Cartridges

[Tin cup]

The boys I Reenact/LH with get together every once in a while and do some shooting with our Rifles/Rifle Muskets.
As usual, I supply much of the ammo, as I have the molds, the sizing dies, the where-with-all, and the time, some would argue TOO much time on my hands!

The photo you see is some (well most) of what we will shoot.....577" Enfield, .58" US, .69 Rifle Minnies, .69" RB/B-n-B.

I have not tabulated the hours spent on this project, nor the amount/cost of the powder, or how much paper used...But the looks on the faces of the boys as they load and shoot these rounds, will be priceless!
We won't mention the sore shoulders latter!

I'll get pictures!

Kevin Dally

PS. NOW I know why Skirmishers use PLASTIC tubes!

 

[keith herring]

Rolling cartridges is time consuming. From cutting out the trapezoids, rolling tubes on the former, and filling with ball or buck and ball. It takes hours to do. Loading and firing at will from the cartridge box more than makes it worth while though

 

[Tin cup]

Well, we did a bunch of shooting today, GREAT weather!

We had an original .58cal Enfield, a couple of repro Enfield's, an original and repro 61 Springfield, repro Rifled and smooth-bore 42's, an original Smith carbine, and Maynard Carbine, repro 1858 Remington and 1860 Army .44 revolvers.

It was a lot of fun! (I'm shooting the Smith Carbine!)

Kevin Dally

 

[keith herring]

Looks like a great day at the range. I went out the other day by myself to work with buck n ball loads in my springfield. I had a blast. I did the mad minute a few times, loading and firing as fast as possible. Talk about a good time. I'm just glad there were no angry hornets coming back at me!

 

[Tin cup]

I had a blast.

You got that right! I had made up about 20 .69 Minnie cartridges, using the 1855 specs for the paper pieces, and found they were great to handle. I did some .58's the same way. I (for the 1st time) made up a large number of early (the three paper style) Enfield rounds, but can see why they went to the 4 paper type. Trying to tear thru 2 pieces of paper prior to dumping the powder was tough!

The picture is of one of the 730 grain .680" Minnie's we were loading, and the one next to it is one that hit a 3/8" thick metal plate at 50 yards...

What IS the last thing to go thru a bug's mind when it hits your windshield!


Kevin Dally