Help for a wet behind the ears newbie - and blank loads

[pegger]

Hi there

I have just acquired my FAC and have lots of newbie queries!

I am looking for a fairly inexpensive percussion pistol, ideally more of a pocket size as my holsters were made for trinity peacemakers. I wondered if anyone has any recommendation? I was thinking about a second hand uberti.

Also how easy is it to find accoutrements, as most gun dealers in Gloucestershire have no idea what I am talking about!

Finally I need some advice as I would like to make blanks, capable of bursting a balloon, but as quiet as possible (no projectiles allowed!). Any help would be most appreciated, as up until now I've been used cartridge revolvers!

[Smokeless Coal]

I wonder,,,,,what club are you with?

[pegger]

I'm being assisted by a pistol club, but my sport is tentpegging so we use pistols on horseback to shoot a balloon in mid air whilst jumping.

This is why I am interested in quiet rounds!

[bear]

once seen a bloke whom loaded his own for shows ,forward venting pistol but restricted tube ,half blanked at base and another welded in halfway up barrel to look down barrel you could not see daylight ,,he used millet (bird seed) in wax i think although it was fac and had condition on his cert he used it in wild west shows ,,dont know if your local plod will be happy for using a true fac for this type of usage

[pegger]

,,dont know if your local plod will be happy for using a true fac for this type of usage

Hi there - the police specifically issued my FAC for these competitions.

[bear]

yep but to be using a true revolver ,as i said the lad whom i saw his weapon was a peacemaker which forward vented but no true bore it would only vent flash and the small seed husks ,so made for the job

[pegger]

I have partially blocked forward venting revolvers already, but a 9mm short round needs to be around 20cm from the balloon to burst it

I swapped to .38 long rounds, which have a longer range, but are very loud and has already put one of my horses off jumps with balloons

Hence why I have gone FAC route, to use a cap and ball pistol with a clear barrel in the hope that I can achieve effective balloon range, without it being too loud for the horses.

Hope that makes sense

[mag44uk]

How far away are the balloons?
And I think you wont ever get a "quiet" load!
Tony

[pegger]

yep but to be using a true revolver ,as i said the lad whom i saw his weapon was a peacemaker which forward vented but no true bore it would only vent flash and the small seed husks ,so made for the job

Well food for thought, I already have forward venting partially blocked pistols, but I haven't got into making my own rounds, and the .38 ones i bought (which have wax in the end) are about twice as loud as a 9mm and have a very good range.

I need a halfway house, so hoping that a percussion revolver will allow me to use a smaller blast with better effect as the barrel is clear