Mark@Sea

You may be able to remove the breech plug, which would make things considerably easier. Try using Iossol bore cleaner - it is mildly abrasive. Good luck!

Hi Mike, sorry for the late reply. As far as I know, #7 was a mule in the Grizzly Adams TV series. The cannon arrived yesterday - what a hoot! 80 grains of 2F makes a dandy boom. I have some .690 balls on order, and some fuse. I shot wads and used 4F in the touchhole, worked like a champ. Also fired my 2 flintlock pistols. The cleaning chore was not as bad as I thought it might be; the hoppes #9 BP formula works well, and I also used Butchs' Bore Shine and Iossol, came out pretty good last night. Managed to find 1 box of .50 ball for the flintlocks yesterday. Mahoneys or Wideners probably have 36 and 44, but I don't really have time this weekend for that.

Probably about .490.... I THINK I ordered the flask, and a 20 grain spout, but lost 'net and will have to wait and check my home e-mail to see if they processed the order. Don't wanna order twice. Don't think she minds too much - she still giggles at me about the cannon. Out the door and on the road for the next 10 hours or so...

Just ordered it, $22, it'll be there when you come up for the shoot. How about trading for balls? 44, 36, or 50's.

I was looking at flasks last night. I need a primer flask for the 4F, a pistol flask, and a larger flask that will dispense an 80 grain charge... best net deal I found is the regular colt flask for 20 bucks. Unscrew the spout, pour in whatever measured charge you want to use, mark the powder line with a sharpie. 5 minutes with a dremel, a file, and some sandpaper, and you're set. Put your index finger over the tip of the spout, invert and work the spring-loaded valve, and you've got your 20 grains, or whatever. Haven't found a spout large enough for the 80 grain charge yet. Want me to order you a colt flask? Might as well save the shipping fee, put it in with my order.

About 20 a pound for the fffg. Got a pound of 4fg for priming the flinters, too. Same price. The pyrodex is running about 14 a pound. What do caps run at home? I thought about buying more than 4 tins, but wasn't sure about it.

No, Mike, but I will be on the lookout for it next time I'm there. I am coming home this weekend, but only for the weekend. Managed to get a couple of pounds of 3Fg Goex here in Norfolk. That should hold me a while. I'm told I got a package, so I think TNMedics' mold is at the house (thanks! TN). Bought 4 tins of CCI #11's, hope I got the right caps. 4.75 a tin, here. Tower, I will leave that '51 out for you, you can pick it up next time you make it by the house. No worries about something for Julie to shoot at our BP Rendezvous. How about this?

XD, I'll keep an eye out for you. Yeah, those pearl grips are snazzy but not quite my speed...

Never mind, you wanted a rifle...

I'd heard he needed one

Sue's latest is a 32 S&W - nickel w/pearl handles.

Mike, this place in Greenville that has the black - got a phone number for them? I suddenly find myself in need of FG. Or 2FG would work. And some cannon fuse. Sue is ROFL. Thats' all I'm gonna say, but the next meet I'm home for is gonna be a hoot. XD, called them, it sold a couple days ago. We're both outta luck - but I am gonna bookmark and keep an eye on that site. Fair prices, and if you can get a steel frame for 200, you oughta snag it.

That, or spare nipple holder - nipple wrench? Now that one tool alone makes BP worthwhile. Heh.

A short, narrow pipe would work fine as a loading lever extension - now to come up with some other nifty way to use it, and I'd have a genuine contraption. XD, I was serious. You buying that pistola? Cuz otherwise, I am. You have first dibs, though, since it is just what you are looking for I think...

XD, check that second link out - fair to good price on some lightly used pistols. That ivory grip jobbie for 199 =- please buy it before I do. Really.

