Charging Cap and Ball Revolvers

[Wyatt Earp SASS#1628L]

I realize this may depend on local range/club rules, but how do you cap gun shooters handle charging your pistols? I would prefer to do it at my cart, to this end I built a loading stand that mounts to my cart. But what about the possible sweeping issues of handling your guns away from the loading table?

Obviously,  capping is done at the loading table.

 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Only at the loading table. 

[Blackwater 53393]

Until the nipple is capped, the chamber is not loaded. If you observe the rest of the rules and etiquette laid out in the shooters’ handbook, you’ll be fine.

[Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329]

Charge them between shooters, while watching the unloading table.  Cap 'em at the loading table.

--Dawg

[Wyatt Earp SASS#1628L]

4 minutes ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

Until the nipple is capped, the chamber is not loaded. If you observe the rest of the rules and etiquette laid out in the shooters’ handbook, you’ll be fine.

I understand the loaded/unloaded aspect of cap guns, but I'm more concerned with the sweeping issues of pulling a holstered pistol away from the loading table.

[Griff]

I charge my cap & ball revolvers at the unloading table before the match starts, move to the loading table for the 1st stage, then stay at the unloading when done to recharge them while clearing other shooter's firearms for all subsequent stages for the day.  It usually takes me 3 or 4 shooters to charge my guns.  If it's a multi-day match, I charge them again at the last stage of the day, in preparation for the next day's shooting.  

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

I always set up at a table behind the peanut gallery.  Pull 'em out pointing at the parking lot and took 'em apart for the loading press.  Never had a problem.  Cap ONLY at the loading table.  With a loading stand on your kart, just move your kart behind the peanut gallery and turn you back on the unwashed masses whilst your pistols are "out."

[Leroy Luck]

In my limited experience with cap guns… it seems like everyone is so mystified by the shear sight of them that they just leave you alone. They’ll ask questions I suppose, but for the most part nobody pays attention. 
 

I prefer to go to the next stages loading table and load the cylinders. 

[Yul Lose]

Back in 2018 I was going to get into the cap and ball game with this pair of nice engraved Old Armies so I built  this loading stand. I got it built and decided cap and ball wasn’t my thing and I never used it. J-Bar ended up with the loading stand.

[Rip Snorter]

Amazing skills and abilities as always!

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

Capt. Baylor had a loading stand like the OP described.  He parked his cart next to a side berm.  This allowed gun handling without sweeping anyone.

 

I don’t talk to others when charging my revolvers - to easy to make a mistake.  I will shoo away anyone smoking for obvious reasons.

[Blackwater 53393]

To make it as simple as possible, if you handle your cap ‘n’ ball guns the way you’d handle suppository, (cartridge) revolvers, charging them at your cart or the unloading table or somewhere else doesn’t make any difference! Mind your muzzles and you’ll be good to go!

 

I have a “possibles” box that contains everything I need to maintain and charge my pistols. I place it at the unloading table when I arrive at the stage. My guns are charged from the previous stage and I cap at the loading table where I load my rifle and make sure that all of my guns are ready.

 

I shoot my stage and move to the unloading table where I clear my guns and recharge my cylinders on the guns with a loading stand.

 

Lets me work the unloading table for the posse and meet other shooters.

 

Edited February 19 by Blackwater 53393

[Barry Sloe]

I also have a loading table at my cart. Whether I'm at the edge of the posse or in the middle, most is common sense. Once the revolvers are charged they stay on the stand, pointing up, until they are holstered to go to the loading table. 

As noted capping must be done at the loading table. 

 

Enjoy, 

BS

 

[Rye Miles #13621]

11 hours ago, Wyatt Earp SASS#1628L said:

I understand the loaded/unloaded aspect of cap guns, but I'm more concerned with the sweeping issues of pulling a holstered pistol away from the loading table.

Turn your back away from the crowd. Point yourself in direction away from everyone if possible.

[July Smith]

Having shot quite a few matches as a frontiersman, I often load at my cart with good muzzle control/awareness.  As per sass rules and as already stated the gun is not "loaded" until a nipple is capped at the loading table.  I will load at the unloading table if possible, but there is rarely space.  Frontiersman is a pretty small category even on a good day, lots of folks that have never shot the category or have only dabbled with cap guns love to offer advice both online and at clubs that might not necessarily be true or helpful.  IMHO charging the cylinders at the loading table in line with all the other shooters is a great way to make frontiersman an even less popular category than it already is. 

 

If in doubt just talk to the MD.  I once shot at a smaller club for a monthly and talked with the MD before the match.  I was asked to not charge the chambers at the loading/unloading table because of limited space and instead was given a designated table facing a berm which was very nice of them.        

