black powder gun for self defence?

[cpt.bales]

can you do it . is it a good idea to carry a black powder pistol for self defence???

[stetson]

I wouldn't to fickle with moisture and forget about quick reload.
If you want to be diffierent go for it!I would not trust my life
with black powder.

[cpt.bales]

well does a black powder pistol have enough power to kill??? you have 6 shots. you should only need one . and what are you saying about moisture??
i dont understand.

[inplanotx]

First off, black powder weapons have plenty of killing power. Now, when carried concealed, it is up against your body absorbing your sweat. Not good for black powder. Second, the percussion caps have a tendancy to fall off. Third, after your first shot you will have to wait precious seconds until the smoke clears for a follow-up shot. It just may ruin your day. I would say on a scale of 1 to 10 this is a definate -10! Even if a cartridge gun with black powder loads, it is still not a good idea.

Ever had a black powder weapon shoot off multiple cylinders when fired? Need more advice?

[armedandsafe]

I got a contract once to set up a safe room and alarm system for a couple. The only firearms they had were blackpowder (a pair of Colt's percussion.) They kept them loaded with plactic sleeves in the cylinders and pinched caps. Once a week they would go to the range and fire them off, clean and reload. They never had to fire them in their house, but displayed them twice to unwelcome visitors in the dead of night. I haven't talked to them in about 10 years, but they were never of a mind to buy a more modern armament.

I have carried blackpowder for SD, when on a multi-state motorcycle tour. Something about state laws made that advisable. If the cylinder is sealed at one end with a tight fitting bullet and the other end sealed fairly well with a tight fitting cap, and the powder insulated from the cylinder walls by a plastic sleeve, corrosion is minimal and the powder does not get ruined by absorbing moisture.

It is a bit of a hassle, however, and is more problematic than a cartridge gun.

Pops

[southernshooter]

I would not recomend it personally if you are wantin simple stick to revolvers dude, but a blackpowder. You would be unique

[Little Rooster]

Originally Posted by cpt.bales

well does a black powder pistol have enough power to kill??? .

Ask James Butler Hickok

[AngelDeville]

I carry a .62 flintlock for cc.

[BobMcG]

Can you do it. Of course. It was the only way it could be done once upon a time. It worked then...

Is it a good idea to practice today? Why would you want to if there were a much better and more reliable alternative?

[Mosin_Nagant_Fan]

Well, to the black powder and moister thing, black powder becomes useless when wet. As for self defense, after the first shot, you have less then 3-5 sec to reload and if you missed, less then 2 (then again, the sound probably scared them s**tless out the door).

So, no, a black powder weapon wouldn't be practical for home defense nor concealed carry.

[justdoug]

I carried an unloaded .36 cal snubbie to card game once, but that was just for nostalgia. Made me feel like Doc Holiday. I'm all for being different, in fact I strive to be in some cases. However, I could not bring myself to carry blackpowder for self defense. The .44 Navy Colt replica is fun during muzzleloading season though.

[MisterEd]

It was the only way it could be done once upon a time.

And the other guy was probably not much better off than you.

I am an avid BP shooter but BP guns are technology from a different time. Lets keep the nostalgia alive and well by continuing to let them belch fire and smoke - and ourselves by more modern (and practical) means.....

[hammybone]

I remember reading an article years ago probaly in Field & Stream about an old Civil War rifle that was still loaded it seems that the powder in the gun was still dry the rifle fired... off after all these years.

[mrkirker]

It is very possible to come across CW ordinance that is still 'live'. Last year, a local relic hunter with years of experience was seriously injured when the artillary round he was trying to render inert exploded. Did a fair amount of damage to his grandson and their house, as well.

Same basic firearms rule always applies: Assume it is live and loaded!

[SW44Mag]

What if you use Pyrodex instead of black powder?

[jjmitchell60]

I have been a vivid BP shooter for many a year. I have seen rifles and muskets that were loaded for 100+ years and still go off with the powder and load in them, one went through a home wall. Now the bad part about using a BP for CCW is what ARMEDANNDSAFE touched on, they need to be fired off at least weekly cleaned, then reloaded. Leave BP, pyrodex (pyrodex is actually worse), and other BP substitutes in a BP gun for a year without shooting it out and you will have a ring in the barrel where the charge sits. I have seen it with my own eyes. Shooting them every week and then cleaning before a reload should stop that though. Then again there is the moisture problem, the fact that a BP load can cook off if in a very hot place like a car in the summer with windows up (yes have seen a cannon cook off in the summer in the sun), the fact that caps will come off or become duds (have seen both) if stored on the gun for a long time, and other factors. Is it such a good idea when modern revolvers or other hand guns are available, not IMHO. I reckon it would beat taking a knife to a gun fight. Personally I would not do it but then again I am in situations that I get drenched by rain, humidity is near 100% here at times, near open flam, and other reasons I would not do it.
IF I was to though, I would use a short revolver like a sherrifs model in no less than 44 caliber. I would shoot the gun empty weekly, clean it, and then reload. I would use wonder wads over the powder to keep from using grease and not a bad idea to also put a wonder wad over the ball as well. I would use a 457 ball to ensure a tight seal of the lead to cylinder wall in addition to teh wonder wads to ensure you do not have a chain fire.

