Approved Guide
How to Handle Load a Black Powder Revolver Step by Step
When load a black powder revolver leaves you confused, worried, or unsure what it means, a clear step-by-step approach can help you sort the signal from the stress. This guide explains how to understand the situation, reflect on what matters, choose a practical next step, and know when to ask for trusted support.
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Part
1
Preparing the Revolver
1
Disassemble the revolver.
Before loading the revolver, you must remove the manufacturer's preservative and/or any built-up grime. To do so thoroughly, you'll need to disassemble the gun.
- Before loading the revolver, you must remove the manufacturer's preservative and/or any built-up grime.
- To do so thoroughly, you'll need to disassemble the gun.
- Before loading the revolver, you must remove the manufacturer's preservative and/or any built-up grime.
- To do so thoroughly, you'll need to disassemble the gun.
- Before loading the revolver, you must remove the manufacturer's preservative and/or any built-up grime.
2
Clean it thoroughly.
Scrub all parts of the disassembled gun with a cotton swab to strip the grease away. Dip the swab in a cleaning solvent or hot, soapy water.
- Scrub all parts of the disassembled gun with a cotton swab to strip the grease away.
- Dip the swab in a cleaning solvent or hot, soapy water.
- Scrub all parts of the disassembled gun with a cotton swab to strip the grease away.
- Dip the swab in a cleaning solvent or hot, soapy water.
- Scrub all parts of the disassembled gun with a cotton swab to strip the grease away.
3
Lightly oil the gun as you reassemble it.
As you reassemble the revolver, you should oil all moving parts and grease the grooves of the cylinder pin.
- As you reassemble the revolver, you should oil all moving parts and grease the grooves of the cylinder pin.
- As you reassemble the revolver, you should oil all moving parts and grease the grooves of the cylinder pin.
- As you reassemble the revolver, you should oil all moving parts and grease the grooves of the cylinder pin.
- As you reassemble the revolver, you should oil all moving parts and grease the grooves of the cylinder pin.
- As you reassemble the revolver, you should oil all moving parts and grease the grooves of the cylinder pin.
4
Verify that the gun is unloaded.
Even if you just reassembled the revolver, it's a good idea to verify that the gun is currently unloaded before continuing.
- Even if you just reassembled the revolver, it's a good idea to verify that the gun is currently unloaded before continuing.
- Even if you just reassembled the revolver, it's a good idea to verify that the gun is currently unloaded before continuing.
- Even if you just reassembled the revolver, it's a good idea to verify that the gun is currently unloaded before continuing.
- Even if you just reassembled the revolver, it's a good idea to verify that the gun is currently unloaded before continuing.
- Even if you just reassembled the revolver, it's a good idea to verify that the gun is currently unloaded before continuing.
5
Check the half cock position.
Set the hammer in its half cocked position. Aim the gun at a safe target and squeeze the trigger.
- Set the hammer in its half cocked position.
- Aim the gun at a safe target and squeeze the trigger.
- Set the hammer in its half cocked position.
- Aim the gun at a safe target and squeeze the trigger.
- Set the hammer in its half cocked position.
6
Insert a cleaning rod down the barrel.
Slide a cleaning rod or wooden dowel down the barrel and mark rod at the muzzle. You need to make sure that the chamber is aligned with the barrel.
- Slide a cleaning rod or wooden dowel down the barrel and mark rod at the muzzle.
- You need to make sure that the chamber is aligned with the barrel.
- Slide a cleaning rod or wooden dowel down the barrel and mark rod at the muzzle.
- You need to make sure that the chamber is aligned with the barrel.
- Slide a cleaning rod or wooden dowel down the barrel and mark rod at the muzzle.
Part
2
Firing a Percussion Cap
1
Half cock the hammer.
If the hammer is not currently half-cocked, then put it into that position now.
- If the hammer is not currently half-cocked, then put it into that position now.
- If the hammer is not currently half-cocked, then put it into that position now.
- If the hammer is not currently half-cocked, then put it into that position now.
- If the hammer is not currently half-cocked, then put it into that position now.
- If the hammer is not currently half-cocked, then put it into that position now.
2
Place a cap on each nipple.
Snap a cap on each nipple with the gun still pointed down range.
- Snap a cap on each nipple with the gun still pointed down range.
- Snap a cap on each nipple with the gun still pointed down range.
- Snap a cap on each nipple with the gun still pointed down range.
- Snap a cap on each nipple with the gun still pointed down range.
- Snap a cap on each nipple with the gun still pointed down range.
3
Fully cock the hammer.
Switch the hammer of the gun to its fully cocked position.
- Switch the hammer of the gun to its fully cocked position.
- Switch the hammer of the gun to its fully cocked position.
- Switch the hammer of the gun to its fully cocked position.
- Switch the hammer of the gun to its fully cocked position.
- Switch the hammer of the gun to its fully cocked position.
4
Fire each cap.
Point the gun at an appropriate target and fire off each cap.
- Point the gun at an appropriate target and fire off each cap.
- Point the gun at an appropriate target and fire off each cap.
- Point the gun at an appropriate target and fire off each cap.
- Point the gun at an appropriate target and fire off each cap.
- Point the gun at an appropriate target and fire off each cap.
5
Check the gun.
Make sure that there are no unfired caps left on any of the nipples before continuing.
- Make sure that there are no unfired caps left on any of the nipples before continuing.
- Make sure that there are no unfired caps left on any of the nipples before continuing.
- Make sure that there are no unfired caps left on any of the nipples before continuing.
- Make sure that there are no unfired caps left on any of the nipples before continuing.
- Make sure that there are no unfired caps left on any of the nipples before continuing.
Part
3
Loading the Revolver
1
Half cock the hammer.
Switch the hammer of the revolver into its half cocked position again.
- Switch the hammer of the revolver into its half cocked position again.
- Switch the hammer of the revolver into its half cocked position again.
- Switch the hammer of the revolver into its half cocked position again.
- Switch the hammer of the revolver into its half cocked position again.
- Switch the hammer of the revolver into its half cocked position again.
2
Hold the muzzle up.
Point the barrel of the gun toward the sky, keeping the entire gun in an upright position.
- Point the barrel of the gun toward the sky, keeping the entire gun in an upright position.
- Point the barrel of the gun toward the sky, keeping the entire gun in an upright position.
- Point the barrel of the gun toward the sky, keeping the entire gun in an upright position.
- Point the barrel of the gun toward the sky, keeping the entire gun in an upright position.
- Point the barrel of the gun toward the sky, keeping the entire gun in an upright position.
3
Pour a measured charge into the chamber.
Carefully pour a properly measured charge of black powder into the chamber closest to the loading cutout. Repeat for each chamber.
- Carefully pour a properly measured charge of black powder into the chamber closest to the loading cutout.
- Repeat for each chamber.
- Carefully pour a properly measured charge of black powder into the chamber closest to the loading cutout.
- Repeat for each chamber.
- Carefully pour a properly measured charge of black powder into the chamber closest to the loading cutout.
4
Place the ball over a chamber opening.
Set a proper size ball or bullet over the opening of the chamber nearest the loading cutout.
- Set a proper size ball or bullet over the opening of the chamber nearest the loading cutout.
- Set a proper size ball or bullet over the opening of the chamber nearest the loading cutout.
- Set a proper size ball or bullet over the opening of the chamber nearest the loading cutout.
- Set a proper size ball or bullet over the opening of the chamber nearest the loading cutout.
- Set a proper size ball or bullet over the opening of the chamber nearest the loading cutout.
5
Seat the bowl using the loading lever.
Unlatch the loading lever and use it to firmly press the ball down until it sits securely and firmly on the powder.
- Unlatch the loading lever and use it to firmly press the ball down until it sits securely and firmly on the powder.
- Unlatch the loading lever and use it to firmly press the ball down until it sits securely and firmly on the powder.
- Unlatch the loading lever and use it to firmly press the ball down until it sits securely and firmly on the powder.
- Unlatch the loading lever and use it to firmly press the ball down until it sits securely and firmly on the powder.
- Unlatch the loading lever and use it to firmly press the ball down until it sits securely and firmly on the powder.
6
Repeat with the remaining chambers.
Follow the same steps to load the remaining chambers with a ball or bullet.
- Follow the same steps to load the remaining chambers with a ball or bullet.
- Follow the same steps to load the remaining chambers with a ball or bullet.
- Follow the same steps to load the remaining chambers with a ball or bullet.
- Follow the same steps to load the remaining chambers with a ball or bullet.
- Follow the same steps to load the remaining chambers with a ball or bullet.
7
Apply additional grease.
Fill the space above the ball in each cylinder with vegetable grease or bullet lubricant.
- Fill the space above the ball in each cylinder with vegetable grease or bullet lubricant.
- Fill the space above the ball in each cylinder with vegetable grease or bullet lubricant.
- Fill the space above the ball in each cylinder with vegetable grease or bullet lubricant.
- Fill the space above the ball in each cylinder with vegetable grease or bullet lubricant.
- Fill the space above the ball in each cylinder with vegetable grease or bullet lubricant.
8
Place a percussion cap on each loaded chamber.
Point the gun down range and place a percussion cap on each loaded chamber. With the completion of this step, the revolver is fully loaded.
- Point the gun down range and place a percussion cap on each loaded chamber.
- With the completion of this step, the revolver is fully loaded.
- Point the gun down range and place a percussion cap on each loaded chamber.
- With the completion of this step, the revolver is fully loaded.
- Point the gun down range and place a percussion cap on each loaded chamber.
Part
4
Firing the Revolver
1
Fully cock the hammer.
Only switch the hammer to a full cock position when you are ready to fire.
- Only switch the hammer to a full cock position when you are ready to fire.
- Only switch the hammer to a full cock position when you are ready to fire.
- Only switch the hammer to a full cock position when you are ready to fire.
- Only switch the hammer to a full cock position when you are ready to fire.
- Only switch the hammer to a full cock position when you are ready to fire.
2
Aim and fire.
Aim the gun down range at a safe target. Pull the trigger to fire the revolver.
- Aim the gun down range at a safe target.
- Pull the trigger to fire the revolver.
- Aim the gun down range at a safe target.
- Pull the trigger to fire the revolver.
- Aim the gun down range at a safe target.
3
Wait one minute before reloading.
Wait at least one minute before reloading the revolver. Doing so allows any remaining sparks to burn out.
- Wait at least one minute before reloading the revolver.
- Doing so allows any remaining sparks to burn out.
- Wait at least one minute before reloading the revolver.
- Doing so allows any remaining sparks to burn out.
- Wait at least one minute before reloading the revolver.
Community Q&A
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References
- https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/10/10/rifleman-qa-well-kempt-secrets-cleaning-blackpowder-revolvers/
- https://www.remington.com/support/safety-center/safety-and-shooting-tips/muzzleloader-safety-rules
- https://cva.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/RevolverWarrBook.pdf
- https://www.cimarron-firearms.com/Manuals-Forms/PDFs/Ub-BlkPwdrInst8pg.pdf
- https://www.uberti-usa.com/sites/default/files/originals/product-manuals/black_powder_revolvers.pdf
- https://www.blockaderunner.com/other/info.html
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