Edited February 19 by July Smith

[Chantry]

When I shoot cap & ball, I work the unloading table and charge them there.   I try hard to make sure the muzzles remain pointing up or into the berm until I put the gun back in the holster. Until they are capped they are safe.

 

Never been an issue and never heard any complaints from any one.

 

 

 

 

Edited February 19 by Chantry

[Ciderbarrel]

I now have 12 cylinders for my ROAs, 6 pairs.

 

I load the powder and ball the night before and keep them in my gun cart.

 

I have Mernickle cylinder pouches on my gun belt and I keep my revolvers empty and "loaded" cylinders in my pouches.

 

When I get to the loading table, I put the cylinders in the guns, then cap them.

 

At the unloading table, I remove both cylinders and decap if necessary. After all clear, I put the empty cylinders in my pouches and holster the revolvers. 

 

At my cart, I clean the nipples and swap the cylinders for a fresh pair.

 

I keep a Tower of Power, powder, and lead in my cart, just in case I have a reshoot, and I need to load up another pair at my cart.

 

Since I load them up at home, and at cart when needed, all my loading is off gun, so I do not have to worry about accidentally sweeping anyone.  Also, I always get hit with questions about my ROAs because at a big match, most people have not shot with a Frontiersman before and have many questions. 2024 NC state match, I was so distracted, I accidently loaded my filler BEFORE my powder and only realized it after loading all 5 balls. I used the nipple wrench and saw white and had to set the cylinder aside for the day. I fixed it by picking out the cream of wheat with my nipple picker and filling with powder.

 

Also, I am usually only 1 of 3 or 4 brass pickers in my posse at big matches, so I cannot spend the whole stage trying to load for the next one. I need to get back to work. I hate feeling rushed, so that is why I deal with it at home the night before.

[Cemetery]

Since I don't have a loading stand mounted on my cart, I either do it at the unloading table, while manning it, or taking up a corner if possible.  Otherwise I find an neighboring bay that is empty and use a table there, or finding a sturdy table or bench I can use.  I always mind my muzzles, and handle them using the barrels.  15 years doing that way.

[Lucky R. K.]

This what I use, usually at the unloading table. Everything is home made except for the vials.

Lucky 😁

Edited February 19 by Lucky R. K.

[July Smith]

7 hours ago, Ciderbarrel said:

I now have 12 cylinders for my ROAs, 6 pairs.

Dang!  That's a lot of cylinders to have to clean, but certainly one way of doing it.  I used to shoot with Yuma Jack (RIP) and he had multiple sets of cylinders and reloaded his ROAs in a similar way.

 

I personally prefer open top Colt style guns and load my cylinders on the gun with the under barrel load lever the way God and Samuel Colt intended it.  

[Jasper Agate]

While traveling to a new range would always ask

the Match director or Range master where they would like for me to load them

Jasper

[Wyatt Earp SASS#1628L]

Thanks for all of the replies. So, what I have gleaned from the above is to do the following:

 

1. Speak to the Match Director/Posse Marshal/R.O. where applicable for direction.

 

2. Park gun cart near loading or unloading table where a berm is accessible -OR-

 

3. Park gun cart away from other shooters where safe handling can be maintained.

 

Gratuitous picture of gun cart and loading stand

 

 

[Doc McCoy, SASS #8381]

I got addicted to cap n ball about 25 years ago.  I have used a loading stand, did the unloading table routine as mentioned above.  I now charge the pistols at my cart with the gun in my hand.  I park near the unloading table for convenience.  I am very deliberate about muzzle direction when inverting the gun, being near the unloading table usually allows me plenty of unoccupied space facing either down range or to the side berm, or behind me depending on the location.  I’m on the fringe of the group.  

I have not asked to a match director in years.  I just go do my thing in a safe manner and nobody minds.  That’s at several local clubs and several state matches plus Winter Range, Land Run and EOT.  It seems to be a common accepted practice at all of these.

[Rustler, SASS #33316]

I was fortunate enough to get Yul Lose to create a smaller version of his setup. I have used it at my cart and also the unloading table to charge my Old Army's.

 

Edited February 21 by Rustler, SASS #33316

[Wyatt Earp SASS#1628L]

Interesting option for cylinder loading off the gun, using a woodworking clamp as a ball seater.

 

 

[Sgt. Hochbauer, SASS #64409]

I have a stand similar to what Rustler is using but not nearly as nice. Generally, I load my guns on my cart which I setup specifically for cap gun use. I have in the past spoke with the match director about where to charge my pistols. Was told to watch my muzzle direction. It takes me about 3-4 shooters to load and then can rejoin any posse duties. Not to mention all of the other supplies needed to carry to Frontiersman or as I refer to it at times as shooting the Masochist category.

 

 

Hochbauer