I purchased a Pietta 1851 Navy and a 1860 Army several months ago and went to collecting the nessesaties needed to shoot them. I read here as much as my brain could take and finally went out and fired them off this past weekend. WOW, WOW, WOW was that fun. I was using America powder FFF, CCI #11 caps and tried .454 and .451 balls. I was shooting at a 5gal bucket around 40 yards away and was able to hit it many times. I didnt have any targets with me and was out in the middle of now where but just wanted to get the fill of them. Had trouble with the 1860 with fired caps falling into the hammer area until I remember reading here to roll it to the side after each shot. That fixed it.
A couple of lessons learned. I do need to build or buy a loading stand... I have a staight capper that didn't work, couldn't get the thing in there to get the caps on. CCI #11's have to be pinched before inserting on the nipple and then it even helps more to push on them with a stick. Cleaning was not as bad as I was thinking it would be. Hot soapy water and a little scrubing..
It's not all about black guns (Glocks and ARs)anymore, need to look at Black Powder
On the way back we stopped at Cabela's. I picked up some lubed wads and some Remington #11 caps (all they had). My buddy walked over to the bargin cave and was able to snag an 1858 New Model Navy the one packaged by traditions with all the accessories for $139. . I was headed there after I got my caps and wads. He is happy and I will get to shoot it.
Ready to go out again and shoot some paper to see what i can do a little closer.
A couple of lessons learned. I do need to build or buy a loading stand... I have a staight capper that didn't work, couldn't get the thing in there to get the caps on. CCI #11's have to be pinched before inserting on the nipple and then it even helps more to push on them with a stick. Cleaning was not as bad as I was thinking it would be. Hot soapy water and a little scrubing..
It's not all about black guns (Glocks and ARs)anymore, need to look at Black Powder
On the way back we stopped at Cabela's. I picked up some lubed wads and some Remington #11 caps (all they had). My buddy walked over to the bargin cave and was able to snag an 1858 New Model Navy the one packaged by traditions with all the accessories for $139. . I was headed there after I got my caps and wads. He is happy and I will get to shoot it.
Ready to go out again and shoot some paper to see what i can do a little closer.