On Pistols

To all:

I would like to take a moment to address the issue of weapons safety, specifically pistols. Pistols are a valuable contribution to the battery. They offer a huge short term boost to our firepower that has allowed us to repel attacks by much larger forces. Further, for close in or brush fighting they are ideal. Use of pistols by our security forces was a primary motivation for adopting a CSMC impression.
All of this being said, the downside potential is huge. We have had more pistol “incidents” that any other accident combined. It is this very accident potential that has gotten pistols banned from many of the large umbrella groups.
At this point, I don’t see banning side arms to be in our best interests. However, we do need to set strict guidelines for their use. I propose the following guidelines let me know what you think.

1. The use of pistols is reserved for experienced & well trained troops. No troop below the rank of corporal will use a pistol without specific permission of the officer in charge that day.

2. Safety inspections- Pistols are to be checked just like muskets- barrels must be free of obstructions, timing must work, ½ cock must work. By the way, we can’t safety inspect a loaded pistol- no loading until after safety inspection.

3. Loading- Without an actual pistol ball a revolver can hold a lot of powder: an awful lot of powder (I believe my Dragoon can hold a charge in excess of 50 grains). While I am not going to tell you exactly how many grains to put in your side arm, you don’t need to be firing a !@%$*?!! .44 auto magnum. The biggest issue here is chain fires. If you don’t put enough cream of wheat in front of the powder, you WILL get a chain fire. You should be able to put cream of wheat, pack it in, add more cream of wheat & pack again. By the way, no Wonder Wads, Frozen Peas, oatmeal, or anything else that could be a projectile.

4. Caps- don’t put caps on your nipples that are the wrong size. If you have number 10’s use # 10 caps. Don’t pinch caps on, they either fall off or allow sparks into the unfired cylinders. If you have different sized nipples on the same gun (a testimony to Italian Repro quality) buy new nipples.

5. Firing. You would not fire a musket with somebody’s ear next to the muzzle. Yet most of us (me included) have at one time or another, touched off a pistol too close to somebody. We need some rules of engagement:
A) Look before you shoot. Where is your muzzle?
B) Elevate- never directly fire at anyone. We are not cowboy action shooters; nor
are we reenacting the O.K. Corral.
C) Safety zones – 30 feet if they are too close to fire a musket, they are too close to fie a pistol.
D) Check your hammer- do not holster a weapon with it cocked.

6. There is no hand to hand combat. Thus, a pistol should never be used as a club or tomahawk.

Y.O.S
Duke