508 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



I July 24, 1884. 



tains its own anvil. The main objection to the shells, how- 

 ever, is the fact that the pocket does not receive the primer 

 deep enough (as explained for the Lowed shell) and like thin 

 latter, is too thin in the flange, so that the extractor is liable 

 to cut through in trying to" extract, a swelled shell, or one 

 that hangs in the chamber from any cause. 



The Winchester and Frankford Strike me as the best shells 

 for general and continuous use. The heads are solid and 

 he4vy, there is a central vent to the pocket, so that the 

 primer can be driven out of the discharged shells with 

 the simplest of tools and the greatest ease, and the pocket 

 is deep enough to allow the primer to be, seated deeply, 

 and away below the rear face of the shell. There probably 

 are folded-headed shells made by the Winchester Company, 

 but all that I have in my possession are of the solid head 

 form. 



In buying shells it therefore strikes me that the rifleman 

 should be careful and look for certain points and exact that 

 his shells should comply therewith. He should call for ex- 

 terior- pruned, solid-headed shells, with deep pocket for 

 primer, and with one central vent for the flame. 



As to material, there is yet no settled opinion, some claim- 

 ing that high brass makes the best, others that a composition 

 called "gilding metal" possesses superior advantages. Those 

 made for the trade are generally of fine brass, those made by 

 the Government of gilding metal or copper. My experience 

 is— and I have used all kinds — that those of fine brass have 

 the longest life, and will stand heavier charges of powder 

 and a greater number of reloadings. 



But with the best shells in the world one cannot succeed 

 without proper reloading tools with which to do his work of 

 reloading, and this leads me to this subject. I have looked 

 and looked and looked in vain to try and find such reload- 

 ing tools in the market and for sale by the trade. Various 

 styles of so-called reloading tools are to be found, but they 

 do not satisfy all the conditions requisite for success; and I 

 can find no tools outside of those supplied by the Govern- 

 ment that will do their work properly. Let us examine some 

 of the tools to be had in the market, and from this examin- 

 ation see what is lacking. 



The Marlin Company advertises "reloading implements 

 for all sizes Ballard and Marlin cartridges," comprising 

 bullet-mould for either grooved or patched balls, ball-seated 

 re-capper and de-capper, powder scoop, wad-cutter, wood 

 mallet, and swage for bullets. Very good, so far as it goes; 

 but where is the resizing or crimping die? They also adver- 

 tise a combination tool that they claim to de-cap and re-cap, 

 seat the ball, and crimp at the same time (a thing that cannot 

 be done properly in one motion with certainty), and this tool, 

 it will be observed, does not resize the shell. The Winches- 

 ter Arms Company also advertise reloading tool sets, but 

 they are not complete, and will not give complete satisfac- 

 tion. In 1876-77 I had a set of reloading tools for the Sharps 

 .44-90 rifle and could do nothing with it, as there was no re- 

 sizing or reloading die, and I found that my shells continu- 

 ally "stuck" from having become swelled, and I had no 

 means of resizing ihem; neither could 1 seat a ball properly 

 and accurately, as I had no guide to enter the ball in the 

 shell. The Whitney Arms Company advertise and illustrate 

 only a cap-extractor, ball-seater, and bullet-mould. The 

 Providence Tool Company used to make reloading tools, but 

 they did not comprise all the parts needed, although they 

 were very good tools as far as they went, everything being 

 done by the pressure of long lever handles. The "Brown 

 variform reloader" does not comprise all the tools required, 

 and, in fact, I never have seen a combination tool yet — aud 

 I have seen, or examined from advertisements, a good many 

 —that filled its expectations, or that would do all that was 

 claimed for it; and I have never seen but one advertisement 

 of a resizing die, calculated to resize the entire length of the 

 shell. 



In order to tell exactly what is wanted I will have to go 

 through the entire operation of reloading a shell as practiced 

 in the army, properly, so as to give constant and proper 

 results. 



First — De-cap the fired shells. This is done usually with a 

 primer punch, the body of which fits closely but not tightly 

 in the inside of the shell, there being a fine steel punch in 

 the end that passes through the central vent and drives out 

 the exploded primer. Tttis punch may be a plain round 

 piece of steel, the shell in such case being seated in a recess 

 in a block of iron or steel, with hole to allow the old primer 

 to drop through, or it may be in the form of a pair of pliers, 

 the punch being then pressed in by the handles. 



Second — Wash the shells in boiling hot .water until all the 

 residuum has "been removed, then bake the shells in a hot 

 oven until they are thoroughly dried. Any remaining dirt 

 may be taken out with a stiff round brush. 



Third — Lubricate and resize each shell by driving it into 

 the resizing die with steady and straight blows of a mallet. 

