New member. Looking for first firearm.

[MSW89]

Hey everyone,

I am looking to purchase my first black powder firearm. I am a college student, and don't have much disposable income but I would like to use the little I got for Christmas on myself, and get a black powder gun. My only experience with them was about a year ago when I was able to volunteer at a historic site for a few months; I got to fire a flintlock Brown Bess 1st pattern, and loved it. It seems there is now way I can afford a rifle, but what do you guys think of the Pietta revolvers on Cabelas? They are currently on sale for $149, which is about all I have to spend.

Thanks!

 

[Billnpatti]

The Pietta and Uberti revolvers are good guns and will provide you with a lot of fun. However, if I were you, I'd be looking more at the various used rifles for sale on this forum. Any decent rifle will cost you about $350 and up. But you can find a decent caplock rifle for about $350 if you look and bide your time. Of course, just having a rifle by itself will do you no good. You will have to plan on buying various necessary accouterments to go your rifle. Of course, this is also true of a revolver. You need powder, patches, balls, caps and a short starter at a minimum. If you shoot only targets, you will benefit both from an accuracy point and from a financial point if you simply use spit to lube your patches. However, if you will be letting the load sit in your rifle bore over time, such as when hunting. spit will not do since it is subject to drying out. It such a case, you can use a cheap lube such as olive oil. It has been used for many, many years and works quite well. I would say that by the time you reach the range for the first time, you will have around $500 invested in your new hobby. If that is more than you have currently, just save up your money and buy something that will serve you well. Do not just buy something, anything so you can burn black powder. Don't buy a rifle for less than $350 because, with very few exceptions, you cannot get a decent rifle for less than that. Rifles costing less than that have a reason for selling cheaply. Usually it is a bad lock or a rusted out bore. Don't buy someone else's problem. Just "hide and watch" the For Sale ads on this forum for a rifle. Your rifle is an investment so invest wisely.

 

[azmntman]

well said Bill.....You forgot to warn him of the addiction though.

The revolvers are cool but I would also opt for a rifle to get started. You can check pawn shops but must check the bore. Get a cleaning jag or two and take with you with a patch and some oil and if they wont let ya run it down the barrel don't buy it (likely bulged barrel or worse or rust.) I have seen nice used in pawn shop and gun stores for the $150.oo u have. Also a post a few weeks ago shows a guy got TWO for $250.00. Deals are out there and since yer gonna be addicted and this is only the first of your collection get a good one. keep reading here for tips and how to's. Welcome and have a "blast".

 

[azmntman]

and BTW I forgot to mention when checking with a oiled patch you are looking for a nice semi tight run from muzzle to the end, if is bulged there will be a noted "loose spot" which will slide too easily for a few inches....avoid that one.

 

[jaxenro]

Why a rifle? I started with revolvers and have used them for 35 years. The Cabela's brass frames are fine, not historically accurate, as long as you keep the charge low.

It really depends what you want to do. To me plinking, shooting tin cans and the like, and target shooting are more fun with a revolver I'd get a rifle if you want to hunt

 

[Wes/Tex]

You didn't specifically say what you're intending to do with a muzzleloader. Though only of minor importance, it can determine the types you should be looking at. If there's the possibility of hunting involved, a rifle or smoothbore would probably be your best bet...caliber will be determined by what you're looking to hunt. For just fun and defending yourself from frenzied Coors Cans, one of the revolvers you mentioned would be a cheaper start but could be questionable if you decide to rid the world of anything larger than a bunnie or the neighbor's cat! :wink: Seriously, I'm assuming the $149 dollar gun at Cabelas is one of the brass framed Colt style guns on sale around in their stores. These are fine for plinking and target shooting but their softer frames need to be loaded lighter than the steel frames to prevent the metal from stretching enough to cause lock-up problems and the related loss of accuracy. The revolver is probably the cheapest way to get into the sport since balls, powder and caps is all the store bought stuff you actually need to shoot. Lubes or lubed wads you can make. An inexpensive capper is nice but not mandatory. Some sort of powder flask is almost mandatory. Holsters vary in price and you can possibly find used ones fairly cheap. Clean up can be done with soap and water though some folks use other ingredients to make it work a few seconds faster. Think about what you really want to do with a muzzleloader, let us know and we can be even more helpful. Good luck.

 

[Dave Marsh]

Go for the Pietta. Brass frame will be fine. You can graduate to the rifles when you graduate from college. Good luck, have fun and welcome.

Dave

 

[cynthialee]

Hi!
Welcome aboard.

Don't start off with a Cabellas revolver. They are perfectly fine guns but I have never seen one off their shelf that didn't need a little tinkering to make it work just right. As this is your first foray in the Black Powder game it just isn't advisable. The revolvers are a little finicky when compared to other offerings in the BP world.

