Can a black powder firearm be used for home defense?

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Jamie, modern firearms possess several obvious advantages over "front stuffers". The greater reliability of metallic cartridges is one clear advantage. Reloading speed is another. In addition, modern firearms have a higher rate of fire as well. No civil war "front stuffer" ( I really like that term) can compete with M-16s or AK-47s in firepower. Indeed, the 1892 Krag rifle surpasses its civil war predecessors in this regard also. I think all of us are in agreement concerning these issues.

In a self-defense situation, it seems that a quality single-action caplock revolver is less desirable than a good double-action revolver or semi-auto pistol. True, skill and proper mindset are important factors in self-defense with a firearm or any other weapon. Yet, relying on a muzzleloader seems more of a handicap than depending upon a modern firearm. That is the point I attempted to make earlier. I hope this clearifies my position.


Timthinker
 
I`ve come to really like the 45 LC as my main stay ...in black powder or smokeless loading ..I enjoy shooting single action revolvers more than any pistols I`ve ever owned , They are very dependable ..I`m not looking for a gun fight nor intend to start one ..but if I have to use a gun to defend myself ..If me produceing a single action Colt doesn`t make the bad guy think twice , I do want to have a one shot drop ..the 45 is a big slow moveing hunk of lead that will take down a man , as quick or quicker than most calibers on the market .after all the best part of a gun fight would be liveing to tell your side of the story . Quick reloads are for fighting wars , and cops I can see where the need would be in those cases . In any case use what you shoot the most often with , and can handle under pressure safely .
 
Ohioan, smoke is not the only "issue" black powder raises indoors or outdoors. At point blank ranges, a black powder discharge can ignite someone's clothes. I recall reading about such an incident in the Old West. That is something I never considered before reading about that account.


Timthinker
 
Don’t wish to throw further argument at a perfectly good discussion. Well, okay, I do.

When it comes to the legals of having to defend one’s self, in one’s own home, questions seem to arrive to what level of threat was met by what level of force. Am guessing, that: “I even had to use gran’pa’s ol’ antique wall-hanger, in order to defend myself…” is likely to go over better than: “Well, at least, I didn’t use the whole clip.” Juries (when it comes to such), seem to be more sympathetic to the underdog.

Not that one would, necessarily, have really been the underdog. From what I’ve come across, very few break-ins seem to turn into protracted gun battles (outside of Mexico, anyway). Five ready shots (one chamber empty, for safety’s sake, mind you), should, generally, seem to be enough to get the job done. If there’s six of ‘em, chances are it’s more than a simple burglary. Hint: Get one of ‘em to stand behind another.

Also, given the nature of powder weapons, one must build a relationship with them, to a greater degree than one might otherwise have to with a cartridge weapon. Not meaning that one has to talk to the durned thing. But, they do take more care and attention than simply making sure the cartridge is going in, head-first. So, if you’ve been shooting the thing at all, you’ve probably gotten to know Mr. BP Arm.

Suppose requirements for a self defense weapon come down to what one is comfortable and familiar with. My own gauge for paranoia is my gal. Over twenty years ago, she felt we might best sleep, with only a couple of good, stout, pillows. These days, she agrees that something a tad more proactive be kept on my side of the bed.
 
It's kind of nice to think you could set your assailant on fire, and the smoke would be great for cover. Your going to know your house better than your assailant.
 
The fire thing is also possible with smokeless, just not as likely.

And along those same lines, when your thug is rolling on your carpet in flames, what keeps your house from catching fire? Nothing.

So, shoot wisely.
 
I don't think putting out a possible fire is going to be big deal after putting out an assailant, also... wonder if anyone knows of any house fires started from a BP shoot out in the old days?

House fire is possible, but not very likely.
 
There are plenty of dead Civil War Soldiers, Cavalry soldiers and Cowboys and Indians buried all over this country that would tell you a BP .36 or .44 will kill you just as dead as a modern cartridge.

If they could talk that is, but they can't because they're dead.

Just my $.02

I do agree a modern cartridge weapon is better for the times but a BP pistol WILL do the job if that's all you have. My Dad for years kept nothing but his loaded .36 Navy nearby. It was all he wanted or needed. Again, in his own words, "If it was good enough for Hickock, it's good enough for the old man."
 