 The resizing die should rest firmly on a support, and is pro- 

 vided with a punch for driving out the resized shells. The 

 die and shells should merely be greasy and not wet with oil, 

 as too much' oil causes the shells to "buckle" in the die. 

 Always resize each shell before recapping or reloading. 



Fourth — As the resizing die punch is apt to leave a slight 

 burr on the mouth of the shell, each shell should be lightly 

 scraped with the shell scraper (a three-cornered piece of tem- 

 pered steel set in a handle) on the inside edge around the en- 

 tire mouth to take off this burr, but not so as to thin the 

 shell. 



Fifth— Re-cap, seating the primers well home, and being 

 careful to see that pocket is free from dirt and the vent 

 properly clear. Primers should preferably be seated by 

 pressure, and the tool seats the primer the exact depth each 

 time, so that there can be no exposed primers if the tool is 

 properly used. The end of the screw or plunger which 

 presses in the primer is so made as to insure the primer being 

 seated at least 0.005" below the surface of the head. 



Sixth — Enter the re-capped shell into the reloading die, 

 place the latter thus in the safety socket, measure out the 

 powder with the powder measure, seeing that it is set to the 

 proper weight, pour the powder into the shell through a fun- 

 nel placed in the mouth of the reloading die (the longer the 

 funnel the more powder can be got in the same space up to 

 certain limits. I have used a funnel with spout over two 

 feet long to get large charges in small shells), press down 

 the already lubricated bullet through the mouth of the re- 

 loading die, observing that the cannellures are all full of 

 lubricant, and drive" the bullet home with the reloading 

 punch, driving the latter until it is clear down with irs 

 shoulder on top of the reloading die The bullet is then 

 seated home and the cartridge will be of the exactly proper 

 length. Press the loaded shell from the reloading die rind 

 it is ready for 



Crimping— Press the loaded shell into the crimping die, 

 the head of the shell resting in a recess in the safety socket. 



Drive down the crimping die upon the shell with the mallet 

 as far as it will go. Press out the shell now completely re- 

 loaded. 



We therefore need a de-capper and re-capper. These may 

 he separate or may be combined in one tool. In the army, 

 for rifle shells, etc., they are generally separate; for shotgun 

 shells they are combined in one tool, which can also be used 

 for rifle, carbine and revolver shells. We need a resizing 

 die: This is a tube of steel hardened, the interior being the 

 exact shape and size required to resize the shell to its proper 

 dimensions. The resizing die is five-thousandths of an Inch 

 less in internal diameter than the average chamber of the 

 gun, hence resized cartridges will always fit even the cham- 

 bers of guns that are of minimum diameter, and about the 

 exact leugth of the shell. The punch is a cylindrical piece 

 of steel, with an ogival point and a shoulder that fits the 

 mouth of the shell exactly, the diameter of the punch body 

 being that of the exterior of the shell. The shell being coni- 

 calj but a light blow, is needed on the punch to start out the 

 resized shell. A suitable anvil should be provided with re- 

 cess for the end of the resizing die to rest in both in driving 

 in and driving out the shell, a hole being drilled through the 

 anvil for the shell to drop into or through when being driven 

 out. Shells should be resized after every fire, for otherwise 

 there is no telling Avhen a shell may stick in the chamber, 

 and resizing after every Are prolongs the life of the shell, 

 for it may spread in two or three fires when not resized, 

 enough to prevent its being . resized at all; whereas, after 

 each fire the operation is comparatively easy and does not 

 injure the shell. 



A reloading die is absolutely necessary for accurate load- 

 ing. It is again a tube of steel with interior the same size 

 as the average chamber of the gun, and counter-bored on the 

 end to receive the head. The upper interior end is slightly 

 smaller for a length down to about the top of the shell (it is 

 of the exact diameter of the bullet) and serves to guide the 

 bullet properly into the shell, and hold it straight and con- 

 centric with the shell while being driven home. The reload- 

 ing punch, with which the bullet is driven home, enters a 

 certain fixed distance, so that the bullets are all seated alike, 

 provided this punch is driven home, and when the punch is 

 home the die then becomes an exact gauge as to the proper 

 dimensions of the loaded shell. Any cartridge that fits this 

 die, with punch inserted up to its shoulder, will fit the gun 

 to a certainty, and each shell is rigidly gauged and inspected 

 b} r its use while being loaded. 



For cartridges that are to be used at once, or are not to be 

 subjected to severe use, the crimping may be omitted, but I 

 have found it better to always crimp. My cartridges are 

 then waterproof, and are ready for any amount of knocking 

 about, and I do not have to make allowances in aiming, as I 

 would have to when using part crimped and part uncrimped 

 cartridges. Crimping lessens the velocity slightly, and there- 

 fore changes the trajectory and necessitates changes of ele- 

 vation from what would be necessary for those not crimped. 

 leading to confusion when used together. 



