The Pietta 1851 Navy Pepperbox .36 cal. blackpowder revolver 

This video was so relaxing. No obnoxious music, no overly talkative script. It’s perfect really.

The pepperbox was designed for card table distances. Like derringers it makes no sense when individuals try to make target pistols out of them and then wonder why they cant hit anything. Trigger pull is next.

Love how the smoke from the previous shot “rolls” out of the previous cylinder

Mark Twain wrote of the notable inaccuracy of the Pepperbox, stating that the "safest place to be in in front of it"!

When loading shot (shotgun, pistol, revolver doesn't matter), you have to give it a solid base. Your felt wad isn't going to support the shot, and is going to allow powder gases into the column which increases an already naturally large pattern. Powder, then a hard stiff, well compacted card (called a nitro card) that's about 1/8th in thick or a touch more, then the shot, then an over shot card. The felt wads will probably work OK for keeping the shot in place, and if you want to cushion the shot, a felt wad on top of the nitro card would be OK. A work-around for the nitro card is a wax milk carton. Punch out a bunch of circles the correct size, and instead of the nitro card, you can use about 4 or 5 of the milk carton "wads" and get pretty good results. One other factor in a revolver is to avoid compacting the shot column. Too much loading lever pressure will deform the shot and add to the spread. The place to use pressure is when seating the nitro card. Try again with a good over powder card set-up, and I think you'll see better results.

Yeah, the original pepper box guns were intended for across the card table accuracy only, due to the absence of the possibility of sights.

This is one gun that I’d like to see brass framed since you don’t have to worry about cylinder gap.

I laughed uncontrollably when you missed the snake at 10 feet

The smoothbore pepperbox was originally intended for very close range personal defense. When I mean, close range, we're talking about almost point blank range. The close range limitation is largely due to the smoothbore barrels. The inventor of the pepperbox, decided rifling was not necessary for close range defense. More probably, he was looking to minimize costs on the pepperbox. Rifling all six chambers would have significantly increased the price of the pepperbox, making it less economically attractive.

3 or 4 balls in each chamber would have a lot of point blank stopping power. I think the modern steel construction could handle the pressure.

John has a very soothing voice to listen to when he is explaining or describing something. His voice would be a good choice for audio instruction recordings. Another well-liked RU-vidr is Steve, of, SteveMRE1989. Steve specializes in displaying and sampling military field rations (MREs) from all over the world. Viewers keep commenting on his soothing, pleasing voice. I recommend another RU-vid poster who had a video explaining how to use a traditional flint and steel to light a fire. I complimented him on his authoritative, clear, concise voice. Now he should be hired as a voice instruction recorder.

That hidden smile on your face tells it all.. You are a happy man playing with his toys, and trying to hide that smile, but man I see it straight through your face. You love this gun.

These are most practical to be used for point-blank defense.

After seeing this video it gives me a new idea for this platform. 2 custom fitted barrels one rifled, the other smooth bore with a choke. Now that combination would be interesting as a woods revolver.

Despite this video being dated of 2+yrs, it's very informative, I'm revisiting BP shooting and the Pepperbox was my first choice to see if I was up to it after a pause of 30yrs. I am an experienced armorer/gunsmith, Palma/Interservice Matches competitor, with service of 2 wars, ANG duty and a deputy stint. These were secondary to my role as a private, small business proprietor of the automotive trade of 40yrs, I was always grateful for success and spread the wealth. Now, recently medically forced into retirement, I miss not having a truly productive pursuit, hobby/career, so here I am. The internet, though I loath RU-vid's toxic & politically motivated nonsense, is a wonderful resource for it's good people doing what you do. I appreciate your minimalist approach and have subscribed. I have acquired several unique BP firearms of interest, since and will enjoy them, thanks for your work, may post something of my own, we'll see, God bless...

I bought it just because I've always wanted a pepperbox, and the price was right. It's more of a conversation piece/shits amd giggles at the range gun for me. With the weight of it I figured it couldn't kick much, and it looks like it doesn't. You could definitely hear the difference between the 3 pellet shots and the 3 ball shots.

With the elongated barrel, 20 grains of powder, wad and two .36 rounds, making it a 12 shot revolver.

