How to Load a Black Powder Revolver

Shooting a traditional cap-and-ball, black powder revolver is both an exciting and historical experience. The loading, however, must be done carefully, with close attention paid to safety. By following a few simple instructions, the pistol can be correctly loaded and safely fired. Always wear eye protection when loading or shooting any firearm.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Black powder revolver
• Powder
• Percussion caps
• Powder measure
• Lead ball
• Buffer wads

1. Check to see that the firearm is unloaded and in the half-cock position. In addition, make sure that there are no percussion caps on the nipples.

2. Do a quick test for nipple obstructions. With the pistol unloaded, in the half-cock position and the barrel pointed in a safe direction, place a percussion cap on each nipple. Bring the pistol to full-cock. Fire all six caps down range. This clears the nipples of any excess oil or residue.

3. Load the powder. Use only black powder or Pyrodex. See the instruction manual for the recommended load. Do not use a charge greater that the maximum recommended load. Never load powder directly from a flask or powder horn. A spark from a previous load could cause an explosion.

4. Pour the appropriate amount of powder into a calibrated powder measure. With the pistol in a loading stand or securely held between the knees, pour the powder into the first chamber. Push a lubricated felt buffer wad into the chamber and set the ball in place on top of the wad. See warning below.

5. Rotate the cylinder until the ball is aligned with the plunger on the loading lever. Use the lever to seat the ball and wad firmly onto the powder charge. If desired a small amount of lubricating grease can be place over the ball. Any good quality grease will work. Repeat this loading procedure for each chamber. It is advisable to load only five chambers and let the hammer rest on the empty one.

6. Fire the pistol. With the pistol pointed down range and in the half-cock position, place a percussion cap onto each nipple. The pistol is now charged and ready to fire. Place the pistol in the full-cock position, aim and fire.

Tips & Warnings

• You must use a buffer wad between the ball and the powder in order to prevent a chain fire. A chain fire occurs when the firing of one charge ignites all of the others. This could cause severe injury. An alternative to the buffer wad is to place a thick layer of grease over the ball. Both methods work well.

Resources

• This site is an overvieiw of the loading procedure with illustrations.

[Bezoar]

on 11/30/2007 wads and grease are NOT needed. A wad will let you use less powder in the chamber, but does not make it safer. Chain fires are caused by two things, poorly fitting percussion caps, or using undersize projectiles.

Most people use petroleum grease, say pump/axle grease or crisco and give up after awhile. THe first shot blows the grease from every other cylinder onto the frame and barrel, into the cylinder pin, and onto the user.
The grease will then harden when it comes into contact with bp residue, thus fouling and siezing the mechanical systems up.
To properly grease a bp revolver bullet, use a thin cookie of equal parts parafin and beeswax or beeswax and tallow. use a metal tube the diameterof your bullet to cut cookies. Simply place a cookie onto each bullet in a loaded cylinder and the was will lubricate the bullet as it travels down barrel, and will reduce fouling in barrel