Never prime a loaded shell, nor attempt to prime it. This 

 is one of the rules that always should be followed, It may 

 be that a primer will jar out* of its seat while the bullet is 

 being driven home. In such a case throw the shell away, as 

 it has become worn in the pocket until it is too large to hold 

 the primers properly, and, even if it could be primed while 

 loaded with safety, the primer is apt to work out again in 

 the magazine of your gun, or while in your belt, and perhaps 

 be the very cartridge you might load with for a very risky 

 shot — to "get left" as a matter of course. 



Now all this operation aud description doubtless appears 

 long and tedious, and it doubtless is so — but "whatever is 

 worth doing at all is worth doing well," and certainly the 

 rifleman should reload his ammunition as carefully as does 

 the man of the "scatter gun," and I claim he should be 

 more careful, for the man with the shotgun fires a scattering 

 shot anyway, and a little, more or less, makes not so much 

 difference, but the man with the rifle has but one bullet, and 

 he wants that to go true to its mark and to go every time, 

 for he hunts more valuable and more dangerous game than 

 the shotgun man, and this cannot be guaranteed unless he is 

 as careful about his ammunition as he is about his gun. The 

 strictest and most scrupulous exactness should be demanded, 

 and never rest content with "Oh! that will do; what is the 

 use of being so blamed particular!" That one sometimes 

 hears too often. 



The man with the shotgun can and does generally provide 

 himself with the best reloading tools the market affords, not 

 only for rapid but exact work. Tools are to be had for the 

 shotgun that fill all the requirements, therefore why should 

 they not be provided for the rifle, where exactness is so much 

 more needed? 



And now I would ask sportsmen and manufacturers if we 

 have any reloading tools that will do the work described 

 above? Has there been any real effort to produce proper 

 tools, and will any "makeshift" answer? Is it any wonder 

 that some manufacturers refuse to warrant their guns unless 

 their manufactory ammunition is used? For do not the 

 manufacturers know that there are no proper tools, and that 

 shells cannot be loaded properly with tools to be had? 



As to the labor of reloading I cannot but admit that it is 

 hard work, but the results more than repay for the exertion. 

 One can choose his own powder, can regulate his own 

 charges within certain limits, and can in every way produce 

 better cartridges than those of the manufactory, while the 

 expense becomes much less. By taking one operation at a 

 time (such as resizing all, recapping all, etc.), the reloading 

 can be done quite rapidly, and oue soon acquires skill and 

 exactness. I have reloaded hundreds of shells, have never 

 met with any serious accident, and have had more faith in 

 my cartridges than in any 1 could buy. 



I would not advise any one to try and make their own 

 bullets. Cast balls are not as accurate in then flight nor so 

 invariable in their work as are those made at the factories. 

 These latter are swaged from lead wire by powerful machin- 

 ery, and are much more homogeneous and symmetrical than 

 any home-made balls can possibly be, even when the latter 

 have been swaged by the swaging mold and punch. 



1 would invite attention to the fact that nothing has been 

 said about the ."lubricating disk" in the above description, 

 and this simply because it is no longer used. I know that il 

 was used, and that some authorities still claim advantages 

 for it; but it is not used in the army. I used it some years 

 ago and found no good results therefrom, and abandoned it, 

 I found that it fouled the bore and caused the gun to lead 

 more with il than it did without. The carbonaceous matter 

 contained in the disk would burn and leave a crust to adhere 

 to the bore in addition to the residuum of the powder, and 

 wilder shooting resulted than when it was not used, unless 

 the bore was carefully wiped after each shot. But if the 

 bore is to be wiped the disk is not needed, its office being to 



keep the bore lubricated for each successive shot when not 

 wiping. Perhaps a thick felt, Wad would prove beneficial as 

 tending to clean the gun and prevent leading where non-wip- 

 ing matches are being shot. But it must "be remembered 

 that this wad would be between the. bullet, and the powder, 

 and would not be in position to sweep out either lead Of 

 residuum from m front of the bullet, so that the bullet would 

 yet have to encounter the residuum from the previous shot, 

 and the wad Would not prevent such residuum being left bto 

 the powder burning behind it; sd 1 think it of little value. 



