Bullet boards?

[stombaug]

I saw a picture of a shooter's pouch in the July/August issue of Muzzleloader magazine that has a fish-shaped bullet board (cut from curly maple) containing 3 PRBs, tethered to the pouch's shoulder strap.

I have seen similar boards before, but not until now have wondered about the history behind them. Any ideas of when these more ornate-looking ones would have been used? Any experiences of using them while hunting (likes/dislikes,pros/cons,etc.)?

 

[Rifleman1776]

Uh-Oh! :stir:
You have done it. :shocked2: :wink:
In current times many shooters/hunters like them. I make them and have used.
But, documentation on use 'back in the day' is sketchy. I'll let others chime in on that part. Wear yer hard hat. :surrender:

 

SEARCH, there's a bunch of threads on this. Here's one.
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/287089/

 

[Claude Mathis]

I have seen similar boards before, but not until now have wondered about the history behind them.

Here's a thread that discusses the "history". :wink:
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/279559

 

[stombaug]

Yikes... :stir: indeed! Yes, I did search and found some results for "bullet boards"... "loading blocks" (which I did not know they were called) turned up a ton of results. Since I only have like 30-some posts, I thought "why not?".

 

[Mickc01]

Yikes... :stir: indeed! Yes, I did search and found some results for "bullet boards"... "loading blocks" (which I did not know they were called) turned up a ton of results. Since I only have like 30-some posts, I thought "why not?".

Why not, indeed!! :thumbsup:

 

[AZbpBurner]

I used a loading block borrowed from a friend at the range nearly 45 years ago. It's good to have one in every caliber you shoot, and I meant to go build one to go with the .40 rifle my Dad built in 1970. Decades passed, and I've accumulated more rifles in various calibers, and I've always been meaning to go build several loading blocks for my .50 and .54's .... but haven't done it yet.

 

[Rifleman1776]

borrowed from a friend at the range nearly 45 years ago

:shocked2: And, just when do you plan to return it? :wink:

 

[nhmoose]

I hunt with my ML's Uh all flintlocks and use a loading block for follow up shots if needed.

I dress in skyline Blaze orange (so I don't get freaking shot by a flatlander) and drive a Combustion engine vehicle to my hunting areas, so I guess I am a heretic of the PC guys who walk, ride an animal and wear what ever.

 

[tenngun]

I think at one time I may have posted words to the effect that they were in use. :haha: I've not changed my thoughts on them yet but the funny thing is most all my shooting is done with my smooties now,and I aint used one in a couple of winters. While it remains a fun idea to kick around a fire my dog in the fight went to sleep in the corner :blah:

 

[Ken Cormier]

I have a 2 shot board that I use for hunting. Is it PC don'know don't care. Only used while hunting for a follow up shot if necessary..( I hope not).

 

[BrownBear]

Any experiences of using them while hunting (likes/dislikes,pros/cons,etc.)?

For me they're just about mandatory for winter small game hunts with small calibers. Just try making a dozen or so shots with small caliber balls, greasy patches and gloves. With snow on the ground, I'm betting you'll need to pack 100 balls in your bag in order to manage to load a dozen times. The other 88 balls will end up lost in the snow around you.

While my large caliber boards (I call them loading blocks) hold only 2 or 3 balls, my small caliber versions hold anywhere from 6 to 12 balls, and I carry several of them in my bag on busy days when the snowshoe hare population is high.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I have many loading blocks and I keep making them and trying them but I keep going back to manual loading

Just feels right doing it the old fashioned way

 

[wayne terry]

I have them don't use em much i'm trying something new right now with RB patch and water glass (sodium silicate) I think that's how it pronounced let you know how it works.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I have them don't use em much i'm trying something new right now with RB patch and water glass (sodium silicate) I think that's how it pronounced let you know how it works.

:shocked2: Besides going way-way ff you caught my attention with that comment.
What? How? You are using water glass for a patch lube? This seems beyond bizzare. Please explain what you are doing, or attempting to do.

 

[Claude Mathis]

I have them don't use em much i'm trying something new right now with RB patch and water glass (sodium silicate) I think that's how it pronounced let you know how it works.

Isn't that an adhesive and concrete sealer?

 

[kopfjaeger]

I use loading blocks when hunting. I like them if I need to load quickly for a follow up shot if one is needed, plus you can make them as plain or as fancy as your imagination will allow. A few of mine are inlaid with horn and scrimshawed. As far as being historically correct, don't know and don't care.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I have them don't use em much i'm trying something new right now with RB patch and water glass (sodium silicate) I think that's how it pronounced let you know how it works.

Isn't that an adhesive and concrete sealer?

I asume he means the glue used to keep overshot cards in on brass shotshells, I use Duco cement
now i'm intrigued?

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[wayne terry]

Lite and at one time I think so I use it to make paper cartridges for my C&B revolvers its kind of brittle when dried.

 

[Billnpatti]

I have them don't use em much i'm trying something new right now with RB patch and water glass (sodium silicate) I think that's how it pronounced let you know how it works.

I am left gasping at the thought of putting sodium silicate in the bore of a rifle. Under heat, silicates tend to form a glass-like substance. If it forms in tiny crystalline structures, as I would experct it to, you will be forming a scouring powder-like substance inside your bore. The silicates could also form bits of a glass-like coating inside your bore. Most likely, the coating will not be evenly distributed inside your bore which will result in a strangely misshapen bore. It will probably be stuck tight and be extremely difficult to remove. I predict that you may ruin your bore and also predict that you will very soon see a significant drop in accuracy. However, it is your rifle and you can do as you please. Also, there is a salvation for a ruined barrel and that is to have it rebored to a larger caliber or to have a sleeve put in it. There is a man who does this and has been mentioned several times on this forum. His name slips my mind at the moment but I know one of the other participants will know him and be able to give you his name for when you need it. Having him re-bore your barrel or put a sleeve in it will be cheaper than buying a new barrel.

I'd sure stop putting sodium silicate in your bore if I were you. :nono: