Sacramento CA Black Powder Assistance?

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Hi,

I bought a pair or Ruger Old Army SS 5.5" Barrel fixed sight models.

The problem being that I have never fired black powder before, and would really like someone to come along and walk me through my first time fireing these pistols.

Anybody nearby with blackpowder experience want to spend half a day at the Rancho Cordova Range with me?

Reply here, PM me or my email is on my profile .....

[Angel_Eyes]

I wish I could get over the pond to help you out, WWE, but in the meantime it's simple, if you are loading on the revolver,, cock to half-cock to allow the cylinder to turn.

1. Fill a chamber with Black powder to within 3/8" of the chamber mouth.

2. Place a .457 soft lead ball on the chamber mouth and ram until ball is below the chamber rim.
(You may need a drilled out file handle to give more leverage with your short loading levers)

Repeat 4 times. (for safety, remove a nipple and use to lower your hammer on)

3. Take the correct size perc. cap and place on the nipples, firm into place, ( I use a small wooden dowel).

4. Bring to full cock, ensuring that a cap is under the hammer,,,,take aim,,,,FIRE!!!(repeat 4 more times).

5. Wipe the silly grin off your face, say sorry to anyone enveloped in your smoke, (you don't have to mean it) and start again!!

Have fun,,,AE

I bet someone starts talking about Grannies and sucking egg's,  

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Angel Eyes,

Sigh, I had this whole post finished, was adding photos, and it dissappeared.

But to move on, when I bought these pistols, I was given everything ....

A half bottle of Hogdon 777

A powder flask with a 20 grain loading tube

Bullets and Wonder Wads; I bought some new wads in case the old ones were dessicated

A 'snail' full of caps as well as several tins of caps (#10s;  the ROAs have Uncle Mike nipples)

A 'loading extension' made out of 1/2" schedule 80 PVC pipe with a wood fitted end for the hand ....

Nipple and cap extraction tools

So I think I have everything I need .... pics attached

I have been thinking about why I haven't shot these things ... I think it is that I am so used to the military  'See one, Do one, Teach one' that I fell unequipped without an instructor beside me on a first time experience of about any kind ....

[Angel_Eyes]

WWE, I can sympathise, as I was also brought up in the military method.

My first B/P revolver was a second hand, Uberti made, Colt 1860 Army, and no-one else in my club had anything similar.

Luckily I have always been an avid reader of Zane Grey and Louis L'Amour, so I thought,,,,'how hard can it be??

No problems occurred during loading, so I let loose at 25 yards at a PL12 target,,,sheer magic,,,and when the smoke cleared and I stopped coughing, lo and behold, a really tight group of ONE in the top righthand corner of the card!!!

I have improved considerably since then and have enjoyed 25 years of Holy Black through nearly all makes of pistol and revolver.

AE

[WaddWatsonEllis]

I belong to the River City Regulators out of Davis CA.

They are having their big club shoot, the Plainfield Incident the first Saturday and Sunday of December.

http://californiagunslingers.com/

(click on river City Regulators; then 'Plainfield Incident') ...

Since the Saturday shoot is also a practice shoot, I think I will take the guns and fire just them ... no shotgun or rifle.
That way I can concentrate on the reloading...

To my way of thinking, I will probably have too much help at this regional shoot .... should be plenty of closet black powder or ex-black powder people there .... and by not trying to compete with long guns, it shold give me plenty of time to reload between stages ....

Matter of fact, I am going to email the president of the club and let him know of my intentions ... make sure it is okay since it is a regional shoot ...

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Throw the carbine & fowling piece in the trunk, along with some ammo.  You never know, you might have a use for them!

Scouts motto;  BE PREPARED!

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Sir Charles,

Good Point!

I will be shooting with the Codymatic '73 Winchester carbine and the Cap Coyote Winchester Model 87 Shotgun on Sunday, along with my Schofields. (Okay, okay, I am guilty of a little name dropping .... *S*)

So the long arms will be shot over the weekend;  I just want to put all my attention on the Rugers for Saturday .... since it is a first time and all ....

[Jethro "Black Jack" Harris]

I have been thinking about why I haven't shot these things ... I think it is that I am so used to the military  'See one, Do one, Teach one' that I fell unequipped without an instructor beside me on a first time experience of about any kind ....

WWE: The first time I shot bp was the first time I had shot anything in 30 years. Nervous? Yep. But I followed all the advice of all the pards here on the forum and had a blast, literally. I live in Sonoma County, about 2 hrs drive from Sacto and don't get over that way too often, but I'll have check out yer links for that event!

Yers in soot,
JBJH

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Jethro ....

It is gonna be a fun weekend ... they have a 'practice' fun through the stages on Saturday and a 'Wild Bunch Competition ...

Afterward there is going to be a chili and cornbread chowdown and a night fireing. I hav considered shooting the ROAs for the night fire if I feel up to it. ... ought to be a lotta fun and a lotta smoke and fire!

Then on Sunday there will be a traditional six stage match; I'll probably use the Schofields, and model 79 and *& Winchesters ....

[WaddWatsonEllis]

I just got a reply from the president of the Regulators....

He not only is going to let me practice with my ROAs, but has notified two of the Range Officers with Black Powder experience to watch out for me and makesure I am safe .... which is what I was hoping for.....

Meanwhile, I am going to start another thread in this Darksider's  to check on the definition of a "loaded pistol" for SASS stages ...