Black powder revolver for personal defense? Testing the .44 cal cap and ball revolver! 

You need to load more powder. Try 30 to 35 grains.

I did a comparison between 45acp 230gr. fmj and a 44, 220gr kerr bullet into a stack of magazines, the penetration was about the same but the lead 44 was really mangled up. I dont have a video but it was an interesting test.

Ok here is the thing, that gun of yours should hold a full 40 grain charge, of 3fg black powder with a round ball which is most likely how most people like my great great grandfather would have shot a round ball. Your brand of black powder is also going to matter, as the denser it is after being compressed during manufacturing will make a difference. As Goex does not make their powder the same way Swiss does. With a conical ball you should be able to load 30 grains 3fg black powder. That 24grain charge is more what you would shoot with Pyrodex, or Triple 7 to prevent over charging your gun. I shot 30grains by volume of Pyrodex with a round ball and 35 grains 3fg black powder with a round ball. Out of my 1860 Army .44 but am switching over to conical balls, now that I have the molds to do so. But your round balls while moving faster, have less mass thus less knock down force. Try 30grains with a conical bullet you will be pleasantly surprised! And I’ve been shooting black powder since the Reagan administration.

You can actually put 35 grains of powder in these guns ! If you really want to do this test right put 35 grains of powder in each chamber and do the exact same test again. Hey thanks for the video and God Bless You And Family Amen

Absolutely yes. A properly charged .44 is a good thing to have nearby.

I prefer the remington 1858 revolver. The solid top strap has a better sight picture. To change the cylinder is far faster than on the colt

There is a test on RU-vid where the Kaido bullet penetrated 11 one gallon water jugs.

You should try the test again but load your revolver with 30gr of Triple 7 3fg and a Kaido VKV Universal 240gr flat nose conical. The Kaido bullets have been designed for hunting and have been field proven in several hunts where they successfully harvested several Florida wild boars that ranged from 125lbs to 400lbs. The impacts were dramatic and the wound channels were deep and wide. They performed just as well as our modern revolvers and pistols that were used for comparison. The Kaido bullets loaded with Triple 7 3fg provide you with the hardest hitting and deepest penetrating combination with penetration that is measured in feet and not inches suitable for big game handgun hunting for anything you would hunt with a handgun in the continental United States

Back in the day they loaded hot, a compressed charge that had the ball seated flush with the cylinder face. If it needed shot, it needed shot dead or incapacitated.

I shoot 35 grains, big difference in your results

I know I use between 29-30 grain fffg in my 44 and even with a round ball it has plenty of power for self-defense or hunting

You are a little light on your loading. I go with 30gns for ball and conical. That small difference makes an huge difference downrangs.

They didn't use round ball. They used conical bullets that would have had a much bigger penetration using round ball was not as common as you'd might think. I'm sure they were used but comical bullets are devastating

Been shooting .44ca percussion revolvers ('58 Rem/ '60 Army...and the '51 "Navy" in same caliber) for 40+ years. 24g of powder is a pretty light charge. I've always loaded 35g in mine. That charge has done a number on several coyotes over the years. Depending on the firearm (with some slight mods), they're pretty accurate. Bump that charge up to 35g. It will penetrate a flask. I've loaded 38g in a '58 New Model Army, and nearly penetrated a full size telephone book (at 15ft). These firearms laid to rest more souls, and fed more than any of our modern day firearms. The .44 revolver was a stopper. 🙂👍

Once I tried different bullets in the remington new army replica, the 240 grain lead bullet penetrate 5-6 inches into dry pine with maximum charge. Lack of power is not a problem, limitations come from other things.

24 grains is a plinking load.

24 grains is not enough

Back during the day's of cap and ball they used conical bullets in them with about 25 grains of 3f. And with round ball they would have loaded more powder. I have done a lot of testing with both and with more powder under a round ball the can really suprise you

I think standard was 26 grains? and most people load 30? not sure it would have made much difference tho. soldiers actually reported that the .36 and the .44 with round balls were good stoppers.

