Gonna shoot my Companion Soon!

Warthog · September-01-17 07:09

I got some BP Substitute, because there is no real BP to be found near me, some caps and bullets and the rest of my stuff. Gonna shoot my Companion and it is gonna be fun. I love to shoot BP, used to shoot CAS and I used all BP. Loaded my own BP Cartridges and shotgun shells. I would always try to get Elephant Brand BP but this will do for this trip. I tried to get 4F but there wasn't any but I have used 3F before without trouble. Ordered a bunch of bullets from NAA and they came, gonna dig out my grease and next week it is off to the range to make some smoke!

I want to get a new Companion before long, thinking to get one with a longer barrel. I also like the Magnum frame, like the one I already have, so I guess I will wait for a bit, to save my money up, then order one. IDK if the longer barrel one has a holster like the one I have now but if not I guess I will see if I can get one made. $:-\$

Bigbird48 · September-01-17 07:09

Im sure Rick can make a holster for you.

Warthog · September-01-17 10:09

Yup, Rick is who I would ask. Seems like a good guy and he makes nice leather goods. I asked him to make a knife sheath already so I will ask for the Companion Holster when I get it.

lefty dude · September-01-17 11:09

It won't take much grease. Those NAA bullets are coated. Be careful seating the bullets with the NAA tool. They will deform easily.
My NAA Companion special edition, below.

OLD and GRUMPY · September-01-17 18:09

Love my Super Companion. My little black pain in the ass. We went to therapy and worked out our issues.

T7 will work fine. T7 is 3F. But it burns hotter than black. Hodgden makes it and says to reduce the load by 15% in revolvers. So the same charge of 3F T7 should burn about like 4F black. If you can find Rem #11 caps they fit a little better.

One trick to a happy relationship with her is to keep Qtips in the kit and swab the chambers with a damp one each time. This makes loading easy. The chamber is so small that even a little powder crud makes it hard to seat.

Some place we talked about the loading tool (not great) and other tools we made to replace it. I'll post pics if I can find them.

Bigbird48 · September-01-17 20:09

Lefty thats an awesome looking little revolver. I've thought about trying b&c but don't know much about it as far as getting the gun ready to fire, whats needed and so forth. I had a muzzle loader it pretty simple, dump a measure of bp down the barrel, push in a patch then ram a ball down and a put a primer cap in front of the hammer pull trigger Ca BOOOOM . Some how I don't think the revolvers are that easy.Funny I still have 4lbs of real black powder. LOL

lefty dude · September-01-17 22:09

My reloading set-up. I have shot smokeless in this piece. And will not answer any questions on the smokeless, Do not even ask. I will say it works just fine, but do not recommend this!!!!!

Warthog · September-01-17 22:09

I could only find CCI Caps here. That and the Triple Seven are about all I can get here unless I drive to Freedom IN which is a long drive for me. I have used the tool I have before without trouble but I do like yours too Lefty. I think I will be OK but will let you all know when I get out to do the shooting.

scbuxton · September-02-17 07:09

Quote from: lefty dude on September-01-17 22:09
My reloading set-up. I have shot smokeless in this piece. And will not answer any questions on the smokeless, Do not even ask. I will say it works just fine, but do not recommend this!!!!!

Ok, lefty, I won't ask about the smokefree. I do have a couple of other questions. Looks like you have Remington #11's in your kit. How well do they fit? I have used CCI #11's (loose) and #10's (tight) and would gladly try the Remington caps if they fit snug. Next, are you using an over the powder wad with your loads? Please share your thoughts and experience on that. Also I see that some of your boolits look like pointy 22 pellets. Anything you can share about those?(accuracy, etc.)
I like the looks of your setup. Simple yet effective and too the point. Nothing flashy, a real shooter's kit. From the looks of your gear, I'd enjoy shooting with you. Let's go make smoke!

Gog · September-02-17 07:09

I've never been around anyone shooting BP. I think I would love it but just know nothing about it. Guess I'll go look up some videos on it.
Beautiful setups and little cannon's you all have!

scbuxton · September-02-17 07:09

Quote from: Gog on September-02-17 07:09
I've never been around anyone shooting BP. I think I would love it but just know nothing about it. Guess I'll go look up some videos on it.
Beautiful setups and little cannon's you all have!

Gog, once you go black, you can't go back! Try looking for a NMLRA club in your area. They post a club directory on their website. I highly recommend learning first hand face to face from an experienced BP shooter if you can. Good, friendly advice can be the difference between a frustrating experience and a journey into a wonderful and satisfying sport. Glad to see that you're interested! Great fun indeed!

