Black Powder for Self Defense

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EricTheBarbarian

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I am curious, does anyone on here use a black powder handgun or rifle for self defense? Or even better yet, for a concealed carry firearm. I know its probably not very common but there has to be someone out there. Also, what are the pros and cons of doing this rather than the obvious of not being able to reload as fast. this should be interesting
 
In the past, I used a Ruger Old Army for home defense. Why not? Your probably not going to need to reload in a home defense situation. For consealed carry, something like a 1863 Remington Pocket Pistol would fit into a coat pocket.

If you want a percussion revolver, but feel "funny" about using one for defense, there are cartridge cylinders available for them from Kirst Konverters, and R&D. These are interchangable with the percussion cylinder. There are no federal regs regarding these cylinders, either, so you can buy them over the internet. See www.taylorsfirearms.com, www.midwayusa.com, and for the Kirst cylinders, www.riverjunction.com.

Lots of dead bad guys from the 19th century can attest to the effectiveness of BP weapons as defense guns.

I just noticed your signature. Have you been to The Huffington Post, too?
 
Can't imagine why anyone would. If it comes to self defense, I want to be assured not only that the gun will fire, but that it will have the effect needed. I have a 9mm and a 357 for that purpose. The 9mm holds 15 bullets. I doubt you would fire over one shot, maybe two if the intruder was armed, not retreating, and you missed the target on first shot. I guess a black powder would be okay if you don't have a modern firearm. I wouldn't want to keep mine loaded though. It isn't good for the gun. Might be okay with smokeless powder but that can be mor dangerous for you than for the intruder. Ed.
 
Actually, you can leave them loaded, as long as it's dry, especially with something like 777. It's non corosive. It's really only black powder fouling that will wreck your gun, if you don't clean it well.

That's why the conversion cylinders are nice, especially in something like a stainless steel Ruger Old Army. .45 Colt should do nicely as a defense gun.
 
They could get you in trouble in court I hear. Expecially if you have a safe full of glocks they could accuse you of playing cowboy. If you dont any other firearms then yes by all means. I frequently take to the feild with one and feel very well armed. I could see keeping one for home defense if say your other guns were a 22 deringer, scoped 30-06, o/u red label, or a scoped 454casull, in which case I would prefer an 1860 army any day. I supose it could also be justified if you kept various guns throughout the house in strategic locations. Like say your garage gun.
 
As posted above... BP will get the job done very effectively. Just look at the casualty rates in the early American Wars, (discounting death from infection).

The argument about keeping a gun loaded with Black powder and corrosion concerns... Keep it cool and dry and it has a tremendous shelf life, no consequence to the gun. Afterall, they sell BP in a metal can right?

If it's all you have available, it certainly beats having to use a frying pan or knitting needle to defend yourself.

My Lyman 58 puts out a ball so quick, I cant see it leave the barrel..... getting hit by that???? Ouch!
 
Viability

would be increased by familiarity.
Once you've developed load techniques, and are able to use it effectively ,why not?
When i was MUCH younger and my Ruger was my only effective pistol I had no qualms, with wife and kids in the equation , no, I have others to draw upon.
So while not my first choice, I would trust MY life with one.
robert
 
I'd be more worried about the first shot filling the room with smoke and making subsequent shots impossible. I guess the smoke screen works both ways though.
 
Several years ago, While I was on parole I kept one for home defense. I owned 3 with my parole officers knowledge. He had to approve the possession of the powder.
I am currently working toward a restoration of my rights. An uphill battle I may never win, but there is always hope.
 
Black powder guns will kill intruders and keep you alive. Last decade a couple in west michigan saved themselves with an old bp revolver. And a few homocides as well here in michigan prove that a bp revolver is an excellent weapon.
If bp was soooo unrealiable, you wouldnt have people loading it into bp cartridges months ahead of competitions..
 
Modern History

Since Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and the benevolent government of South Africa have decided that White people should not have modern firearms for defense, many of them are going back to cap-n-ball revolvers. They are reporting good results.

IIRC, some of those folks have posted on THR in the past.
 
I personally like cap and ball revolvers (1851 Colt Navy being the best! Has the best feel in my hand of any handgun I've held...) better than modern handguns. I know there are disadvantages to using one for self-defense (mainly the slow reloading), but, 6 shots from one will more than likely take out any bad guy, and a spare loaded cylinder is a nice accessory...
 
Ummm,

Why? This has to be one of the wierder options for Self-Defense. Personally, I wouldn't trust it. BP is great for hunting, Cowboy Action, or any other recreational shooting game. Self-Defense when Smokeless is available? No way. If you are talking about Home Defense, use smokeless. Definitely stay away from Cap and Ball, it's an older technology that's nowhere near as reliable or as effective as today's watertight cartridges.

If you are in a confined space, like say your bedroom, any BP smoke will obscure your vision, and make a chaotic situation worse. The flames coming from the barrel will show your position. Then there's the ever fun aspect of reloading. Cap and Ball? Forget it.
 
Many Interstate truckers routinely carry BP pistols since they are considered non-firearms and exempt from "normal" carry laws and reciprocity agreements between states.

Ron
 
A good cap and ball revolver is very reliable if properly used. And, the smoke is not really such a problem if it's used as a carry gun mainly outdoors.
 
Keep in mind, once you conceal a BP revolver, everything changes as far as the law - it's now a concealed weapon. Just because you can own one doesn't mean you can carry it concealed.
 
How about a Colt 2nd Generation '51 Navy with a Kirst or R&D .38 Colt conversion cylinder. The coolness of a '51 Navy, and reliability to boot.
:)
 
My biggest fear would be that the spent cap would fall down and jam up the action. Then theres also the smoke situation that was mentioned.
 
Keep in mind, once you conceal a BP revolver, everything changes as far as the law - it's now a concealed weapon. Just because you can own one doesn't mean you can carry it concealed.
Click to expand...

Not in Oregon it doesn't. Our laws specifically exempt antiques and replicas from nearly everything. They aren't considered firearms or handguns. I would be willing to bet a lot of other states are the same way, minus the communists on the east coast....


As far as reliability is concerned, most of the time you don't have to shoot your gun at all. Point a big shiny 8" barrel 1858 Remington at somebody and they are going to do what you tell them.
 
I would be willing to bet a lot of other states are the same way, minus the communists on the east coast....
Click to expand...

Well, I live in MA and replicas and antiques are exempt from gun laws until you conceal them. I just hope everyone knows their guns laws before they carry a BP revolver concealed. You can bet all you want, but that's one bet I'd hate to lose on your say so...
 
For all those out there that have Cap and Ball Revolvers thinking they are exempt from Conceal and Carry or Firearms laws. Just use it sometime while defending yourself and I can practically guarantee that you will be arrested for using a firearm. If not, any halfway decent DA will find a way to use it against you. Be careful and know your laws.
 
For all those out there that have Cap and Ball Revolvers thinking they are exempt from Conceal and Carry or Firearms laws. Just use it sometime while defending yourself and I can practically guarantee that you will be arrested for using a firearm. If not, any halfway decent DA will find a way to use it against you. Be careful and know your laws.
Click to expand...

Uhhh...no. If you use any weapon for defense you are not going to be arrested so long as you didn't do anything stupid. People don't get arrested for "using a firearm". It doesn't matter whether it's a glock or a rock. If you did do something stupid and shoot someone you shouldn't have, again, it matters not if you used a rock or a glock. The reason you might go to jail has nothing to do with the gun you used, only why you used it.
 
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