Got a question for ya... Would anybody out there feel safer if they were standing in front of me, and I was pointing my Uberti Remington at 'em ( loaded of course ), instead of a Ruger Vaquero, or a S&W mod. 66? :evil:



J.C.
 
Since so many criminals seem to only be familiar with small 9mm autos, I think the mere sight of something like a Walker would make them faint.
When you use up your 6 shots in the walker and there's no time for a reload, it doubles as a 5lb rock, which will surely crack a skull if thrown properly.
 
yes but I have 2 and that has never crossed my mind I would rather use my 10/22 or a bassball bat
 
Hell yeah,

I love Black powder, see my user name BP44=black powder 44 but I use smokeless powder weapons for defense work to limit the liability as well as it has a ballistic advantage over a BP revolver.

if you only have a black powder revolver and or a rifle load it up and put it in/beside the night stand, but if you have something else that will work I would suggest using that. never forget black powder has killed many more than smokeless powder can claim
 
I'm sure you'd raise a few eyebrows in the courtroom when they say you used a black powder rifle for home defense. Since it is unwise to leave a black powder firearm loaded the jury may question your intent. "You heard the noise then took the time to load a black powder rifle, then shot the intruder?"

So in answer to your question, yes, you can use a black powder firearm in home defense. However, I would not advise anyone to use a black powder firearm in home defense (for the above reason along with the obvious ones).
 
WayaX, do you have any idea how many BP rifles get loaded near the end of hunting season, then don't get unloaded until the next, or even the one after that?

I doubt there's too many jury members here in TN that would even question why a muzzle loader was loaded. Especially when it was explained to them that once loaded, it would have to either be fired or a far more complicated method than just extracting a cartridge would need to be used to unload it.

Seriously, I think y'all are worrying far too much about what a court would say or think. It's either a case of you defending your life, and therefore a "good shoot", or it's not. And if it's not... well, I doubt what kind of gun you used is going to be your biggest worry. :uhoh:


J.C.
 
It's also unwise to have a gun for defense and not keep it loaded. You might as well keep a paperweight by the bed.
Cartridge's are "loaded" and ready to go, having a BP firearm loaded is only logical if it's your self defense choice.
The last thing on my mind if I were in a life or death defensive situation would be " will the jury be ok with what I'm doing? "
 
WayaX, if you kept a loaded BP revolver stored in something like a quick access gun safe, then I really do not see a major problem. After all, you were keeping it safely locked away from minors. Now, if the home invader posed a threat to your life and had a long rap sheet, then that would aid your case as well from a criminal perspective.


Timthinker
 
One of the lessons learned in our Consealed Carry course was how to properly defend yourself during a home invasion at night. 1) position your bedroom furniture so your bed is between you and the door. 2) Use one of those plug in night lights in the hall to backlight anyone coming into your bedroom. 3)Keep a wireless or cellphone next to your bed. 4)Don't leave the bedroom looking for the intruders.Make them come to you. 5) call 911 arm yourself and get on the floor on the opposite side of the bed from the door. 6)Cock and lock and aim at the door. 7) Announce loudly that you are armed and have the cops on the phone. 8) If it's your kid coming home late he better know to identify himself. 9) If someone shows himself at your door Kill the SOB. If there is someone else in the house that would be their single to get out cause you ain't bluffin.
All this being said with all the adrenaline flowing and I had the choice between a Glock auto and a 44 colt bp revolver I'd take the revolver for the simplicity assuming I'd shot the revolver enough to know what it needs to shoot reliably.
On top of all this preparation I made sure that the drawer I keep my gun in is my sock drawer nearest to hand. Those socks keep that drawer nice and dry.
 
