This frame-by-frame sequence of Stephanie firing a replica 1851 Colt black powder cap and ball revolver is interesting for several reasons: The camera happened to capture the sub-millisecond moment of cap ignition, before any sign of the main charge burn has become apparent. Perceived in real time, the percussion cap ignition system isn't noticeably different from a modern metalic cartridge-- there is no apparent delay between hammer fall and muzzle blast. The difference is that the percussion cap is on the outside of the cylinder where just by chance, the video camera might catch it in the working. Stephanie is getting a true surprise break-- she reacts to the recoil only after the fact. Therefore she hits her target. Firing from a good twelve paces, she nailed most of those targets with one cylinder. (try to stay on her good side) The chambers were loaded using an over-powder lube disc (between the powder charge and ball) made of bees' wax and vegetable oil, inadvertently leaving a wispy smoke trail behind the ball and acting as a 19th century tracer of sorts. The big white smoke cloud, a result of 30 grains of FFFG black powder, with the sun shining on it, is enough to induce the camera's "auto iris" to clamp down after the shot. Black powder is both fun and interesting. This revolver pushes a .44 caliber soft lead ball (it likes a .454" diameter ball for a good snug fit actually, and that number remains with us today in modern cartridges) to an average velocity of 841 feet per second at the muzzle. Not terribly impressive by modern standards, but plenty respectable. For those interested: These guns' sights were originally regulated for a distance of around 100 yards, for military use. With a new, taller front sight and some precision grinding of the hammer notch, this one hits point of aim at about 20 paces. And yes, the 1851 Navy revolver was .36 caliber. This one is .44. So? ====================================================================