How to Load a Cap & Ball Black Powder Revolver

More of This Article • Intro; Colt Replica; Disassembly • Ramming the ball; Grease to Prevent Chain Fire; Capping • Loaded; How to Safely Carry; Remington Design

Related Resources • Modern Muzzleloader Cleaning • Modern vs. Traditional • Muzzleloader/Black Powder Info

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Revolver assembled, cocked to the half-cock, or "safety notch." This isn't a safe way to carry the gun by any means, but a pull of the trigger will not cause the hammer to fall when it's at half-cock. At half-cock, the cylinder will turn freely in a clockwise direction.

Just for kicks, here it is at full cock. A pull of the trigger will cause the hammer to fall. This seems like a good time to mention that you should NEVER drop the hammer on an uncapped nipple - doing so will peen the nipple, eventually beyond use or repair.

Here are the components you will need to load your revolver. The horn contains black powder, which of course is the propellant. Round lead balls of the appropriate size for your revolver are the projectile, and percussion caps provide ignition.

Not pictured here, but also very important, is grease for preventing chain-fires. A chain-fire is when the firing of a chamber aligned with the barrel causes adjacent chamber(s) to ignite. Simply put, the flash from the burning powder reaches back past the ball in a chamber not meant to fire, and burns that powder, too.

Preparing to pour a powder charge into a chamber in the cylinder. Some folks prefer to measure each charge with a powder measure (which you should ALWAYS do when loading a muzzleloading rifle), but either way will suffice in this case. I like to fully cock the hammer so the cylinder is locked in place, and load the chamber that's next in line to be moved under the rammer.

This is about the right amount of powder. If you overfill, you can always shake the excess powder out - but of course, measuring each charge (should you wish to do so) will prevent overfilling. It should go without saying that you must keep the revolver pointed upright at this stage!

A round ball is then placed atop the powder charge. This is a Hornady ball, and thus has no sprue (a small projection left by casting). Should you be using a cast ball that has a sprue, always turn it downward, against the powder. This will prevent uneven engagement with the rifling in the barrel, and turning it downward rather than upward will ensure a more consistent and aerodynamic "front" to the bullet in flight.

Page Three - Ramming the ball; Grease to Prevent Chain Fire; Capping

Russ Chastain

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