Capping A C&B revolver

[St. Louis Suomi SASS #31905]

Howdy:

 

I have always capped my 58's with the cylinder in the revolver. It would be much easier I think, to cap the revolver at the loading table if the cylinder is out of the frame. I looked in the shooter's handbook and do not see where this practice is prohibited (seems it would not pose a problem if it is allowed to load a conversion cylinder out of the frame). Anyone do this? If not where can I find the prohibition?

 

STL Suomi

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Non-issue.......

Many CB's that I shoot with do just this.

LG

[Turkey Creek Red, SASS # 22854]

 

Yes, I do it myself.

 

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Not smart and this was discussed at the last TG meeting at the SASS convention. Once capped you basically have a pepperbox. If the cylinder is dropped it can go off.

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Darn computer. Keeps double tapping.

Edited January 23, 2012 by Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933

[Adirondack Jack, SASS #53440]

I'm with Larsen. Mebbe ya could, but why risk dropping it and shooting somebody? And yes, I have a C&B that is pesky to cap, but after a couple of hours fiddling, managed to make a Cash Capper work, even though they said it wouldn't (a'62 Pocket Navy with really small nipple cuts in the cylinder). I'd much rather have a capper slip and drop a cap, than have a chamber fire when I didn't want it to...

Edited January 23, 2012 by Adirondack Jack, SASS #53440

[Presidio]

I don't know of any rules against doing it, I wouldn't recommend it or encourage the practice. Capping a cylinder while still in the gun frame is a skill that all C&B shooters should know how, or learn how to do proficiently.

 

 

 

 

Like Daddy used to say, "Proper tools make a proper job".

Edited January 23, 2012 by Presidio

[Noz]

I have shown and written (many times)what I learned from someone else about modifying a 58 cylinder to take any capper I know of. It's simple and takes about 5 minutes per cylinder to accomplish.

 

PM me if you want the information.

Edited January 23, 2012 by Noz

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

OK-slight hi-jac here and may need PWB to ans. this.

IF you drop just a capped cyl. at the LB, is it a MDQ as in a "whole" loaded gun?

Me thinks YES, just can't find it in my books is all. If it's even there.

Respectfully,

LG

[Diamond Curly SASS#57086]

I use a Cash Inline Capper for my 58's, 51's,60's, 61's and ROA and all I had to do is file down the small base on the capper and it slips right in there with no problems at all. There is a little lip sticking out on the bottom of the capper and once removed the in-line works on all of my revolvers. I would not ever cap a cylinder outside of the frame for any reason. Try it, you may like it. Just a thought. Diamond Curly

Edited January 23, 2012 by Diamond Curly SASS#57086

[DOCBRAZOS, SASS#18033L]

Lumpy Grits I believe you are correct sir. So is pulling out your cartridge cylinder loading it and then dropping it.

Edited January 23, 2012 by DOCBRAZOS, SASS#18033L

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

OK-slight hi-jac here and may need PWB to ans. this.

IF you drop just a capped cyl. at the LB, is it a MDQ as in a "whole" loaded gun?

Me thinks YES, just can't find it in my books is all. If it's even there.

Respectfully,

LG

 

This will be addressed in the 2012 version of the RO1 as soon as it is published.

That issue was "tabled & sent to Committee (ROC)" at the 2011 TG Summit.

 

FWIW - This is yet another case of a rule being written to address the actions of a very small minority (one?).

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

Lumpy Grits I believe you are correct sir. So is pulling out your cartridge cylinder loading it and then dropping it.

 

Don't bet on it.

 

I'm QUITE certain that some clubs will institute "RANGE RULES" to handle the "problem" that will be contrary more punitive than SASS rules.

Edited January 23, 2012 by PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L

[Kougarok George]

I have been to a range for a SASS shoot that does not allow the capping of a cylinder out of the firearm.

 

I just got a pm that said they recently repealed that rule.

Edited January 23, 2012 by Kougarok George

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

OK-slight hi-jac here and may need PWB to ans. this.

IF you drop just a capped cyl. at the LB, is it a MDQ as in a "whole" loaded gun?

Me thinks YES, just can't find it in my books is all. If it's even there.

Respectfully,

LG

This topic was discussed, bashed and hashed a few months ago. Here's the link:

 

"What is a gun?"

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

This topic was discussed, bashed and hashed a few months ago. Here's the link:

 

"What is a gun?"

 

That was NOT the "final answer".

That thread (and the incident that inspired the referenced OP) has been a topic of discussion (and cussin') ever since.

 

The OFFICIAL FINAL CALL on this type of situation will be posted here once the FINAL EDITS to the RO1 have been published.

Edited January 23, 2012 by PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

That was NOT the "final answer".

That thread (and the incident that inspired the referenced OP) has been a topic of discussion (and cussin') ever since.

 

The OFFICIAL FINAL CALL on this type of situation will be posted here once the FINAL EDITS to the RO1 have been published.

Didn't mean to imply it was resolved -- just that there was a lively, discussion about it.

[Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655]

Sounds like capping and installing capped cylinder is a legal, but not very good practice.

