Let's say you were in a place where the only self-defense firearm you could use was a black powder revolver. If you were concerned about leaving the cylinders loaded for long periods of time and wanted to unload and reload periodically. Is there a safe way to unload the cylinder other than just shooting it, since it might be inconvenient to have to do that?
unloading a black powder revolver
- Thread starter roscoe
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neoncowboy
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Roscoe said:
SDC
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A couple of different companies (Traditions, Thunder Ridge, etc.) make CO2-powered "unloaders" that use the 12-gram CO2 air pistol cartridges to vent high-pressure CO2 gas through the nipple, forcing the charge and ball out of the chamber, like so :
You can get this one from Thunder Ridge, for $25; http://www.thunder-ridge-muzzleloading.com/tools.htm HTH.
You can get this one from Thunder Ridge, for $25; http://www.thunder-ridge-muzzleloading.com/tools.htm HTH.
mhdishere
Member
Remove the cylinder from the revolver. Remove the caps from the nipples. Remove the nipples from the cylinder. Dump as much power out thru the nipple-holes as possible. Take a thin rod or dowel that will fit thru the nipple holes and drive the balls out thru the front of the cylinder. Clean and reload.
I don't know what it wouled be like out of a revolver cylinder, but you have to remember those CO2 unloaders work off of high pressure. I've heard that in rifles they literally shoot the charge out, and have to be pointed in a safe direction. Its not anything like actually shooting the gun, but its not something you do in your living room.
I would go with removing the nipples, dumping the powder and driving out the bullet. I have done that several times when for some reason I had to bring home a loaded revolver.
DON'T use a wood dowel though; you will split it and then have to get both it and the bullets out of the cylinder. Use a steel or brass rod.
Jim
DON'T use a wood dowel though; you will split it and then have to get both it and the bullets out of the cylinder. Use a steel or brass rod.
Jim
Gatofeo
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I do not suggest using a steel rod. The possibility of sparks exists, if the rod strikes the side of the chamber. Use a brass rod to tap the ball out.
A short length of brass rod works well. A 1/2 hole drilled into a piece of 2X4 makes a good receptacle for the bullet.
Place the cylinder face down over the hole and tap the ball into the hole. It's much easier to tap the brass rod downward than trying to hang onto the clyinder and tap sideways.
A short length of brass rod works well. A 1/2 hole drilled into a piece of 2X4 makes a good receptacle for the bullet.
Place the cylinder face down over the hole and tap the ball into the hole. It's much easier to tap the brass rod downward than trying to hang onto the clyinder and tap sideways.
If you've sealed the charge in correctly, and gun is kept indoors, the charges should stay good. I've even spent two days walking in the rain inspecting trees with black powder revolver in covered leather holster and holster under a coat and had every charge fire at end of that time.
The longest I've ever kept it loaded was about 3 weeks (mainly indoors) and no misfires.
Just stating this because if one was depending upon black powder revolver for defense, no sense making it harder than necessary. With a little bit of care, it is a fairly reliable system. Of course, the emphasis is on the word "should", as in "it should fire every time...". But even with gun freshly loaded, misfires can still occur.
The longest I've ever kept it loaded was about 3 weeks (mainly indoors) and no misfires.
Just stating this because if one was depending upon black powder revolver for defense, no sense making it harder than necessary. With a little bit of care, it is a fairly reliable system. Of course, the emphasis is on the word "should", as in "it should fire every time...". But even with gun freshly loaded, misfires can still occur.
Legend has it that Wild Bill Hickock(sp) would fire his guns every evening to unload them, clean them, then reload for the following day. Daily practice with his carry guns probably saved his bacon more than once. If you live in a semi-rural area I can't think of a better way to practice and unload your guns.
I wonder what the chance would be of getting a peice of all thread, or a long bolt that matches the threads on a nipple. You could use it as a jack screw to push the bullet out instead of having to pound on anything and mess up the threads. Thats assuming it doesn't take enough pressure that it would strip the threads out twisting it.
just after this thread started, I loaded a 200 grain bullet into my dragoon without charging the chamber first. Removed the nipple and confirmed no powder in the chamber. With the cylinder out, I inserted a big flat tiped nail that didn't touch the threads and tapped the ball out. No strain.
I'm just wondering which is more likely to mess of the threads.
If your using a round ball load, the rod you driveit out with won't want to stay centered, as it goes sideways its going to bind against the sides of the cylinder hole, possibly dinging the threads.
If you use a threaded rod and screw it in, it stays centered,and the only way to hurt the threads it twist too hard and strip them. I don't know what size theads they are, but I'd guess that if they hold up to the pressure of shooting the gun, they'd hold up to jacking a bullet out.
I really don't know which is better. I've never even shot a BP revolver. Just thinking out loud for the most part
If your using a round ball load, the rod you driveit out with won't want to stay centered, as it goes sideways its going to bind against the sides of the cylinder hole, possibly dinging the threads.
If you use a threaded rod and screw it in, it stays centered,and the only way to hurt the threads it twist too hard and strip them. I don't know what size theads they are, but I'd guess that if they hold up to the pressure of shooting the gun, they'd hold up to jacking a bullet out.
I really don't know which is better. I've never even shot a BP revolver. Just thinking out loud for the most part
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