Bullet boards?

[wayne terry]

I'm not I'm just experimenting with a patched round ball the amount I will be using is so snall you wont even know its there besides I have been making paper cartridges for my cap and ball revolvers using this for decades no problems yet, if it works it works if not then I will trash it but it sounds like you think I will be coating the inside of my bbl. with this stuff and that's nowhere near the case.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Still curious where the water glass comes in

 

[Artificer]

Well from personal experience, I can advise against making a 5 hole bullet board for patched ball use in competition with a .75 cal. Brown Bess. (The idea was to have enough balls on the board to shoot an entire match.) Unfortunately, it seemed to have been about the size of a Cricket Bat and it weighed about as much as a leather slap.... So much for that idea. :wink:

I doubt that few, if any, folks who are into HC/PC are against the use of a bullet board after the period when they are known to have been in use. After the "cricket bat fiasco" mentioned above, I have made and used a couple with two holes for hunting purposes only. I just don't put it on when I'm portraying an earlier period than it was known to have been used.

Gus

 

[wayne terry]

Living out in the country my back porch is my shooting bench and my wood pile my berm anyway I don't have to travel to shoot; the water glass was going to be used as a simple cement a tip of a toothpick worth, invert LRB no lube glue dry patch to spur carry these around instead of using bullet board, modern quick loaders like said earlier sometimes its hard to fiddle with RB and greesey patches when your hands are cold; anyway after making several before I shot I put them In my shirt pocket and took a stroll to the pond and back about a half mile didn't work patches came off even though they seemed to be on well a little jarring broke them free anyway again I don't like using anything modern at all and it's back to the ole drawing board for me, this is what you do when you find you have a lot of spare time on your hands and like or ancestors did always trying to find a better solution to an sometimes easy problem; next is to maybe come up with a paper cartridge similar to what is used in civil war muskets but using a patched RB instead later gentle men there is work to be done; oh by the way I don't watch TV much just movies if you know what I mean.

ST

 

[Stophel]

I'm as historically minded as anyone, and I don't care if someone uses one (I've used them myself... just made a couple new ones a few weeks ago!). What I would like to try is patches tied around the ball, ready to go. This WAS done in the 18th century as a "speed-loading" option. I still haven't had the chance to try it, though, I rarely get the opportunity to shoot much anymore. Well, that and the fact that I don't even have one of my own rifles complete that I can shoot! :haha: The carpenter's house is the one with the leaky roof....

A few months ago, on the "Contemporary Makers" page, they showed a photograph (looks like 1850's-1860's to me) of a guy carrying a rifle of unknown type (long gun, one barrel band about the lower rod pipe area, two normal pipes above that????), big... and I mean BIG "Bowie knife" on his belt, copper powder flask on a string, and a rather large loading block with at least 16-20 shots (including three empty holes!) hanging from a ribbon attached to a buttonhole on the lapel of his checkered jacket!

 

[tenngun]

Well from personal experience, I can advise against making a 5 hole bullet board for patched ball use in competition with a .75 cal. Brown Bess. (The idea was to have enough balls on the board to shoot an entire match.) Unfortunately, it seemed to have been about the size of a Cricket Bat and it weighed about as much as a leather slap.... So much for that idea. :wink:
Thats what I found with my .62. A case of diminshing returns. 5 shots in a .50 fits in the hand and is easy to use. 5 shots in a .62 and you dont have to shoot any thing, you can baet a grizzle to death with it, plus it fills the bag and make you list to one side when carring. :haha:
I doubt that few, if any, folks who are into HC/PC are against the use of a bullet board after the period when they are known to have been in use. After the "cricket bat fiasco" mentioned above, I have made and used a couple with two holes for hunting purposes only. I just don't put it on when I'm portraying an earlier period than it was known to have been used.

Gus

 

[Dphar]

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.)?

