Period Correct Speed Loaders

[burch]

So we have the loading block and cappers for a quick hunting reload. What is the period correct accoutrement for carring a pre-weighed powder charge ?

               Burch

[Wyoming Mike]

I would imagine that anything that would do the job would work.  Old drawings of arquebuskers show what looks like wood cylinders on a shoulder strap that would hold premeasured powder charges.

This is pure speculation but I would think if the hunter used them, cane would be an ideal material.  Plug it at one end with wood and bees wax and have a cork or wooden plug at the other.  That would make sense especially for a southern hunter where there was a lot of cane breaks around..

[melsdad]

I remember seeing a small block of wood that had a few parallel holes drilled into one side of the block that held a charge of powder. The holes were plugged with wooden plugs, and there was a strap attached to hang around your neck, or you could simply keep it in your hunting pouch.

Maybe someone can post the picture I am talking about.

[Loyalist Dave]

The accepted speed loader of the period was the military cartridge box, with paper cartridges and a ball.  One problem with the German Jaeger rifles,... we know they used patched ball, but don't know if they loaded their cartridge blocks with powder cartridges only, and followed with the patched ball, OR if they placed a pre-patched ball into the cartridges, and removed it from the paper while loading..., or simply knew the paper would break away from the patched ball while loading.  It is also known that some American riflemen (Lewis Wetzel for one) would hold loose ball in the mouth, and speed load in combat without patching.  BTW at 50 yards or less in combat the unpatched rifle ball will hit a standing man center mass.    

LD

[Fletcher]

As Loyalist Dave said, I believe the only historical evidence and interst we have in 'speed 'laoding' was military.  I was under the impression that the waxed paper 'carrtidge' which had a ball (or mini ball) attached was bitten off, the powder poured in and the rest shoved down.

That is what we learned from the reinactment guys who put on a show for the Boy Scout Jamboree when we were there near Gettysburg.  They had both colonial and Civil War reinactors.  It was really neat, but I don't know how much 'Hollywood License' even those guys have.

I would love to see more information taken from written period documents.

[burch]

I like the wood cylinder idea.

[Uncle Russ]

I like the wood cylinder idea.

I believe those "wooden cylinders" are called apostle's.  

You know, like the apostles Mark, Luke, and John...

Uncle Russ...

[Craig Tx]

Actually I think "apostles" is a modern term.

Chargers, I believe, is the correct term.  So you would have a bandolier of chargers.

I've previously (I think this topic came up on another forum.) consulted with my history geeks and none of them could document a use of a bandolier of chargers in a non-martial use.

Craig

[burch]

So with the paper chargers you just bite off one end and dump everything down the barrel paper and all, right ?

     

[Wyoming Mike]

Come to think of it, I have never seen a speed charger in anything other than a military context.  

I use them when hunting.  Not for speed loading but as convenience.   The "speed" loaders I use are teflon tubes close to the caliber of the rifle.  They have a cap on one end and the other is open.  I put in a premeasured charge and plug the other end with a lubed, patched round ball.  When I need to load I pull the cap off and pour the powder in, put the tube over the barrel and push the ball in with my short starter.

What is nice is I can carry five of these in a pocket along with a short starter and capper or priming horn.

I doubt if any longhunter would do such a thing but a city person or farmer on a short hunting trip may have used something similar.

[Loyalist Dave]

Correct, with the paper cartridge you bite, tear, pour, insert, and ram down.  The paper serves to hold the ball in as the ball is lots smaller than the bore, when using a military cartridge.  

LD