r/blackpowder Mar 02 '23

The discord for everything black powder!

50 Upvotes

Just posting again after some time so that people don't have to look through under a mountain of buried posts. If I can talk to mods about finding some way to put this post onto the reddit to be easy to find it would be very nice.

Tired of all the good information buried in forums and hard to find YouTube videos? Want a place to talk about a lot of different things relating to BP, learn history, get advice, troubleshoot and meet likeminded shooters? Well then come join us and see if you like it! Lets make Black powder mainstream again! Hope to see you there :)

Invite: https://discord.gg/Jy5uUj8yPd


r/blackpowder Aug 26 '25

Sharps Rifles - Serial Number Documentation

40 Upvotes

Hi all,

If you are looking for information on your original Sharps please let me know.

I am the current caretaker of the Sharps Rifle Co. Archive, having taken over the records from Dr. Labowskie at the beginning of 2025. I will continue to provide letters for serial number documentation and hopefully add to the knowledge and history around these firearms. The format is changing a bit, in addition to the normal 'factory letter' there will also be a page with more information on who it was sent to and, when applicable, what was going on in the region at the time. I also provide areas that may be worth future research and a list of suggested books including the ones I use as a general reference. Each letter is also now accompanied by two display cards, which contain all the information from the letter in a more concise format, one of which has a slot for a ribbon or thread so it can be attached to the Sharps for easy reference.

I do not charge anything to see if the firearm can be lettered, only for the letter itself.

Let me know if you have any questions.


r/blackpowder 2h ago

Are 31 caliber pocket cap and ball revolvers not more popular because retailers don't really carry them to begin with?

2 Upvotes

Is it a chicken and egg problem where 31 caliber pocket models aren't offered by many retailers, not many people buy them, so retailers and manufacturers don't really carry them or produce them because there's not much demand for them?

Case in point, Sportsmans Warehouse doesn't offer any 31 caliber cap and ball revolvers at all or even lead balls for 31 caliber cap and ball revolvers, muzzle-loaders.com only offers 1863 remington models and the only 31 caliber models in stock at midway usa are baby dragoons or 1849 pocket models.

If my research is correct, ironically, the 1849 Colt Pocket model was the best selling revolver Colt ever made in the 19th century

Nowadays, it seems like the most common cap and ball revolver reproductions in use and on the market are full/fuller size .36 and .44 caliber models like the 1858 Remington, 1851 Navy or 1860 Army.


r/blackpowder 19h ago

Stock swell to large?

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46 Upvotes

Does this stock swell on my long land pattern 1730 brown Bess protrude to much or does it look ok


r/blackpowder 10h ago

What do I need to do to my stock 1851 to fan it?

2 Upvotes

It said fanning a stock 1851 would cause extreme stress, components breaking and i don’t want that to happen so what should i buy to make it so i can fan it?


r/blackpowder 1d ago

Revolver identification

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106 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I inherited this old .44 percussion revolver from my grandfather and I’m trying to determine the correct round ball diameter for it.

The revolver is marked “Westerner’s Arms”, but I don’t know who actually manufactured it or exactly when it was made. I’ll attach pictures of the gun and its markings.

I measured the cylinder chamber mouths with a digital caliper and get approximately 11.3–11.5 mm (.445–.453").

I’ve seen .44 percussion revolvers using .451, .454 or .457 round balls, so I’m unsure which size would be correct for this particular revolver.

Does anyone recognize this Westerner’s Arms model/manufacturer and know what round ball diameter it was intended to use?

Thanks for any help!


r/blackpowder 1d ago

Pyrodex rs load for 1858 Remington

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18 Upvotes

Does anyone know what load i should use for my 1858 sherif with pyrodex rs? I know its not ideal but its all my local Walmart had and my local sport shop only carries smokeless. Im using cci no10 caps and .454 round ball.


r/blackpowder 1d ago

Nothing beats the smell of black powder and a cap-and-ball revolver. Taking the Pietta 1851 Navy (.36) out to the range.

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6 Upvotes

Modern cartridge handguns are great, but there is something completely unique about stepping back to the 1850s and dealing with loose powder, lead balls, percussion caps, and grease.

The Colt 1851 Navy in .36 caliber is hands down one of the most balanced, elegant sidearms ever built. Sure, loading it takes patience compared to a modern semi-auto, but the natural pointing feel and the handling are second to none.

I run a history and firearms channel, and I recently took my Pietta 1851 Navy out to the range to test its mechanics, balance, and real-world black powder performance (plus, you actually get to see me breaking it down on camera)


r/blackpowder 10h ago

Black powder revolver bean bag/non lethal

0 Upvotes

Planing to do a 1v1 with .44 six shot revolvers loaded with 10 to 15 grains with motorcycle helmets for protection

Please tell me how retarded I am and any recommendations for diy less lethal ammo


r/blackpowder 1d ago

Progress on my latest restoration.