Well, I woke up this morning and started reading some of this. Some of it is good. Some of it remind's me of a bunch of turkey gobbling.
Oh, anyone want a cup of coffee? I do make a good pot of coffee.
I'm sure that if someone break's into your house that most any gun would be better than no gun at all, Ie- shotgun, M-14, or maybe a Mini-14, or an M-16 A1, or A2, or A3, or perhaps an M-203, or an M-79 grenade launcher, or an M-60, or hell, maybe a quad 50.... I shoot a '58 and a Walker.
Oh, did I happen to mention that I have shot these guns almost exclusively for years, and that I have practiced a lot, even down to taking the pieces apart (field strip, not detail strip) and putting them back together and reloading them in the dark? Working by feel just to see if I could do it?
I hope I didn't forget to mention that I'm a damn good shot...a real damn good shot.
If I'm in my home and someone breaks in on me, well, I don't care if he come's in the door or in the window or down the chimney like Santa Claus, he will drop like a stone in the killing zone which is anywhere in my home. I will then lay the gun on the table, pour myself a cup of coffee and call the law and tell them to come drag his ass out of my home.
As far as the muzzle blast catching his clothes on fire, I'll throw a bucket of water on his dead ass if it look's like the fire may be endangering my home. Other than that I don't care if it burns off his hair and scorches out both of his eyeballs. The sonofab**** should have thought of that before he broke into my home with whatever on his mind, which probably included hurting or killing me since he would have known from the start that I was at home. If he didn't know anyone was at home, oh well, just another fatal miscalculation on his part.
I can't speak about a .36 caliber because I'vd never shot one. I understand that Wild Bill carried them but I also know it's a matter of public record that he had small, almost womanish hands.
Anyone out there that think's a Remington 1858 New Model Army .44 loaded up with 30 grains of Triple Seven 3fff, setting behind a .451 lead ball with a Remington #10 cap on the nipple won't kill a man dead in his tracks at the crack of the gun is living in some sort of fantasy world and need's to get some mental therapy. That .44 will knock his ass piss winding and if you done your job right then no one will ever have to worry about that piece of s*** breaking in and hurting somone else later on down the road.
I don't think I need to mention very much here about the .44 Colt Walker....
Well, let's drink another cup of coffee. I'm gonna smoke a Marlboro with mine but I'll blow the smoke away from you....
I hope to God I never get caught up in anything like that, but if I do I sure as hell won't hesitate because my life is way more important to me than his life is to me....
 
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Somewhere around here is (I think) a thread or a "post-it-note" style message that speaks to loading BP handguns with shot instead of ball.
Doesn't seem like it would be difficult and I have to wonder if maybe two scoops of shot from a Walker possibly followed by a wee .457 ball wouldn't simply wreck one's entire evening.

;)
 
I think the Texas Ranger load was 2 or 3 buckshot followed by a .457 ball.
 
Ok now Im gonna chime in here real fast.I have a couple modern guns like my 12 gauge semi auto and my 1911 a1 both of which are loaded at all times. I have more BP guns than modern. I also leave the Walker loaded 50 grains .454 ball and a #11 cap. The Walker is on the night stand the .45 is in the living room and the shotgun sits behind the bedroom door. I live in south Florida people get stupid from time to time down here. But the way the law states in florida if you feel your life is in danger do what you need to do. I believe they call it (SELF PRESERVATION). And if you are in my house uninvited then I feel my life and or the life of my family is in danger so I am gonna do what I have to do. I have a great little dog that is the alarm he dont bark he just growls. He aint never been wrong.
Here is a little story that happened not to long ago. It was 3am I hadent slept for 2 days (it happens from time to time) this drunk ass idiot was pounding on the door let me in let me in. I told him to get the hell away from the door. I told the wife to call the cops. I grabbed the Walker and went around out the back. Well when I opened the door this dumb ass was on the back patio. He came face to face with the business end of Mr. Walker. Needless to say he soiled himself I still get a chuckle over that. I held him there until the cops showed up. Almost 15 minutes.
I had no clue what he wanted I reacted to make sure my house and my family were safe. The cop took the Walker from me then gave it back so I could make it safe. when I handed him the cylinder he looked at me like I had 3 heads. But thats another story. The cop was maybe 23, 24 years old didnt know nothin. Turned out the dumb ass lived 3 streets over in the same place on the block and the houses were the same color.
So yes a BP revolver CAN be used for home defense.
 
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