I like how you specified the brand of your caps. People have so much trouble with caps because a CCI #10 is not the same size as a Remington #10.

You got me interested in cap and ball revolvers. I originally started watching your videos to learn how to load and shoot flint locks.......... Now I probably shoot as much cap and ball guns as I do my flint locks

"They all have fleas", That is the best description of artificial propellants I have ever heard.

Thanks Mike. Another set of opinions: >Re/caps; CCIs bad. Remington good. >Traditions nipple wrenches bad unless you like to pay for something you then have to rework harden. >Pietta nipples fine for two months then they round off, so budget for replacements. >777 is best for powder substitutes, but don't compress it. It burns best a little loose. >Ballistol is your friend. >Learn how to make your own lube if you live in hot climates or your powder will get contaminated, your gun will be a sloppy mess and you'll waste a lot, but, if you use borebutter to season your barrel your after action clean up will be fairly easy. >Do Not Keep Your Revolver Loaded! Yes, if they've been loaded well the powder will work even after a long time in storage, but cap n ball revolvers are just too easy to make a mistake with. Keep a modern gun for self defense unless you have no other alternative. >Screw the factory metal treatments/bluing/etcetera. Finish the deburring job Pietta and Uberti were supposed to do before they sold you your new gun. You can always retreat/reblue/whatever once it's acting right. (Petersoli customers shouldn't have that problem.) >Pietta hand springs and bolt springs suck. Replace them right away. Their main springs have their uses, but; options. >Don't get frustrated. 150/60 year old designs are not perfect. It's a hobby tool. Not a job tool. >Have fun learning to learn. >Do not forget to clean. $300+ is still $300+. Take care of it.

Mike you are the person who got me into black powder shooting 5 years ago from your videos, I remember you answered my questions i had about the pietta 1858 that i ended up getting as a gift. 5 years later im totally into it. Im glad to see you're still uploading fantastic content. I get the feeling you truly do care about the "beginners" out there who want to get into this side of the hobby.

I made the mistake when i first started with that same traditions nipple wrench. It was so soft I couldn’t get the nipples out and it was ruined and i used crappy screw drivers. The nipples on my uberti 1860 rusted in place and I haven’t been able to get them out to this day and the screws are mangled. The hand is also damaged and jams. I need a new gun. Now it’s just a wall hanger. I was young, dumb and poor and took the cheap way out. Listen ti mike in this video as I’ve made all these mistakes. And buy a ted cash capper. Not a cheap traditions one that doesn’t work i have. Great video mike.

I think you forgot two things. First is anti seize or choke tube lube to use on the screws and nipples. makes a big difference is how often you bugger up the screw head. the second is a small pocket knife. Mainly used for picking out a cap fragment that is wedged somewhere it shouldn't be or cutting a ball flush that was not seated deep enough. Thank you for helping people get started. I always ask other people at the range if they want to shoot my black powder guns to hopefully bring others into this hobby.

Your timing is impeccable sir ! I’ve recently received my first Black Powder pistol. It’s a Pietta 1851 Navy ...! This information is gold ! Thanks so much for posting this !

Awesome and extremely informative like always.

Thanks mike great video very informative

Great content. Very informative. Thank you.

Great informative video!!😁

Thanks Mike. Great beginner video!

Great vid 👍🏼🤘🏼

Best video on supplies I've seen yet!

Best item to have for C&B Is a person to teach you the way do do it correctly.

Great video!!!

Another great video!

thanks again for your professionalism. you're great.

Good and concise vid... like this one. a new shooter could use this advice to their advantage.

Thanks for posting this video. I am new to black powder and muzzle loading and found this video very helpful. So helpful that I wish I would have watched it before I spent too much money trying to make sure I had everything I (thought) I needed. If I had watched this video before trying to get everything during this supply "shortage" I probably would have saved enough money to buy more of the stuff that I actually need, lol. I'm looking forward to more of your videos and learning a lot more about BP. I'm not sure if you posted a link for Graf & Sons in the description but they seem to have a few items that were difficult to find in other places. Great video, liked and subbed. Thanks again.

Thanks! Just got my first cap and ball revolver and this is what I needed to see.

Thanks Mike this is excellent information. I also use a Tedd Cash snail capper and found it needs some file work to trim the cap end to work on my Uberti and Pietta Colt style guns. Absolutely you are giving excellent information. I am a big fan. Powder Inc. is also another source for powder.

