Cost to Get Into Cap and Ball Revolver Hobby in 2024
Winter is upon us, and it’s the perfect time to dive into the fascinating world of black powder revolvers. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or a curious newbie, this guide will break down the costs and essentials you’ll need to get started. We’ll cover everything from the bare-bone essentials to optional upgrades and even the DIY route for those who love to get their hands dirty.
The Bare-Bone Essentials
To kick things off, let’s talk about the absolute essentials you’ll need to fire your revolver at the range.
The Revolver
For our example, we’ll consider the 1851 Colt Navy replica by either Pietta or Uberti. If you’re on a budget, Pietta offers a brass frame model that’s about $50 cheaper.
| Item | Cost (Pietta) | Cost (Uberti) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 Colt Navy Replica (Link to Pietta, but I prefer Uberti for better asthetics. If out of stock, Dixiegunworks.com is where I would look next.) | $300 | $340-$350 | Prices have increased by about $50 in the last 2-3 years for each brand. |
Ammunition and Supplies
Next, you’ll need black powder, caps, and round balls.
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Black Powder (1lb jug) (I use Goex FFFG for .36 and .44 cal, and FFFFG for .31 cal) | $20-$25 | Hazmat fee of $25 if ordered online. |
| Caps (CCI No. 11) | $7-$9 in-store, $10-$11 online | Hazmat fee may apply. |
| Round Balls (100) | $17 | No hazmat fee, but may be costly to ship as lead is very heavy |
Before any taxes or Hazmat fees, you’re looking at around $345. Factor in those additional costs, and you’re likely pushing the $400 mark.
Essential Upgrades
These are the items you’ll need for proper maintenance and to ensure your firearm functions correctly.
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nipple Wrench | $10 | For removing nipples or cones from the cylinder. |
| Powder Flask | $37 | To hold your powder instead of carrying a 1 pound jug |
| Spout for Flask | $5 | Pre-measured for your chosen grain. |
| Grease/Lube (Gunbutter endorsed by Blackie Thomas) | $15 | For cylinder and barrel. |
| Replacement Cones | $40 | To prevent cap jams. |
| New Trigger Bolt Spring | $7 | Stock springs are prone to breaking. |
| Felt Wads (100) | $8 | Highly recommended. |
Adding these to your cart, along with a 6% sales tax and an estimated $30 for shipping, brings your total to about $560.
Optional But Likely Upgrades
Once you’re hooked, you’ll probably want to invest in these items.
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Holster | $20-$80 | Price varies by quality. |
| Ultrasonic Cleaner | $100 | For easier cleaning. |
| Capper | $15-$16 | Makes placing caps easier. |
| Paper Cartridge Kit | $50 | Speeds up loading. |
You can get budget holsters for $20-$40, but they are nothing to write home about. If you want something that you’ll be displaying, the minimum cost will be around $80 on stores like Etsy where people do some beautiful leatherwork. I purchased my nicer holsters from this seller here on Etsy and couldn’t be happier. I shoot left handed, and saw a holster that I liked for right handed shooters and simply sent him a message and he was very accommodating and had a new holster made up within the week for me.
The romance of cleaning your cap and ball revolvers will fade after the 5th time that you do it — especially if you shoot more than one revolver like I do. Cleaning 3 of them turns into a 4-5 hour process, and though I like listening to podcasts I don’t have the patience for such cleaning anymore.
An ultrasonic cleaner has been a game changer with my cleaning and I just cycle each revolver through a new mix of hot water and simple green twice (16 minutes total), swab out the barrel, wipe the parts down and reassemble. Super simple. Each revolver is done in 30 minutes instead of 75. Here is the cleaner I’ve been using for the last year and have been very please with.
A capper is optional but helpful if you’ve got big hands/fingers or if you’re dealing with a small revolver like the 1849 pocket model.
I haven’t purchased a paper cartridge kit yet, and honestly don’t intend to since I want to try to come up with something myself, but you can purchase a kit from Dustin Winegar at Guns of the West for a reasonable price.
Adding these to your total, you’re looking at around $860.
The DIY Route
If you’re the hands-on type, here’s what you’ll need to make your own ammunition and supplies.
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beeswax (1lb) | $15 | For making felt wads. |
| Tallow/Olive Oil | $20/$6 | For making felt wads. |
| Thick Felt | $40 | For making felt wads. |
| Punches (link for .36 caliber, use 7/16″ for .44 cal) | $8 | For making felt wads. |
| Lead Melting Pot | $100 | For casting round balls. |
| Lead Dipper | $11 | For casting round balls. |
| Round Ball Mold (Link to .36 cal mold @ .380″, I recommend .454″ for 44 cal) | $37-$40 | For casting round balls. |
| Pure Soft Lead (4lbs @ $2.50 per pound) – Ebay has good sellers, just verify it’s SOFT, PURE lead (plumber’s lead) | $10 | For casting round balls. |
Adding these DIY items, your grand total comes to about $1,160.
Some Items I forgot to mention in the video that I own are:
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| #11 Percussion Cap Maker | $50 | I prefer the factory made caps from Remington or CCI, but these do work |
| Components to Make Primer Compound | $20 | What goes “bang” in the caps |
Unexpected Costs: Gunsmithing Tools
But wait! There’s more!
In my experience with all 3 revolvers that I own from both Pietta and Uberti, they all require gunsmithing to get them to function properly and be safe at the range. Not mentioning files and sandpaper/emery cloth, the two essential tools for this are a drill press and a Dremel or rotary tool.
An honorable mention would be a good bench vice, as that has helped me to fix the fit of the grip (which was terrible) on my 1861 Colt Navy by Pietta, and it also helped me to craft my own springs from piano wire.
I used the rotary tool to notch the hammer out for better aiming and to help get the loading lever to close on my 1851 Colt Navy by Uberti (yep, it wouldn’t close straight from the factory and metal needed to be removed).
I used the drill press to chamfer 5 of the 6 chambers on my Pietta revolver, as they were causing issues with the roundball staying in place. You can check out my article here on how to fix that cylinder problem and I also explain how to test to see if your revolver is affected.
| Tool | Cost |
|---|---|
| Drill Press | $110 |
| Dremel/Rotary Tool (There are cheaper models, but this comes with the attachments that I ended up using the most) | $32 |
Adding these, the grand total for everything comes to about $1,322.
Final Thoughts
Getting into the black powder revolver hobby isn’t cheap, but it’s incredibly rewarding. Whether you’re going for just the basics or diving deep into the DIY aspects, this guide should help you budget accordingly. Happy shooting!