Wheelgun Wednesday: Booligan's Muzzle Loader Modernized
Welcome back to Wheelgun Wednesday, our weekly article series where we cover everything related to revolvers. Today’s topic is another creation by TFB’s friend Booligan, whom you may remember for some unconventional creations. This time, as well, we can see a unique revolver customization, likely divisive due to both its visual impact and design intent.
Wheelgun Wednesday @ TFB:
The donor “primitive firearm”, disassembled to its main components, along with the modern accessories.
Project MLM - Muzzle Loader Modernized
The idea that sparked the creation, in Booligan’s words:
“Revolvers have always been a draw to me, and I’m always looking for holes in the market that have no designs to fill them, either because they’re not viable or they’re frankly kind of silly. This one kind of falls in the second category. Dubbed Project MLM for Muzzle Loader Modernized [...], it’s taking a classic black powder revolver and adding some modern flair.
The idea behind this stems from the fact that a person can legally enjoy (in their state) certain natural crops either medicinally or recreationally, and in turn lose their right to modern self defense tools. Regardless of state legality, marijuana remains federally illegal and as box 21(f) reminds us on every 4473, the use of it makes you a prohibited person unable to legally own traditional firearms.
In most states, “primitive” firearms including muzzle loading black powder revolvers don’t legally count as firearms and are able to be used by otherwise prohibited persons. But let’s modernize it a bit and help add some parity to other modern defensive tools.”
The underlying concept, whether we agree with it or not, appears aligned with what we’ve seen in another recent Wheelgun Wednesday. That being said, that’s the only point in common with anything else on the market. From a visual perspective, we can see some analogies with Uncle Fudd’s “space cowboy” revolvers we covered in the past.
On the technical side of the “modernization”, this is what Boolign has to say:
“To start, I picked up a Pietta 1851 Navy Colt replica chambered in .36 caliber. It had the wrong barrel and grip, but it was cheap and local!
Chopped down the barrel to about 3” for improved concealment and removed the loading lever. This is now either bench loaded with the removable cylinder or you can do it with a ramrod down the barrel. You can actually swap the cylinders out quickly with no tools other than something to whack the barrel wedge out.
I then designed and printed sleeve that adds a K-pattern optic footprint with hidden nuts to secure it as well as an underbarrel accessory rail for mounting a light or laser. I have an IR laser I can run with helmet mounted digital night vision for a truly tacticool setup.
The sleeve is made of PLA+ and holds zero fine. Heat sensitivity is negated by the fact that this is a cap and ball revolver and you’re not running it fast and hard enough to cause heat buildup. I fitted mine with a Holosun 507Kx2 as the round reticle gives you a better approximation of where that round ball is gonna land.
For the grip, I swapped out the old plow grip for a Thunderball grip frame which was a pain to find. But it’s much more concealable and comfortable in the hand.”
The old+modern mix may not be for everyone; however, we can comfortably say that this customization offers a revolver with more accessory compatibility (holsters excluded) than the majority of wheelguns currently on the market.
Conclusions
Booligan concludes with these considerations:
“Overall, it’s roughly the same size as a 3” barreled J-frame equivalent revolver, only taller due to the optic. Is it smoky? Of course. Does it foul up the optic after shooting a cylinder? Of course. Is it fun? Of course. And sometimes that’s all a gun needs to be, but it is nice to have some options to modernize the defensive capabilities of people who may not have the ability to get something modern.”
What do you, TFB readers, think? Would you upgrade a replica of an old firearm, either for fun or supposed practical reasons? Which old model would be your choice for such a transformation?
All images courtesy of Booligan Shooting Sports.
Italian firearm enthusiast, Giorgio has a passion for innovative or plainly unusual mechanical solutions. He's also interested in manufacturing technologies with a recent focus on additive manufacturing.You can contact him at giorgio_o at zoho dot com and you'll find him in the comments section as Giolli Joker.
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I love it, I would do it just for fun and to show my friends, looks like a great conversation starter.
Nothing can stop the technical march forward of the 3D printer.