JT
ALL MY C&Bs ARE EQUIPPED WITH
Thursday, August 26, 2021, 08:06

SLIX-SHOTS. I ROUTINELY INSTALL BEFORE SHOOTING ANY NEW PERCUSSION PISTOLS. Today we have so many choices when it comes to an everyday packin’ pistol or concealed carry firearms. Number one seller today is a compact 9 mm semi-automatic and one can always be found in the right-hand pocket of my denim vest. We have other semi-automatic pistols and a long list of caliber choices as well as both single-action and double-action sixguns. Even considering carrying a cap and ball revolver might be looked upon as a little strange. However, I certainly do not feel hampered by carrying a percussion pistol afield making sure it is one which is as totally reliable as possible first. To this end there are several things which can be done. One is to replace the original nipples with higher-quality aftermarket stainless steel or bronze alloy nipples. These will have a smaller charge hole which helps to prevent hammer blowback which can allow fired caps to fall into the mechanism. A heavier mainspring than normally used on say a Colt Single Action also helps along this line as well as providing positive ignition. Making sure the face of the hammer is smooth also prevents the hammer from pulling fired percussion caps off the nipple when the hammer is cocked for the next shot.
Self-defense use? They tell us statistics when it comes to gun fights are 3-3-3, that is most confrontations occur at three yards or less in three seconds or less with three shots fired or less. As stated previously the fastest reload is still a second handgun. A pair of percussion pistols may seem dinosauric but even after being basically replaced more than 150 years ago they can still be made to work.
Life has always been uncertain, however with the latest craziness it is being made even more so. There may come a time when reloading components will be nonexistent. A few pounds of lead, a small cast-iron skillet, a simple single-cavity round ball mold, a can of black powder, and some percussion caps could be the only thing between us and disaster.