35 grains and your cantin will have a hole in it I bet

I put 30 grains in mine so it may have gone through some of those items! I'll have to try it myself! Thanks for the video

why 24 grains? it is good for precision but not for power. You have to charge 30/35 grains with conical 250 grains and then you will see some results. I'm sorry but your test is wrong

Low power loads, put more powder in it. Was designed hold a full cylinders full

I think wound infection was what killed em in those days. With no antibiotics available infections would have meant death in most cases. Good enjoyable video.

Double your powder

Love these especially with conversion cylinders. A variant of ghost guns. Conversion cylinders for certain models are hard to find and very popular for that reason. I'm still waiting on a 1/250 batch being made by taylor&co for 45 colt drop in cylinder for the 1860 army.

I make it a habit to load 35 grains of fffg, but then, I have a Remington...

Have an 1847 replica Walker I use 45gr powder. It's rated up to 60gr but I'll stick with 45-50.

24 grains for 36 cal and 30 for a 44. cal.

What load did you have? It’s a steel frame so I’d be loading 30 grain min of goex fffg with .454 balls. No wads. Just lamb tallow and wax

Bro, you're supposed to fill the chamber with enough BP so that the ball barely fits all the way in. The old revolver instructions back in the day literally said that. Supposing your suing real BP this is how you're supposed to do it.

Got the .44 1851 7 3/8 barrel on order

With a low powered early 20th century revolver the metal spectacles case that Teddy Roosevelt had in his shirt pocket significantly slowed his attempted assassin’s bullet in 1912 while he was giving a speech during his presidential campaign. It was a conical bullet that was putting out a similar amount of energy as you’re getting with 24 grains of black powder from the 1860 army but the bullet penetrates better than round balls do even though it didn’t penetrate TR’s chest cavity and his spectacles case wasn’t as thick as the flask. My Winchester super x .45 LC 250 grain cowboy loads that I shoot from my Uberti 1858 new model army revolver using my Howell cylinder definitely would penetrate through the flask though

Books are tough, I doubt a point blank from my 45acp would get through that. I use to make phonebook targets back when we had phone books and they stopped a variety of rounds.

Conical bullets penetration is better then round ball tho round ball off loads it's energy due to flattening of the round ball on impact

20 grains isn’t the correct amount it’s definitely sounds underpowered from its normal 30 grains you’d have a huge change in knock down power

I've made .410 shells with 30 grains of Blackhorn 209 pushing a .357 wad cutter over a modern wad. They went through a 2x4 and several small saps behind it. It's fun to try in a smoothbore.

The best test is to use expired packaged ribbs. Awesome stuff. Also, my fav RU-vidr Grandthumb did a video of blackpowder guns on the dummy torso's and it was EPIC AS HELL. I've watched their one video like a hundred times already. The wound channels are something out of a nightmare.

In the 1850s, Samuel Colt and Hazzard Powder Company invented a super powerful Black gunpowder designed specifically for cap&ball percussion revolvers. That specific Black gunpowder was called Fine Pistol Revolver Sporting powder. Samuel Colt also invented the Combustible Paper Cartridges that were loaded with a pointed conical Bullet, which were packed in wood/ sealed cardboard boxes of six rounds along with 6 percussion caps. That Fine Pistol & Revolver Sporting Powder was manufactured up until the 1880s. It is more powerful than Goex, Stutzen Black Powder of today. Hodgdon's Triple Seven 3F powder mimics is like the old Fine Pistol Revolver Sporting powder in power factors. If you want to get close to the original power factors of a Colt 1860 Army revolver, use Triple Seven 3F powder and a 216 grain 459 of an inch conical bullet. If you want the ultimate power factors like for Hunting or wilderness defense against Bears or Wild Boars, then try my invention of Kaido Ojamaa-VKJV RFN Universal Bullets with Triple Seven 3F powder. I've taken hybrid Wild Boars with them in a Pietta 1860 Army percussion cap&ball revolver. I offer custom-made six cavity molds to make cast your own Universal Bullets in 44/45 caliver 220/240/255 grains as well aa a 36 caliber 145 grain version. I also offer free consultation for my customers. You can also purchase my 44/45 caliber 220 grain and 36 caliber 145 grain Kaido Ojamaa Hunting Bullets already cast of pure soft lead or the harder Wheel Weight Lead alloy on etsy.com www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.etsy.com/listing/652061470/kaido-456-220-gr-hunting-pure-lead&ved=2ahUKEwiQju7w25H_AhXjKFkFHbOUDbsQFnoECBEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0hd0swtZZP5BrbyJ-fcCMk

It would be interesting to see a conical or even 35 grains of powder would do to the flask and book.