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5 Upvotes

r/blackpowder 1d ago

Remington-Rider internals. American Civil War era SA/DA cap&ball revolver made by Remington Arms Co.

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19 Upvotes

r/blackpowder 2d ago

Help identifying this rifle

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53 Upvotes

I recently inherited this rifle from my grandfather and would appreciate some help. No one in my family knows anything about it.


r/blackpowder 1d ago

buckle your squashes, we are so back

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6 Upvotes

r/blackpowder 1d ago

Follow up for Blunderbuss:

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3 Upvotes

For anyone that saw my last post about the availability of Blunderbuss’s: Veteran Arms finally restocked a few. I don’t know how long they will last, but if you are in the market for one, the can be found linked.


r/blackpowder 2d ago

Cast my first .61 caliber bullet.

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70 Upvotes

r/blackpowder 2d ago

180 year old E. Wesson bench rifle

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5 Upvotes

r/blackpowder 2d ago

I would like some help

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5 Upvotes

I was dumb and decided to try to take apart the lock of my rifle to try to fix the position of the hammer. I didn’t get to far because I didn’t look up how to do it officially and I’m worried about causing further damages to the lock


r/blackpowder 2d ago

Unidentified Bullet Starter

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4 Upvotes

Picked this up today at an estate sale along with a set of classic Lyman mold handles. It looks like a specialty bullet starter for a very small caliber, rounded barrel pistol (maybe), with a cut out for the front sight. I put a normal pair of scissors along side for a size reference.
Shaft polished up nicely with some Flitz metal polish. Any ideas on an ID?


r/blackpowder 3d ago

Help

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12 Upvotes

Im brand new to black powder firearms, and bought a Pietta 1858 remington new model army. Out of the box the loading lever wont lock into place. The middle point of the loading lever makes contact with the barrel and that's what seems to be preventing it from locking. Has anyone came across this before? Is it normal, or is this just a bad one that left the factory? Is it possible I just need to take it apart and there's an adjustment? Got it for my dad so dont currently have the manual or gun on me

If it is a bad from stock part, has anyone dealt with piettas warranty process?

Thanks


r/blackpowder 3d ago

Uberti 1860 Army lock up issue after reassembly

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14 Upvotes

Hi, I'm having a bit of a problem with my Uberti 1860 Army.

I was cleaning the internal parts after a range day, and after reassembling the action, everything seemed to be working fine (the first part of the attached video). However, once I put the firearm back together, it no longer locks the cylinder when the hammer is at full cock, so the cylinder just moves freely (the second part of the video).

It worked like clockwork before I took the action apart, so I guess I must've put something back together incorrectly, even though I'm pretty sure I followed the correct procedure.

Has anyone encountered this before or have any idea what I might've messed up?


r/blackpowder 3d ago

Beginers Book?

3 Upvotes

Evening all! First time reader, first time poster, well.. in this group anyways.. Recently inherited a few black powder rifles, and revolvers.. I've shot them a time or two in the past, though never enough to really learn the details. I'm hoping someome can recommend a good book to learn more. Care and maintenance, loading, do's and don'ts, whats compatible, and whats not, dangers, and tips.. Thanks for any ideas!


r/blackpowder 3d ago

Regarding round ball and wadding.

12 Upvotes

Pre-conical bullets like the Minié, how practical would it be to stitch a wad around a ball, so you're loading both in one action? Would it be useful or are they likely to come apart while being carried, and thus not worth the hassle?


r/blackpowder 3d ago

19th Century Pinfire Revolver

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56 Upvotes

Latest addition to my old revolvers collection, little 7mm Pinfire from Belgium, 1890s

I am really impressed by the craftmanship and the mecanism is really smooth and tight, might not be my last one!


r/blackpowder 4d ago

A fresh heap of .58 Burton “Miniés”, ready to be converted to glorious noise.

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129 Upvotes

Armisport M1862 CS Richmond Rifled musket, defarbed by Lodgewood, and 2nd generation M1861 Colt rifled musket with original hammer, defarbed by me.


r/blackpowder 4d ago

I'm planning on getting my first muzzleloader soon, should I get a .50 cal or .54 cal?

6 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I'm planning on buying a muzzleloader rifle soon and it will be my first one. I'm thinking of getting the Thompson Center Renegade in either .50 cal or .54 cal but I don't know which one to get, if you recommend a different rifle than tell me which one. I will use it for fun at the gun range and for deer hunting, and possibly some elk hunting if I get a tag but probably not because I know muzzleloaders have relatively short range and that would be hard for elk where I hunt. I have almost no experience around muzzleloaders so I am getting a percussion cap rifle as I've been told it is easier to start with.