Wade Fargo Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Anyone have any experience with black powder in a 1866 Yellow Boy? I’m considering one, I am not and probably never will be a fast action shooter, that’s fine. I can have plenty of fun shooting stage times that are double what many consider passable and walk with a smile. What I discovered was I really love black powder shooting. The yellow boy is just an awesome looking weapon and as its available 38-40 so I was looking for some feedback on that combination . Wade Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunder Creek Kid Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 I shoot a new Winchester Miroku model 66 in 44-40 with black. I really enjoy it and have had no problems with it. I am not a fast action shooter either. I load em up as full as I can get em with real black powder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Excellent combination. Both 38-40 and 44-40 are excellent BP cartridges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixgun Seamus Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 1 hour ago, Thunder Creek Kid said: I am not a fast action shooter either. I'll vouch for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tequila Shooter Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Welcome to the Dark Side! Once you shoot black you don't go back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Sloe Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 I've got 3 Yellowboys in 38-40. Nice and smooth. A great thing about the 38-40s is that you will have minimal amount of cleaning when you have finished shooting. BS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunder Creek Kid Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 33 minutes ago, Sixgun Seamus said: I'll vouch for that. I know you are but what am I? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozark Shark Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 While I shoot a '73, many of my fellow sootmasters run a '66. They love them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rube Burrows Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 1 hour ago, Barry Sloe said: I've got 3 Yellowboys in 38-40. Nice and smooth. A great thing about the 38-40s is that you will have minimal amount of cleaning when you have finished shooting. BS What do you mean "minimal amount of cleaning"? Is that due to the shape of the cartridge or do you just mean you can't get to the internals like on a 73? Or another reason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Springfield Slim SASS #24733 Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 44-40 and 38-40 brass tends to be thinner than most other chamberings, especially 45 Colt. As such it expands easier and seals better, so with less blowback the gun stays cleaner in the action. The inside of the barrel gets just as dirty, but it is easy to clean a BP barrel, just use a water based cleaner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabez Cowboy,SASS # 50129 Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 I shoot FCD and My go to Rifle is a 66 Uberti Sporting Rifle in .38-40. This is the best Black Powder Caliber out there, bar none ... Really Slick feeding and No blow-back .... Just Clean the Bore and Spray down the lifter Done, and check under the Side plate every year or two ... Be careful not to push bore crud into the Action... Jabez Cowboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rafe Conager SASS #56958 Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Bottle neck cartridges seem to work best with black powder, that being said I have shot both my 66 & 73 uberti in45 colt almost exclusively with black powder or BP subs and have not had issues with fouling. I tear down my rifles 2-3 times a year right before a big shoot. I spray the carrier with balistol about every 3 stages. Good crimp on a big lube bullet is your friend. Another thing that helps is to not try to download your load. Rafe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-BAR #18287 Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 I shot a ‘66 in .38 Special with blackpowder loads for 13 years. I kept the barrel and internals clean but did not polish the outside of the brass receiver. The 13 year old brass patina helped sell the rifle when I passed it on to another shooter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Fargo Posted April 28, 2020 Author Share Posted April 28, 2020 Thanks for all the replies, I've purchased the rifle. Wade Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Sloe Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 3 hours ago, Rube Burrows said: What do you mean "minimal amount of cleaning"? Is that due to the shape of the cartridge or do you just mean you can't get to the internals like on a 73? Or another reason As some others have noted, it's the bottle necked case. The bottle neck seals the case to the chamber not allowing blow back. When I'm cleaning my rifle: 1) spray a mixture of water and dish soap down the barrel; 2) run a clean patch down the barrel to get the gunk out; 3) run a patch that has Breakfree CLR on it down the barrel, this will protect the barrel. Done. There are times when you'll have to give it a deeper cleaning. But 9 out of 10 times a quick cleaning will be enough. Good luck with your new rifle, BS P.S. When I was looking at switching to BP, I did a little research. I found that the 44-40 and 38-40 had the best reputation for being the cleanest calibers. As I am somewhat lazy, I picked the 38-40 to switch to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frontier Lone Rider Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Two years ago I decided I would like to shoot some black powder. I purchased an 1866 in 44-40 with a 24.25 inch barrel to start. I thought if one is going to shoot black powder, then you should be shooting one of the original cartridges, thus the 44-40. I installed a PGW Super Short Stroke Kit, bought 2 revolvers in 44-40, but did not reload black powder shotgun shells. Thanks to Hooligan Howes, I now have black powder shells. I bought two more 1866s rifles. I discovered that one is a carbine, so I installed another PGW Super Short Stroke Kit in it last night. I bought two new Uberti Cattleman IIs in 44-40, but couldn't get them as smooth as my Vaqueros. So, I bought two blue Vaqueros in 44-40. Then I found two stainless Vaqueros in 44-40 and had to have those also. So, does the 1866 lend itself to shooting black powder, I surely hope so. We load them heavy and let the smoke roll. I am not a fast shooter either, but I do have fun. F. Lone Rder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stone Deaf, SASS #64740 Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 Been shootin BP in my Uberti Yellow Boy in .45 Colt since 2005. No problems. 2005 was also the lasts time I polished the brass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bailey Creek,5759 Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 I have been shooting a 66 in 44-40 . Since 1997 no problems. Forgot I have replaced the extractor couple of years ago . And stainless tube spring and follower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Innocent Bystander SASS #24171 Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 One thing I would recommend for your cleaning. Use a bore snake. That way when you clean the barrel, all the gunk comes out the muzzle instead of going into the action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 I use a Remington Squeeg-E on a cable. After running hot water down the barrel from breech to muzzle I pull the Squeeg-E through from breech to muzzle. One pass leaves the barrel nice and clean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rye Miles #13621 Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 21 hours ago, Tequila Shooter said: Welcome to the Dark Side! Once you shoot black you don't go back Ha ha!! I did!! Don’t miss it at all either!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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