ML-Speed loaders

[paulvallandigham]

Kirkmeister. I have seen some people carry a small plastic tray-box- like the kind you put pills in when you are taking an antibiotic regimen to knock out some bacterial infection- with their minie balls, or lubed bullets kept in the tray. You could make the same kind of thing up for 3 or 4 bullets out of wood, with a drill, and a hinge and clasp to close the box. The box could be carried in a shirt pocket, or in your bag, if you insist on using one in the woods. I have done so, and now try not to use it, if I can. Its just something else to catch on limbs, and brush, and cause noise when I move. A lubed, wool felt wad the diameter of your bore, can be placed over the powder and under the bullet to both seal the powder gases behind the bullet, and lube the barrel to soften the fouling. Its important for accuracy that you protect the base of the bullet from being cut or deformed by gases. A well designed bullet has the grease groove stepped, so that the front band is actually cut by the rifling as the bullet is loaded, while the bottom band rides on the lands. That keeps the bullet square to the bore( land diameter), while allowing the bullet to be loaded without the need for four men and a mule to get the ball started down the barrel!

Good Hunting.

 

[PreglerD]

I think I will collect my own expiriences and then discuss again. thanks for the helpful answers.

 

[Slamfire]

I'm a believer in the "Ching" sling. A two strap affair that attaches to the muzzle, butt and front of the trigger guard. The long strap between the muzzle and butt is long enough to carry the rifle slung upside down. The short strap from the trigger guard to the other strap is long enough to make a tight sling effect, when you use it in the manner of a "hasty" sling. It takes less than a second to git into, and drop to a sittin' or kneelin' position. Otherwise, I like to lean on a tree, or somethin'. :thumbsup:

 

[rabbit03]

Greetigs from Texas

Here is what I have been using since 1972 and it has worked for me. I admit there is no PC about it but it is simple, pretty much FREE and foolproof. You can carry them in your shirt pocket and jacket or trousers, however you like. And all you need is a capper if you hunting with a percussion weapon. And for the flinters then I suppose if you didn't want to use the powder in the shell casing as primer also then you could just carry a seperate priming horn!

Also I hear you really can't use a roundball for what you need to do (too bad maybe you should get a bigger gun ) but I have also carried the old minis in this same fashion. The minis were already lubed and ready to go this way.

Simply pull the shells apart--dump in the powder--let the ball roll out with the patch(precut in a round or square shape) and then use your short starter to drive it in and then your ramrod to set it on the powder. Simple, fool proof, economical and I like it!

rabbit03

 

[rabbit03]

And since your most likely in a hurry if your having to use this method then there is no need to cut the patching either. Just ram it home and there should be no real loss of accuracy either.

rabbit03

 

[PreglerD]

Thanks for the answer. So i see there are many various methods of carrying a charge into the forest. I find it great. Now I have to choose what's best.

Greetings from Germany

 

[romeoh]

Hello Kirrmeister,

I think I´ve got two things for you.
#1: I made these "Speedloaders" on my own

Just buy a few meters tube, cut into pieces, close one end with whatever you´ll find at home. Then fill in the powder and close the second end with the bullet.

#2: Read carefully the german hunting-law. The 100-m-energy is only requiered for cartridge-ammo!
Of course it´s no mistake if you´re trying to shoot in a way that you bring enough energy to the target that these rules are fulfilled, but you don´t need to.

Many greetings from the "Bavarian Forest" :hatsoff:

romeoh

 

[roundball]

Home made pocket reloaders for .62cal:
(Use smaller size pipe for smaller calibers)
PVC Pipe with 7/16” ID (Inside Diameter)
2.5” - 3.5” long
Slightly bevel the inside of the mouth on each end

Circle Fly Over Shot card as separator in the middle (optional)
Patched ball in from one end
Powder charge in from the other side
Seal powder charge end with ”˜Muzzle Mitt’

1) Roll off the ”˜Muzzle Mitt’ and hold momentarily for later use
2) Pour powder charge and position that end on muzzle
3) Start patched ball (and O/S card separator)
4) Seat patched ball
5) Install ”˜muzzle mitt’ (or not)

 

[Bountyhunter]

I was just watching a show on the History Channel that was on the topic of the development of black powder, and early arms up to the flintlock.

They showed old paintings and drawings that portrayed musketmen carrying speed loaders of sorts. They were wearing a diagonal belt-like a Sam Browne- across their chest that had what appeared to be wooden containers hanging from cords that contained their loads. They also showed re-enactors who had these over the shoulder belts that had the little "bottles" hanging from them, about 6 or 8 per person.

 

[hawkeye1755]

I was just watching a show on the History Channel that was on the topic of the development of black powder, and early arms up to the flintlock.