Have a used Uberti 1861 Navy I picked up couple years ago and have yet to shoot. This is what I needed to know! Also wasn't sure size of the ball I will be casting. Still need to pick up some soft lead for that. But great info on the caps and powder. I was able to pick up some Pyrodex at a show so I'll probably start with that.

This is so interesting. The different grades of black powder is particularly interesting. I have an old can of FFFF G black powder I used to use for ejection charge for high powered rockets.

Thanks, Mike!

Awesome video Mike! Could you do a video on exactly what to look for on a revolver when purchasing it from the store? (How to tell if the timing is right, action smoothness, etc.) I've never bought a revolver and I don't want to get a dud. Thanks!

Sir, good job. Anything that helps those that are new to our world (BP shooting) with its ways and reasons is a good thing.

Very interested in getting into this style of shooting. So much interaction with the firearm is great and they’re beautiful. I’ll save these vids thank you 😉 could you link the second part please I can’t find it

Mad respect for your very detailed information, tips and tricks, I am about to buy my 1st 1851 cap and ball revolver .36 cal. and maybe a .44 later down the road. I understand this is more cost effective, and a good learning entry level. What is most interesting is your post are current, other are good too, but most do not post anymore. I think this will be a good Retirement Hooby.

Thanks Mike. When I got into shooting black powder revolvers you were my #1 go-to source for info. Some other items I've added to my range kit. A wooden dowel to seat the percussion caps on the nipples, a dental pick to dig out spent caps, and forceps to pull caps off the nipples and from inside the frame.

Good video Mike.😆 I try to keep most things in one carry bag or for me a plastic tool box. The wads and ball go with the caliber specific gun. Otherwise I ended up carrying a lot of extra weight around. Especially if I take the single shot Lyman .50. Hahaha

The new Polish Capper... it is a plastic star that is beyond excellent! cheap too

Hi Mike. A bit off subject but I just finished converting a Pietta 1858 sheriff, 2017 model to 45 Colt using Howells new 6 shot gated conversion cylinder paired with the Kirst improved ejector and the results a bit expensive but very pleasing. Some of your videos have enthused me to do this and I just wanted to say thanks for the enthusiasm.

Thanks for the video Mike. Been wanting to get into cap and ball shooting for a while now, and this video helped out a lot. Any chance I can get a recommendation as to which gun to start out with? Also keep making excellent content

Great information as usual. Almost everything I know about shooting black powder revolvers came from watching your channel. I would add another item to the loading list (I've seen you use one in your videos): A small dowel rod to seat the percussion caps on tightly instead of using your finger. When it comes to the cleaning process there are other items that I would add (choke tube lube, bore brushes, etc.). You already have some excellent cleaning videos you can point people to so I don't know if you are going to create a new cleaning video or just point new shooters to one of your existing videos.

I'd love to see you demonstrate and discuss the use of black powder pellets as an alternative to loose powder!! Love your video as always!! :^)

THANKS FOR VIDEO

I would love to hear about the artificial propellants

I made my nipple wrench out of a 6mm craftsman socket using a dremel and round file it works just like the ted cash ratcheting nipple wrench and it was free

9:55 difference between 0.454 and 0.451 is 3 mills which is the thickness of the printing paper

I find rmington caps are excellent for identifying a flinch. When you drop the hammer on the percentage the priming compound fell out of.

Make sure you apply bluing to the TOTW nipple wrenches or at least apply some oil after each use. All of mine rust like crazy!

Thanks!

@duelist1954 Great photo of you in the frock coat!!!!

Thanks.

THANK YOU

I have all the old Authentic Colts and their associated appendages. The flasks I like to use. They work v e r y well. The light and heavy pocket flasks throw 8, 11 and 15g. Consistently. The Navy and Army flasks, 15 and 27. The Walker/Dragoon flasks, I have them set to 47 and 41g. They work quite well. I use straight olive oil for cleaning, post cleaning lubricating and lubricating th loaded ball for firing. I ve been doing it for a long time and it works well. Caps,- The various Colts I have actually use the CCI 10s/11s for a proper fit. I also use R10/11/12s. I have been, and continue to fire all my old Colts a lot. I ve gravitated to what works on a simple, reliable and practicable level.

Mike your videos' are great Sure wish I had found you in the mid 90's . Just now found your must have a good nipple wrench advise . All this time I thought those nipple wrenches I screwed up were my fault . Bought a good one last week The nipples do come off in real life . Keep the good advise coming . Thank you so much for the time and effort you put in .

