CVA Revolver Information Manual

							7. During reassembly, LIGHTLY oil all moving parts and grease the grooves of the
cylinder pin.
NOTE: If shooting is going to commence within the day, do not oil the inside of the
chambers or nipples.
E.  RECOMMENDED BLACKPOWDER CHARGES - TABLE 1
1.  The proper charge for a cap ‘n’ ball revolver is an efficient load, providing consistent
ignition and velocity while yielding chamber pressures well below maximum safe lev-
els.  The full maximum charge is seldom used except in situations such as hunting.
2.  Table 1 shows recommended charges for CVA revolvers only.
CALIBER AND
REVOLVER TYPE
.31 caliber
Colt and
Remington
.36 caliber
Colt
.44 caliber
Colt and
Remington
.44 caliber
Colt Walker and
3rd Model DragoonRound Ball
Diameter - .320
Conical Bullet - N/A
Round Ball
Diameter - .375 - .380
Conical Bullet - .375 - .380
Round Ball
Diameter - .451 - .454
Conical Bullet - .451 - .454
Round Ball
Diameter - .451 - .454
Conical Bullet - .451 - .454
PROJECTILEBLACKPOWDER CHARGE (Grains)
Target                        Maximum
7 - 3f
N/A12 - 3f
N/A
16 - 3f
12 - 3f25 - 3f
15 - 3f
22 - 3f
19 - 3f30 - 3f
25 - 3f
25 - 3f
20 - 3f40 - 3f
35 - 3f
9 
						

							F.  PROJECTILES
1. Round Ball.
a. The recommended projectile for CVA revolvers to assure the greatest accuracy
and consistency, is a round ball (cast or swaged) of pure lead.
b. See Table 1 for the suitable ball diameter for a specific caliber and revolver
style.
2. Conical Bullet:
a. Conical bullets were originally used to provide greater knock-down power.
b. Inherently, conical bullets are not as accurate as round balls, primarily because
they become canted during loading and, therefore, enter the chamber at an angle.
c. Do not exceed the maximum recommended blackpowder charges or change pow-
der granulation from what is indicated in Table 1 when using these bullets.
G. LUBRICANTS
Using a grease provides lubrication of the bore and keeps the blackpowder fouling soft
to allow more shots between cleaning, as well as making cleaning easier after shoot-
ing.
Once a projectile has been seated in each of the chambers, CVA Grease Patch (AC1453)
should be placed over and around the ball and opening of each chamber.  The grease
should be flush with the opening of each chamber.
CAUTION: The grease also reduces the possibility of a “chain fire”, which occurs when
the flame from the first fired chamber crosses over and causes the other chambers to
fire at the same time.  This is sometimes called “multiple ignition.”
10 
						

							A light gun oil should be used to lubricate all moving parts.  Do not apply the oil
heavily as this will contribute to additional fouling build up during shooting, requiring
more cleaning between shots.
H.  LOADING AND SHOOTING OF A CAP ‘N’ BALL REVOLVER
CAUTION:  Always keep the barrel pointed in a safe direction.
1. Put on shatterproof shooting glasses and insert ear plugs.  A cap ‘n’ ball revolver
may shower sparks of bits of caps when fired.
2. Be sure revolver is unloaded:
a. Place hammer in the half-cock position.
b. Rotate the cylinder and check to see that all the nipples are void of percussion
caps.  Remove any percussion caps immediately.
c. Take a wooden dowel or cleaning rod and place one end down the barrel and into
each cylinder (be sure chamber is in line with barrel).  Mark rod at muzzle.
d. Remove rod and lay alongside barrel, lining up mark at muzzle.
e. The opposite end of the rod should reach the base of the nipple where the cham-
ber ends.  Repeat for the remaining chambers.  This practice will assure that
the gun is unloaded.  If the ramrod does not line up properly, the gun should be
considered loaded and disarmed before proceeding.
3. Set the hammer at half-cock and check that the revolver cannot be fired (that is,
the hammer cannot be moved) when the trigger is pulled.  “Half-cock” refers to the
notch which allows the hammer to rest above the nipple, thus preventing the
11 
						