In all, I still say a bad idea, now for home defense, maybe a better idea over for CCW purposes IMHO.

[Mosin_Nagant_Fan]

Well, lets put it, this way. You'll probably put up enough smoke to get away.

[Judah]

What about that North American Arms .22 mini that they sell for SD? They seem serious about it as a SD option.

[Judah]

Heres my theory in favor of BP for SD. Maybe there is a huge hole in my logic. If so, please set me straight.

I used to carry a small firearm regularly. It was before I had kids. Now, I relate carrying a gun to having a kid. You always have to know where it is, it's always hanging from your hip, and it needs allot of attention. But it cant ask for it and so its easy to neglect.

Well, I admit, I made the ultimate mistake. I left it behind in a department store shopping cart, along with my wallet. No harm though. Security picked it up and I rushed back to get it. I learned my lesson.

After I had a kid, I stopped carrying altogether. Not just for the kids sake, but now I had a kid and the gun was like having twins. So I decided to give up the gun. (Not as hard a choice as it may seem)

Now, Im into BP and have toyed with the idea getting a small cal. to carry.

Why?

Since I'm not in law enforcement, and don't reach for my pistol regularly, I tend to forget I have it. With BP there is allot more care and concern that goes into the weapon. I need to "baby" it more than a modern pistol, but for me, thats a good thing. It keeps me in mind of the weapon and forces me to maintain it regularly. Part of that is a weekly discharge, so I get some target practice by default. Its like swordsmanship. You need to "Live" with your weapon to use it effectively. I find BP requires a closer relationship and greater responsibility than cartridge.

So I think the extra consideration that goes into BP guns makes me more aware and responsible toward it.

Thats my take. Since I have not invested, please feel free to shoot down this logic.

By the way, do I need a CC permit to carry BP?????

Thanks

[Jack Ryan]

Never mind.

I just read through some of this moron's other posts and it also appears he's not a member here any more.

There's a surprise.

[fedupdon]

if they could talk there is 1000s of dead people that have been killed by black owder guns may not be the best but they will still kill

[MIKE6975]

hers an idea,try a conversion cylinder in your bp revolver,heres one of my favorites.



mike


"never trust somethin that bleeds for seven days and doesn't die"

[mrkirker]

I've been watching this thread for a while, and would like to add my $.02.

There seems to be two different aspects of BP being discussed. The first (to me, anyway) seems to be the non-cartridge, BP weapon. Followed by the modern versioned cartridge-styled piece.

IMHO, the first is really impractical, although not impossible by any means. Prior to cartridge-based firearms, the first was 'the' method for defense and offense. And it worked well, untill something 'better' came down the pike.

There's no reason that a cartridge-based weapon could not be carried as a CW for defense, though I'm not sure that a cartridge based weapon would have to be discharged weekly (I may have missed something, here), however. I have regularly fired BP rounds in competition that were prepared 12 to 16 months earlier that have performed consistantly in both long guns and revolvers. I do 'seal' the primer, however. (I do this for my 'smokless propellants, as well.)

Carrying a BP cartridge weapon for self-defense would be a novel approach, perhaps TOO novel. Should an 'event' occur, there will be many things to explain, perhaps even justify, as you can imagine. Having to explain WHY one chose to carry a particular weapon, if others were available, has arisen. I would not want to have to make my decision to carry a BP weapon sound 'reasonable' to an over-eager, gun-dumb DA (or jury), who might be out to make you look as though you were carrying a 'novel' weapon with the intent of 'looking' for a excuse to use it. (Read that as: Gun Nut!)

Even should you escape the criminal grand jury, there's always the possibility of a civil case being brought forth by either the survivor, or his/her survivors. Yet another opp for your intent to be questioned, and civil standards for awards are not as strict as criminal standards.

If it was possible to cast the slightest shadow upon your intent during the 'event' (which you should expect them to do), the additional justification of carrying a 'novel' weapon is something that only would add wrinkles to your defense, and in that situation, you want to be smooth and shiny!

Your justification for the choice of weapon may become an issue, and it will have to stand up against 'perception', as well as aspects of the law applicable under the circumstances of the 'event'. It's not fair, but we have to deal with it, none the less.

[TranterUK]

Black Powder for self defence?
Forget the gun.

Two methods, one, the grenade, two, the mine. Given correct compression, reliable ignition and a good fragmentation shell, they will do the trick. (Where legal).

[infidel_2_dabone]

Sure you could do it, but why on earth would you want to?
Ask yourself 1 question, How do I Benifit from carrying a BP pistol.
Be realistic and atleast live in the 20th century.

Better Yet, Why don't you just carry a knife, or a Bow and Arrow!