carry a '51

What do you guys think about carrying a colt 1851 for protection. I want to carry one next year while i wait for my concealed carry permit and thought the '51 would be a good choice.

Better than nothing, but still modern guns are better.

Ah, Indiana, where you can get a CCL at 18, but cannot buy a handgun yet due to federal law. I would recommend having your parents buy you a modern handgun once you get your CCL.

No offense but what does a young man of your age need to carry a weapon for?

:v

HD

i agree with norinco. having said that, most criminals don't know (and probably don't care) about the actual mechanics of the gun about to end their criminal activity- they just know that ... woops! i picked the wrong guy to try to mess over!

good luck. i hope (as i'm sure that you do) that you don't ever have to use deadly force, but you'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

I'll probably carry a colt 1991 or maybe if im lucky the vaquero. but i want to carry as soon as i get the chance so black powder was the only choice for the 3 months ill have to wait to carry the moderns. And if i miss all my shots ill have a smoke screen to escape behind :rotf:. huntin dawg because the other young men of my age aren't near as nice as i am.

exactly it will kill you just as dead as a Glock. and if the shot don't kill them they will choke to death on the smoke :haha: . i pray i will never have to use deadly force but i also pray that if i have to i can

Norinco said:

Better than nothing, but still modern guns are better.

Ah, Indiana, where you can get a CCL at 18, but cannot buy a handgun yet due to federal law. I would recommend having your parents buy you a modern handgun once you get your CCL.

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I would be very careful carrying a handgun bought by someone else. You and your parents(or whoever bought the gun) can be in deep trouble if you use it. IN Michigan it is against the law for you to purchase a gun for someone else to use(if I am not mistaken)It is a felony. Which means if you use one, and the law gets involved both you and the person(s) who buy can go to jail a long time. Your best bet is to wait until your 21 (if thats your state law). If all else fails check with your state statutes. .

according to Indiana code a parent or guardian can give or pass down a gun for any legal purpose. so unless i no longer have the right to defend my self it should be OK. but i want to carry a black powder revolver while i wait for my permit.

that may be the case, but federal law still supplants state law. don't be in such a hurry. you've made it this far in life by not needing deadly force, you can probably make it another couple of years. besides it's not that cool to carry anyway.

Howdy!

Newbie to this forum here, but I shoot BP revolvers fairly regularly and we have CCW here in Nevada as well. Having just gone to the range today to check out a new '51 Navy Colt by Uberti, I'd say forget it as a CCW:

Long barrelled/large gripped and not very concealable.
Under-powered for size (around .380 ballistics, if I recall rightly; others will disagree, but I consider 9mm/38 spec my minimum for CCW.)
Doesn't load/unload easily like cartridge firearms.
Not uncommon to have caps fall in, or get hung up between cylinder and recoil shield and make cocking difficult if not impossible. (This type of un-reliability is NOT what you want or need to put up with, given modern CCW firearms today.)
Caps can fall off (before firing).

Wait and buy a modern handgun appropriate for CCW. And Practice with it.

I feel very comfortable carrying a cap and ball as back up when hunting,fishing or just hiking and believe it has enough power to defend me against most critters but I have to agree with others on this one. If you want to carry a gun in order to use your carry permit wait until its legal for you to purchase a modern weapon. Now, if you are carrying in the woods while hiking or hunting then the Colt is a good companion and will deter four legged and two legged vermin. The only time I would carry a cap and ball for every day use is if the nanny state wouldn't allow anything else. Until then I'll carry my .38 special with +P hollow points.

Don

thanks for the information the large size doesnt bother me id probably buy one of those short barreled ones. as for the power id like to have more but id be comfortable with that. does the frame feel sturdy?and are they accurate?

you can carry a bp gun without your permit whether for protection or going to the range.no matter what I'm applying for my permit next year. i just wanted something for the 3 months i will have to wait.

well having shot a colt alot. i would rather carry a 58 remington in .44 with 5 1/2 barrel. more reliable then a colt more knock down then a .36. plus when you are old enough you can get the conversion cylinder for .45 colt.

I believe there is an issue here that is being overlooked: a concealed pistol is still a concealed firearm and requires a permit no matter whether it burns black powder and is a replica or is a modern firearm using smokeless powder or any other propelent. They may be exempt from most regulations but as soon as you load and conceal them for any purpose they become a concealed weapon just as a sheath knife on your belt becomes a concealed weapon as soon as your jacket covers it and you can be prosicuted for it.

Some folks seem to think a '51 is inadequate, but Wild Bill Hickok certainly got good mileage out of his.

Don't do it, an 1851 or whatever!

The damage you can do to your future is incredible.

Here's why:

(1) A juvenile carrying any firearm is in trouble, law enforcement officers will see you seen as attempting to start a confrontation. If you feel in danger, discuss this matter with your parent(s).

Keep in mind any citizen could claim to have seen you carrying a pistol and ask that a Law Enforcement Officer check you out. Explaining you are waiting to be 18 and only carrying a BP revolver will not serve as an excuse.

(2) For concealment, any BP revolver can be seen as such a poor choice as to show the person with the firearm intends to intimidate, rather than self-protection.

(3) If you want to play "Wild Bill Hickock," go to a shooting range.

(4) Any contact with a law enforcement officer if you don't have a permit while carrying, even if a BP revolver, will result in a humiliating experience, cuffed, the pistol confiscated, trip to the courthouse, being jailed. Trying to explain to the arresting officer that the pistol is an antique 1851 version will be to no avail.

You will need bail to get out, and an attorney to represent you. Despite the unreliability of BP revolvers, the Judge will fail to understand and likely convict you with a felony, just as if the pistol was modern, of carrying a pistol without a permit.

(5)With a felony conviction on your record, you will probably denied to: medical school, law school, dental school, most programs resulting in a state license, plus enlistment in the US Armed Forces.

Think about it.

Also being convicted of a felony can make it difficult to obtain a carry permit in the future.
In most states, any black powder pistol or person in posession of gun, powder, ball, and cap is considered to be the same situation as any loaded handgun.
The gun it self is not deemed an offensive weapon, unless used in a threatening way, unloaded or not.
So good luck on your misinformed venture!
Old Ford

freekforge said:

What do you guys think about carrying a colt 1851 for protection.

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The most honest answer I can give is - why would anyone who is serious about protecting their life, trust it to anything but the most modern, efficient weapon they could get their hands on?

All I can think is; the people wanting to carry BP for "protection" are living in Hollywood fantasy land.

I agree with you Willie.

Most people do not differentiate between a modern pistol and a black powder pistol.

Many States don't either.

Pulling a 1851 Colt reproduction (or any other) can put the person into a "Felonious Assault with a deadly weapon" situation even if the gun is not fired.
Just having it in ones hand and acting like your going to use it is enough.

As a side note, many lawyers charge $400/hour and it can take many hours to get a charge like that dropped. If the case goes to court it can take many more hours of the lawyers time.