ML 'Speedloaders'

[renegadehunter]

When I first started I bought a couple of the TC 4-in-1 speed loaders. They also are supposed to be able start the projectile into the bore by holding the bottom sliding piece with the projectile positioned over the bore and then smacking the top of the whole thing with your other hand. I've successfully done it, it takes one heck of a smack let me tell you, but I wouldn't wager a cup of coffee on being able to do it ever single time and especially with cold and/or gloved hands.
I carried them for a while, up until I had the same experience as Carbon6's friend. Mine had come open in my coat pocket some time before I went to grab it. I didn't need a fast follow up shot at the time, it was just inconvenient.
So, the top pops open too easily, the little cap container is way more inconvenient than just wearing a capper around my neck, and using it as a short starter results in the plastic just bending out to the side almost as often it results in the projectile being driven into the bore. Maybe it would be much easier for the lucky folks that end up with a rifle that shoots a ball .010" under bore size with a .010" patch "outstanding" vs. my shallow grooved TC that likes a combo so tight that a mallet is almost needed.
Also, if I started just carrying a couple of them in my coat pocket instead of wearing my shooting bag, then I'd lose out on getting to hear my non-muzzleloading BIL calling it a purse too.
I don't even know where those speed loaders might be right now.
I might just have to search for them, I could at least use them to hold another patch and ball much like a ball block at least. That would save the time of opening a tin to retrieve a patch and then uncorking the top of the ball bag and dumping out another ball.

 

[Carbon 6]

Slow loaders

 

[Grenadier1758]

This is my speed loader. Made it a number of years ago.

Holds three rounds and has the short starter to push the ball out of the top side.

 

[ord sgt]

N-SSA. For competition, every shooter had his/her cartridge box. Each box had plenty of plastic tubes filled with a premeasured powder charge capped with a pre greased minie as a stopper. Pull the minie, dump the powder charge down the barrel, seat the minie in the muzzle and then ram the bullet. Cap and fire as quickly as possible.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Of course when I have my Grenadier's kit together, I have 38 paper cartridges ready for rapid reloading.

 

[SDSmlf]

A friend of mine use to hunt with "speedloaders", one day he pulled one out of his pocket and the lid popped open spilling it's contents on the ground.
Even if you use a speed loader or whatever, there is no substitute for being well drilled. On his best day with a speed loader I could still beat him by manually loading.

Practice like you will hunt. Call it well drilled if that makes you feel good. Muscle memory will take over when the pressure is on. In reality, have been hunting with muzzleloader’s since the 1970s. Always reload quietly and expediently after a shot, but the speed load concept has never come into play. Except for a couple of rare occasions, unless a second animal came into range, I have wound up emptying my gun into the ground or pulling the load. Muzzleloader hunting is not a speed loading game, at least in my opinion.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I have to put a plug in for the original "speed loader".

View attachment 50710

Folks, this is for combat....
OK so granted..., a pair, one of powder, one of shot, work good for rather brisk sport at upland bird shooting when one does not have a personal "loader" for one's shotgun...,
BUT for deer hunting, you might once in a an uncommon moment, get a second shot on a deer if you had a double rifle, with both hammers cocked, but otherwise, no, even a swivel is probably not going to give you a second shot on a deer. It will be down, or gone, if you hit it with the first shot.

LD

 

[rodwha]

So I’ve often read (here mostly of course) about loading boards and figured I got the gist of it, but high I guess I did, but seeing it all just registered with me a bit differently it seems. Since I’m a bit more interested in shooting game with a ball vs a conical in a rifle I’ve now got something new to me to contemplate! Dadgummit guys, thanks!



Love the blue grass too. Don’t hear that in Texas.

*EDIT*

You fellas are awful! Next thing you know I’ll be wantin wooden arrows and a recurve, maybe a hawk to replace my Estwing.

 

[YJake]

The original speed loader still works best for a smoothbore.

