50 Cal. Remington Pistol Cartridge 1871

indyshooter · September 5, 2015, 11:43 PM

I just bought one of those neat Remington rolling block pistols the government bought right after the civil war. This is in 50 caliber Remington Army caliber. This gun is nice with an excellent bore and tight mechanism. It has not been loaded commercially since 1920 and there is very little info on it. I've read that brass can be made from 50-70 brass but that's all I can find out about it. I really want to get this thing shooting with some light loads. I've had great success using Trail Boss powder on other old black powder cases. I've read many times that you can't stuff enough Trail Boss into any of the old cases to be dangerous. If anybody can share some information I would love to hear it. Thanks.

g.willikers · September 6, 2015, 10:58 AM

What is there to gain using a modern smokeless powder in this old pistol?
It might be much better to stay with the black powder it was designed for.
Or at least one of the modern black powder substitutes.
There may be no telling how strong a Civil War era gun really is.

Jim Watson · September 6, 2015, 11:37 AM

Buffalo Arms sells .50 Army brass. Formed by them from Something Else and therefore rather expensive.
http://www.buffaloarms.com/50_Reming....aspx?CAT=3833

I am not qualified to recommend Trail Boss loads for an uncataloged caliber.
But will point out that the starting load for some pistol rounds is as low as 5400 CUP... and as high as 11000 psi.
The Rolling Block is a strong action, by black powder standards, but it is not bulletproof for smokeless.

indyshooter · September 6, 2015, 07:06 PM

Thanks for the link to Buffalo Arms. They seem to have everything you need for these old guns.

**44 AMP** · September 7, 2015, 10:45 PM

My old edition of Cartridges of the World lists a 300gr bullet and 25gr of FFG at approximately 600fps.

They also show a 265gr bullet with 7gr Unique, for 750fps.

No idea if they would be safe in your gun, these are all the data I have.

Magnum Wheel Man · September 8, 2015, 11:00 AM

1st off... congrats... i've always wanted one of those pistols...

just to clairify... I think the manufacturer recommends something like 3/4 of the available space ( less bullet ) for a startring point forTrailboss, but never a compressed load... I do use alot of it in many calibers & obsolute black powder cartridges... I use it in my 50-70... I think it would work well in the 50 Gov pistol cartridge

September 5, 2015, 11:43 PM	#1
indyshooter Junior Member Join Date: June 7, 2013 Posts: 3	50 Cal. Remington Pistol Cartridge 1871 I just bought one of those neat Remington rolling block pistols the government bought right after the civil war. This is in 50 caliber Remington Army caliber. This gun is nice with an excellent bore and tight mechanism. It has not been loaded commercially since 1920 and there is very little info on it. I've read that brass can be made from 50-70 brass but that's all I can find out about it. I really want to get this thing shooting with some light loads. I've had great success using Trail Boss powder on other old black powder cases. I've read many times that you can't stuff enough Trail Boss into any of the old cases to be dangerous. If anybody can share some information I would love to hear it. Thanks.

September 6, 2015, 10:58 AM	#2
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	What is there to gain using a modern smokeless powder in this old pistol? It might be much better to stay with the black powder it was designed for. Or at least one of the modern black powder substitutes. There may be no telling how strong a Civil War era gun really is. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.” Last edited by g.willikers; September 6, 2015 at 11:03 AM.

September 7, 2015, 10:45 PM	#5
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,820	My old edition of Cartridges of the World lists a 300gr bullet and 25gr of FFG at approximately 600fps. They also show a 265gr bullet with 7gr Unique, for 750fps. No idea if they would be safe in your gun, these are all the data I have. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

September 8, 2015, 11:00 AM	#6
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	1st off... congrats... i've always wanted one of those pistols... just to clairify... I think the manufacturer recommends something like 3/4 of the available space ( less bullet ) for a startring point forTrailboss, but never a compressed load... I do use alot of it in many calibers & obsolute black powder cartridges... I use it in my 50-70... I think it would work well in the 50 Gov pistol cartridge __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

September 6, 2015, 11:37 AM	#3
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,539	Buffalo Arms sells .50 Army brass. Formed by them from Something Else and therefore rather expensive. http://www.buffaloarms.com/50_Reming....aspx?CAT=3833 I am not qualified to recommend Trail Boss loads for an uncataloged caliber. But will point out that the starting load for some pistol rounds is as low as 5400 CUP... and as high as 11000 psi. The Rolling Block is a strong action, by black powder standards, but it is not bulletproof for smokeless.

September 6, 2015, 07:06 PM	#4
indyshooter Junior Member Join Date: June 7, 2013 Posts: 3	Thanks for the link to Buffalo Arms. They seem to have everything you need for these old guns.