Traditions Black Powder Revolver User Manual

2. The term ‘black powder’ does not refer to any powder black in color.
Modern smokeless powders are also black in color and should never be
used in a cap & ball revolver.

Danger: Use of smokeless powder in any cap & ball revolver
will result in excessively high pressures and can cause serious
damage to the revolver and possibly bodily injury to the shooter
and bystanders.

3. Always be sure that the propellant you select is commercially
manufactured black powder or Pyrodex

®

for use in muzzleloaders

offered for sale by a reputable dealer. TAKE NO CHANCES!

4. Pyrodex

®

is intended to be used on the same volume basis as black

powder.

5. Store propellants according to the manufacturer’s instructions listed on
each container. Local fire regulations should also be followed. Store
securely and safely out of reach of children.

Caution: Never smoke while loading, shooting or handling
propellants. Always follow the manufacturer's safety precautions
as listed on the propellants’ container.

Projectiles

• Round Ball:

a. The recommended projectile to assure greatest accuracy and consis-

tency from your revolver is a round ball (cast or swaged) of pure
lead.

b. See Recommended Revolver Loads (below) for the suitable ball diameter

for a specific caliber and revolver style.

• Conical Bullets:

a. Conical bullets were originally used to provide greater knock-down

power.

b. Inherently, conical bullets are not as accurate as round balls primarily

because during loading they become canted and therefore enter the

bore at an angle.
Note: Do not exceed the maximum charges or change powder
granulation as noted in the Recommended Revolvers Loads chart. The proper
charge for a cap & ball revolver is an efficient load, providing consistent
ignition, velocity.
Note: Do NOT patch balls (or bullets), as is customary with muzzleloading
rifles. Shooting patches are never used with revolvers.

Recommended Revolver Loads

Revolver Projectile Propellant (grains/granulation)

caliber/make round ball conical 3f black powder or Pyrodex

®

P

diameter min. max.

.31 Remington

.315” Round 7/3f 12/3f
.315” Conical 6/3f 11/3f

.36 Colt

.380” Round 16/3f 25/3f
.380” Conical 12/3f 15/3f

.44 Colt

.454” Round 22/3f 30/3f

.44 Remington

.44 Starr .454” Conical 19/3f 25/3f

.44 Colt

.454” Round 25/3f 40/3f

Walker and

Dragoons .454” Conical 20/3f 35/3f

One Year Limited Warranty

Traditions warrants this product to be free of defects in material or
craftsmanship for one year from the date of purchase and will repair or
replace, at its option, without charge, our product which is returned at
the owner’s expense to Traditions. Please enclose a full explanation of
the specific problem with the returned item.

Traditions will not be responsible for damage to the finished gun or
to any of its parts, as a result of careless handling, improper loading,
corrosion, neglect, misuse, alteration or damage to parts. Incidental or
consequential damages and those caused by improper packaging for
shipping, are not covered by this warranty. Damage to metal or wood is
not covered due to the inability of Traditions to control its use and
storage conditions.

This warranty will remain in force unless any of the following is
determined by the Traditions Customer Service Department:

1. Use of any propellant other than black powder or Pyrodex®.

2. Use of any propellant charges in excess of those recommended in

these Traditions shooting instructions.

3. Modification of component parts from their original configuration

as they were shipped from the factory.

Introduction

1. This manual contains instructions, cautions and dangers for the safe use
of cap & ball firearms. It is important that you read, understand and be
willing to always follow them completely.

2. When properly handled, a cap & ball revolver is safe and enjoyable to
use, if you follow a few basic rules.

3. There is no way to build a cap & ball revolver to absolve the user of the
need to use good judgement.

4. Your cap & ball revolver should always be treated with the respect due
any firearm in addition to specific cautions and dangers outlined in this
manual.

Note: If after reading the instructions, cautions and dangers contained in this
manual, you are not willing to accept the responsibilities involved in shooting a
blackpowder revolver, return the revolver to your dealer before firing or contact
Traditions, P. O. Box 776, Old Saybrook, CT 06475, Tel. [phone].

Important Safety Precautions

1. Always wear shatterproof glasses and appropriate ear protection.

2. Use black powder or Pyrodex

®

only.

3. Never fire a revolver unless the projectile is firmly seated against the
powder charge.

4. Do not exceed recommended maximum powder charges.

5. Never lean over or point muzzle toward yourself or anyone else.

6. Treat a misfire or failure to fire as though the revolver can fire at any
moment.

7. Handle your revolver with all the respect due any firearm.

8. Be sure all bystanders are behind you when firing. Flames and cap bits
sometime exit to the side of the gun.

9. Never smoke or be near ignition source while loading, shooting or
handling black powder or Pyrodex

®

.

