1851 Navy & beginner

[1861]

.38 Long Colt snap caps, which will be harder to locate

Harder to locate?
IMPOSSIBLE to locate is more accurate.
I have just ordered from France a pack of 6 A-Zoom 38 Special Snap Caps. They have the best reviews and are most easy to find even in Europe. Not cheap, but these should last for years, so the price is justified, I guess.

 

[1861]

Howdy. A-Zoom 38 Special Snap Caps arrived today, the are prefect for my 1851 Navy, not too long, they could even be a bit longer and they would still fit. Its seems that everyone helds them in high regard, and they do look and feel like a top-class snap caps. So that's another problem solved... thanks for useful informations!

 

[drobs]

We need another update. Any luck with the shooting range situation?

 

[1861]

Hi, long time no see! I wasn't here recently because I had nothing much to report. I started a new business and that takes all of my time, so I have neglected everything else in my life.
I didn't even try anything related to that range, and I haven't fired a single shot this year yet.
Since I now have conversion cylinder, my next goal is to find a way to get cartridges and to make bullets. I can easily and legally get everything except cartridges, but I plan to solve that problem too. Right now I'm totally preoccupied with other things.
There is one game warden who is my client and somewhat indebted to me, so I asked him WHERE I can shoot without anyone causing me any problems. He told me about a place where I can freely shoot whenever I want. It's a place where hunters and policemen regularly go to practice shooting, and I don't need to ask permission from anyone, and I don't need to pay anyone, and I don't need to belong to any club, society, organization and such. That's just a thing for me - because I don't want to pay anyone, and to ask for any permission, and to mix with anyone. I'm like that, independent. The only condition is to use REGISTERED gun (mine is registered, and I'll just switch cylinders if I see someone coming) and to INFORM that game warden that I'll go there to shoot. This is the place:

That's public property, and the house you see has been abandoned for decades, so I can even use that house for indoor shooting, or for taking cover from sudden rain or too strong sunlight.
Beside getting cartridges, I have set two more goals for years to come, and that would be it for me, I don't need anything else. I want two more revolvers, but both SILVER (my current one is black): one more 1851 Navy .36 by Pietta and 1847 Walker by Uberti. Both will be very very hard to find in silver finish, so I know that may take years.

 

[J-Bar]

Thanks for the update. Your shooting spot looks like Missouri or Arkansas. You would feel right at home here! Good luck with building your collection.

 

[drobs]

That looks perfect!

 

[1861]

Hey guys... last year I bought Traditions Deluxe flask, exactly this one: https://www.traditionsfirearms.com/product/deluxe-flask-a1201
I keep it in dry place, in plastic briefcase, the one with customizable foam cubes inside. The flask is always full of black powder. The last time I saw it was 4 months ago. Now I opened that case and when I took out the flask - it doesn't look shiny and beautiful any more. Now it has hundreds of small brown dots, looks like rust - but only on ONE SIDE (about 1/3 of its cylindrical surface). The other 2/3 of the surface is clean, without those spots. Now it looks poor, and I barely used it at all. What happened??
Thank you in advance!

 

[Sistema1927]

Brass tarnishes. It might be that the foam accelerated the process. It might be that there was some type of varnish that was not evenly applied, leading to it only tarnishing in one area.

In America we have a product called Brasso that is used to polish brass. I certainly used plenty of it to shine my brass while in the Army. I am sure that you have something similar, if not the same, in Europe.

 

[1861]

You learn something every day.
Thank you.
Can I restore it to its original condition, or is it too late?
But I'm not talking about this:
https://c.76.my/Malaysia/[email protected]?1527547975560
I have hundreds of small dots now which look like rust (not like loss of shine), but not exactly like rust, similar to rust, I'd say.

 

[J-Bar]

Any brass or metal polish should make the inside shiny again. I would store the black powder in its original factory container rather than in the flask, but small flakes of powder dust inside the flask will eventually discolor it again. I don’t worry about the discoloration in my flasks. It is self-limiting, will not harm the powder. I do not polish the inside or outside of my flasks or cappers. I like the freckled patina that comes with use. I consider them “beauty spots”!

 

[Brad_Bradsher]

I wonder if BP residue reacted with foam padding...are the spots located in the areas where the flask contacted the padding? I've had that case padding "melt" onto guns before, reacting with residue of Hoppes 9, oil ,and such...

