Black Powder Firearms for Self Defense

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Snidely70431

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I keep running across posts that treat black powder firearms as historical curiosities and not functioning weapons. Anyone who thinks this way might want to keep in mind that, during the late War of Northern Aggression, something on the order of half-a-million American combatants were killed with either black powder weapons or even more primitive weapons like swords and pikes.
 
As a last resort for sure. Do some home work on, for example, an 1858 Remington revolver. Check out the energy and velocity of this revolvers. There is a reason that "white powder" replaced the black powder so quickly. Sure enough BP firearms were used in the War of Northern Aggression. Ask Custer how well they worked in the so called Indian Wars. I go for last resorts only.
 
The Civil War was fought with BP guns. French cavalry was taken down by longbows at Crecy.

Are there better choices now?

Lincoln had to intervene to get the Army to consider repeaters in the Civil War.

What is the point of using suboptimal weapons in life and death situations except to generate Internet discussion?
 
Is BP your best option? No! Why would you use other than your best option for self defense? Are you not worth the best?
 
Yep, Custer had trapdoors. Maybe, we should consider sling shots like Little David used. I'd like to see somebody load a 1860 Colt in the dark. The whole idea of using BP firearms for personal defense leaved bunches to be desired. Last resort on the best day. One might discuss preparation for life threatening situations where one is not caught with their Junkar flintlock rifle when Foo his the fan.

Addendum: I can see piece in the gun rags on using the jaw bone of an ass for PD.
 
If folks were using an alternate name of the Civil War for political commentary, let’s stop such silliness.
 
Soon I expect the following thread in the Non-Firearm Weapons section - "Is a Bastard sword viable SD option for CCW?" I mean, Crusaders used similar weapons almost exclusively and they sure kicked some serious a.. by the dozens with them!
 
As a last resort for sure. Do some home work on, for example, an 1858 Remington revolver. Check out the energy and velocity of this revolvers. There is a reason that "white powder" replaced the black powder so quickly. Sure enough BP firearms were used in the War of Northern Aggression. Ask Custer how well they worked in the so called Indian Wars. I go for last resorts only.

I was once a first responder on a domestic violence call. We’d responded to this address before. The male was a 6’2” 200# thug who regularly beat his ex girlfriend. This time she fired one ball from a .44 Remington. He ceased hostilities immediately and didn’t do anything but drop. DRT.

It’s probably not the best choice for any social occasion but if it’s all you have it beats the hell out of teeth and fingernails.
 
I was once a first responder on a domestic violence call. We’d responded to this address before. The male was a 6’2” 200# thug who regularly beat his ex girlfriend. This time she fired one ball from a .44 Remington. He ceased hostilities immediately and didn’t do anything but drop. DRT.

It’s probably not the best choice for any social occasion but if it’s all you have it beats the hell out of teeth and fingernails.
So why would it be all you had?
 
Yep, Custer had trapdoors. Maybe, we should consider sling shots like Little David used. I'd like to see somebody load a 1860 Colt in the dark. The whole idea of using BP firearms for personal defense leaved bunches to be desired. Last resort on the best day. One might discuss preparation for life threatening situations where one is not caught with their Junkar flintlock rifle when Foo his the fan.

Addendum: I can see piece in the gun rags on using the jaw bone of an ass for PD.

The average gun owner under stress probably could not reliably reload a .38 revolver in the dark. I'm not saying BP is the first choice, but if it's what you have, it's what you use.

In addition I would consider .22, .25, .32, .380, suboptimal to my 1858 Remington...
 
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The Civil War was fought with BP guns. French cavalry was taken down by longbows at Crecy.

Are there better choices now?

Lincoln had to intervene to get the Army to consider repeaters in the Civil War.

What is the point of using suboptimal weapons in life and death situations except to generate Internet discussion?
There are some strange legal loopholes here which make BP legal for open carry and for persons otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms.

Florida defines a firearm as a weapon firing ammunition. Ammunition is defined as a projectile, powder, casing, and primer. Since BP guns do not use "ammunition" they are not "firearms" in Florida.

Theoretically, anyone can openly carry a C&B revolver here- even a felon. In reality, attempting to do so will get you pretty quickly hassled by the authorities as soon as somebody freaks out and calls them.

There are a few YouTube videos of folks here doing it just to flaunt their "rights" in the cops' faces. It rarely ends well.....