							revolver from firing when the trigger is pulled.
4. WITH GUN POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION, place a #11 percussion cap on
each nipple.
a. Turn the cylinder so that a nipple aligns with the cut out on the right side of the
frame.  Keep muzzle angled downward.
b. It may be necessary to pinch the cap to assure a snug fit on the nipple.
c. All nipples should be capped.
CAUTION: Use a capper to place the caps on the nipples.  Percussion caps are sensi-
tive to pressure and can explode under extreme finger pressure.
5. Fully cock the hammer and fire each cap to dry
out the base of the chamber and nipple.  Repeat
this procedure for each chamber to insure it is
thoroughly dry.
6. Check to be sure no UNFIRED caps have acci-
dentally been left on the nipples.
7. Place hammer in the half-cock position.
8.Hold the muzzle up, with right side of gun towards
you.  Be sure no part of your body is over the re-
volver.  Pour a measured charge into the chamber
closest to the loading cut out in the frame.
12Pour a measured charge into chamber. 
						

							CAUTION:  Never pour powder from a flask directly into a chamber.  If a spark is
present in the chamber, a serious explosion could result.  Always use a revolver pow-
der measure (AC1409).
9. Place a proper sized ball or bullet into the opening of the chamber.  The ball or
bullet should be slightly oversized so it will not enter without pressure.
NOTE: If cast balls are being used, place sprue (flat spot) facing upwards.
10. Rotate the cylinder to place ball directly under the plunger of the loading lever.
11.Unlatch the loading lever and with smooth, even pressure, seat the ball firmly on
the powder, but without crushing the powder.
Place ball over chamber.Seat the ball with loading lever.
13 
						

							a. A thin ring of lead will be shaved off the ball by
the opening of the chamber.  This indicates that
the ball is properly sized for the chamber so that
it will not loosen during shooting, and creates a
tight gas seal.
b. Be sure ball or bullet is seated firmly against
powder.  No air space should exist between ball
and powder.
DANGER: Firing a revolver with the ball or bul-
let off the powder may cause serious damage to
the firearm and possibly to the shooter or bystand-
ers.
NOTE:  When using a smaller powder charge,
the loading plunger may not have enough depth
to seat the ball on top of the powder charge.  If
this is the case the excess space must be taken up using a substance such as corn
meal between the powder and ball.
12. Repeat steps 8-11 for all but one of the additional chambers.
CAUTION: Normally one chamber is left unloaded.  The gun is used and carried with
the hammer resting on the uncapped nipple of the unloaded chamber.  To do so will
reduce the possibility of an accidental firing.
13. Fill each loaded chamber with CVA Grease Patch.
Properly fitted ball will leave ring of lead.
14 
						

							CAUTION:  The grease reduces the possibility of a “chain-fire”: that is when the flame
from the first-fired chamber crosses over and causes the other chambers to fire at the
same time.  When aiming a revolver, never place “free hand” in front of cylinder.  Pos-
sible injury could result in the event of a chain fire (multiple ignition).
14. WITH THE GUN POINTED IN SAFE DIREC-
TION and hammer in the half-cock position, place
a No. 11 percussion cap on the nipple of each of
the loaded chambers.  THE GUN IS NOW
LOADED.
15. Pull the hammer back to full-cock position and
YOU ARE READY TO FIRE.
NOTE:  All CVA revolvers are “single action”,
meaning the hammer must be pulled back by hand
to rotate the cylinder for successive shots.
16. After firing all the chambers, wait one minute to
reload.  This allows all remaining sparks to burn
out prior to reloading.
17. If a misfire or failure to fire occurs, wait at least
one minute with gun pointed at the target.  AF-
TER ALL OTHER CHAMBERS HAVE BEEN
FIRED:
a. Place hammer in “half-cock” position.
b. Rotate the cylinder and remove the cap from nipple of the misfired chamber.
Make certain the gun is always pointed in a safe direction.
Place cap on each loaded chamber.
15 
						