OLD and GRUMPY · September-02-17 08:09

One tip.

If you are going to keep it loaded you MUST make sure the inside of the nipples are free of lube. Even a little will kill the primer after a few weeks. Never had this happen in the Colts but Companion is a picky girl. When I make sure it is dry it will fire after half a year loaded.

About Rem #11s. The book that comes with it says to use them. They fit better. The nipples are cut for them. Some are a little longer and may hang out the back. Might jam?

? Firing when trying to force that jam??? She is so small that little things can piss her off. A little lube killing the cap, a little burnt powder making it hard to load, cap fit. This is the stuff that we worked out in therapy.

lefty dude · September-02-17 11:09

Well first off; what Grumpy posted about the Remmy #11 caps is correct. The NAA nipples require this cap because they have the short skirt, and seat properly on the cone (nipple).
And yes, I have tried shooting 22 pellets in the Super Companion. They are very light in weight compared to the NAA bullet, which is 29 grains. The conical pellets I have weigh-in at about 15 grains. Not good accuracy, They measure .222", where the NAA is .224". Not a tight seal, so I put a wad on top of the pellet. This gives me a better gas seal and pressure. The wad material is punched from a fiber/paper egg carton top. This can be split to the thickness you desire with a razor knife. The punch is from a leather punch set, harbor Freight has them.
Now the fun Stuff!
To add weight to the pellet, and bring it in line with the weight of the NAA bullet. I take a .177 steel BB and epoxy it in the hollow base of the conical pellet. Just a small dot of super glue holds the BB in place. When it gets cooler here this fall I will do more trial and error with the pellet/BB use in the Companion.
Buy a Super Companion, you will have fun, FUN and more FUN !!!!!!

OLD and GRUMPY · September-02-17 12:09

The .22 pellets just fall through the bore in mine. In the cylinder firing #1 made #2 scoot forward and jam the rotation. I just broke down and ordered 500 bullets from NAA. buy in bulk the shipping is about the same.

A loose ball or pellet can set up a chain fire. That is why you must grease over the ball just like with the Colts.

If you cast #4 buck in VERY SOFT lead they will work but still very hard to seat being too big.

I like your idea of adding the BB. It should press in when fired expanding the skirt for a better seal. (I was going to try the "expander" idea with a .36 ball in the base of a .58 minie bullet for the Zouave.

-------------

Every topic has someone asking "Am I Nuts?".

So--- I found a sheet of roofing lead. Was going to melt it down. Then I remembered a Winchester .410 load that uses flat disks instead of buck shot. I am punching some out for 12ga. (more fun with buck shot posts to come)

HOW ABOUT punching them out at .224 and stacking them in the Companion!!!?

Too many bad ideas too much free time!

swolf · September-02-17 17:09

Gluing BBs into a pellet skirt?! Punching flat lead to press into Companion cylinder?! I've not seen interesting and creative ideas like this since 2GunJayne was chased away! This is what I look for on this forum. (And I miss 2Gun.) I have all the fixin's but have not yet fired my Companion bought over a year ago. Might just have to dig it out and have something useful to share myself.

Warthog · September-02-17 19:09

I haven't had trouble using the NAA bullets, though I would cast my own if I had a mold. This will be my first time not using Elephant Black but I think it will be fine if I just do what I feel is right and shoot it. TheCCI Caps fire fine by themselves. I would use Remington if I could find any here but for the most part the place is a wasteland. I have made my own BP and granulated it and shot it through a rifle I own, a flinter, but I don't want to mess around right now. I have the ingredients and a ball mill but for now I think I will just use what I have and see how it goes.

I may still get the longer barrel Companion, the magnum, but for now this will do. After the Ranger comes out and I know how much I have, then maybe I will go ahead on the other revolver.

lefty dude · September-02-17 22:09

Cabala's usually have the Remmy Caps in both #10 & 11's.
Yep; once you starting shooting that little piece, well you will be a Darksider for sure.
Oh, and welcome to the Dark Side, may the smoke be with you !!!!
On the large format side, I shoot both .36 Navies & 44 Armies in the Colt style of replica's
The piece below was a CVA Kit revolver that is 35 years old. The original owner started the kit build, but for what ever reason it was never completed. A Fellow shooter who knew I was into C&B Revolvers gave it to me as a joke.
The piece was in the original CVA box, all the parts were there, except some were covered by surface rust. I was told I would most likely, like the original owner have it for another 30 years and never complete the project. The Barrel was cold-blued when I got it, and the grips were fitted and finished. I completed the rest of the build, fit the parts and timed and tuned the piece. I decided to let it be in the white, with patina and no other finish.
This is my RAT-ROD .36 cal 1861 Navy.
BTW; this piece is very accurate and shoot nice indeed!!!!!!!!!!!