So I was told at Cabelas when I asked about this, they originally used this gin and called it a “belly gun” and the goal of this pistol since it was so much shorter, was if you were in a very close combat situation you would jam this revolver in the ribs or belly of the attacker and dump all your rounds into him/her. Now it’s main use is comic relief I’d argue. Still a cool funky pistol

Basically a six shot derringer. One of the original “get off me” guns.

It's such a weird little pistol and I absolutely need it

I thought about getting one awhile ago, after watching this, my choice of no was correct. 😆

I bought one. I use 25 grains same ball. I load while on gun with paper cartridge and ball starter or a flat piece of wood works great to get ball started with cylinder on and using paper cartridge. Don't gotta worry about spilling powder and can hold gun down to start ball. I got 2 rough grouse with mine using #6 lead shot measured same as powder with wad before and after the shot. I was worried about shot falling out.

That is an interesting concept. I would like to try one on the range.

The bird shot is pretty deadly for a human, for someone that can't own smokeless guns it's a ideal back up gun and close action

Got one (pre-COVID, so MUCH cheaper than they're available for now...) and looking forward to rifling the barrels. If I want to blast buckshot from my handgun, I'll get a LeMat...

a pattent was obtained by the Belgians for a 6 shot "revolver" cal. 9,6 called "Poirvière Mariette" (Peperbox Mariette) in 1837 it had an internal hammer and worked very well, lots of them were manufactured by the Belgians and French. There were also Cooper, Turner and Cogswell, all producing nice weapons before Ethan Allen produced his. I like this version if it is a little big and basic (an internal hammer would have been nice)

I'm surprised they didn't put small brass beads at the end of chambers. Since they weren't going for anything historical... Doubt it would enhance accuracy, but it might give the shooter a false hope of hitting anything at 7 yards... LOL!

Definitely want one thanks for the review, cheers from France

I have been tossing around the idea of getting one of these. I finally bit the bullet and got one from MIdway (Birthday discount applied). Now I'm waiting on nice weather to shoot it for the first time. Thanks for the video.

That'd be one TICKED-OFF SNAKE.

Don't worry you got Mr. snake, After you hit him in the tail with that 1 pellet he moved were the 3 shots were

This is one c & b that you actually want a chainfire and pray all go off at once.

I was happy to subscribe, I own 3 of these, Try loading 3 balls in each Cylinder with 30 grains of black powder

I appreciate your interest to collect all the bp guns and test them. It saves the rest of us money. Based on results, you're better off throwing the pistol at the target than hoping to get a decent shot from the pepperbox. Also, I thought a true pepper box was supposed to fire all cylinders simultaneously?...

Fascinating study of a weird revolver, thanks for that! Just need a bigger snake, maybe...

Load a duplex load = two round balls per chamber or mini buck and ball = one ball and shot on top.

i always wanted dan wesson to bring out these 2' historical pieces = 1' the pepper box , 2' the 9'round cylinder - plus the 1'shotgun Confederate la'mat pistol

I think they should make it in a .44. It would give you more options for loading shot.

Another great video John I always enjoy your stuff.

Nice to see a video about someone trying this out.

My man is doing a review under active fire

Establishing the the “historical standard pepper box” is kind of as much trouble as establishing a standard for long rifles. In the era they were made hand made one of a kind guns were still pretty much the standard. The civil war actually took things back a step. The Texas Navy Walker pistols were supposed to come with an extra cylinder. 🤔 This is odd because during the civil war there doesn’t seem to be ANY equipment, pouches or what not for dealing with the cylinders separately from the gun. 🙄 Although on the other hand it makes perfect sense, they needed all the complete guns they could get.

For the shot charges, you need some type of gas check. Those felt wads won't cut it. You need either under shot cards which are slightly oversized and about 1/8" thick fiber board or three or four stacked shotcards over the over powder wads,the shot, then one or two over shot cards or any kimd of wadding that will keep it from spilling out (wool fiber works well) or instead of the under shot cards you can use two or three slighlty oversized ( acouple thousandths at most) disks punched from an aluminum can then one or two paper shot cards, the shot and either shot cards or some type of wadding to hold it in. You will get better results when using shot.

A hard card is vital to seal the gas from the shot. Like a good shot wad in a shotgun.

