Shooting an antique - should I?

[Markbo]

Some of you may remember that I am holding in my care an orginal model P for one of my step sons. It is in good condition - mechanically very sound, though bluing is just about gone. This gun was carried a long time. We have traced it's history and it has a little historical value... though much more sentimental value to the family so there it will stay.

I took this gun from long term storage and did an extremely thorough cleaning and rust preventative coating. It comes out once a month or so just to handle and admire and confirm the rust virus remains at bay. There is no rust on the inside and the bore is bright and shiney.

My question is, can I safely shoot reduced smokeless power loads in this antique .32-20 or would it HAVE to be black powder loads? This gun was manufacted in 1883 I believe. I have no intention of pushing anything or even carrying this gun... I would just like to be able to give Bryan the sixgun to take to the range with a box of SAFE handloads for him to be able to shoot it. It has been handed down to him from his Great Grandfather to his Grandfather to him and it is a true family heirloom.

I don't want to harm it... I just want him to be able to shoot it. And I already know - "Have it checked out by a gunsmith"... done. It is mechanically sound.

Thanks for any guidance
Mark

ps. And no I won't send it to you to check out for me.

[klhill]

Personally I would have no problem shooting mild to moderate loads in an early Colt 32-20.Lots of steel in that cylinder.The 32-20 was introduced in the SAA in 1884.

[Markbo]

Yeah I didn't look up that letter. May be 1887 for all I know... thanks for the response!

[jayhawker]

No smokeless loads in a BP Colt!!!! There are commercial BP and BP Substitute loads that are safe.
Jayhawker Bob
PS,
The next GUNS OF THE OLD WESY will have my article on shooting an 1890's Colt SA with 10-X BP substitute loads. It was great, lots of smoke and fire. Just clean it really well after.

[taffin]

Jul 16, 2010 18:22:40 GMT -5 jayhawker said:

No smokeless loads in a BP Colt!!!! There are commercial BP and BP Substitute loads that are safe.
Jayhawker Bob

ABSODARNLUTELY!

[Markbo]

Crystal clear.

[cjm]

Just as important as no smokeless powder, don't use jacketed bullets in 19th century barrels. The iron (typically the old metal doesn't qualify as steel using modern standards) barrels are just too soft and prone to wear when using jacketed bullets.

[stinkeypete]

Now you know you want to shoot a BP cartridge, because nothing is like that smoke and that smell... shooting that gun should be a special day.

Not to mention the time spent cleaning up! Cleaning a gun safely is something my dad taught me, and I still remember that day.

In our family. we have a belgian rifle/shotgun combination that was made in 1895. I took a white tail deer with that gun 4 years ago. The deer stumbled 200 feet down a steep hill and never twiched after that.

For me, this family heirloom is now extra special to me. If you want to shoot it... guns are for shooting. Make it a special day.

just my opinion!

[wadepatton]

good grief charlie brown, if you're going to clean it straight-away, then why not be _proper_ and shoot real, by-god black powder. substitutes are just that. and bp isn't nearly as bad as mercuric primers.


)enjoy finding bp(

and have fun making smoke.

[Frank V]

Black Powder really isn't all that hard to clean up. I use a solution of Windex with vinegar, one bottle to 1gal of water. It really eats BP fouling. I just dry the gun & lightly oil. It doesn't take much time at all, and you won't have to worry about wrecking a good Colt SAA.
Frank

PS: I forgot to mention a BP load under a good 255gr Lead SWC, is a pretty powerful load, It's also accurate. Just don't leave any airspace between the BP & bullet, you can compress it a bit & it'll work fine.
FV

[akray]

Q. I have a Colt Frontier Model revolver, serial number 37753, which I would like to shoot. The caliber is 45, and I notice that this ammunition is still being made. A friend tells me that my gun was designed for black powder shells and that it will blow up if I use the new cartridges in it. My gun is in excellent shape and I want to use it. B.L.B.



A. The serial number of your gun shows that it was manufactured in 1877, and it was, indeed, made for use with black powder ammunition as were all Colt single actions numbered below about 165,000. Steels and heat treating methods were changed in this serial range. While I have fired a great many of the old black powder guns with smokeless factory loads and handloads loaded to approximately the same pressure levels, it is probably not a good idea. If the old cylinder lets go it will more than likely warp the frame of your antique gun. It's a lot simpler and wiser to get a new cylinder of modern steel from the Colt factory to use with those modern loads.

Some advice from Skeeter

[Frank V]

Mr. Taffin may correct me if I'm wrong, but I think a Colt SAA with a serial # 192,000 or lower should be shot with black powder only.
Frank

[Tx Gun Runner]

In my BP guns I shoot a reduced loads . Like in my 44-40 I shoot 18 gr of real 3F BP and fill the air space with Instant Cream of Wheat to get a compressed load . I get 1 hole groups and the IC of W keeps the forcing cone and barrel clean . I shot over 5,000 rds in a 1858 Remy with 22 gr BP and 18 gr IC of W and did not see any erosion in barrel or forcing cone . Plus the big saving in the cost of powder you save . ;D ;D