some beginner's lessons

[Old Creek]

when I got my first a couple of years ago I dry balled so many times in the first 50 or 60 shots I almost quit. 3 to 5 times. only once was I able to put powder in the touch hole and blow the ball out. one ball I literally brought the ball out of the touch hole a sliver at a time because I ended up boring a hole through it because the ball puller stripped out so many times. I sat at the kitchen table with a home made pick and my mini single blade trapper for hours but finally got it. I almost dry balled a few weeks ago just from excitement, caught myself just as I was about to push the ball down with my thumb, stopped and thought out loud " did I put powder in the bore?" turned her upside down and nodda came out.

I got over the initial feeling of foolishness and discouragement and just bought my second, a fowler a month or two ago and hope to have another within the year.

keep on pluggin.

creek

 

[Grumpa]

Thirty-some years ago, had a gang of friends over for 4th of July. I would load my '51 London Navy (Uberti)
full of 2F, ram in a cardboard wad, and top it off with a dab of Crisco, and let folks touch it off.

About the time I ran out of wads, a friend who had never fired a pistol asked if he could try. So I filled 'er up with powder, dabbed on some Crisco, capped 'er, and handed it to him after showing him how to cock and fire it...

With the first shot, five chambers went off!!!!
When he recovered from his shock, he asked: "Is it supposed to do that?" "Nooo", I replied, "my dumbness."

I had him fire the remaining chamber, and then I put the now thoroughly greasy gun in the cellar to await a much needed cleaning.

Lesson learned: Greasing the mouth of the cylinder chambers is not done to prevent chain fire. :shake: :grin:

 

[SgtErv]

Glad I'm not the only one who drilled a hole right through the ball with the ball puller. Took me a loooong time to get it out. Good ole persistence, little bit of stubbornness, and some friendly advice helped. I hear you though, it was almost enough to have me hang it up. (CO2 discharger saved the day).

It's that much more rewarding because it's difficult though. Glad you stuck with it

 

[sidelock]

NEVER USE A METAL BRUSH. CLOTH ONLY.

 

[Jim C]

when I got my first a couple of years ago I dry balled so many times in the first 50 or 60 shots I almost quit. 3 to 5 times. only once was I able to put powder in the touch hole and blow the ball out. one ball I literally brought the ball out of the touch hole a sliver at a time because I ended up boring a hole through it because the ball puller stripped out so many times. I sat at the kitchen table with a home made pick and my mini single blade trapper for hours but finally got it. I almost dry balled a few weeks ago just from excitement, caught myself just as I was about to push the ball down with my thumb, stopped and thought out loud " did I put powder in the bore?" turned her upside down and nodda came out.

I got over the initial feeling of foolishness and discouragement and just bought my second, a fowler a month or two ago and hope to have another within the year.

keep on pluggin.

creek

Good gawd man I truly do hate it when that happens , but I shoot cappers so it's not that big a deal at all.

 

[mooman76]

NEVER USE A METAL BRUSH. CLOTH ONLY.

Never could seem to find a cloth brush. :rotf: