Mad Irish Jack
40 Cal.
I made a ML smoothbore/shotgun loading implement (load measure). I shoot a .62 cal/20 gauge Center/Mark, French Tulle de Chase. I use a powder charge of 80 grains of FFg Goex Black Powder. And, 120 grains (volume) of any size lead shot. This is the old volume charge method of using 150% (1.5 times) measure lead shot that depends on your powder charge size. Mine: 80 gr powder + 120gr (1.5 X 80 gr)lead shot.
ITEMS NEEDED: an 8 inch brass tube (diameter to fit INTO gun barrel); a wood dowel that will fit, snug but movable, INTO the brass tube; 3 or 4 very small (craft) brass tacks (1/4 inch long is good); a 3 foot length of 1/4 inch wide, thin but strong, leather lace.
TO MAKE: Cut a 3/8 inch length of dowel (plug) and put it just into the brass tube. Measure out your powder charge and pour into the opposite end of the tube. Push up the dowel in until the powder is level at the other end. This is the powder charge end. Dump powder back into storage source.
Using a pencil or smaller dowel, measure the distance to the plug; add 3/16 inch to that. Drill three or four small holes, there, into the tube and just started started into the dowel plug. Wrap the end of the 3 foot length of leather lace around holes and attach to the tube by tapping brass tacks in the holes through the leather and tube and into the plug. Now, measure out the shot load charge and place into the other end (opposite the powder charge end). This is the shot charge end. Using dowel or pencil, measure down to the shot and transfer this mark to the outside of the tube with a pencil. Return shot to storage container. Cut the tube to the length of the mark. Using the lace you can attach the measure to your pouch strap and place measure in pouch. Or tie it to a button or coat and place it into a pocket.
TO USE: Place powder into powder charge end and dump into barrel, LEAVING the tube in the muzzle. The lace keeps it at the muzzle and tells you the powder is DOWN. Having the lace attached to the measure that is in the muzzle will help keep your gun upright. Put your wads into your hand, remove the measure, place wads in muzzle and short start them with the measure. Set wads with the ramrod and leave it in the barrel to tell you the wads are DOWN in there. Dump your shot into the measure; remove ramrod and dump shot into barrel leaving the measure in the muzzle, telling you the shot is DOWN (because the powder end is UP). Take the over shot card and place a nick on the edge by pushing against a tooth (or hard edge of something). Remove the measure to pouch or pocket. This nick helps put the card down the barrel smoothly, without vacuum build up, by leaving air pass out the nick as you set the card with the ramrod.
ITEMS NEEDED: an 8 inch brass tube (diameter to fit INTO gun barrel); a wood dowel that will fit, snug but movable, INTO the brass tube; 3 or 4 very small (craft) brass tacks (1/4 inch long is good); a 3 foot length of 1/4 inch wide, thin but strong, leather lace.
TO MAKE: Cut a 3/8 inch length of dowel (plug) and put it just into the brass tube. Measure out your powder charge and pour into the opposite end of the tube. Push up the dowel in until the powder is level at the other end. This is the powder charge end. Dump powder back into storage source.
Using a pencil or smaller dowel, measure the distance to the plug; add 3/16 inch to that. Drill three or four small holes, there, into the tube and just started started into the dowel plug. Wrap the end of the 3 foot length of leather lace around holes and attach to the tube by tapping brass tacks in the holes through the leather and tube and into the plug. Now, measure out the shot load charge and place into the other end (opposite the powder charge end). This is the shot charge end. Using dowel or pencil, measure down to the shot and transfer this mark to the outside of the tube with a pencil. Return shot to storage container. Cut the tube to the length of the mark. Using the lace you can attach the measure to your pouch strap and place measure in pouch. Or tie it to a button or coat and place it into a pocket.
TO USE: Place powder into powder charge end and dump into barrel, LEAVING the tube in the muzzle. The lace keeps it at the muzzle and tells you the powder is DOWN. Having the lace attached to the measure that is in the muzzle will help keep your gun upright. Put your wads into your hand, remove the measure, place wads in muzzle and short start them with the measure. Set wads with the ramrod and leave it in the barrel to tell you the wads are DOWN in there. Dump your shot into the measure; remove ramrod and dump shot into barrel leaving the measure in the muzzle, telling you the shot is DOWN (because the powder end is UP). Take the over shot card and place a nick on the edge by pushing against a tooth (or hard edge of something). Remove the measure to pouch or pocket. This nick helps put the card down the barrel smoothly, without vacuum build up, by leaving air pass out the nick as you set the card with the ramrod.