COULD a convicted felon potentially use a BP firearm here for legal SD? Sure. Is it a good idea? Probably not.
 
So why would it be all you had?

Don’t ask me... in the case referenced above it was the only weapon the lady owned. I don’t know why. If I ever did know it was 20 years ago and the most vivid memories I have of the evening have supplanted other details. She was not a prohibited person but it was her only firearm and it worked.

There are some strange legal loopholes here which make BP legal for open carry and for persons otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms.

Florida defines a firearm as a weapon firing ammunition. Ammunition is defined as a projectile, powder, casing, and primer. Since BP guns do not use "ammunition" they are not "firearms" in Florida.

Theoretically, anyone can openly carry a C&B revolver here- even a felon. In reality, attempting to do so will get you pretty quickly hassled by the authorities as soon as somebody freaks out and calls them.

There are a few YouTube videos of folks here doing it just to flaunt their "rights" in the cops' faces. It rarely ends well.....

COULD a convicted felon potentially use a BP firearm here for legal SD? Sure. Is it a good idea? Probably not.

Yet if it’s a legal weapon for that prohibited person it’s probably still better to be judged by 12 than carried by six, n’est ce pas?
 
As a last resort for sure. Do some home work on, for example, an 1858 Remington revolver. Check out the energy and velocity of this revolvers. There is a reason that "white powder" replaced the black powder so quickly. Sure enough BP firearms were used in the War of Northern Aggression. Ask Custer how well they worked in the so called Indian Wars. I go for last resorts only.

Actually, with an energetic powder such as Swiss, Olde Eynsford, or Triple 7, and with a bullet these guns can achieve or surpass standard .45 ACP performance, which puts them on par with all but the magnums, and some claim their Ruger Old Army can get into the lower end of that, which means the Dragoon and Walker would as well.

Of course BP is at a disadvantage, especially indoors, with all of the smoke, and most people aren’t all that quick with a single action like Bob Munden.

 
Don’t ask me... in the case referenced above it was the only weapon the lady owned. I don’t know why. If I ever did know it was 20 years ago and the most vivid memories I have of the evening have supplanted other details. She was not a prohibited person but it was her only firearm and it worked.



Yet if it’s a legal weapon for that prohibited person it’s probably still better to be judged by 12 than carried by six, n’est ce pas?
Now that I think about it, C&B might actually be a legitimate SD option for adults between 18 and 20, since FL now limits all "firearm" purchases to persons 21+. Nor is there a 3-day wait for front-stuffers such as we now have for all cartridge weapons, long or short.:(

Concealed carry would still be out, though, as our CCW laws prohibit all lethal weapons, save "common pocket knives" (which are whatever the DA says they are since they are undefined:cuss:) from being concealed on a person without a permit.

Glove box or nightstand would still be OK if you are 18-20 though.
 
I'm sorry, but won't this percussion vs. modern firearm-type thread just fade away? I'm ready for it to die.

I believe that this idea should be put to rest, and it has no place here on a strictly ACW BP forum. We have been here at least 4 times in the last year. I don't want the debate. I just want info on period ACW guns, even if they are replicas like I do. I always look forward to anyone who can further info about either replicas or the spendy originals.

Just my $.02 worth.

Jim
 
Load a .45 Colt case with black powder. Fire it at night. I guarantee that the effect on a miscreant will be traumatic, whether or not the perp is hit by the bullet.
 
Lets see as far as I know all of the smaller ones have reduced powder charges due to smaller cylinders and are probably still a little heavy for what they are. The larger ones well are quite large even if the barrel is shortened and heavy as well.

People can say all they want about percussion caps being reliable if properly used but I don't think percussion caps are manufactured with self defense use in mind and tolerances vary even among the same brand of caps from time to time. There may be exceptions but I would not want to rely on a percussion system for carry.

I would not trust cylinder safety notches or pins for anything other than casual/range use so you can subtract one shot for carrying with hammer down on empty chamber if toting it frequently. That may leave only 4 or 5 shots depending on the cylinder capacity.

Reloading after shooting say what you want but I will say no more about it.

Single action only alone is dicey if your excited and not thinking straight. I suppose a lot of training and practice would help overcome the safety and ability to reliably use correctly issues under stress, but again not my first choice.

I generally would not want to carry a percussion firearm in anything but a holster designed for it preferably open carry.

Is it an effective firearm when it shoots yes but overall not the best self defense carry gun for this day and age. Sorry but I vote no.
 
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