Single Shot Pistols

[ThomasT]

There are lots of threads on BP revolvers but you don't see the single shots mentioned much. I have a couple of CVA Single Shots in .45 caliber that I really like. And I have wanted a Lyman Great Plains pistol in 50 caliber for a long time but have never found a deal I liked on a used one.

The Traditions Kentucky pistol looks nice and the prices seem to run in the $230 range for them brand new. So does anyone else like or use the single shots?

 

[troy fairweather]

I like them but we can't shoot them here without it on your pistol permit, I would like to build a target h&a underhammer someday.

 

[Shortgrub]

I've got a CVA 45 cal. and a 54 cal. Great Plains pistol both cap locks. Ya load the 54 up a bit on the heavy side and ya can make a gong scream for mercy. The 45 is fun to shoot too.

 

[doubleh]

I have CVAs in 45 and 50 caliber. They are fun and really cheap to shoot because it takes so long to load them.

 

[damoc]

I like them but we can't shoot them here without it on your pistol permit, I would like to build a target h&a underhammer someday.

What the heck? What the heck are you doing in a place you cannot shoot single shot muzzle loading pistols without a permit?

To the OP my favorite is My "almost a Howdah" 44 side by side then my .31 traditions vest pocket derringer.

 

[troy fairweather]

What the heck? What the heck are you doing in a place you cannot shoot single shot muzzle loading pistols without a permit?

To the OP my favorite is My "almost a Howdah" 44 side by side then my .31 traditions vest pocket derringer.

Real kicker is in my county you can't get a permit, judge openly said they will not sign.

 

[ThomasT]

I like them but we can't shoot them here without it on your pistol permit, I would like to build a target h&a underhammer someday.

Wow! That would be rough. A permit for an old front stuffer. And now a judge won’t sign off on them? That’s just crazy. I guess they are the new gun of choice for the budding gang banger.

You know Horace Greeley once said “ go west young man, go west”. Sounds like good advice to me.

 

[webrx]

I have a little 41 cal front stuffer philly derringer, got it cheap, and still working on getting it working reliably, but, all in all, kinda cool. I have a kentucky flintlock on my list, when things get a little more back to normal or if I run across one in the LGS.

Edited to add a pic



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[WestKentucky]

I have chased a tingle so many times I lost count. I wish I could say I caught one.

 

[ThomasT]

Here is a picture of my two I snapped just now. Not a great picture but you get the idea. The smaller gun I bought for $25 because it was a kit somebody started and never finished and they lost a few of the parts. The top gun I won off gunbroker for a little over $100 because it too was missing a couple of screws. But just what I wanted since .45 caliber is my favorite rifle caliber.

 

[ThomasT]

I have chased a tingle so many times I lost count. I wish I could say I caught one.

Somebody posted a picture of a Tingle on here not too long ago. Maybe do a search and drool a little.

 

[JT-AR-MG42]

So does anyone else like or use the single shots?

Oh yeah,I do.
Helps you to make the shot count.
And they let one appreciate just what an advancement the revolver was for self defense.

Here's my pair of .40's


Made in Belgium under the 'Turner Kirkland' brand.


Good lock time (for the price). I shoot a .390 ball with 30 grs. of 3F
The rear of the horn carries 22 round balls, while the front has enough powder to shoot them all up.


JT

 

[ThomasT]

To the OP my favorite is My "almost a Howdah" 44 side by side then my .31 traditions vest pocket derringer.

What is your Howdah pistol?

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Single shot pistolas??? DANG! YEAH! Now you is talking. They RULE! .50 cal Lyman Plains Pistol. Laser accurate, Powerful. Makes a Walker cry for it's mommie. I have trekked with this, along with a stout bow, into the wilderness. This pistol I trust. That is a 32 yard group, with round ball. She shoots the Hornady "PA" conical very well too. I've found that if you de-lube that bullet, it will not migrate down the barrel when carried in a holster.

 

[ThomasT]

That’s what I’m talking about. Great shooting ugly sauce.

 

[TTv2]

If the .45's could use the .451 and .454 round balls I have they'd be great, but I think they all use a .44 ball so for those who have the percussion revolvers the single shots worth getting are larger calibers.

I don't have one yet, but am planning to get a .54 Lyman GPP. I figure with the price of balls being the same there's no reason not to go with the .54. A bit more power and more fun, plus if you ever wanted to you could buy a second barrel and ream the bore out smooth and turn it into a 28 gauge shotgun.

