Sure back in the 1800's most were loaded without wads or grease over the balls, but even though the steel back then wasn't the quality it is today, their cappers were in a whole different league. Better tolerances, timing, and the caps really fit the nipples better (cones if you wish). Things have gotten some better with reproduction revolvers than they were back in the 1960-70's era and more information and knowledge is available. I started out with a 1972 era Euroarms and it was a nightmare to shoot, ie timing, cap fit. There just wasn't the number of shooters back then requiring better guns. I've noticed a huge difference in bore cleanliness since I quit the grease over the ball and switched over to a lubed wad. Even the Ox-Yoke wads I add more home brew lube to. In the summer time I use a stiffer lube that is not as affected by hot days and any cold weather shooting I use a lube than doesn't make the felt wad hard and not pliable.
Most of the writers and such shooting percussion revolvers advocate a wad between powder and ball. I'll agree it isn't totally necessary, but IMO and many others it's a big helper. If I were going to not fire a loaded percussion revolver for some time, especially in fairly warm and hot weather, I'd probably refrain from a wad, especially a lubed one, but that is rare. The cappers aren't a self defense weapon for me. If walking along a river or wooded area plinking I might carry a loaded capper for up to an hour maybe without firing, but I've never had one fail in years.
Stanman' I don't know where you learned the art of percussion shooting or get some of the ideas you post, but I can shoot my Walker and Dragoons alot and not have to take them down, swab the barrel, regrease the arbor or anything else. Back in the day of greasing over the balls, the revolvers especially from the chamber mouths and barrel would need wiping down at times, not to mention keeping a rag for greasy/oily hands. Firing the first or after the 2nd, the flames/heat would blow/melt the lube. Maybe your guns don't get dirty due to the fact you shoot too much 1F powder through them that isn't fully burning, lots of unburned powder is blowing out the barrel due to the larger grain size vs 2F or 3F. The Dragoon and Walker barrels just aren't long enough to burn 1F, much less heavy/max loads of 2 or 3F. You're the only person I know shooting 1F in percussion revolvers. All of the big-name magazine and on-line writers don't. Have never seen any ballistic charts advocating it. You yourself stated in another thread just recently that you bought 20-25 pounds of 1F not long ago and figured you might as well shoot it up. Telling others (especially new shooters) on this forum it is OK and reasonable to do so is not good responsibility as far as spewing facts about what to use IMO. If you want to do it, your right, but telling others when they ask what powder to use and you indicate its ok is a bit over the line. I could tell a diesel fueled vehicle owner it was ok to put gasoline in their tank and it will run is ok, but eventually they'll find out I was full of cattle droppings. I've known a few who tried, also those who put diesel in their gas tanks.
1F in every publication and charts I've seen in the last 51 years of black powder shooting rate 1F black powder for small cannons and big bore rifles 58 caliber and plus. All my 36 caliber revolvers and the 1860 size frame 44 caliber one's get 3F. I will shoot both 2 and 3F in my Dragoons and Walker but it seems 2F is getting the better choice of the two, although other than noticing less felt recoil with 2F vs 3F, I haven't noticed any difference in accuracy. It's a fact that 2F has a slower build up of pressure (lower pressure curve) than 3F. Same principle when you reload a smokeless cartridge, powders differ in burn rate, how fast they ignite, build pressure to push the bullet down the barrel, and how clean they burn. I reload my 44 Colt and 45 Colt metallic rounds with 2F, started with 3F some years ago then a long time shooter of the 44 and 45 Colts pointed out to me the pressure curve principle. Have since read some on the advantages of using 2F in a cartridge handgun. Can apply to black powder rifle also.
Its been proven that grease over the ball will not prevent chain fires. Many really seasoned shooters and writers have stated that the grease over the ball does little to prevent the barrel from getting 'gunked up'. A tight fitting ball, esp one that shaves a little lead and tight fitting caps are the biggest prevention. Those who have researched and done field tests have proven the tight vs loose percussion cap chain fire prevention. The Remington #10 caps I use for 99% of my shooting fight tight and never have any blow off when firing, if one does it is so rare that I can't recall the last time it happened. Rem and CCI 11's fit good also, but the Rem 10's have a longer skirt that goes down over the tapered shaft of the nipple. If I need to take any off before firing any, I need to take my fingernail or the edge of a knife blade under the cap and pop it off. Rem 10 and CCI and Rem #11's all have the same internal dimension at the top of the cap. The Rem 10's just have a longer skirt. CCI #10's have around a 0.005" decrease in internal dimension and the shortest skirt of any of them. That's why they don't fit worth a hoot, requiring a wooden dowl to seat them. I tired that and it made me nervous. Had split a brick of them with a fellow shooter, still have around 450 of them sitting in my cap storage container. My friend hasn't found a use for them either after 15 years or so when we bought them. (RWS 1075's are similar in dimensions to Rem and CCI #11's-I've used them some and they work all right in most instances but Rem 10's is my go too).
No intention in getting in a cyber argument with you 'Stanman', but in reading many of your posts over the last week or so you've stated alot of things pertaining to shooting and caring for a black powder revolver that are skeptical. If you want to argue, you'll have to do so with yourself. I'll discuss what I've learned in the 51 years of percussion shooting, have read, and listened to with you or anyone. If I'm wrong on something I'll change my thoughts and/or methods, but I won't adhere to ideas that I know go against the grain and may steer shooters the wrong way. I've seen alot of online forum shooters who want to argue, are too stubborn and/or uniformed to admit or consider the truth. By the way, I think I'll stock up on aluminum foil due to the fact that when your pioneering and ground breaking method of fixing the short arbors on Colt open top style guns by stuffing aluminum foil in the arbor hole hits the airwaves and percussion circles, store shelves will readily empty. Have a good day Stan and everyone on the forum. Crow Choker