I have seen a photo of one that dates to before 1842 when its owner died of old age. How long he used it (born in 1761) is impossible to know. See page 257 of "Kentucky Rifles and Pistols 1750-1850".
The Frontier Folk site had a discussion on this and someone found documentation that the German Mercenaries fighting for the British used bullet boards to cut patches to fit the balls. I have no idea if they used them as speed loaders and don't care. They will result in shooting dirty patches since the lube of the time, tallow, is bound to pickup grit quickly. Unless doing some museum quality presentation I consider this to be as silly as agonizing over priming horns which date to the time of the matchlock.
If the Germans had them in the 1770s?

Dan

 

[stombaug]

As usual, you guys have come through with your opinions, and I really appreciate it. :hatsoff:

Obviously, the jury's still out on just how long these items may have been around history-wise. But, personally, if they're not PC/HC for "my time frame", it really doesn't matter, because I think that carrying a bullet board can only help if you need a quick follow-up shot out in the woods, which is where it really matters.

The HC/PC thing is nice, and I think I am "in the ballpark" on much of the things that have on my person when I'm out hunting. We can all be as HC/PC as we want to be... that's a big part of the fun. Heck - know what I never go into the woods without?... a cell phone (never know when you need to call for backup)! :rotf:

Thanks again, guys. :bow:

 

[blackpowderscout]

What I would like to try is patches tied around the ball, ready to go. This WAS done in the 18th century as a "speed-loading" option. I still haven't had the chance to try it, though, I rarely get the opportunity to shoot much anymore.

I killed a small hog a month or so ago with that setup of a PRB. Seemed to work as you'd hope for.

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/289999/post/1415374/hl//fromsearch/1/#1415374

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Have you tried that "quick followup shot in the woods"? :grin: I ask as I've only seen them acctually done twice; once with a double barreled rifle, and once with a swivel breech. :grin:

I like my bullet board as it makes my loading in the woods for the first shot very simple, AND it is a great tool to illustrate to folks what I mean when I tell them the patch wraps around the ball, and then the ball goes into the rifled barrel, tight. PLUS it's also a good example when I explain to folks the problem with archaeology; that it's simple, and technologically possible for the 18th century in colonial America, but tough right now to document that it was used.

LD

 

[stombaug]

Ah yes, the "quick followup shot in the woods" translates into loading your rifle while your hands are shaking after you hit a critter, and you may be less than focused on reloading! :rotf:

 

[Zonie]

Many have found that the "quick follow up shot" is not the best thing to be thinking about after big game has been hit with a shot.

If the shot was well made, just standing there quietly and listening to determine where the critter went (assuming they weren't dropped on the spot) is a wiser thing to do.

After a bit, reloading the gun quietly and carefully gives time for the shot to take effect.

While all of this waiting and slowly reloading is going on, the deer, not expecting to be shot was suddenly startled by the sound of the shot and the impact on its body.
It naturally will try to run away but it often will stop fairly quickly to see if anything is following it.

Since the hunter (in this case) isn't following, the deer will often begin to feel the effects of the shot so it will lay down for a minute.
In most cases, that minute will be its last.

IMO, the worst thing a hunter can do is to rush his reloading and go stomping off into the woods as fast as he can.
If the deer hears any of this activity, it will keep going as long as its feet can carry it.

Just my opinion and worth every cent it cost you. :grin:

 

[Rat Trapper]

A quick reload is needed for shooting the 2nd deer!

 

[Billnpatti]

I agree with you on this point, Zonie. Make the first shot count, then watch listen and wait. You can't watch and listen if you are paying proper attention to reloading.

I never use a speed loader at all. Just never cared for them. I do occasionally use a bullet board if I am doing a woods walk but never when hunting. But, that's just me.