Great video thank you

the Remington New model army 1858 is my favorite. Solid frame and much better sights. And stronger and more precise. You are shooting light target loads. You can also shoot with pointy bullets.

Some civil war era canteens were called bullseye canteens for the circular design in them.

If you get shot with one, you won't care what kind of powder the fella who shot ya was using.

I am finding yesterday's lead far superior to today's copper jacketed ammo, if i could find soft lead loaded to today's specs...GOOD GOLLY MS.MOLLY

35 grains and your cooking with gas... right now what your doing is real simple... imagine you got a old school pump bb gun that you can pump up 12 times... your only pumping it to 5 or 6 and testing how powerful it is... you got to give it all 12 pumps tho...

Try a colt walker, with a 40 or 50 grain charge

Oh, I didn't realise the Adolf Hitler haircut was coming back in style!

I have several CB revolvers. I would not rely on them because they fill the air with smoke and there is the cap jam problem. I don't want evil to have any kind of edge over me and my family. On another note, the 1860 Colt Army is called a .44 but in actuality it is a true .45 If it were given designated caliber today it would be called a .45 just like the first cartridge Colt .45's .

Any of the split 2-piece frame guns that have the wedge to hold them together like the Colts are absolute trash! They get sloppy loose after a few shots due to this type of weak design style. The Remington 1858 frame design is much more durable and much stronger! I will NEVER own a split frame gun like the Colt's! Been there, done that!!

30 Grains Triple 7 get 1200fps and way more power

You lost me at shooting the Missal…disposing of an old missal should be done with respect not used as target practice, poor form.

Cram more powder in there...U can get 148 grain ball running close to 975-1000 ft per second.More than enough.

Use only Triple 7, no smoke

Why are your shots so weak? My BP 1858 hits hard as a 357

Grain count too low. Try 30 grain.

I carry a .22 but I sleep on a .44.

I know you're going to catch some flack about shooting that Bible! also you didn't wear your safety glasses.😅

I’d love to see this vs a watermelon

Not sure if it’s actually true cause you can’t always trust the net but from what I found the 1860 carried a powder charge around 50 grains so your experiment is totally inaccurate that being the case

Shooting a bible ? Seriously ?

The Civil War-era US wasn't as religious as you might think. That's off the subject, to be sure.

good video but come on dude not cool shooting a bible

ATTEMPTING TO HELP THIS GUY IS NOT ADVISED . THERE IS SOMETHING NOT QUITE RIGHT WITH HIM .

The Bible stopped all that hate and didn't even fall off. Lesson learned, during the 1800s wearing a thousand pages of paper all over made you bullet proof. 😆😆😆😆😉👍

1:57 it's pronounced " missile" ... It contains all of the scripture readings for each day of the year along with hymns to be sung during the Mass 🙏🌙

I would have found something else rather than a Bible, just out of respect.

THE PROBLEM WITH BLACK POWDER GUNS IS THEY WILL NOT FIRE AFTER BEING STORED LOADED 4 A WEEK, IT'S THE PRIMER SYSTEM THAT CAUSES THIS, PUT ON A FRESH PRIMER & IT FIRES. I 'M TRYING 209 PRIMERS NOW, I'M LEAVING LOADED 4 A MONTH, THEN I WILL KNOW, 209 PRIMERS R SEALED, I HOPE THEY WORK ?????

No, it is not useful for personal defense unless the assailant is in a wheel chair. I would jsut buy the Umberti chamber, swap it out, center it with a shell, because cap and ball beyond 40ft is hit or miss...and takes time to cock and sight. Now that is not to say there are people who are so used to it and familiar, that THEY couldn;t use it as personal defense. But any "I bought a gun online that looks cool!" guy couldn;t hti the side of a barn, much less the wheel chair kid with his hockey stick, trying to assault you for your Guns'n'Roses replica concert jacket ! OMG RUN !!!! UP HILL NOT DOWN,HE ROLLS !!!