I'm looking for a good price on an 1861 confederate navy revolver for a play, Any help appreciated

Confederate as in brass framed? (a lot of confederates originals were brass...had drives where the plantations would donate their brass to be melted down). MidWay had their brass faremed versions at less than $100....not far off some of the originals).

Wait...checked...is $90...that's about as cheap as it can get (4th item doen the page):
http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteabrowse/1/9511/655***9245***

Yep...it's not a real reprodcion...no 1851's were made in 44...but some of the Confederate copies were, so it's not too far off reality. Brass frames don't have the reputation for handling heavy loads...are actually better than you'd expect, but given enough shots and hot enough loads, it will loosen up. Stick to target type loads in the 20-22gr. area, avoid the hot powders like 777, and it should work for a lot of years.

This will be used for one shot in the play. it is requested that a "boom", and not a "pop" be heard, but not overpoweringly by the audience. Any ideas! I think it would be a light load with standard black powder to give a hint of smoke as well for effect. Experimentation will be necessary but any suggestions helpful.

Thanks yall!

:D

This will be used for one shot in the play. it is requested that a "boom", and not a "pop" be heard, but not overpoweringly by the audience. Any ideas! I think it would be a light load with standard black powder to give a hint of smoke as well for effect. Experimentation will be necessary but any suggestions helpful.

Thanks yall!

:D

Wadding is still dangerous to a surprizing distance...at close-close range (from contact to a few inches) that escaping gas witll tear a breat big hole in anything in front of the muzzle (including actors),,,,out to 15-25feet, the wadding be dangerous (the farther away, the less the danger, but most plays have the cast pretty close together).

They do make really cheap blank firing reproductions (belive they use a 9mm blank) that LOOK pretty realistic, but are not "guns"...wqould pass in a typical stage play.

The old track starter pistols had a solid barrel and a cone point where the forcing cone would normally be (big-time meets use one with a microphone attached to the barrel)...idea is that they shatter the wad and deflect the bits to the sides.

If you have to, then use the least anount of wadding and the least amount of powder possible...and aim well off to the side.

When we were kids, we used to swim in a neighbors pond. He'd scare is awauy by shooting at us with his 12 guaged with the wad loaded with flour. Made one **** of a sight! I was thinking of just using the primer and load the chamber with a wee bit of flour!
I'd maybe put the flour wad in the barrel, and not the chamber

:Let ya know how it turns out!
D

When we were kids, we used to swim in a neighbors pond. He'd scare is awauy by shooting at us with his 12 guaged with the wad loaded with flour. Made one **** of a sight! I was thinking of just using the primer and load the chamber with a wee bit of flour!
I'd maybe put the flour wad in the barrel, and not the chamber

:Let ya know how it turns out!
D

Flour...have you ever wondered what makes grain elevators explode?

As kids, father would take an oatmeal container, a rubber hose, some flour and a candle stub. Punch a hole in the side of the container and hook up the rubber hose. Put a wad of flour into the end of the hose. Set the candfle stub (lit) in the bottom fo the oatmeal container. Close it (have to line the top fo the cardboad contaier with al. foil). Blow into the rubber hose...and the contaier either blows it's top or spits it's sides in a nice "boom".

Can try it at home if you'd like...still works.

Probalby not a problem with blank loads, but is a potential problem...how aboput you use ground-up packing peanuts instead?