BLACK POWDER

through the magazine. That, of course, is more fun than punching paper from the bench. We both tried a series of just three shots, hitting at close range but missing as the distance increased. I’m planning on giving the gun another sight-in session, probably at 50 yards to make hitting those further targets a bit easier.

After doing the shooting, this little carbine was taken back home where it was cleaned. While it was purchased as a used gun, I’m pretty sure I’m the first to use it with black powder loads because it needed three patches, moistened with Three Rivers Black Powder Solvent (from The Gun Works, thegunworks.com), to come clean. When this carbine gets more experience with black powder loads, and more specifically with bullets lubed with black powder lube, the cleaning will get much easier. And this .44-40 is such a ball to shoot, it will certainly get that chance. 