I was thinking about getting one of these to sort of replicate a judge, using 2 or 3 00 buck. Id also imagine using an over shot card rather than a second lubed wad would help quite a lot with your birdshot paterning. Just an old cereal box cut into .375 circles ought to work.

Maybe you can make a paper tube by rolling around a pencil, hanging just enough past the eraser to go over halfway and fold it’ll keep its shape, use as a sabot or shot cup (think grape shot for cannons) might tighten up the pattern

I think the pulp fiction guy had this gun when he shot Jackson and travolta

This is such a hilarious concept I love it.

Im a convicted felon and from what Ive read I can legally possess a black powder firearm in Nevada. Am in the process of deciding which to buy. This one looks simple and effective at ten feet or so range. Perfect distance when out on the bike trail in case someone tries to mug me.

Pepperboxes turn chain fires from a problem into a feature

I feel like it would be more accurate with a longer cylinder barrel

I'd have bought one of these except that a short barrel BP .44 is already pretty marginal for self defense. IMO shooting somebody with an even shorter barrel BP .36 would only piss them off, not stop them.

6:18/ that’s why you attach a knife to it, so you can give it buck and ball and the bayonet

i enjoy watching you shoot. no flinch, your eyes remain open!!! now about the trigger press i notice you tend to shoot right, so, just the fingers pad please that knuckle joint may be pulling you right. next with this pepperbox close the range, perhaps 7 yards, try a bit less powder for a snake and a nitro card over the shot. lets see some number 5 or 4 shot and 3cc. with so much cylinder space try a couple cc heavy shot under the ball and a card on top the shot, even if you miss you might blind your worthy opponent, keep up the videos.

It's a Poler Table gun. At the distance you are sitting or standing to draw of a Poler Table it would make a mess. I have a .22Mag Derringer. At 10ft the spread is all over the Site Point. It will leave a nice set of holes where you punched it against the Belly.

A cutlass in your offhand will help correct the windage issue.

Just a suggestion try the shot load in a .36-ish tube cover it in melted beeswax then after it cools and hardens load as before. 15 grains, top and bottom patch... Just curious about if the shot is held together a bit firmer so it doesn't spread so quickly.

Just the thing for deer muzzle loader session. That sounds like a joke. But here in Kentucky your not allowed to finish off a white tail in muzzle loader with a modern gun.

it needs a front sight . And not hard to figure how to build one . You just need a piece of flat stock the width of the area where barrel pins are located on a typical 1851 . Drill a couple holes for the pins , then a 90 degree bend , another 90 degree at the ront of cylinder (longer bolt ) . Drill hole for bolt , drill hole for bullet to pass through file sight . cut off excess material

Try slipping 1/2 of a empty gelatin capsule over the shot. Go to a drug store and look for empty gelatin capsules in the closest size to the chamber mouth size. After pouring shot in slip in / over 1/2 of a capsule over the shot. If a little loose add a card or felt was on top to hold it in. The capsule should act as a shot shell wad....should dispatch a snake at ten feet.

Looks like a lot fun.

Hello, I have an 1851 NAVY Sheriff .44 and, FYI the notch cut in the hammer is the sight. That might help you aim a little better! *

I want one. Thanks for sharing.

I did about the same experiment with 7.5 birdshot and got the same crappy results. Now, I just use my pepperbox as a noisemaker on the 4th of July.

Cool Gun👀

Absolutely love it! Nice little gun

Awesome visuals! Glad I found your channel

Try 25 to 30gr it should help stabilize the ball a bit more even at 7 yards it sould still put all 6 on standard paper

Maybe if some skilled armorer make a Paradox Rifling to the chambers would make the gun more accurate

Bird head grip on the pieta would be great

If you get a shotgun and saw off the barrel, you end up with a shotgun that can't hit a target unless you are nearly at point blank range because the shot spreads out too quickly. Here you have an even shorter barrel so there is no way that the shot will stay even close to being grouped. Adding more shot to the short barrel only means there will be more chaos between the shot which will cause a wider spread. Considering that this has a smooth bore, if you want accuracy, you might try a finned projectile and uses a sabot to hold it within the chamber. Then when fired, the sabot will releases the finned stabilized projectile which should then fly straight. Then again, good luck finding such a projectile in that caliber unless you can make it.

Did you ever try to chronograph any of these? I want to see difference in barrel length.

