Nobade
10-08-2012, 09:05 AM
Not sure if this is better off here or in the handgun room, but it involves black powder so here I am. I want to give props to nwellons for his encouragement on this topic, he is right on.
The Nagant revolver makes a really good black powder repeating handgun! If you don't have one, I recommend getting one while they are just $100. I got some Privi brass from Graf's, used a combination of my 32-20 and 30 Carbine die sets to load ammo, (32-20 shell holder and expander die, 30 carbine sizer, and 30 carb taper crimp die) and an arbor press to seat the boolits. The cases hold 17gr. KIK FFFg (same as my 32 H&R) under a Ideal #3118 seated flush with the case mouth.
I fired a whole box of 50 rounds through my new revolver, and the gas seal really works. It kept the fouling inside the barrel and I had no problem with the gun getting sticky. It ran the same at the end as it did in the beginning. Accuracy at 25 yards held at about 2 inches offhand - better than most all of my handguns. Velocity ran right at 875 fps, not too bad for a little pipsqueek. The sights even are regulated correctly and it is hard to miss a pop can or tennis ball on the ground.
Clean up is nothing - wet patch down the bore, toothbrush on the front of the cylinder, Ballistol on everything and it's done. No fouling anywhere else, it stays clean.
This thing is amazingly entertaining to shoot, and I am quite impressed with the thinking that went into the design to control the fouling. I think it is the most fun I have had shooting a handgun in years. The fact that you can get as good or better performance from it with black powder as you can with smokeless due to the very low pressure it's rated for is just another bonus!
The Nagant revolver makes a really good black powder repeating handgun! If you don't have one, I recommend getting one while they are just $100. I got some Privi brass from Graf's, used a combination of my 32-20 and 30 Carbine die sets to load ammo, (32-20 shell holder and expander die, 30 carbine sizer, and 30 carb taper crimp die) and an arbor press to seat the boolits. The cases hold 17gr. KIK FFFg (same as my 32 H&R) under a Ideal #3118 seated flush with the case mouth.
I fired a whole box of 50 rounds through my new revolver, and the gas seal really works. It kept the fouling inside the barrel and I had no problem with the gun getting sticky. It ran the same at the end as it did in the beginning. Accuracy at 25 yards held at about 2 inches offhand - better than most all of my handguns. Velocity ran right at 875 fps, not too bad for a little pipsqueek. The sights even are regulated correctly and it is hard to miss a pop can or tennis ball on the ground.
Clean up is nothing - wet patch down the bore, toothbrush on the front of the cylinder, Ballistol on everything and it's done. No fouling anywhere else, it stays clean.
This thing is amazingly entertaining to shoot, and I am quite impressed with the thinking that went into the design to control the fouling. I think it is the most fun I have had shooting a handgun in years. The fact that you can get as good or better performance from it with black powder as you can with smokeless due to the very low pressure it's rated for is just another bonus!