-Jake

 

[Carbon 6]

The original speed loader still works best for a smoothbore.
View attachment 50911

-Jake

Awe, those are cute, like little candies.

 

[Ruben44]

Butler Creek used to make some great speed loaders. They carried a percussion cap on each cap. They're getting hard to find.

 

[dave951]

With regard to the post about 'dryballing' one way to avoid this is to devise a 'speedloader' system.

Several years ago when I was hunting consistently I found some plastic tubes with a bottom and a slipcover cap but the important part was my .58 cal Great Plains bullets fit snugly in the open end. The tubes are only a couple inches long and I poured a measured load of BP into the tube and 'capped' it with a bullet.

I carried a few of these while hunting and if a quick reload was necessary simply pull the bullet, pour the powder, ram the bullet and carry on. Using something like this almost entirely eliminates a 'dry ball' situation at least when hunting anyway but might be a little less practical when on the range or target shooting.

The same system can be used with a patched ball if a tube can be found that will allow a patched ball to be loaded in the tube and pushed to the bottom as the 'base'. Then a charge of BP can be poured on top of the ball and then capped. Similar to load simply pull the cap, pour the powder and place the ball end over the muzzle and start the ball normally with the starter rod.

Again, this works well for hunting but not as practical for range/target shooting - unless you have enough tubes and want to load up a 'range days' worth of shots!

Welcome to the method used in North South Skirmish Association competition.

 

[Art Caputo]

Having tried most approaches over the years, my fastest and most natural process for hunting is my patched ball loading block,horn/ 70gr spout, filled with 3F for charge and prime. About 30 seconds average time in hunting conditions.

 

[MIOutdoorsman]

I carry the plastic speed loaders with removable caps on both ends. Actually did have an opportunity my first time hunting to get off a couple of shots at the same deer, and the speed loaders definitely aided that harvest.
I also wear modern hunting clothing and boots too.

I make my own accoutrements bag, and carry a few traditional items too, but for hunting, those speed loader tubes are very popular in PA during flintlock season. (PA differentiates between flintlock and muzzleloader seasons.)

 

[kelljp]

Here is the speedloader I use, 5 balls/patch in the bottom and 3 70 grain charges made by Earl Slagle of Elizabethton TN. Works great. When hunting, reduces a lot of weight.

 

[SDSmlf]

Here is the speedloader I use, 5 balls/patch in the bottom and 3 70 grain charges made by Earl Slagle of Elizabethton TN. Works great. When hunting, reduces a lot of weight.

3 powder charges and 5 balls/patches?

 

[hanshi]

If I shoot a deer I never leave my stand without first reloading the rifle. Being "fumble prone" subsequent reloads take a while. This is fine with me as I learned to stay on stand for an hour or so to get additional shots at other deer. Frequently I'd drop 2 or 3 more during that hour. Even when carrying premeasured powder charges it doesn't go any faster for this kid. I don't do anything fast because if I try I screw up. Never used a ball board and can only speculate on the many ways I'd drop stuff and fail to get it done.

 

[Okie Hog]

This is my historically abhorrent quick loader. It contains six .50 caliber patched round balls.

 

[toot]

Here is the speedloader I use, 5 balls/patch in the bottom and 3 70 grain charges made by Earl Slagle of Elizabethton TN. Works great. When hunting, reduces a lot of weight.

rely neato.

 

[Danny Ross]

The speed loaders I have, have a metal pocket clip, like on a click ball point pen. The shape of the end of it has a point like an arrow. When I fill the speed loader, I do so that clip points towards the powder end, so I can quickly (if needed) know which end to open first to pour the powder down the barrel, then open the other end and push the patched roundball with the short starter into the barrel. If shooting a Caplock there is a place on each end to carry a cap. One of the ends is marked ball but it is so faint it is hard to read, even when I didn't need glasses. I don't see them with the pocket clips anymore. I usually only carry 3 when hunting. Only have needed the second shot once, when I hit a doe high and broke its back and it was trying to get up. Being able to reload quickly in that situation helped. DANNY