Uncle_Lee · September-03-17 03:09

Beautiful Lefty.
Few people know the fun of building one like that from a kit.

Folks are always amazed at how straight they shoot.

lefty dude · September-03-17 11:09

Thanks, Uncle Lee it was a fun project.
The Cylinder is not from the original CVA kit. The kit was made for CVA by ASM, Armi San Marcos.
The original Kit ASM cylinder was beyond repair or salvage. I just happen to have a spare Pietta cylinder that is an almost drop-in with little fitting required. I bought the Pietta cylinder at a local G.S. about 6-7 Years ago, and had it in the parts drawer. Little did I know it would be used in this manner. I was fortunate that the bolt notches were the right length and such for the ASM locking bolt. The ASM bolt was a little wide for the Pietta notches. I was able to file and stone the bolt for a perfect fit. To adjust the timing I stoned the hand face for the proper rotation to bolt drop.
The accuracy load is 22.5 grains of 3F Goex Black powder. Almost cuts clover leafs, on the bench at 25 Yards.

JRobyn · September-03-17 13:09

With apologies in advance for the drift, my favorite gun is a .50 cal BP caplock kit that dear wife bought for me and I lovingly hand fitted every tiny part of, grinding and then polishing all of the furniture to a perfect fit and finish. Hot-browned the barrel. Curly maple stock with Feibings Leather Dye finish under many coats of tung oil. With plain buckhorn sights, and patched round balls, it will far outshoot me, and faithfully hits everything I aim at from 10 yds to 100.

Bigbird48 · September-03-17 13:09

NO PICTURES IT DIDN'T HAPPEN

Quote from: JRobyn on September-03-17 13:09
With apologies in advance for the drift, my favorite gun is a .50 cal BP caplock kit that dear wife bought for me and I lovingly hand fitted every tiny part of, grinding and then polishing all of the furniture to a perfect fit and finish. Hot-browned the barrel. Curly maple stock with Feibings Leather Dye finish under many coats of tung oil. With plain buckhorn sights, and patched round balls, it will far outshoot me, and faithfully hits everything I aim at from 10 yds to 100.

lefty dude · September-03-17 15:09

No apologies needed, and no drift. We kinda got off the NAA Companions and segwayed to other BP items.
A photo of the ML would be nice to see.
BTW; this is the friendliest forum in cyber-space.

Lefty Dude, AKA/ KI7GYK

lign · September-03-17 23:09

With great trepidation, I'm going to mention this and then keep quiet since I'm sure it's been discussed and scolded to death. The original Freedom Arms manuals actually recommended using Bullseye if you couldn't find blackpowder. No, it was NOT NAA, and NO I am NOT recommending doing it in NAA guns, which are not made by Freedom Arms. My uncle has the magnum companion and we've been unable to get it to stop keyholing with any blackpowder or substitutes.

I love blackpowder, and I have half a dozen BP handguns, but it (and it's substitutes) have a well-deserved "reputation." (One of my Remington 1858's has been disassembled and frozen in my shop for years because I was lazy and didn't clean it soon enough).

Here's the link. See the sixth page. Please don't flame me.

http://www.freedomarms.com/MiniRev.pdf

Uncle_Lee · September-04-17 03:09

I for one won't flame you. I owned a Freedom Arms black powder mini and used Bullseye in it. Can you picture how long a pound of black powder would last shooting a mini???

JRobyn · September-04-17 09:09

Quote from: Bigbird48 on September-03-17 13:09
NO PICTURES IT DIDN'T HAPPEN

Quote from: JRobyn on September-03-17 13:09
With apologies in advance for the drift, my favorite gun is a .50 cal BP caplock kit that dear wife bought for me and I lovingly hand fitted every tiny part of, grinding and then polishing all of the furniture to a perfect fit and finish. Hot-browned the barrel. Curly maple stock with Feibings Leather Dye finish under many coats of tung oil. With plain buckhorn sights, and patched round balls, it will far outshoot me, and faithfully hits everything I aim at from 10 yds to 100.