 

[bannockburn]

1861

I would try a product called Flitz. It's a non-abrasive polish that can be used on a number of surfaces, including metal and plated finishes. I have used it for years on stainless steel, brass, nickel plating, and blued finishes. It cleans and protect the surface it's applied to.

 

[1861]

I would store the black powder in its original factory container rather than in the flask

Any special reason for that, or...?

Most of my powder is in its original factory container. But some I poured into the flask last autumn, I fired some shots then, but what powder remained in the flask stayed there. Since I had no time for shooting this year yet, everything stayed that way for months, powder in the brass flask, flask in the foam padded case.
TRADITIONS company representative replied me:
I honestly cannot say what happened to it. There are so many potential factors, that you are asking the near impossible, for me to just identify what might have happened. It IS brass however, therefore, by its very nature, that when you handle it with bare hands, the oil form our hands will coat the brass and eventually, overtime, the brass will begin to discolor from the oil on our hands. Especially if you placed it in the case after handling it, and not cleaning it off first, then that can be a big cause of this discoloring issue you are seeing.

 

[1861]

I wonder if BP residue reacted with foam padding...are the spots located in the areas where the flask contacted the padding?

I wonder that too. Spots are only on one side and I can't remember was that the side which faced foam padding or not. But somehow it seems more probable that spots occured where the brass touched the padding. I can't explain it but I feel that the foam has something to do with it. Or maybe the oil from my hands is to blaim, as Traditions representative told me. Or maybe the combination.
But what I have to be sure is that black powder didn't cause that, right? I mean - if I keep powder in the brass flask for months, is that ok or not?


Thanks all, I'll try to find Brasso, Flitz, or something similar.

 

[J-Bar]

I think the original can/jar may keep humidity more constant than leaving the powder in the flask, especially if you live in a humid climate (I do). You certainly want to avoid any condensation from occurring inside the flask where it might affect the powder (like going to the range on a hot humid day, then coming into an air conditioned room). But I think you should do what you are comfortable with as long as you don't have any problems. If you start having misfires because of wet powder, it would be one thing to think about, otherwise don't worry about it.

Here are my flasks and cappers. A lot of love and effort went into knocking that brass shine off!! The receiver on my 1866 Yellow Boy rifle looks like these, too!

 

[1861]

J-Bar, we have the same flask
I'll try to make mine shiny again, I like it better that way.

 

[Kaeto]

The foam acts like a sponge and draws in what moisture there is in the air. Then the moisture gets concentrated where the brass is touching the foam causing corrosion.

 

[1861]

The foam acts like a sponge and draws in what moisture there is in the air. Then the moisture gets concentrated where the brass is touching the foam causing corrosion.

There you have it. I was afraid that's the case. Now I have to re-think my whole storage scheme. Thank you.


There's a photo I've posted in September on page 14 of this thread, I'll post it again now:


See how everything sits firmly in the foam? I felt that this is the best way to keep everything. I bought 4 cases, because the number of accessories grows and will continue to grow.

But I've realized something just now, looking at this photo: those spots which look like rust occured on the side of the brass flask which was NOT facing the foam! Spots are on the side which you see on this photo, nothing but air touching that side (and maybe residue of oil from my hands, as Traditions representative mentioned in the email).

 

[Mizar]

Uncoated brass tarnishes, it's a fact of life. Some people actually find the patina desirable. You can polish it and it will tarnish again, then you polish it (again), then it will tarnish (again)... Ain't that fun?

 

[1861]

Hey Mizar, haven't seen you a long time!

 

[Mizar]

Well I'm here, talking rubbish most of the time... Glad you finally found that sweet shooting spot you've been searching for so long!

 

[Brad_Bradsher]

A suggestion: put packets of silica dessicant (that "keep it dry" stuff that comes in a lot of electronic stuff that gets shipped) in the cases...

 

[ClemBert]

I keep my firearms (most of them) in a Liberty gun safe then pull them out when needed. I carry revolvers in a typical handgun soft case to the gun range. As far as the accessories I use a toolbox.

 

[bannockburn]

ClemBert

I like your well organized and efficiently equipped toolbox and loading set up! Well done!

 

[ClemBert]

This might be what it looks like all set up when I'm trying to sight somethin' in. Note the toolbox sitting to the side and also a gym type bag that I put my revolvers and my power box in when I need to carry. p.s. Yes, the Sheriff's badge makes me shoot better.