Took these old relics out to the range today just give them some exercise. I've had them for a few years but never shot them. They were inoperable when I got them but after some home gunsmithing and TLC I got them safe to shoot. Loaded 44 Russian with American Pioneer powder (a black powder substitute). It's a good feeling to bring them both back to life. BTW shooting was close at 15 yards two hand hold. Those tiny sights are hard to see in the bright sun with these tired old eyes.

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Great job! sounds like fun to me

that had to be fun...

Joss House,
I do the same thing. A red dot on the bullseye is the only way I can see it now.
I think your pattern is very respectable!

Murph

I don’t usually like them with the barrels shortened, but I sure like that Russian Model. It reminds of something from my old Supica “Old Time Station” catalogs I still look at occasionally.

Thank you so much for sharing your Story and the great Pictures.

Those S&W Break Tops are really cool. What is really cool,
is that they are a Revolver that is being taken care of and
able to shoot.

I can only imagine what it would be to Reload them with Black Powder
and actually be able to shoot them.

Thanks again, the Best to you and your Endeavors.

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USFA Bisley Flt Top.jpg (4.3 KB, 243 views)

__________________
SD social distanc'n since 1889

This is the highest form of the art of reloading, IMHO. I wish I had some old relic to shoot. Alas, my oldest gun is probably from the 50's.

I have some .44 American reloads for my second American but I'm afraid to shoot it.

Use only black powder or black powder substitute and if the gun is in good mechanical 'safe' condition you should be fine. Black powder makes a lot of smoke and a louder boom but the pressure is less than smokeless powder. It's a hoot to shoot, you'll love it. Clean up with a little soap and water dry real good then oil it.

I shoot black powder almost exclusively in muzzle loaders, 45-70 Trapdoor and 2.4" Sharps, not to mention cap and ball revolvers and recently a nice old 1st Model D.A.
The load I ended up with is a standard 200 gr. RNFP cowboy bullet over a .030 vegetable wad and 18 gr. Old Eynesford 3F. I like the O.E. Goex because it is cheaper than Swiss but still gives you a nice clean shot, less fouling than standard Goex 3F. You could easily use Swiss in the same weight as well as standard Goex. With standard Goex you need more compression than Swiss and O.E. so just substitute a .060 wad or double up the .030. I forgot to mention that I have no doubt that with that load you could stop a large animal, not accurately but defensively close, lots of smoke...big boom. I like black powder, whats not to like, its dirty, stinky, noisy and dangerous.

If you ever get a chance to fire a BP weapon, it is a kick in the pants.
I have a old long barrel and a Navy revolver, both in .36 cal, that I just look at now.

Great looking pictures and am glad that you still work with the old "Smoke loads".