Safe Shooting of Civil War Guns

Shooting a Civil War gun can be fun with instant gratification of the smoke cloud, but requires a safe place with a good high hill as a backstop. The bullet can go a mile, or more, if it escapes over the hill.  All of the safety issues that apply to all guns continue to apply, with the biggest being to never to point a gun at another person.  Not even as a jest in fun.  But there additional considerations for guns made as far back as the Civil War.

Black Powder requires special care as it is more flammable, much more easily ignited, and becomes an explosive in smaller quantities then more modern smokeless propellant powders.  Black powder also has shipping restrictions and special storage requirements.  There are modern substitutes such as Pyrodex, CleanShot, Pinnnacle, ClearShot, and 777.  All of these are safer to ship and store, but they are still flammable.  The smoke cloud doesn't quite look and smell the same as the original black powder.

Do not use any other smokeless powder in a firearm made for black powder has been the standard advice for many decades, and for good reason.  There are too many injuries from inexperience trying to do so.  While such advice isn't exactly true as black powder cartridges are loaded with smokeless powders all the time, there are differences between cartridge and non-cartridge guns that make a seriously unsafe condition whenever smokeless powder is loaded in a muzzle loading gun.  Refer to loading manuals such as Lyman's before reloading any type of cartridge, which has a separate manual for reloading cartridges with black powder.

Do not smoke around any of these powders for muzzle loading guns.  These powders, and especially black powder, can be ignited by sparks, including from powder measures.

Most, maybe all, indoor shooting ranges ban the use of black powder as the ventilating systems can not handle the clouds of gunsmoke.

Loading cap and ball revolvers is a separate discussion.  Loading a revolver from the front of the cylinder has its own safety issues from the hand, arm, or face being in front of the loaded cylinder.  Loading a muzzle loading rifle raises the same concerns of keeping the front end of the gun close enough to work with and far enough away to avoid being hit if it goes off during the loading process.  Place the percussion caps on last to avoid many, but not all, of the ways a Civil War gun can go off unexpectedly.

An additional concern is sparks remaining in the barrel.  Modern metallic cartridges are more immune, but loose powder being dumped down a barrel or chamber is easily ignited by any smoldering burning residues.  Many shooters were taught years ago to blow down the barrel first as a precaution.  Better is to swab with a damp patch on a ramrod.  Talk with an experienced black powder shooter for bringing all the small nuances together.

The North-South Skirmish Association has been hosting events for many years.  There are large monthly and annual meetings near Winchester, Virginia, at their place called Fort Shenandoah, and elsewhere.  They have many experienced members who can be helpful on safe locations to shoot, safe methods and techniques, and local suppliers.

The surviving original Civil War guns are expensive as collectors items.  They can also be unsafe to shoot from aging, deterioration, damage, or unwise repairs.  Newly made replicas are available to legal buyers.  Dixie Gun Works is the time honored original supplier that started in the 1950s with a fun catalog, and there other suppliers who can be found on the Internet.

For more information about Civil War guns, consult "Flayderman's Guide To Antique American Firearms" by Norm Flayderman, and the references cited therein.  Ray Riling is a long standing book dealer specializing in gun related publications.

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