Take home lesson practice capping cylinder in pistol.

[John Two Feathers, SASS #58400]

My experience is that out of the box, Colt C&B's will work with about any capper out there and easier for folks like me that have fat fingers at time. The 58NMA's are a pain in the ^$$ with Cash cappers, but straight will work ok.

 

Relieving the nipple recesses only takes a few minutes and helps some. The biggest issue is the angle of the nipples on the 58's, where the Colts seem to be more inline with the chambers.

[Adirondack Jack, SASS #53440]

Sounds like capping and installing capped cylinder is a legal, but not very good practice.

Take home lesson practice capping cylinder in pistol.

Capping in the gun affords you a HANDLE, and a way to assure positional control so that IF ya get a little too enthusiastic when ya cap a chamber, the round that fires will go in a safe direction (down through the table, angled away from you if ya cap like I do, muzzle rested on the table, gun in my hand pointed maybe 30 degrees down). It also eliminates handling a round cylinder yer trying to stuff into the frame and capture when ya don't NEED to.

[Pulp, SASS#28319]

I would have bet a dime to a donut that capping a cylinder off the gun was illegal and mentioned in the rulebook as such. Maybe it was an assumption based on things I've read on the Wire. Anyways, if anyone had bet me they'd have a donut right now!

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

PWB, thank you for your time on this.

I asked that question because in the last year I had seen this happen twice.

So PWB as it stands now/today, if a capped cyl is dropped at the LB is it a "no-call"?

Respectfully,

LG

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

I would have bet a dime to a donut that capping a cylinder off the gun was illegal and mentioned in the rulebook as such. Maybe it was an assumption based on things I've read on the Wire. Anyways, if anyone had bet me they'd have a donut right now!

 

I'll spot ya ½ donut...it IS specified for reloading during a stage...but NOT at the LT:

 

A complete reload for percussion revolver shooters is handled by staging a loaded, uncapped revolver down range or switching uncapped cylinders and capping on the clock.

SHB p.21 / RO1 p.16 / RO2 p.8

 

...but this rule doesn't SPECIFICALLY STATE that it applies at the LOADING TABLE

(probably because, when the rule was written, NO ONE was even considering doing so).

 

...same as disassembling a CAPPED/CHARGED PERCUSSION revolver in the middle of a stage.

 

(note FWIW comment on post #12)

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

PWB, thank you for your time on this.

I asked that question because in the last year I had seen this happen twice.

So PWB as it stands now/today, if a capped cyl is dropped at the LB is it a "no-call"?Respectfully,

LG

 

YES...unless the host club has a RANGE RULE addressing it otherwise.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Thank you PWB

LG

[DOCBRAZOS, SASS#18033L]

Thanks PWB for the up to date answer.

[Slowhand Bob, 24229]

I also consider it to be an extremely unsafe practice and just as much so while trying to get a capped cylinder into the frame. It seems I remember the practice of capping with a thumb or finger being addressed years ago and I would have bet an eye tooth that the other had been dealt with also. Kinda like dropping loaded rounds straight down into that Henry tube, just cause you can dawnt mean you should, and why does everything not to smart need to be writ down now days?

[Fordyce Beals]

Also seen at a Plainsman side match:

a bunch of loaded and capped cylinders in the gun cart that were carried to the loading table and put in the cap pistol. When I protested and was ignored a friendly TG put a stop to it.

 

The pepper box analogy above is not far from the truth. Lightly loaded cylinders with the ball set way down deep in the cylinder chamber will spit that ball out faster than wart hog loads that fill the cylinder from what I have read.

 

Fordyce Beals

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

Also seen at a Plainsman side match:

a bunch of loaded and capped cylinders in the gun cart that were carried to the loading table and put in the cap pistol. When I protested and was ignored a friendly TG put a stop to it.

 

Good catch! That is specifically FORBIDDEN:

Percussion revolvers may only be capped at the loading area or on the firing line.

SHB p.23 / RO1 p.20 / RO2 p.8

 

The pepper box analogy above is not far from the truth.

Lightly loaded cylinders with the ball set way down deep in the cylinder chamber will spit that ball out faster than wart hog loads that fill the cylinder from what I have read.

...

 

This is true...more "barrel" = higher velocity, even with the lighter charge of BP.

[Snakebite]

Also seen at a Plainsman side match:

a bunch of loaded and capped cylinders in the gun cart that were carried to the loading table and put in the cap pistol. When I protested and was ignored a friendly TG put a stop to it.

 

The pepper box analogy above is not far from the truth. Lightly loaded cylinders with the ball set way down deep in the cylinder chamber will spit that ball out faster than wart hog loads that fill the cylinder from what I have read.

 

Fordyce Beals

 

 

[Snakebite]

I also consider it to be an extremely unsafe practice and just as much so while trying to get a capped cylinder into the frame. It seems I remember the practice of capping with a thumb or finger being addressed years ago and I would have bet an eye tooth that the other had been dealt with also. Kinda like dropping loaded rounds straight down into that Henry tube, just cause you can dawnt mean you should, and why does everything not to smart need to be writ down now days?

 

 

+1

 

Snakebite