10. Always leave one chamber unloaded. This is called the “safety
chamber”. Rest the hammer on the capless nipple of this empty chamber
when the other chambers are loaded and awaiting to be fired.

11. Always be sure to seal the loaded chambers with Traditions Wonder Lube
1000 or Revolver Wonder Wads to prevent “chain-fires” (the simultaneous
ignition of more than one chamber).

12. When aiming a blackpowder revolver, never place ‘free’ hand in front of
cylinder. Possible injury could result in the event of a “chain-fire”.

13. If a cylinder with a loaded chamber must be removed, be sure all caps
(unfired and fired) have been removed from the nipples.

14. Make sure your gun is unloaded before you store it.

15. Store your gun separately from its various shooting components; in
secure locked dry places well away from children.

Verifying Your Gun Is Unloaded

1.

With the revolver pointed in a safe direction, place hammer in the half­cock position.

2. Rotate the cylinder and check that all the nipples are void of percussion

caps. Remove any percussion caps immediately.

3. Take a wooden dowel or cleaning rod and insert one end down the

barrel and into the cylinder. Mark dowel at muzzle. Be sure that the
dowel has entered the chamber in line with the barrel.

4. Remove rod and lay it along outside of barrel, lining up mark at muzzle.

5. The opposite end of the rod should reach the nipple at the back of the

chamber. Rotate cylinder and repeat for the remaining chambers. If the
mark on the dowel does not line up properly, the gun is either loaded
or obstructed and should be cleared before proceeding. This practice
will assure the gun is unloaded.

Preparation Before Loading

Note: Your new revolver should be cleaned prior to loading to remove any
factory oils.

1. Disassembly, based on revolver style:

• ’Colt’-style revolver disassembly:

a. Remove the wedge, located just forward of the cylinder by tapping it

through the slot in the side of the barrel. When new, extra force will
be required to remove the wedge.

Note: The small flat screw above the wedge retains the wedge from falling
out completely. It does not secure the wedge in the slot.

b. Place hammer in half-cock position (first audible ‘click’).
c. Rotate the cylinder, so that the loading lever, when lowered, will hit

the area between two cylinder chambers. This allows you take
advantage of using the leverage of the loading lever to help in the
separation of the barrel from the frame.

d. Separate the barrel from the frame.

Note: When new, parts fit together tightly. Therefore, it may be necessary
to sharply hit the front portion of the cylinder with a wooden or plastic
mallet in order to separate the barrel from the frame. When doing so, hit
both sides of the front of the cylinder in turn. Be certain that the frame will
not fall too far when it separates from the barrel. Over time, from repeated
takedowns and reassemblies, parts will become burnished (broken-in) and
separate and fit together much more easily.

e. Remove the cylinder from the cylinder pin.
f. To reassemble, reverse sequence.

• ’Remington’-style revolver disassembly:

a. Partially lower loading lever. Make certain plunger does not enter a
cylinder chamber.
b. Pull or tap out the T-shaped cylinder pin located under the barrel.
c. Place hammer in half-cock position (first audible ‘click’). Rotate the

cylinder out of the frame.
d. To reassemble, reverse sequence. Note: The cylinder is custom fitted
to your revolver therefore the tolerances are close. With careful mani­pulation and practice, this process will get easier. Do not force the
cylinder into the frame. Be patient.

• ’Starr’-style revolver disassembly:

a. Loosen round trapped nut located on upper rear of right side of

revolver.
b. Pull out or tap to release.
c. Tilt barrel forward.
d. Remove cylinder by sliding it rearward.

2. Clean the interior of all cylinder chambers using cotton swab dipped in
a cleaning solvent, such as Traditions Wonder Lube 1000

TM

Bore

Cleaning Solvent.

3. Place cylinder so that the chambers face down for easy draining.

4. Run a cleaning patch soaked with solvent through the barrel.

5. Run clean, dry swabs and patches into the chambers and through the
barrel, make sure they are clean.

6. During reassembly, LIGHTLY oil all moving parts and grease the
grooves of the cylinder pin.

Note: If shooting is going to commence shortly, take care not to put oil
inside the chambers or nipples.

Propellant

1. Black powder or Pyrodex®are the only safe propellants to be use in any
cap & ball revolver.

2

34

Serial # ____________________________________________________________

Name _________________________________________________________ Age________

Street ______________________________________________________________________

City ______________________________________ State ________ Zip ______________

Phone # _______________________________ Date of Purchase _____________________

Purchase Price______________________ Store Name _____________________________

Reason for your purchase ❑ Personal Use ❑ Target Shooting ❑ Hunting ❑ Other
Do you hunt with ❑ Cartridge Rifle ❑ Shotgun ❑ Handgun ❑ Bow ❑ Muzzleloader
Where purchased ❑ Specialty Gun Store ❑ General Sporting Goods Store
❑ Hardware Store ❑ Chain Store ❑ Mail Order Catalog

Which factors most influenced your purchase of a Traditions brand firearm?