I always pinch my #11 caps a little before they go on. #10's have never worked well for me. But anyway, I've never used a capper for this reason. Been at it since the 80's, and nothing has changed in my routine. That includes using Crisco over the ball or bullet, instead of wads. If it's hot summer, and I'm out in the middle of nowhere, I'll use a stiffer lube that I cook up, to prevent melting. Other than that, I have had zero, and I do mean zero, problems in all those years with my loads. The problems I have had usually come from the pistol itself, such as sights falling off or loading lever latch pins falling out. Trigger springs can break, hand springs can break, so it's always a good idea to polish these little gems and remove any burrs. I've even fashioned a trigger spring from a paperclip one time when in a bind. As far as loading , I go straight from the flask spout and what it pours, unless I'm doing any real target work. The 51' Navy is my favorite and does not have any major things that are a nuisance, such as being too heavy and eating too much powder like the Walker. Sure, a Walker is fun, but it has a very large hunger. The .31's can be fun by just using 0 buckshot, but they are small and just not enough to them to hold onto. Never had a problem with Crisco, and even it it splatters a little, it makes cleaning easier. I never use substitute powders, and Pyrodex is a no no for me, and the reason is, even if you have cleaned your gun thoroughly and to the best of your ability, no matter if it's oiled down and spotless, if you try to store it for any length of time, the Pyrodex demon will appear in that area and form a rust. Don't ask me how it does this, because I don't know, but rest assured, that is what Pyrodex does.

Great video, looking forward to the next one. You should add a third video to the series about cleaning after you're done shooting.

Great stuff. Currently using my own bee’s wax-olive oil compound lube along with homemade black powder (don’t recommend unless you’re an expert) on my LeMat. 🇺🇸

I picked up the Eras Gone Bullets Johnston and Dow mould and had a lot of fun with my son casting our own bullets. Looks like you have a sample of= those on your table. Is that an okay choice for a beginner, or should I stick with round ones until I've had some practice? I've got pretty much all the gear now, just need to find a place to go shooting! Thanks for a great overview.

Hey Mike, thanks for the very informative video. I went to the Brownells sight to order those three Magna Tip screwdrivers. They had listed the 180-3 bit. The closest I found to the 240-2 was the 240-3. The closest I came to the 300-1 was the 300-3 bit. Do you think the slightly larger bits will work with my Pietta 1858 New Army? I do not have a bench grinder to grind them down. I suppose I could put them in a vice and use a file to reduce them to size. Is there another supplier who sells the Magna Tip bits?

Nice, I'm thinking about picking up my first blackpowder revolver. I'm interested in an 1862 Colt Police.

A set of gunsmithing drivers is not bad. Less than 40 bucks for a decent set

Mike what about the linear cappers, mine works in my Ruger old army, just like you said the other type doesn’t work well in a full framed revolver.

Goex closed its door. Just what we need now.

Hey Mike I believe I am one of your biggest fans. By weight if not volume, hehe. I was wondering how large your T-Shirt sizes go up to. 5X would be roomy but I might squeeze into a 4X.

thank you !!!!!!!!!

Do you have a video showing how you make your pre-lubed wads?

It sure takes a lot of stuff to shoot cap and ball which makes it so much fun . I have a set of Colt Calvary pistols made by Cold I think in 1973 44 cal , I have not shot them due to the public range shut down I admire them so much so I kind of play with them but do not dry fire . The question I have is the cylinder shows a slight wear ring is this caused by being out of time ? , or an adjustment maybe a burr in the control arm I keep it well greased , thanks

I'd like to see a video about making a front sight like the one on that '51

I use 50 cal sticks just cut the end off to leave space for the bullet

I use both greased wads, and grease on the cylinders.

Ive had to self teach myself how to shoot blackpowder and such over the last few years using the internet, thanks to some of your help. i've ordered and been to stores to purchase real blackpowder of all kinds, goes, swiss, etc... But Mike where the hell do you buy them in those metal cans?

