Author Topic: Why do I shoot black powder?  (Read 17102 times)

Offline Dick Dastardly

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Why do I shoot black powder?
« on: July 28, 2014, 09:34:04 PM »
Sometimes it takes an image to imprint on the mind just what words can't quite say.  So, here's my side kick delivering death with his sixgun.  One look should tell you why the piff-ting hurry up go fast shooters just don't get it.

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Offline hellgate

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Re: Why do I shoot black powder?
« Reply #1 on: July 28, 2014, 10:04:16 PM »
I learned very quickly at a night shoot to shut my eyes as I pull the trigger so I wouldn't be blinded for about 5 seconds with each shot. Your photo illustrates the obvious.

I'm not sure if it is the right movie but I think it was in the remake of "3:10 from Yuma" where the main characters were being fired upon at night in their camp and the brush was lit up with each shot by the ambushers. It was the first realistic looking nightime BP flashes I had seen in a movie.
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Since I have 14+ guns, I've been called the Imelda Marcos of Cap&Ball. Now, that's a COMPLIMENT!

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Offline Major 2

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Re: Why do I shoot black powder?
« Reply #2 on: July 29, 2014, 04:12:58 AM »
" the piff-ting hurry up go fast shooters just don't get it"

that just about does sum it up   :)
when planets align...do the deal !

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Re: Why do I shoot black powder?
« Reply #3 on: Today at 05:53:05 PM »

Offline Wildcat Will

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Re: Why do I shoot black powder?
« Reply #3 on: July 29, 2014, 04:55:50 AM »
I couldn't agree with ya'll more.  Just seems right to for a cowboy to be shooting flames and looking through smoke. 
Smoke makin', fire belching gunfighter of the VA Fire and Brimestone Posse    Blackpowder or No powder!

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Offline Blair

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Re: Why do I shoot black powder?
« Reply #4 on: July 29, 2014, 08:39:30 AM »
"Why do I shoot black powder?"
Well, for the most part, in small arms, what alternatives/choice did they have within the time period?
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Offline Thumb Buster

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Re: Why do I shoot black powder?
« Reply #5 on: July 29, 2014, 08:57:37 AM »
I agree with all of y'all!  The 'piff-tingers' need to get edjamacated!   ::)  Liked that photo also; it captures the lore.
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Offline Big Dave

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Re: Why do I shoot black powder?
« Reply #6 on: September 23, 2014, 03:49:07 PM »
When I shoot smokeless, I feel like I'm shooting an air gun.  I'm ruint....Big Dave

Offline rdstrain49

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Re: Why do I shoot black powder?
« Reply #7 on: September 24, 2014, 10:28:46 PM »
If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand.

Offline Sir Charles deMouton-Black

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Re: Why do I shoot black powder?
« Reply #8 on: September 25, 2014, 10:34:00 AM »
I agree with all of y'all!  The 'piff-tingers' need to get edjamacated!   ::)  Liked that photo also; it captures the lore.

Spelling error!   Emasc.......!
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Offline Qball

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Re: Why do I shoot black powder?
« Reply #9 on: September 28, 2014, 11:06:42 AM »
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Offline Sir Charles deMouton-Black

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Re: Why do I shoot black powder?
« Reply #10 on: September 28, 2014, 11:27:25 AM »
Blackpowder makes bigger boom
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z113/qballsweden/flash.jpg

QBall; Nice picture of your flinter at night.  Folks watching a flinter see the smoke and hear the BOOM as one thing. It's when you fire one yourself that you are acutely aware of the sequence.  Hold, waver, squeeeeeeeeze, wait, click/whoosh/flash, wait, then BOOM!

In the early days of those huge video cameras, a friend had taken many shots of flintlocks being fired. Broken down, frame by frame, the sequence became clear. Each step in the firing sequence was on a separate frame, sometimes with several frames between steps. It makes you very aware of the reason for "follow-through"!
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Offline Qball

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Re: Why do I shoot black powder?
« Reply #11 on: September 28, 2014, 12:38:16 PM »
Thank you sir.
I would say that the BrownBess made me a  better shooter.
Click.. wosh.... Wait for it, wait for it...BOOM

I had a friend (a very god shooter) who never got it.
Every time he tried to shot the "Bess" he almost shot his fot of
taking the recoil as he pressed the trigger.     
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Offline Lucky Irish Tom

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Re: Why do I shoot black powder?
« Reply #12 on: October 07, 2014, 08:11:30 AM »
It is always fun to watch one of those fad heathen quick shooters come up to line after a couple of BP shooters on a day where the smoke just hangs in the air.
If ya can't be fast it's good to be Lucky!
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Offline Two Rivers Marshal

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Re: Why do I shoot black powder?
« Reply #13 on: October 18, 2014, 11:46:30 PM »
I overheard a pard commenting on my loads (full case of FFg) in a 45LC.  Said he has heard of mouse fart loads before, but mine were elephant fart loads.  Dont see any reason not to shoot black.   I just grin when the first round goes down range and you can see out of the corner of your eye all the counters ducking under the smoke.  If'n I miss, I just yell DING.