They showed old paintings and drawings that portrayed musketmen carrying speed loaders of sorts. They were wearing a diagonal belt-like a Sam Browne- across their chest that had what appeared to be wooden containers hanging from cords that contained their loads. They also showed re-enactors who had these over the shoulder belts that had the little "bottles" hanging from them, about 6 or 8 per person.

You mean 'Musketeer Bandoliers'

A little story: Link
:hatsoff:

 

[roundball]

I've run across pictures/sketches, etc with guys wearing those bandoleers...but it didn't have the historical text this URL gives...bookmarked it, thanks for posting it.

Note:
And it's always struck me as sort of a goofy design to have them all loose, swinging around, banging into each other, getting twisted up together, etc...with all the other attention to detail they were capable of at that time, seems odd that a better way of holding them along the bandoleer wasn't thought if...or maybe this design was relatively short lived and an improved way came out shortly after...dunno

 

[PreglerD]

Hi romeoh,

thanks for the tipp with the "speedloader". Because of the German hunting law and the term "riflecartridge" I take a look in the German gun law. There you can read that the term has to be subsumed under cartridgeammunition at general. And cartridgeammunition is defined as bullet and powdercharge within a shell. It doesn't matter of what material the shell is. So a paper cartridge could also be used, even when you use it like former soldiers of ML-area. The term has not to be understand exactly because if so then slugs for shotguns would not be allowed at all. They are not rifle cartridgeammunition, but they are also used especially for hunting at wild boars and red deer, they even doesnt't bring the minimum energy of 2000 J for big game at a distance of 100 meters.

 

[PreglerD]

These equipment was called "the twelve apostles" and was used by the musketiers of the european "30 year war".

Greetimgs from Germany

 

[hawkeye1755]

These equipment was called "the twelve apostles" and was used by the musketiers of the european "30 year war".
Greetimgs from Germany

'The term "twelve apostles" for the powder bottles, which is frequently referred to in modern secondary source literature, came into use only in more recent times. There is no single source during the thirty years war mentioning this term. The number of the powder charges with early 17. century musketeer bandoliers also was not limited to 12, but varied between 8 and 14.'
Greetings from a stormy Northsea and good luck
with your first ML-hunting
:hatsoff:

 

[Wehrmacht]

Ich mochte mein Freunde Deutschen ausdrucken Deutsch auch Ich begreifen Deutsch :redface: :shake:.

Translation: I wish my German Friends would post in German also, so I may learn :haha: :haha:.

 

[Bountyhunter]

Yes, that's what it was.
Thanks.

Seems like they woulda sounded like a walking wind chime, doesnt it?

 

[bigbore442001]

I seem to recall that the Twelve Apostles method of carrying charges wasn't the safest method. I read that there was a distinct possibility of one or more going off when in the heat of battle.

Kirrmeister:

What caliber muzzleloader do you plan to hunt with? I still think it would be easier to order through the internet or mail, from a company like Thompson Center, Butler Creek or others that make speedloaders.

 

[tg]

I have never used speed loaders as I find no use for them i can load from loose balls and precut patches out of my bag, I have not found a situation when this method was not sufficient as for speed of loading, I have one gun which I bought use (Chambers Early Virginia smoothbore) that had a sling I find it usefull at times and don't use it if I don't feel the need or desire, it is a matter of preference, ihave never had it get in the way of anything and I hunt very thick cover most of the time, many of these little incidental things in the world of ML shoting are a matter of trial and error to see what works best for you.

 

[bramble]

Rabbit
I like your ingenuity on this one. A question, is your patch pre-lubed?
Also, it seems that I read in another post that a more PC method was using sections of cane for this purpose.
bramble

 

[romeoh]

Ich mochte mein Freunde Deutschen ausdrucken Deutsch auch Ich begreifen Deutsch :redface: :shake:.

Translation: I wish my German Friends would post in German also, so I may learn :haha: :haha:.

Just to please you:

@Kirrmeister:
Richtig, korrekt heißt es: Büchsenpatrone. Eine Flinte braucht die Energie also nicht zu bringen. Ein Vorderlader auch nicht, Du musst ja keine Papierpatrone benutzen damit er funktioniert :winking: .
Ich habe das Jagd-Thema schon mal im deutschen VL-Forum angefangen. Bestimmt interessant für Dich zu lesen:[url] http://foren.waffen-online.de/index.php?showtopic=309912&hl=Jagd[/url]

Right, correct it´s: riflecartridge. So a shotgun does not need to bring the energy. A muzzleloader does not too, you don´t have to use a papercartridge to make it work. :winking:
I have already started a hunting-thread in german ML-Forum. Surely interesting for you to read:
...

Well forster (or should I write Förster?), that´s it. I hope you´re satisfied so far...

See you

romeoh