Oh yeah, a chainfire with that setup could cost you some fingers. The off hand should support the firing hand, NOT any portion of the pistol forward of the cylinder. One other minor correction - the '51 and the '61 typically have the post front sight, while the '60 has a blade. Not aware of any stainless colts, although I have seen a nickel plated one, if you are into that sort of thing. Large money for that one, though - check Cabelas BP Pistol page. Mike, now you got me back into this, darn you, I'm thinking about finding a .44 1860, taking 3 or 3.5 inches off the barrel, relocating the front sight and seeing what can be done to slick it up a bit. I'd like to find one of those fluted cylinders for that project... Another strange thought - putting a stocked pistol together with a 12 inch barrel, and some sort of ladder rear sight on the barrel. Franken-gun!!!

Sorry, XD, I don't get out that way.

1851 Colt 'Navy'. .36 Caliber originally (also available as a .44 reproduction which is historically incorrect.), Octagonal Barrel (7.5"). Loading lever hinges by means of a double pin type arrangement. Note frame at front of cylinder. 1860 Colt Army. .44 Cal. 8 inch round barrel, uses the same size frame as the .36 caliber 1851 Navy revolver. Barrel assembly is relieved at the front of the cylinder. The barrel on the 1860 Army has a forcing cone that is visibly shorter than that of the 1851 Navy, allowing the Army revolver to have a longer cylinder. Loading lever is a single hinge pin with pegs. Stocks are available to fit the 1851 and the 1860, but the pistols' frame must have the appropriate cuts and oversized screws. 1861 Colt Navy. .36 Caliber. Visually identical to the 1860 Army, for all intents the same gun, only in a smaller caliber. Shoulder stocks are NOT listed for the 1861, but the 1860 stock will fit, although I am advised some fitting is required.

XD, the pistols are functionally identical. I've had the '51 kicking around for maybe 7 or 8 years. Never shot it. When I was looking at the springfield trapdoor a week or so ago the '61 was sitting on the consignments shelf. Unfired, great great price, the trapdoor fell through, so I picked up the 61. If I didn't have one and were looking, I personally like the 1860 army (44) or the 61 Navy (36) about equally. The lines are a little smoother than the 1851. The Sheriff model, with the shorter barrel, is probably the handiest of them, but I don't expect I'll actually carry the thing. I'd recommend steel frame unless you plan to shoot it rarely, as the brass frame won't take the stresses the steel frame will - of course, thats' a long term thing. Mike likes the Remington - it is a much stronger design, I just like the classic look of the open top.

I'll give you some advice, brother. Don't buy one. How does that work for you? I have an older '51 at the house you can use. I just picked up a new '61. XD, I'd like to go to the show, but there ain't one here in Norfolk... Have fun!

Great smile, great to see 'finger off the trigger', looks like a win! He'll grow into that stock quicker'n anything. Thanks, Mike, for keepin' our 2A alive!

XD, wheel weights are okay - better for rifle than pistol. Softer the better, but don't turn any down. You pick out a pistol yet?

Track of the wolf has some Creedmore style tang sights - the midrange version is $59. Saw where someone had put one on a henry 22 - talk about your overkill - but it looks better to me than the marbles, if harder to install. Installation should be just your average nightmare - drill and tap, make sure it is PERFECTLY vertical and centered. Track of the wolf also has a range of molds for various calibers at what seemed to me to be decent prices - look in the reloading section. That BP cartridge reloading book is ordered. Mike, if you want to borrow it at next months shoot and return it in July??? I have no idea yet of where to find lead. The softer / more pure the better for our purposes. I just watched the installation video. I have all the tools required except for the tap, which I can pick one up, no problem. Doesn't look like it would be a killer job, maybe an hour or so to do it right.

I'd been thinking in terms of full length resizing, but a lee loader may well work. It'll take a bit more force, with that longer case. Lever guns are a hoot - I just ordered a Marbles tang sight for Sue's '92, and I might, now that I think about it, order one for my henry 22 golden boy. A couple of notes - from what I have read and heard (and bear in mind I am just getting involved in this myself) you can't leave any room in the case - ideally the bullet will compress the powder when seated. Also, your cases need to be washed and dried as soon as practical after shooting the black. The old hot, soapy water route. This is gonna be fun, guys... we'll see just how cheap we can be and make it work. Might wanna start scavenging lead.

I'd like to replace all my 1911 hammers with the wide WWI style. They seem to work better and look better to me...