More on Loading a Cap and Ball

The full size of the image of a loaded cylinder ready to be switched for an empty fired cylinder.

The lower cylinder is empty, or completely fired.  The upper cylinder has the percussion caps on the back end, the heavy charge of powder prevented the bullet from being seated any deeper in the cylinder then just barely deep enough for the cylinder to freely rotate, and then grease has been applied over the bullets.

The grease lubricates the inside of the barrel to keep the powder fouling soft from the blackpowder then in use.  With the loose manufacturing tolerances allowing a gap between the bullet and the chamber, the grease also prevents the flash between the cylinder and the barrel from igniting a second chamber at the same time as the gun is fired.

The loading lever has been lowered on this Remington to allow the cylinder pin to be drawn forward for the cylinder to be removed.  Drawing the hammer to half-cock, as above, also drew a metal lug down into the gun making it easier to get the cylinder out.  The metal lug is called the bolt, and its job is to hold the cylinder in position for firing.

The colors have been lightened in this image to allow the dark (nearly black) features such as the chambers to be readily visible.  The image's original colors did not look right for the wooden grips and the brass trigger guard until the image was brightened.

This revolver is about forty years old having been made in the first decade of the newly made reproductions.  It has been fired hundreds of times or more without any need for repairs.

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