if you want and need to guarantee it goes bang. Should you buy shonky surplus then it is crap but for carry a quality round will go bang...not in a general way but in an every time way.

 

[Greg Blackburn]

Having traveled more of the world than most, I found violent crime to be worse in places where self defense tools are banned. Europe has a history of limiting the rights of the common, to the point they seem to like it that way. It's why America was founded, to escape from the limited freedoms of The Old World.

 

[Carl in France]

I am in France, came from England. Violent crime is not really an issue in either to the point any one believes carrying a firearm is even remotely required or wanted. Most of the violent stuff is thug on thug so normal folk really have no issues.
Not sure what rights of mine are actually limited?

 

[Greg Blackburn]

Let's continue this privately else we further violate forum rules.

I'll send you a private message shortly but I cannot reply until tonight at the earliest.

 

[Mknight702]

Hmmm.....my last choice is my bare hands.

Lucky you, over here in the UK pretty much our only choice is bare hands, naturally, the criminal isn't as restricted in his choice.

Last year (iirc) we had a terrorist run amok with a knife and a member of the public pulled a narwhal tusk off a wall and used that on him.

 

[Greg Blackburn]

I know that carry or even use of a dedicated self defense weapon is a serious crime in England. Even pepper spray is banned. That's a crime, but it's one we've come to expect. I follow crime in England to some extent, I am aware of things there and also of how knives are now demonized as badly as guns. Clearly, that gun ban isn't working. SMH>

No law can restrict a criminal....laws only affect good people who are inclined to obey such.

No one with any sense wishes to be attacked with a knife while carrying a firearm....but "he brought a knife to a gunfight" comes to mind. I wish your right to remain alive were not denied you.

 

[Carl in France]

Crikey, i did not realise rights to remain alive had been removed as well!! You are stretching the point to the fringes of the discussion here Greg!

 

[Greg Blackburn]

So you believe people have a right to live? Well then how can you argue they have no right to defend that life?

When one will be arrested for carrying or even using a self defense tool, then yes, their right to remain alive has been removed.

 

[Lippy984]

Installation was easy

How are these sights fixed to the barrel?

 

[Lippy984]

Oh and the bad guy, he isn't going to limit himself in any way. Criminals don't obey laws by default and they tend to be very practical----I doubt any would limit themselves with historical arms. So if a self defender's cap was a bit slow or wet, the bad guy won't have that same problem.

I thought that’s what gun control is for???