capandballguy

I have begun to routinely carry a cap and ball revolver. I'm sure hearing this will galvanize some to berate me. However, I am in a jurisdiction where I cannot legally carry a modern firearm, but I am able to carry black powder. I decided that legally carrying was superior to illegal carry or not carrying.

I am trying to think through safety issues and be prepared. I would be interested in hearing some best practices for cap and ball carry. I have an 1858 New Army with a 5.5" barrel. I keep all chambers loaded and capped. I use a holster with a strap that firmly wraps around the hammer keeping it from moving. I keep the hammer down in one of the grooves between each chamber.

I'm interested in hearing other thoughts on both safety and maximizing speed and ease of use in a crisis.

Thanks!

tx gun runner

Welcome from Tx .. I love and shoot black powder gun . Be careful not all cities , counties and states think black powder in not a firearm and trumps federal law . They use words like fire a projectile and a CCW is needed capped or not . In Philly it is or was illegal to own or posses a BB gun in city limits . And carrying a Remy with the hammer down on safety notch is 100% safe . My black powder will out shoot most modern guns .

north country gal

I don't see why it would be a safety issue given your knowledge of how to use these guns and the fact that the Remington does have safety notches on the cylinder that allow you to carry a fully loaded cylinder. At any rate, can't see why a cap and ball revolver would be any more prone to accidental discharge than any other revolver or even a semi-auto, for that matter.

Here's a fun article I found in The Truth About Guns site for those who aren't familiar with the Remington.

I've been moving back to black powder shooting (did it in the 80s and 90s), including traditional BP for several reasons and will not pass up a nice Remington or Ruger Old Army if I see one.