 

[Fyrstyk]

I have a Traditions Trapper in .50 caliber that I use on trail walk shoots. I really like the set trigger on this gun for target shooting. I use a Lyman Great Plains Pistol in .54 for hunting. Took a nice 4 point with it this year at 35 yards. I have a Hoppes, Ethan Allen 45 target pistol and a CVA kit .45 pistol.I enjoy shooting them all. Can spend a whole day at the range and only shoot about 30 rounds as opposed to my CF guns where i would shoot over 100 rounds in a session. That gets expensive, that is why lately I have been only shooting my muzzle loaders.

 

[Thomasss]

I was given a brace of pistols exactly like ThomasT. In addition, I was also given two CVA .45 cal rifles that the original owners couldn't put them together. First one took 3 years to complete and the second only 3 months. The previous owner said it sat on his work bench for 15 years!
Correction: .45 cal uses a .440 ball. But who knows until you try a larger one. I'm finding out thinner home-made patch material works great, so maybe TTv2 could try a ball. In a pinch squirrel hunting, I'll throw a ball in without a patch for a quick follow up shot.

 

[whughett]

I have two, an Armi San Marco Tingle style, and a TC Patriot. Both 45 caliber. 440 patched round ball over 25 to 30 grains of 2 or 3F black. I use old cotton t shirts cut into 1” by what ever strips lubed with 50/50 beeswax and crisco. The balls are short started and the patch cut with a pocket knife. The Patriot has a set trigger. Of the two the Patriot is the more accurate. Fun change up to the revolvers for summer plinking.

 

[whughett]

Somebody posted a picture of a Tingle on here not too long ago. Maybe do a search and drool a little.

Armi San Marco Tingle Style are available for very reasonable prices.SimpsonLTD. I’ve got one shoots as good as I can hold it.

 

[ThomasT]

I use a .440 ball in my guns and also a .010 patch. I tried thicker patches but you have to beat the ball in the bore to get it started. I learned a long time ago if you think you need a ball and patch tight to fit down the bore for better accuracy you will wreck the accuracy hammering the ball down the bore. Its better if its a slip fit. The explosion of the charge will obturate (Lymans term) the ball to fit the bore tighter for its ride back out of the bore.

I have a 200gr Lee REAL bullet I shoot from my 45 Hawken but I have never tried it in the pistols. I will do that next time I shoot them. I know someone who has/had a Traditions Trapper pistol. He passed away a year or more ago. I need to ask his son what happened to it. They are not gun people and may sell it to me. It was built from a kit but only half done. No finish on the barrel and thin finish on the stock.

Those Tingle single shot pistols remind me of the T/C Scout pistols. Maybe TC was influenced by the Tingle design.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

That’s what I’m talking about. Great shooting ugly sauce.

Thanks, it will do a little better than that. I'm not sure if I was sighting it in that day, or playing with different patch and ball and charge combinations, or what. As you can see, quite a bit above the bull's-eye. !

 

[Ugly Sauce]

If the .45's could use the .451 and .454 round balls I have they'd be great, but I think they all use a .44 ball so for those who have the percussion revolvers the single shots worth getting are larger calibers.

I don't have one yet, but am planning to get a .54 Lyman GPP. I figure with the price of balls being the same there's no reason not to go with the .54. A bit more power and more fun, plus if you ever wanted to you could buy a second barrel and ream the bore out smooth and turn it into a 28 gauge shotgun.

If given a choice between the two, I'd also pick a .54". But, the .50" will churn out some hoss-power, and a stout charge behind that 240 grain PA slug is some serious medicine. I've grown fond of mine, in .50".

A smooth bore would be a nice small game gun, and of course you could still load a ball for close in defense. Not a bad idea. I make "shot cartridges" for mine, paper tube filled with shot. It works good enough for grouse at very close range (or would, never done it, but have pattern'd it) even from a rifled bore, much like a shot load in a .44/.38/.357 modern cartridge.

 

[TTv2]

Sure, for very close range the amount of shot you can put in a .50 or .54 is fine, but for 7-10 yards that shot opens up fast and becomes useless. Given the limited range of using a ball or conical in a rifled pistol, I don't see how you lose much going with smoothbore. Makes cleaning the bore easier too.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Truth, seven to ten (sounds like a prison sentence) is about it for shot loads. Good for when grouse go into that "dumb mode", or just sit in a tree. Probably not going to "roll a bunny".

I wonder if, or how much better one could do, or improve on that, with a smooth bore. ? Have always wanted a British Sea Service pistol to try that out.