You guys are killin me.... OK, out of the back of the too-small safe - the old girl doesn't see much action anymore (as evidenced by the terrible need to touch up my brass polishing :-o).

I guess it DOES up my post count, eh?

lefty dude · September-04-17 13:09

Yes I am aware that Dick Casuall designed the Companion for Freedom Arms. And the Original instruction indicated the use of Bulleye as the powder of choice.
I also know that the stepped chamber is designed for this smokeless use.
We could have posted the link to the Freedom Arms info.
I regret now bring up the subject. My Bad.

Bigbird48 · September-04-17 15:09

Great job looks beautiful

Quote from: JRobyn on September-04-17 09:09
Quote from: Bigbird48 on September-03-17 13:09
NO PICTURES IT DIDN'T HAPPEN

Quote from: JRobyn on September-03-17 13:09
With apologies in advance for the drift, my favorite gun is a .50 cal BP caplock kit that dear wife bought for me and I lovingly hand fitted every tiny part of, grinding and then polishing all of the furniture to a perfect fit and finish. Hot-browned the barrel. Curly maple stock with Feibings Leather Dye finish under many coats of tung oil. With plain buckhorn sights, and patched round balls, it will far outshoot me, and faithfully hits everything I aim at from 10 yds to 100.

You guys are killin me.... OK, out of the back of the too-small safe - the old girl doesn't see much action anymore (as evidenced by the terrible need to touch up my brass polishing :-o).

I guess it DOES up my post count, eh?

Surculus · September-07-17 20:09

Quote from: Warty62 on September-01-17 07:09
I want to get a new Companion before long, thinking to get one with a longer barrel. I also like the Magnum frame, like the one I already have, so I guess I will wait for a bit, to save my money up, then order one.

You've got time: last I checked, the Super Companion had been OOS everywhere for the better part of a year. Haven't looked for a couple of months tho': did NAA produce another run yet, or have they been too busy keeping up w/ demand for their non-USPS compatible products? ;->

OLD and GRUMPY · September-07-17 21:09

The good news is that you can order Cap&Ball direct from NAA. No dealer no FFL. Call them and ask.

autofull · September-09-17 12:09

im gonna buy one of the companions just to try the little critter out. i started with blackpowder 44 remington repo revolvers but out grew fron stuffin very quickly. as i can carry any pistol i have, i think im gonna do it fer fun. my two, because i read this post, kevin.

Gowanus · September-09-17 12:09

Quote from: OLD and GRUMPY on September-07-17 21:09
The good news is that you can order Cap&Ball direct from NAA. No dealer no FFL. Call them and ask.

Does their price include shipping?
Even if it does, I noticed that it's higher than most dealer's prices...

Uncle_Lee · September-10-17 04:09

Quote from: swolf on September-02-17 17:09
Gluing BBs into a pellet skirt?! Punching flat lead to press into Companion cylinder?! I've not seen interesting and creative ideas like this since 2GunJayne was chased away! This is what I look for on this forum. (And I miss 2Gun.) I have all the fixin's but have not yet fired my Companion bought over a year ago. Might just have to dig it out and have something useful to share myself.

Jayne has been back a couple of times.
May just be here now.
Be careful not to offend ol 2Gun...

swolf · September-10-17 07:09

2Gun has a plethora of experience doing unusual things with guns and ammo (wax and hot glue bullets, powder experiments) that saved me from having to try stuff myself and possibly losing fingers or an eye. Like YouBoob videos, I enjoy the posts that give me ideas and experience without having to learn the hard way.

OLD and GRUMPY · September-18-17 15:09

The Quest for 4F.----

Just remembered this. Back when I got my little black pain in the ass in 2014 there was NO powder to be had. So I sought the wisdom of this forum.

I learned how to "Role (grind) Your Own". This was talked about in depth in several different posts back then. Do a search . http://naaminis.com/smf/index.php?topic=4958.msg79828#msg79828

The powder gods came through before I had to try it. Just pick a static free day and don't smoke!

--------------

More powder in chamber?

I tried adding about 1gr more powder than the 4 it calls for. The bullet would not seat. Had to shave the nose off to get it to rotate.

Might try grinding 4F down in to dust?

Faster burn and all.

This is the point in almost every topic where someone asks "am I nuts?"

lefty dude · September-18-17 15:09

Have you tried 3F T7 ? It is hotter than Black, so they say.