Your first BP gun should be a single shot side lock. Rifle or pistol. They are very easy to maintain in shooting condition. Trouble shooting problems is much easier.
As you are new to the game I would suggest you make finding a mentor top priority. You do not know a good rifle from a bad one at this point. So I do not suggest that you get a second hand black powder gun unless it has been ok'd by a competent black powder shooter.

Do not let that money burn a hole in your pocket. Save it back for a little more time to add to it so you can get a good rifle or pistol.
If you are dead set on a revolver then get it and the proper accoutrements to shoot it. But before you do so, read allot of posts and maybe watch some of the videos Duelist put up on YouTube on black powder pistols.
Be aware that when you first get your revolver it might not preform to your expectations. This is a learning curve thing that will get better with time. Heck every revolver I have ever had has been a bit of a learning curve issue. Even when I have had two of the same make and model they have had different quirks. But I love my BP revolvers. I have mine pretty much figured out and if I get a fail to fire or a jam I am surprised as that just doesn't happen with my guns. :wink:

jm2c

 

[jaxenro]

I agree with the mentor idea or if possible get someone who knows to look over the revolver you get and check for glaring defects do toucan return it if need be.

Yes most of the inexpensive ones need a little tinkering but I assume any reasonably intelligent college student with Internet access can figure them out. The Colt style is fairly uncomplicated and like the model T was fixed by more non mechanics than mechanics I bet the Italian clones are fixed by more non gunsmiths than gun smiths. I've only sent two to smiths, one to convert a Walker from 44 to 36, and the other functioned fine went I sent it out just with the hammer stop, tuning, cap guard, etc. it functions better now

 

[cynthialee]

well there is all that

 

[lethemgo]

A lot of good information here but just my two cents. I have bought a 51 navy 60 army and 58 rem new army from cabelas. Love them all and have had no problems with any of them. I would try to go with a steel frame but a brass frame would more than likely last you a long time. If you do have any problem before you shoot it take it back if it doesn't feell right. I went in a opened box and inspected gun operation before I bought it. A pound of powder, 454 balls, caps. Go to the range first and see if anybody is shooting cap and ball revolver and make a new friend. Would work with me. Watch duelist1954 on youtube, great way to get a loading lesson. Good luck....its fun but addictive! Oh yeah...a 38 special brass is around 20grains for a 36 Cal and a 45 auto is close to 30grains for a 45cal. Way close enough to get you started.

 

[Snakebite]

If that's what you can afford for now, I say go for it. It'll get you started without a big investment, just remember the powder, balls, caps, cleaning stuff, etc. Then when you graduate and get a good job, you can really start spending your money :grin:

I've had two .51 Navy pistols, both by Uberti and I never had a problem with either one.

 

[cynthialee]

Well you have certainly had better luck with Cabelas guns than I have.
:idunno:

 

[jamesthomas]

If you let us know where you live there might be somebody close by that can help you out. We had a guy join just in the last 3 weeks and he was just starting out also, it turned out he lived about 35 miles away from me and we have already gone shooting once and might go again this Thurs. or Friday. So put a location up by your Avatar.

 

[Billnpatti]

Here ya go. Check this one out but be quick. http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/pp-classifieds/showproduct.php/product/10420

 

[Black Jack]

Here ya go. Check this one out but be quick. http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/pp-classifieds/showproduct.php/product/10420[/quote]
This seems to be an excellent opportunity, assuming the seller has described accurately. I'm partial to starting with a rifle because it will give you more opportunities to shoot it (hunting, informal matches at local black powder clubs, etc.). If you do have your heart set on a cap-and-ball revolver, Cabela's Pietta pistols are very good. If you ever did get an imperfect one, just return it as they are very accommodating. The one you cite is a great buy...just have to remember that the brass framed guns are not quite as rigid as a steel frame and should be shot with light loads to avoid frame "stretching" from prolonged use with heavy loads.

 

[JKinTX]

I don't know why nobody mentioned a single shot pistol or a shotgun?
Simple is better when you are starting out.A smoothbore can be loaded with ball or shot, and the single shot pistol will not be as likely to get one in trouble as a revolver will.
Long ago, Numrich used to make pretty decent setups of all of these- not perfect, but good for the price and safe.

 

[jaxenro]

If you can point out a decent muzzleloading shotgun for $149, new or used, I'd probably buy two

What's a cheap decent single shot pistol go for? Not adjust junker but something decent?

 

[AZbpBurner]

You're gonna need a marginal mechanical aptitude to operate any muzzleloader or cap & ball revolver, so don't rely on advice to avoid the Cabelas sale revolvers.

I have several Colt and Remington replicas, many are Pietta, and there hasn't been one that I couldn't tune up with simple hand tools, and a little advance fact finding. There are a multitude of members here who can help you troubleshoot anything that may arise.

When you're on a budget, a $149 revolver may make a lot more economic sense than a $350 rifle. If you aren't supposed to have "firearms" on campus, the rifle would be a dealbreaker, while the revolver is more discreet.

 

[JKinTX]

I don't do other people's research for them, except on contract.