Fantastic Mike - Enjoy your content ;o)

I've been a Pyrodex user since 1998 with very few complaints. only serious complaint I have is no place local carries FFFG equivalent powder that isn't in pellets. don;t get me wrong, the 30grain pyrodex pellets Work. I bought a set "in a pinch" so I'd have powder and they have quite a bit of pep to them considering I usually only load 20 grains of loose powder. HOWEVER for the cost of 100 shots in the pellets I could have 230 shots of loose powder in 30 grains... IF the loose powder was available I've recently started making my own combustible paper cartridges with a cartridge former like what CapandBall sells, but I had to make my own (I've been unemployed for a while and have a 1/2" dowel handy). fun stuff

In every uberti and pietta colt style repro I've found that number 11 Remington brand caps work best. Number 10 and 1075 caps are too tight and hinder the cylinder from rotating unless you do that dangerous dowel pressing method to seat the caps more. However in both uberti and pietta remington style repros the number 10 remington caps fit the best. I've owned about 6 remington style repros of which 3 have been pietta and 3 have been uberti and about 7 colt repros of which 2 have been pietta and 5 have been uberti so I've had alot of experience

I can't find the percussion caps in stock anywhere, and they're regulated so can't be shipped to a home address. Live in Nevada, and everywhere I call doesn't have them.

Hi Mike.

Hi mike! I have a question regarding the 44-40 and a Winchester 1892

My asm walker almost needs .490's. tolerance must not have been that good 40 year's ago 😊

Piettas seem to fit better with no. 11 caps.

I'm looking to get a Remington new model army in .36 with a 6.5 inch barrel is this historicaly accurate length and caliber wise?

How did you get those remingtons no 10, ive been looking all over and havent found one that isnt 100 dollars

Do you prefer Swiss or Goex for cap and ball? How about for .45 Colt or .44-40 cartridges?

You thought contemporary shooters have it bad with an ammo shortage... Every place I've checked is out of stock for both powder as well as caps, some don't even have a backorder option. Most places have lead ball, but the important stuff that makes 'em go fast down the barrel, not so much. I ordered a 1 lb jug of Pyrodex P to feed my Uberti 1873 and the hazmat charge was more than the price of the powder alone. But, you gotta do what you gotta do sometimes.

Should i get a capper? I heard capping by hand can be dangerous

A dear friend, rid of this mortal coil Lo! these two decades, was an avid charcoal burner (unlike me). He proposed writing his doctoral dissertation on the thesis that, despite the lack of evidence, the Civil War was actually fought using picnic tables.

Where do you get the cap with the spout on it?

NOBEL caps fit on revolvers only in black boxes, those red ones are "plus", they have more bang stuf and don't go deep enough on a nipple. Just want to point out from personal experience.

@duelist1954 From what I'm seeing, the Diamond Noble 1075 caps are a #11. Is that an issue? In the current ammo and gun market, it looks like cap and ball revolvers are being impacted too so it is hard to find the Remington #10.

👍👍👍👍

Need a ball puller too. I was in a hurry to head out of town and grabbed "everything" in a hurry. Forgot one thing... The thing I would need most later. If your in a hurry loading your revolver and can't remember, no there is no powder in that cylinder.

Are conical bullets easier to load into the chambers? I've been thinking about buying one of these for awhile now and I'm not sure that I have the strength to push a round ball into the chamber without much difficulty.

So what type of powder would I use for the primer of a flintlock? A finer grain for the primer and the ffg for the barrel?

So your saying my old butter knife isn't a good screwdriver substitute?

For Remington Capper google "Polish Capper": expensive, slow to arrive in the mail (my order took a month and a half after it shipped) (it shipped in just 2 days). Places like SASS forum have messages on Polish capper: most everyone loves them for Remington. They also fit your Colts too. I love mine (Remington 1858). www.polishcappers.com/en/p/kapiszonownik-uniwersalny-model-pcc-na-okolo-150-szt-kapiszonow

What about the Hi-Tek polymer coated bullets for use with black powder?

Hi Mike! Will the Ted Cash capper work with the .44 Ruger? Thanks!

How critical is using lube when shooting these? It’s always mentioned when shooting cap n ball, but the few times I’ve had the opportunity to do so we didn’t use any lube, seemingly without issue

Goex is all there is.

I can't remember where I put the paperwork for my 1858. So, is it safe to say the Remington #10 caps are the best choice for a Remington 1858 Revolver??

Mike originally I owned a blued Ruger old army in .44 cal, but my newer one is stainless and .45 cal. Do you know why they did this ?

You mentioned making your own wads. Do you already have a video on this? [Is going to search, too. If I find it, will come back and reply]

do you know where i can get any pre cast conicals for a ruger old army?

I've got a second hand colt navy ,serial number around 15000 the 36 balls are loose in the cylinder , they fit in my other navy and there are some differences in cylinder length , do you think one of these guns is a u berth and the other a pietta? The second hand gun has no makers name on it , it just reads reb navy 1851

Do you like goex or the Swiss powder better. Just wanting to know

Mike my old army is a .45 cal, do I need to use larger than .457 in it ?