❑ Previously owned a Traditions product ❑ Magazine Ad ❑ Traditions Catalog
❑ Recommendation of Salesperson ❑ Recommendation of a Friend
❑ Magazine Article ❑ Design ❑ Quality ❑ Value ❑ Other

Which gun/hunting magazines do you read?

1.____________________________________ 2.___________________________________
❑ Check here to receive a Traditions catalog showing

muzzleloadings’ largest selection of firearms and accessories.
❑ To receive a Traditions hat and catalog, send $12.00 along

with your warranty registration.

NOTE: Please return this card within 15 days of
purchase in order to validate your limited one year warranty.

Please complete all information above and mail to:

P.O. Box 776 • Old Saybrook, CT 06475-0776

Referencing the label on the end of the
carton, please write in the last 5 digits
located on the right half of the UPC
code into the boxes below.

40589

Model #

Preferred Customer Warranty Registration Card

✃

Loading and Shooting a Cap & Ball Revolver

Caution: Always keep the barrel pointed in a safe direction.
Always wear suitable eye and ear protection when loading and
shooting any gun.

1. Check to be sure that your revolver is unloaded (as described earlier).

2. Set the hammer at half-cock position and verify that revolver cannot be
fired (the hammer cannot be moved) when trigger is pulled or the
hammer is pushed.

3. With gun POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION, place a No. 10 or 11
percussion cap on the nipple of each unloaded chamber.

a. Turn the cylinder so that a nipple aligns with the cut-out on the
right side of the frame. Angle muzzle downward.
b. It may be necessary to pinch the cap out of round to assure a snug
fit on the nipple. Nipples and caps vary slightly in diameter.

Advice: Use of a capper to place the cap onto the nipple is advised.
Percussion caps are sensitive to pressure and can explode under
extreme finger pressure.

4. Fully cock the hammer and pull the trigger to fire the cap to dry out
the base of the chamber and nipple. Repeat this procedure for all
nipples to insure that each chamber is thoroughly dry.

5. Check to be sure no UNFIRED caps have been inadvertently left on the
nipples. If so, fire them.

6. Place hammer at half-cock position.

7. Rotate cylinder and remove all spent caps.

8. Hold the muzzle upward. Be sure no part of the body is in front of the
revolver. Using a revolver powder measure, pour a measured charge
into a chamber. See loading chart. Rotate cylinder. Repeat procedure for
the other chambers. Never pour powder directly from flask or manu­facturers container into chambers.

Caution: Normally only five chambers of a six-shot gun are loaded.
The gun is used and carried with the hammer resting on the
uncapped nipple of the unloaded chamber. To do so will reduce
the possibility of accidental firing .

9. Place a properly sized ball or bullet onto the opening of the chamber.
The ball or conical bullet should be slightly oversized so it will not enter
the chamber without pressure.

Note: If cast balls are being used, place sprue (flat surface) upward.

10. Rotate cylinder to place ball directly under loading lever plunger.

11. Using the loading lever, and apply moderate pressure to seat ball into
the chamber and firmly on top of the powder.

a. A thin ring of lead will be shaved off the ball at the opening of the
chamber. This occurrence illustrates that the ball is properly fitted to the
chamber and will not move off the powder during the firing of the
other chambers.
b. Be sure ball or conical bullet is firmly seated against powder. No air
space should exist between ball and powder.

Danger: Firing a revolver with the ball or conical bullet off the
powder may cause serious damage to the firearm and possibly
injury to the shooter or bystanders.

12. Repeat this loading procedure for additional chambers deliberately
leaving one empty to serve as a safety chamber.

13. Once a projectile has been seated in each of the chambers, fill the

remaining portion of each loaded chamber with Traditions Wonder
Lube 1000 or a Revolver Wonder Wad. The lube should be flush with
the top of the opening of each chamber. The lube or Wonder Wad
lubricates the bore of the barrel and keeps the blackpowder fouling soft
to allow more shots between cleanings and easier cleaning at the end of
a shooting session. It is also acceptable to put a Wonder Wad after the
powder and before the ball.

