Black powder in Rugers

[brudford]

I have about 8 lbs. of fff Goex BP and about 4-5 coffe cans full of .38 special brass . Was
thinking about casting 20:1 lead bullets in .38 special and either buying a Ruger Blackhawk
or Varqueroin .357 and using BP loads . Any experience with this ? Are the tolerances to tight with the Ruger's causing a quick gumming up of the works ?

[huntswithdogs]

When Cowboy shooting got started in our area, there were a number of the shooters from our range who shot BP exclusively. They were shooting it in their handguns, leverguns and shotguns. Made for an interesting shoot, particularly on a calm day. They were shooting 357s and 45s.

HWD

[coyotejoe]

Blackpowder fouling will gum up any revolver, even the cap & ball type which were designed for BP.  But that is easy enough to deal with. When things start to get sticky just spit a gob of saliva on the frame/cylinder joint and spin the cylinder a few revolutions. You'll feel things free up at once.  The same treatment also makes it much easier to remove the base pin when breaking the gun down for cleaning. A case full of 3f will give .38 ballistics very close to a standard factory load.

[brudford]

About what I figured . I know even in my Uberti 1858 Remington cap and baller .36 cal. if I do not lather up the cylinder post with CVA bore butter things will gum up pretty quick . The reason I asked the question in the first place is because I want to buy a Uberti Schofield in .38 Special and everyone
over at the CAS forum are saying it's not made for black powder . I know the Ruger single actions are for
sure not designed for black powder . So I think I will buy a Ruger single in .357 and use the .38 special brass . Rather support an American Co. like Ruger then send my money over to Italy. Besides it is very difficult to even find a Schofield copy , I see Rugers in the gun stores all the time and I trust them and their products , good people .

[gcrank1]

A small spritzer bottle of moose milk,  or even just water, in your range box or pocket will make short work of controlling the fouling. Of course, so will a water bottle and you will wet yor whistle too.

[alacharger]

My stainless Ruger Vaqueros in .44-40 will go a 5 stage match with no problems, either using BP substitutes or real BP.  If you use real BP, be sure to use an appropriately lubed bullet.  With the substitutes you can use most any commercially lubed, or even alox lubed bullets.  Real BP needs a lube like SPG, or one made of beeswax and vegetable shortening. 

[Cleburne]

What Alacharger said: "If you use real BP, be sure to use an appropriately lubed bullet. ...  Real BP needs a lube like SPG, or one made of beeswax and vegetable shortening."

When shooting black powder, never use projectiles that have been lubed for smokeless loads. I did once, in a small break open pocket revolver. Fouling builds into a HARD, caked on mess. After a cylinder or two of black powder .38 S&W rounds, the last projectile got stuck in the bore. No harm done to the gun, but it was a real chore, once home, to knock the bullet out without damaging the bore.

Shot .45 Colt black powder loads in my Ruger Bisley Vaquero without a hitch. I say "Go for it."

Cleburne