							c. Push a nipple pick through the hole in the nipple into the main charge to clear
away any possible obstruction.
d. Seat a new cap and refire that chamber.
e. If the gun still does not fire, wait one minute with gun pointed at target.
DANGER:  If a cylinder with loaded chamber(s) must be removed, be sure all (unfired
and fired) caps have been removed from the nipples.  It is possible  for a chamber to
fire even with the cylinder out of the gun.  This could cause serious damage to the
shooter or bystanders.
f. Place hammer in half-cock position and remove all caps.
g. Remove cylinder from the gun.
h. Use a nipple wrench to remove the nipple of the unfired chamber.
i. Clean the nipple thoroughly and dry it completely.
j. Push a nipple pick through the nipple hole of the cylinder to loosen the powder
at the rear of the chamber.
k. Pour fresh powder into the nipple hole in the cylinder.
l. Reinsert and tighten nipple.
m. Replace cylinder in gun.
n. Place new cap onto nipple.
o. With GUN POINTED IN SAFE DIRECTION, pull hammer to full-cock position
and YOU ARE READY TO FIRE.
p. Fire
16 
						

							18. If gun still does not fire, remove cylinder and nipple as before.
19. Soak cylinder in hot water to flush out the powder.
20. Push ball or bullet out from rear of chamber using aluminum, brass or wooden
rod.
I.  LOADING AND SHOOTING THE WELLS FARGO REVOLVER
1. Put on shatterproof shooting glasses and insert ear plugs.  A cap ‘n’ ball revolver
may shower sparks or bits of cap when fired.
CAUTION:  Always keep the barrel pointed in a safe direction.
2. Be sure revolver is unloaded.
a. Place hammer in the half-cock position.
b. Rotate the cylinder and check to see that all the nipples are void of percussion
caps.  Remove any percussion caps immediately.
c. Take a wooden dowel or cleaning rod and place one end down the barrel and into
each cylinder.  Mark rod at muzzle.  (Be sure a chamber is in line with the
barrel).
d. Remove rod and lay it along outside of barrel, lining-up mark at muzzle.
e. The opposite end of the rod should end at the nipple, where the chamber ends.
Repeat for the remaining chambers.  This practice will assure that the gun is
unloaded.  If the ramrod does not line up properly, the gun is apparently ob-
structed and should be disarmed before proceeding.
3. Set the hammer at the half-cock position and check that revolver cannot be fired
17 
						

							(that is that the hammer cannot be moved) when trigger is pulled “Half-cock” refers to
the notch which allows the hammer to rest above the nipple, thus preventing the
revolver from firing when trigger is pulled.
4. WITH GUN POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION, place a No. 11 percussion cap on
each nipple:
a. Turn the cylinder so that a nipple aligns with the cutout on the right side of the
frame, angle muzzle downward.
b. It may be necessary to pinch the cap to assure a snug fit on the nipple.
c. All nipples should be capped.
CAUTION: Use a capper to place the caps onto nipples.  Percussion caps are sensitive
to pressure and can explode under extreme finger pressure.
5. Fully cock the hammer and fire each cap to dry out the base of the chamber and
nipple.  Repeat this procedure for all nipples to insure the chamber is thoroughly
dry.
6. Check to be sure no UNFIRED caps have been accidentally left on the nipples.
7. Remove the barrel wedge.
8. Separate the barrel from the frame of the gun.
9. Place the hammer on half cock and remove the cylinder from the frame.
10. Inspect the cylinder once again to make sure that all caps have been removed and
that all nipples and chambers are completely clear
11.Working with one chamber at a time, fill that chamber with a pre-measured load
of powder (see Table 1).
18