1.  Top strap: As can be seen in the picture on the right, the cylinder of Remington revolvers were completely enclosed by the pistol’s frame. The very common Colt style pistols of the day lacked this “top strap”. This resulted in a pistol that was inherently more rigid and strong. Whether it resulted in greater accuracy is somewhat up for debate.
2. Hammer groove between each cylinder: This represents a profound advantage in that it is common practice to only load five of the six cylinders in cap and ball revolvers. The empty cylinder acting as a safety in which the hammer can rest. The ability to load all six cylinders in a pistol that takes by today’s standards an eternity to reload would have been a huge advantage to the soldiers of the day. By adding a groove between cylinders in which the hammer could rest, the Remington revolver instantly became a more effective weapon.
3. The cylinder can be removed much more quickly: Further lending to the effectiveness of the Remington style revolvers was the ability to quickly remove the entire cylinder from the frame. This may have meant very little in terms of the speed in which the cylinder could be reloaded but it did mean that a spare cylinder, already loaded, could be quickly inserted to make the pistol ready again. In terms of what we expect from modern firearms, this can be considered a huge advantage. If you don’t believe me, just ask Clint. This scene from Pale Rider (my favorite Western movie of all time) demonstrates this point well:

Loading the cap and ball revolver is really quite straightforward. Generally the order of operations is a given. What I have found however is a variance of opinion about the necessity of certain steps. For example, some people don’t use wads between the powder and ball, some prefer a slightly oversized ball to provide the best seal to the cylinder, and some forego the use of any lubricate at the end of the cylinder that may serve to limit the possibility of chain fire. Personally I see little reason not to follow all of the steps to maximize my safety and the potential longevity of the firearm. My research for example has led me to conclude that it is actually the wad between the powder and ball that has the greatest impact on minimizing the possibility of chain fires. Not the grease or “bore butter” that is commonly used to seal each cylinder. So why use the grease at all? My understanding is that the grease can help slow the fouling of the barrel and perhaps ease cleaning. To each his own I suppose. I have no doubt that the soldier using the black powder revolver had out of necessity or speed done without both wads and grease.  Below are the steps for loading the cap and ball revolver. I have included links to the specific products I use as well.

1. Load powder or Pyrodex
2. Place a wad
3. Load the ball
4. Seal the cylinder with grease or “butter the bore”
5. Place the percussion caps
6. Lower the hammer on an empty cylinder or on a hammer groove

For my first experience with black powder revolvers I have chosen to go with Pyrodex pellets instead of actual black powder. Some may balk at this for its lack of authenticity but I have no regrets. These pellets are easier, less messy, and virtually idiot proof. They are however undoubtedly more expensive. Perhaps if I shoot more frequently I will switch. As far as wads go I will likely always use them. They are an additional expense but as I have already mentioned, they help insure that the ignition of one cylinder doesn’t ignite a neighboring cylinder. Like many others, I use a slightly oversized ball to create the best seal in the cylinder. The Pietta 1858 New Army calls for a .451 inch ball but it is commonly recommended to use a .454 inch ball. This does make the seating of the ball a bit challenging at times. As far as lubricant goes I use Thompson/Center Bore Butter. This lubricant is solely to reduce the “tar like” fouling that is common in black powder firearms. I have read about people using Crisco vegetable shortening as a cheap alternative but can’t speak to it’s effectiveness. All these component add up to about $.50 a round. Not cheap but not particularly expensive either. Especially considering that in a given outing I am typically not shooting more than 24 to 30 rounds. For those interested the individual components break down roughly like this:

• Pyrodex Pellet 30g – $.16
• Wad – $.10
• Ball .454 – $.17
• #10 Caps – $.08

So loading went pretty easy. First time took me 9 minutes, second time 6, and the third 5 minutes. The only real effort was ramming the ball into the cylinder. A decent amount of force is needed and technique is involved from the standpoint of holding the gun and applying that force with the best possible leverage. I have an accessory press of sorts that allows the cylinder to be loaded separate from the gun. I imagine this would make this task trivial in comparison. Problem is, I’m not real good at removing it and more particularly, putting it back. I’m getting some practice though. I think the most important thing when reloading a black powder revolver is having a distinct and consistent order of operations. Load all the powder charges, place all the wads then tamp them down. So on and so on. Do it the same way every time. If your sufficiently bored and have five minutes to kill, the video below shows the complete process.

Now on to the fun stuff. I had absolutely no idea what to expect the first time I pulled the trigger. The experience of firing this kind of firearm is largely foreign to me.  The one-handed operation of pulling the hammer back (I shoot very few revolvers), the stance, sighting down the notch in the hammer. All of it just different enough to make the experience one of a kind. Surprisingly the recoil is very manageable and the accuracy far above expectations. My first eighteen rounds made a good sized hole just below the bullseye. I couldn’t be more pleased and I can’t say I have enjoyed shooting another gun for the first time as much as I did the Pietta 1858 New Army. There is something to be said as well about the smell of the smoke and the cloud that forms after unloading all six chambers! In many ways though the ultimate enjoyment of firing a black powder pistol comes in part from the process of loading the weapon. Even cleaning the revolver is different than any other firearm and gives the overall experience a real uniqueness. I happen to be finishing up a post-apocalyptic thriller by D.J. Molles called Wolves where cap and ball revolvers are the weapon of choice (and largely the only option) for the survivors of a war torn Earth. Along with my own experience its given me a new appreciation for the challenges these firearms must have presented to those using them during the Civil War and the Wild West after. Of course cap and ball revolvers had been around since as early as 1836 but still represented a giant technological leap forward from the flintlock pistol.  They were famously used by the likes of Doc Holliday, Wild Bill Hickok, the Texas Rangers, and even Clint Eastwood as The Outlaw Josey Wales. Having the opportunity to shoot these pieces of history is well worth the effort and I highly recommend adding one to your firearm collection. Just don’t put off shooting it too long.