Interesting little piece. Great video. Obviously the pepper box is meant to be a belly gun though.

More a pistol for dealing with the Dead Rabbits on a dark Manhattan alley at bad breath distance than any range. But definitely the only black powder revolver where a chain fire might be fun.

Try #9 shot. It does a lot better in shot loads for pistols and has plenty of punch for wenemous weptiles.

Hovey Smith had a couple of videos on this. He had relatively good results. Might want to check his videos.

I'm really tempted to get one.as you know I'm the ridiculously overcharge guy.i could get a pile of triple 7 in that.and various projectiles too.could be good fun.would it be worth the $300?hmm....

you need a shot cup for better shot performance. i am unsure as to where to get .36 cal shotcups, but maybe you can have them 3d printed.

Leave the snake alone!😂

Might try doing a case shot load trial? Either a paper case ( a la paper cartridge practice) or maybe a cut off section from a straw? (Extra wide slurpy-straw may be called for here.) Think of it as a homemade flite-contol wad for us lo-teks...

So today I was re re reading and reviewing this video in response to another person's comment to my comment. Now my original thought still holds water, however it lead me to a possible solution for the current setup for shot. Now not to make this to complicated I have to let you in on yet another back ground of mine. At one point of my I worked as a wood molder setup man making lin footage wood molding. So 3/8" roughly = .375....... but my experience tells that wood dowel is made a 1/32" under size or roughly . 345 . Great for a potential paper wrap glued together shot hull. Try a penny stack fold also glued. Fill shot and fold or a card over top. Think it's the felt wads disrupting the pattern. Play with variations .

19th Century concealed carry meant for only up close and personal use.

Surprised I didn't see anyone mention a chain fire. Pretty common on certain historical pepper box.

Someone else used 30 grains of powder and seemed to be much more accurate.

Wekk done video and educatoinal. Great to hear the powder loading and whether a ball or shot. Guess a short little scatter cutn???

You pressed this hard iron ball very brutally while charging. Dust it a little if it doesn't go in very well.

Imagine being a burglar in someone's house and the last thing you hear is HAVE AT THEE!

Try loading powder,ball,shot,ball. Try about 35-40 grains of powder

Maybe Kirst will make a conversion cylinder for it? Haha. I suppose this thing could be good for very close combat?

Mr snake says I'm invincible ha ha ha

Imagine that thing...with a conversion cylinder

The prepared shot shells for .38 Special use #9 shot.

why did he put wadding on top of his projectile? obviously that will interfere. a solid piece of wadding on top of the projectile? use wax man. or something that disintegrates.

Great video, thanks for sharing!

Two possibilities: not holding pressure or the chamber is too short and efficiency is lost immediately.

Guns of that sort were only ever intended to be used at point blank range. It was the kind of gun you shoot someone at the card table with.

Not 1 ball load 2 balls

I love cas guns but the first time IV ever seen one of these was today as I was thumbing threw my buck catalog I saw petta was selling one my first thought was wow what a weird little thing !! Now I try to stay away from cap and ball anything I tried it once first time I tried a thing .... I think my friend told me was called chain fire or something to that effect but I dropped the gun thankful that I still had both my hands attached because I. Just as fast with my left hand as I am right handed drawing according to the timer anyway so I'm kinda attached to having two and that was enough for me never touched one again so now I tend to stick to cartridge 45 lc guns I would of rather went with 38/357 but at the time I began deer hunting we lived in Ohio now I live on a ranch in Wyoming but in Ohio one of the only rifle cartridges legal for deer hunting was 45 colt they call them straight wall cartridge so my dad picked out my first deer rifle he picked out a 45 lc lever action and I wanted my pair of shooters same caliber as my rifle do I ended up with a pair of 1873 45 lc shooters and a 45 lc lever action and 12 gauge side by side that I still use to this day out bringing in stock mending fence plowing or seeding or the gajillion other things but there mostly for cougar bear wolves coyotes rattlers and other varmints but I haven't encountered any threat or pest that either 45 lc or 00 buckshot or sometimes a 1 ounce shotgun slug topped of with 00 9 pellet 00 buckshot it's called pd defender something coming out of that coach gun couldn't handle or put down yet

it is quite odd considering most real pepperboxes were double action..

Good for self defense at closer ranges of 5 Myers or less but that about it