 

[Billnpatti]

Actually, from your post, I had the idea that you were using it as a patch lube. But, since you are using just a tiny bit as a sealer on paper cartridges, it may not be a problem. Back when I was into Civil War reenacting, I used to make papeer cartridges for my Enfield. I just twisted one end closed and folded the other end over. They stayed closed with no sealant and worked fine for all of my reenacting. When I used them at the range with balls in them, the ball held one end closed and the other end was just folded over. In use, I would use my teeth to tear off the folded end, pour in the powder and then stuffed the paper wrapped ball in on top of the powder. Worked fine.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I do carry one when hunting. I realize with traditional ml rifles there is no such thing as a quick follow up shot. But, I do reload before walking up to a deer I have just shot and dropped. I have read too many accounts of 'dead' game jumping up and hurting the hunter when he approaches. Deer hooves and antlers can put a big hurt on a man. I reload then approach carefully. I use the ball board because in cold weather and shaky hands it is far more convenient than my normal cutting at muzzle procedure.

 

[tenngun]

Practicing speed loading from a horn and bullet board I loaded one time in 22 seconds on a string of 7. My average was 32 second for the full board. no matter what you won't get a second shot at a deer.I was taught that after you shoot a deer 'have a cigerette' then another. I never smoked cigerrettes but I do smoke a small clay. I found the BB convenint. I think they used them in the old days,but then I think Arthur was a real person, Henry Tudor killed the young Princes, and the Kensington ruin stone is a real artifact. As said, now I shoot mostly a smoothy and a bullet board ne war club just aint handy at all,bench or woods.

 

[blackpowderscout]

no matter what you won't get a second shot at a deer.

Not so. I am not ashamed to admit I shot at the same deer 4 times last year. She stood there for 2. Jumped about 10 ft when I hit her with the 3rd. Then walked a little ways before I sent the 4th.

I've watched my dad way back when shoot deer in the boiler room that stood there and looked at him. We'd find multiple entry wounds and they would be all tore up inside.

It happens.

 

[larryp]

Yep. Happened to me several years ago when out with my old T/C Hawken. Had two does come out in front of me at about 40 yards. Shot the first one through the neck and dropped her. The other went only a short distance and stood there looking at me. Last thing I expected! Reloaded as fast as I could with as little motion as possible. I don't think she could see me well with the brush surrounding me. She took off as I flipped the ramrod over and ran the ball home but stopped just a few feet behind a bush and peeked out, still trying to see what had caused all this ruckus. Stepped to the side a few feet for a clearer shot and did a second neck shot. A bullet board with even a couple extra rounds in it would have been a great help. The premeasured powder charge in a 35mm film canister was a great help.

 

[kopfjaeger]

Many have found that the "quick follow up shot" is not the best thing to be thinking about after big game has been hit with a shot.

If the shot was well made, just standing there quietly and listening to determine where the critter went (assuming they weren't dropped on the spot) is a wiser thing to do.

After a bit, reloading the gun quietly and carefully gives time for the shot to take effect.

While all of this waiting and slowly reloading is going on, the deer, not expecting to be shot was suddenly startled by the sound of the shot and the impact on its body.
It naturally will try to run away but it often will stop fairly quickly to see if anything is following it.

Since the hunter (in this case) isn't following, the deer will often begin to feel the effects of the shot so it will lay down for a minute.
In most cases, that minute will be its last.

IMO, the worst thing a hunter can do is to rush his reloading and go stomping off into the woods as fast as he can.
If the deer hears any of this activity, it will keep going as long as its feet can carry it.

Just my opinion and worth every cent it cost you. :grin:

I agree with you 101% Zonie if the shot is a perfect shot. But in a non perfect world sometimes non perfect shots are taken. And by being able to reload a little faster means I can shorten the suffering of an animal then I'm for it. A loading block gives you the option of a quicker reload, it's up to you and the situation if quicker reloading is needed.

Also I like loading blocks for my .32 caliber squirrel rifle. They save on loading time, and they make loading them little .310 balls a lot easier in the freezing winter woods. If you drop a .310 ball in a foot of snow it's pretty much gone.

One year I dropped my truck keys while hunting when there was a lot of snow, after back tracking twice and two hours of looking I found them. The first thing I did after that was go to the farm store ( like an Agway ) and get a couple large cow ear tags in the color orange. I attach one of them to my keys while hunting. Never lost a set of keys again. :2