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Offline Shawnee McGrutt

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Re: Why do I shoot black powder?
« Reply #14 on: October 19, 2014, 09:08:08 AM »
Is there another form of gun powder?  ???
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Offline Noz

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Re: Why do I shoot black powder?
« Reply #15 on: October 19, 2014, 09:21:04 AM »
because it is impossible to keep my frustration level as high as I do with any other form of propellant.





just came back from a shoot in which the only gun that worked every stage was the shotgun.
Long story involved.

Offline Dick Dastardly

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Re: Why do I shoot black powder?
« Reply #16 on: October 19, 2014, 06:27:02 PM »
The simplicity of getting really consistant and accurate ammo to shoot is one of the things that I find really satisfying.  The "reloading manual" for black powder ammo says to fill the case up enough that the bullet compresses the powder between 1/16" to 1/8".  What could be easier.

Cleaning guns after the match is so easy that my guns generally are cleaner than the shooter next to me that's shooting heathen fad smokeyless powder.  I like clean guns, sparkling clean ammo and great "Old West" performance.

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Offline rifle

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Re: Why do I shoot black powder?
« Reply #17 on: October 21, 2014, 08:30:08 AM »
I shoot the black as a natural progression from muzzleloader rifle to cap&ball revolver to cartridge  revolver and rifle. May as well experience the full spectrum of the "Holy Black" life style. It's a part of who I am. A black powder shooter.

I thunk when folks speak of the wait while firing a flintlock rifle they aren't experiencing the sweetness of a well tuned flintlock.

A fast lock time(like an L&R lock) with a short hammer throw(unlike a Siler lock) is the place to start. The size and position of the vent hole beveled inside and out and the setting of the flint in the jaws of the lock all matter.

The sparks from the flint "shoot" down to the prime powder and get there before the cock(hammer) stops.The prime powder can ignite before the lock reaches the end of it's throw which means the main charge can ignite faster since the prime powder sparks "fly" into the vent hole beveled to guide them in with the bevel placing the main charge closer to the prime powder.

When those things are done well considering how sparks literally fly(speed) to the prime to the main charge the "wait" is very short.

When the prime powder is not blocking the vent hole and is just level with the vent and placed away from the vent so the ignited prime flys into the vent guided bt the bevel on the outside that is,sort of, canted to ramp from low into the vent hole(more bevel at the low side of the vent hole) there is no pffffft-whoooosh. It's more like a spitbang.

Make any sense? That whooooosh comes mostly from when the prime powder amount and placement "fuses" instead of flys.

The vent hole is said to be placed proper when it's bisected thru the center by the line of the top edge of the pan.

The one extra step in the flint lock sequence compared to percussion cap is the prime ignition spark fly to the main charge. If the flint spark flys before the hammer(cock) bottoms then the prime sparks can also get to the main charge before the hammer bottoms.
That means the main charge can ignite before the hammer bottoms. No spiffft-whoosh.
That's justa milli-second slower than percussion cap. The milli-second is not much of a wait.......when all things happen the right way. ;D

Anywhoooo....comin from the muzzleloader rifle to the cap&baller revolver and liking the time period and function fer the guns....how can I not love the Holy Black? It smells like heaven.

When I consider the game I've hunted and harvested with the "black" it's no wonder Pavloves response makes me and my hound dog and wife salivate when I shoot the black powder. :o
When my cap&baller revolver starts to drag from fouling I just drool on it in the right places and keep on "shootin".
Since the "black"can mean roasted squirrel or venison my hound likes to lick my cylinders clean of fouling fer me too. Same with the old lady. ;)

Offline Lucky R. K.

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Re: Why do I shoot black powder?
« Reply #18 on: October 21, 2014, 08:48:21 AM »
I love the smell of black powder in the morning!
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Offline Shawnee McGrutt

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Re: Why do I shoot black powder?
« Reply #19 on: October 21, 2014, 06:09:14 PM »
Lucky, anytime of the day I love the smell of black powder.

I know if the smell was bottled as a cologne, women would not be able to keep their hands off a man. ;)
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