need some help - The Firearms Forum

oscarmayer · 10-20-2009, 05:12 AM

at long last i've decided to get into black powder shooting. i've wanted a bp revolver for a long time. seems simple enough but i dont want to get a piece of junk nor do i want top break the bank. what do you think would be a good starter pistol and in what caliber 36 or 44 ?

zb338 · 10-20-2009, 08:40 AM

Get a Remington .44 with the top strap. It's stronger and more accurate
because it has less spring in the action. It also has sights that don't move.
The .36 Navy is pretty but the back sight is a notch on the hammer and
it has no top strap. I had black powder handguns and shot them for a while
then I got tired of cleaning them. Usually they are not the most accurate
of all guns. Although there are some that shoot very well.
Zeke

quigleysharps4570 · 10-20-2009, 10:06 AM

I'm partial to the 1860 Army in .44 caliber and the 1861 Navy in .36 caliber. Have sent many, many critters to their maker with both. My 1861 Navy is a Uberti...smooth as glass.

jjmitchell60 · 10-20-2009, 11:44 AM

I am partial to the 1851 Navy but like abolut all. If you want a fun one, buy a 1849 pocket colt in 31 cal. Main thing is make sure steel frame and not brass IMHO. The 58 remington is a fun gun to shoot as well and they do make the remingtons in 36 cal, all repros of course.

Joe M · 10-20-2009, 07:26 PM

I personally like the feel of the 1851 & 1861 Navy. I own four 1858 .44 Remingtons but can't say I enjoy shooting them as much as I do the Navy Colt's. Just something about the '51 and '61 that feels good. They're not target grade but they're great plinkers. Were I to buy another Colt's replica, it would be the 1860 Army.

100% agree. Buy a steel framed revolver. You won't regret it no matter what you decide on.

AL MOUNT · 10-20-2009, 07:31 PM

Get something in stainless steel that you can put in the dishwasher.

Black powder draws rust like Elvis Presely attracted chicks....

Oneida Steve · 10-20-2009, 07:45 PM

I've owned several BP revolvers over the years. I have never felt the need to put one in the dishwasher. They are not that hard to clean.

The 1860 Colt .44 is my favorite. The 1858 Remington is a nice gun also, but the grip seems short to me.

I agree with jjmitchell that the .31 caliber Colt 1849 is a fun gun to shoot. It kicks so little that it's the one Colt repro I would consider buying with a brass frame... but iron is better and more historically correct.

pinecone70 · 10-20-2009, 08:41 PM

I have the 1858 .36 and my buddy has the stainless .44 with the 12" barrel. They are loads of fun, nobody else has them around here. Once I learned the proper method of cleaning (thanks mrkirker!) I don't have any problems.

quigleysharps4570 · 10-20-2009, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oneida Steve

They are not that hard to clean.

Tis true, they're not hard to clean.
I might be one of the odd ones but I've always enjoyed cleaning them.

johnlives4christ · 10-21-2009, 12:31 AM

im in the notion i want a bp revolver myself

quigleysharps4570 · 10-21-2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnlives4christ

im in the notion i want a bp revolver myself

Get one my friend.

johnlives4christ · 10-21-2009, 08:23 PM

i have been toying with the idea. i've considered buying one of them repro's out of cabela's... i can do any action work to make it slick, i wonder what quality i could expect though

10-20-2009, 05:12 AM	#1
oscarmayer Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Contributor Posts: 2,387	need some help at long last i've decided to get into black powder shooting. i've wanted a bp revolver for a long time. seems simple enough but i dont want to get a piece of junk nor do i want top break the bank. what do you think would be a good starter pistol and in what caliber 36 or 44 ? -->

10-20-2009, 08:40 AM	#2
zb338 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Recently moved to Pennsylvania. Posts: 286	Re: need some help Get a Remington .44 with the top strap. It's stronger and more accurate because it has less spring in the action. It also has sights that don't move. The .36 Navy is pretty but the back sight is a notch on the hammer and it has no top strap. I had black powder handguns and shot them for a while then I got tired of cleaning them. Usually they are not the most accurate of all guns. Although there are some that shoot very well. Zeke

10-20-2009, 10:06 AM	#3
quigleysharps4570 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 161	Re: need some help I'm partial to the 1860 Army in .44 caliber and the 1861 Navy in .36 caliber. Have sent many, many critters to their maker with both. My 1861 Navy is a Uberti...smooth as glass.

10-20-2009, 11:44 AM	#4
jjmitchell60 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Raised in Buzzard Roost near Frog Town in hillls of Kentucky Contributor Posts: 1,471	Re: need some help I am partial to the 1851 Navy but like abolut all. If you want a fun one, buy a 1849 pocket colt in 31 cal. Main thing is make sure steel frame and not brass IMHO. The 58 remington is a fun gun to shoot as well and they do make the remingtons in 36 cal, all repros of course. __________________ Oath Keepers NOT ON OUR WATCH www.oathkeepers.org 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." -- Benjamin Franklin When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes Duty... Thomas Jefferson

10-20-2009, 07:26 PM	#5
Joe M V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Nebraska Posts: 52	Re: need some help I personally like the feel of the 1851 & 1861 Navy. I own four 1858 .44 Remingtons but can't say I enjoy shooting them as much as I do the Navy Colt's. Just something about the '51 and '61 that feels good. They're not target grade but they're great plinkers. Were I to buy another Colt's replica, it would be the 1860 Army. 100% agree. Buy a steel framed revolver. You won't regret it no matter what you decide on. __________________ Joe

10-20-2009, 07:31 PM	#6
AL MOUNT Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Cleaning my Thompson in The Foothills of the Ozark Mountains Posts: 3,111	Re: need some help Get something in stainless steel that you can put in the dishwasher. Black powder draws rust like Elvis Presely attracted chicks.... __________________ 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment 101st Airborne Division Vietnam 67-68

10-20-2009, 07:45 PM	#7
Oneida Steve Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,028	Re: need some help I've owned several BP revolvers over the years. I have never felt the need to put one in the dishwasher. They are not that hard to clean. The 1860 Colt .44 is my favorite. The 1858 Remington is a nice gun also, but the grip seems short to me. I agree with jjmitchell that the .31 caliber Colt 1849 is a fun gun to shoot. It kicks so little that it's the one Colt repro I would consider buying with a brass frame... but iron is better and more historically correct.

10-20-2009, 08:41 PM	#8
pinecone70 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Minnesota Gal! Posts: 4,730	Re: need some help I have the 1858 .36 and my buddy has the stainless .44 with the 12" barrel. They are loads of fun, nobody else has them around here. Once I learned the proper method of cleaning (thanks mrkirker!) I don't have any problems. __________________ _____________________________________________ "Miss Scarlet, in the library...with a revolver...."

10-21-2009, 12:31 AM	#10
johnlives4christ Former Guest Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,828	Re: need some help im in the notion i want a bp revolver myself

10-21-2009, 08:23 PM	#12
johnlives4christ Former Guest Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,828	Re: need some help i have been toying with the idea. i've considered buying one of them repro's out of cabela's... i can do any action work to make it slick, i wonder what quality i could expect though