Caution: Wonder Lube 1000 and Wonder Wads seal each
chamber to reduce the possibility of a “chain fire”; when a spark
from the fired chamber crosses over the front of the cylinder and
causes other chambers to fire at the same time. When aiming a
revolver, never place “free hand” in front of the cylinder. Possible
bodily injury could result in the event of a “chain fire” (multiple
chamber ignition). Use new wads each time.

14. With gun POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION and hammer in half-cock
position, place a #10 or #11 percussion cap on the nipple of each loaded
chamber. The gun is NOW LOADED!

Note: It may be necessary to pinch the cap walls out of round to get a snug
fit. Caps and nipples can vary in size.

15. Pull hammer to full cock position. You are READY TO FIRE!

16. Be sure of your target, what’s beyond it and the back stop before you
fire.

17. FIRE!

18. After firing all loaded chambers, wait one minute to reload. This allows
any remaining sparks or embers to burn out prior to reloading.

19. If a misfire or failure to fire occurs, wait at least one minute with the gun
pointed at the target. After the other chambers have been fired:

a. Place hammer in ‘half-cock’ position.
b. Rotate cylinder and remove cap from nipple of the misfired
chamber. Make certain the gun is always pointed in a safe direction.
c. Push a nipple pick through the hole in the nipple into the main

charge to clear away any possible obstruction.
d. Place a new cap on the nipple and refire that chamber.
e. If the cap ignites but the chamber still does not fire, wait one minute

with gun pointed at target.

Danger: If cylinder with a loaded chamber(s) must be
removed, be sure all unfired and fired caps have been removed
from the nipples. It is possible for a chamber to fire even though
not in the gun. This could cause serious injury to the shooter or
bystanders.

f. Place hammer in half-cock position and remove all caps.
g. Remove cylinder from gun.
h. Use a revolver nipple wrench, remove the nipple of the unfired

chamber.
i. Clean the nipple thoroughly and dry it completely.
j. Push a nipple pick through nipple hole of the cylinder to loosen the

powder at the rear of the chamber.
k. Pour small amount of fresh powder into the nipple hole.
l. Reinsert and tighten nipple.
m. Clear away all loose powder around the outside of the cylinder.
n. Replace cylinder in gun.
o. Place new cap onto nipple.
p. With gun POINTED IN SAFE DIRECTION, pull hammer to

full-cock position. You are now READY TO FIRE!
q. FIRE!

20. If the chamber still does not fire, and after all chambers have been fired,
remove cylinder from the gun. Remove the nipple of the unfired
chamber(s), soak cylinder in hot water to flush out the powder and
push the ball or bullet out from the rear of the chamber (nipple hole
end), using an aluminum, wood or brass rod, definitely not steel.

Cleaning and Maintenance

1. Black powder fouling is extremely corrosive and can rust the barrel and
cylinder in a short time. All black powder guns must be cleaned
thoroughly after the firing session is completed.

2. Completely disassemble the gun.

3. Wipe off the grips.

4. Soak all metal parts in warm water and dish detergent and wipe off the
fouling, or use a brush and black powder solvent, such as bore cleaner
to scrub off the fouling.

5. Rinse all the metal parts in warm water.

6. Dry all parts thoroughly

7. Apply a light rust preventative oil such as Traditions Gun Oil (A1232)
to all metal parts. Lightly oil all moving parts, grease grooves of
cylinder pin and reassemble. Do not apply the oil heavily, as this will
contribute to additional fouling during shooting and require more
cleaning between shots.

Note: Nipple Sizes - Revolvers come in three basic sizes. small frame such
as the the Pocket Remington and Wells Fargo. Medium frame such as the
Colt Army and Navy and Remington Army and large frame such as the
Colt Walker and Dragoons. The small frame models have standard size
nipples however, they require a nipple wrench like that of the medium
frame models yet with a narrower body in order to fit into the smaller
cavity in the cylinder. The medium frame models require a standard
revolver nipple wrench. The larger frame revolvers, with the larger
nipples, require a larger wrench with a wider opening to span the
distance between the flats of the larger nipple. Check with your local
retail dealer for whichever wrench you need.

Caution: Store firearms in a secure dry place with sufficient
ventilation. If stored in a container it should be well ventilated.
Always store firearms and all shooting components well locked
and secured from children.

Important: If you sell, trade or give this revolver to another person,
make sure that you give the new owner a copy of this manual.
Copies are available free from Traditions.

1375 Boston Post Rd.

P. O. Box 776

Old Saybrook, CT 06475-0776

Tel. [phone] • e-mail [e-mail]

www.traditionsmuzzle.com

56

7

CAP & BALL

REVOLVER

SHOOTING INFORMATION

FROM

P.O. Box 776 • Old Saybrook, CT 06475-0776

TM