James Hunt - like your Buffalo Reloading topic over on Shiloh

[Black River Smith]

James,

I too have desires for more original early reloading equipment.  But I know the cost would be out of my range.

I have created the deprimer(wood block with wood plunger), a pliers style primer tool, the patch parallelogram plate and a press on loader for a 500gr bullet.  I have tried to make a good hammer swage bullet die, but...   Also the follower is a very case/bullet specific item.

All appear to be period but not perfect.  Bullet mold is the hardest to make.

I also read were they took two large wooden blocks with the correct sized depth wholes.  They inserted casing with bullet on top into bottom block then pressed the second block down to seat bullet.  This would do about 50 bullet at once.  To them this was hunting not target.  Time was limited after hunting; searching for next stand; and then darkness.

I am all hears....

[Steel Horse Bailey]

James,
........
I also read were they took two large wooden blocks with the correct sized depth wholes.  They inserted casing with bullet on top into bottom block then pressed the second block down to seat bullet.  This would do about 50 bullet at once. To them this was hunting not target.  Time was limited after hunting; searching for next stand; and then darkness.

I am all hears....

This sounds like a very efficient way of mass production - but done in the woods or on the plains.


All hears. 

[Black River Smith]

This was plains Buffalo hunters.

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[Steel Horse Bailey]

Howdy

BRS, pardon the mistaken (and misused) reference to "the woods".  Back in the day (MY old day  ) while doing the Army thing, we called ALL trips out to the maneuver areas "in the woods."

Didn't matter WHAT the actual terrain was like: woods, plains or desert.  It was all "the woods."

Just my misuse of the term  and an old habit I fell back into.  I do actually know that there weren't MANY buffalo herds actually roaming many forests.   

[French Jack]

SHB--- actually, there were a considerable number of bison that were woodland residents in the USA, however being tasty, they were eaten by the settlers as fast as they could be found.  In Europe, there was and still to this day is a bison in Poland that is a woodland inhabitant.  I understand that quite a few were eaten in WWII.   

[Steel Horse Bailey]

SHB--- actually, there were a considerable number of bison that were woodland residents in the USA, however being tasty, they were eaten by the settlers as fast as they could be found.  In Europe, there was and still to this day is a bison in Poland that is a woodland inhabitant.  I understand that quite a few were eaten in WWII.   

Jack ... right as usual.  Matter of fact, I have actually seen (and been interactive with) a LARGE herd of Buff that live, at least part of the time, in a wooded area.  Back about 1965 or 6 our church sponsored a work party that went to the Blackfoot Reservation in Montana.  We traveled 'thru the Dakotas and wished to see Mt. Rushmore.  We were too late in the evening to actually visit the site/museum itself, but we were able to see the Presidents because they keep it well-lit overnight.  We were driving there when our headlights showed a glint from the reflection of cattle eyes loose on the "back road" we were on.  These cattle were crossing the road, which was surrounded on both side by a National Forest.  ONLY ... when we actually saw the cattle full in the light of the headlights, they were Buffalo, NOT cattle!  We were stopped in the middle of the road (with several other carloads of people) for at least 15-20 minutes while a HUGE herd of Buff moseyed from one side of the wooded highway to the other!  Later, we found out that at that time (maybe still today - I don't know) this herd was Federally owned/cared-for and protected, and lived on the property around Mt. Rushmore.  It was then the largest remaining herd and numbered (IF I remember correctly  ) well over 25,000.  And I think that ALL 25,000 had us stopped on the road that night!!! 


I have pictures somewhere  but I can't put my hands on them right this moment or I'd scan one and post it here.

Woodland buffalo?  You bet!  They were simply much less numerous than their plains dwelling brethren.

[French Jack]

Yep, the buffalo east of the Mississippi and quite a few west of it were shot with arrows and rifles that were reloaded on the spot-- first the powder, then the ball----   

[James Hunt]

Black River Smith: Sounds like you put allot of effort into your kit, I'd like to see one made for purchase as I have few, actually no skills for stuff like that. My primary interest is a correct mold. Actually I was surprised to see Kurt respond, but it was more "why would anyone want a mold like that when they can get ....", or "the mold would get so hot in your hand that...." I thought of sending them a picture of me sitting over a fire casting round ball in a mold the size of a teaspoon and in fact burning my hand from time to time. They just wouldn't get it though. I guess we can put Shiloh management into the shooters first, history second category. Still, I think it would be a neat accessory and quite the amenity for a Shiloh owner. maybe it is something that Taylor's would be more inclined to do.

Bet Kurt has a Gus crease in his hat. Shouldn't have said that as I have been to Big Timber and they are really gracious people. Regards, Jim

[French Jack]

James-- Rapine makes a mould you are looking for.  He calls them the "Bag Mould"--- for carry in a possibles bag.  You can get his address and phone from the Shootist.  He doesn't have a website.

[James Hunt]

French Jack: Indeed I own at least one bag mold, but as far as I know he makes them only for round ball, further he curves the handle on the end, and instead of a "block" for the mold itself it is more round and would not really amend itself to a bullet. Having said all that it seems that Rapine would be a likely candidate to make a correct Sharps mold.