For hunting, if the ball has been properly lubricated he. 

 fbre being sealed in the shell, there is no great necessity for 

 any additional lubrication. At target practice I have oh 

 taincd the best results from wetting the point of the bullet 

 with saliva; this reduces- friction as well as urease, and there 

 is no residuum from the saliva on the gun." Many dip the 

 bullet in oil, but I claim that this fouls the piece more than 

 saliva and does not give as good results. In hunting with 

 singleloadcrs the bullet can be thus moistened in the mouth; 

 hut for magazine rifles this is of course impossible; but then 

 it is not so very great importance after all. If" one uses 

 good clean powder the fouling from even ten consecutive 

 shots will be but a trifle, so little that one can still see the 

 glitter of the iron the whole length of the bore (I have tired 

 over an hundred shots from a Ballard gallery rifle before it 

 was cleaned, and we were shooting at live-cent pieces at fifty 

 feet and still did good shooting), and one has plenty of time 

 generally to pull a field cleaner through his gun after every 

 few shots even when hunting. What one Wants in a rriaj 

 zine gun more than in a singleloader, although it is of irn 

 portance there, is to see that his primers are properly set, his 

 shells properly sized, his bullets properly seated, and then 

 he can go forth confident that lie has done bis duty by the 

 gun and the gun is ready to do its duty by him. 



The primers for cartridges should be carefully select b< I 

 according to the Shells used, and no attempt be made to use 

 anything except just exactly the right thing, No make- 

 shifts will do; but the exact primers for the shells must be 

 had to insure success. That this want of uniformity in 

 shells and primers causes confusion, discontent and disgust 1 

 am well aware from experience, and I know, for 1 have tried 

 it myself, the temptation to make somethiugdo that is wrong 

 because that which is right cannot be obtained. One may 

 have Winchester shells and be only able to obtain (close at 

 hand and in a hurry, because one is out) the Berdan primers, 

 or some other form that is not suitable, or via- cer*/, and be 

 disabled for the time being, The only remedy that 1 know 

 of is to adopt some uniform shell for use aud keep a stock of 

 shells and primers always on hand, in quantity sufficient to 

 meet any emergency. 



For repeaters, do not use too sensitive primers. The mam 

 spring should be tested, and if found too weak for thick 

 primers, replaced by a stronger one. It is always well to 

 have an extra mainspring or two on hand at all times Im- 

 possible accidents: but a weak mainspring may be stiffened 

 temporarily by putting an auxiliary spring, made from any 

 thin piece offspring steel, either under or over the spring, 

 depending upon its position or bend. 



Examine and see that your shell heads are large enough in 

 diameter to fill the counter-bore completely yet easily,' and 

 that they do not slip by the extractor in singleloaders, for 

 some day you may get badly "left" if you do not. 



In all singleloaders that I know the extractor fits into a 

 recess in the counter- bores and must go home before the 

 shell, so as to be in position to extract, If the shell slips by 

 you cannot get the extractor home and cannot either close 

 the piece or get out the cartridge I bat has slipped by, excepl 

 by pushing out with a rod or jarring the butt on the ground. 

 and you arc temporarily disabled and perhaps just when you 

 need the shot the most. 



To the many this may seem to be a needless precaution, a« 

 they naturally suppose that all shells of each caliber are the 

 same by all makers, but from experience I know this is not 

 the case. Another reason for my abandonment of the 

 Lowell shell; for I had fifty of them that I tested one after 

 another in a Government carbine and they all slipped by, 

 and other ammunition, made by the Government, fitted all 

 right; and yet we were supplied with the Lowell ammuni- 

 tion for campaign against Indiaus; it was entirely new, just 

 out of the factory boxes, and was caliber .45 and intenfletl 

 for caliber .45 guns such as our carbines 



Perhaps it may serve as a lesson to some to hear how 1 

 came to learn this. It was in thiswise: While on White 

 River, Colorado, in the fall of 1879, my at Lent ion was called 

 to a carbine that was disabled by the shell having slipped by 

 the extractor. The officer who had the carbine had just 

 come back from looking for grazing ground, and while out 

 had ran across a large wildcat, and had got down from his 

 horse, slipped a cartridge into hisguu, and started to loll 

 the cat. The gun was a"U. S. Springfield carbine in perfect 

 order. He found he could not close the breech block, and 

 on looking to see why, found the shell filled the counter,- 

 bore and closed up the recess in which the extractor should 

 lie when home. Having no rod he could not drive the shell 

 out, and had to abandon his shot, leaving the gun in a dis- 

 abled condition until he could get back to camp and have it 

 repaired. 



1 examined the gun careiully and tested if with every car- 

 tridge there was in the officer's belt, as well as others, from 

 other belts, and all slipped by when dropped into the re- 

 ceiver and pushed home. All these shells were the Lowell 

 shells and were a tritle smaller in diameter and a good deal 

 thinner in the flange than the Govemmet ammunition proper, 

 none of which slipped by or could be forced by, as was found 

 on trial. Since that time I have always looked to see that 1 

 had what I should have and in a thoroughly reliable condi- 

 tion. It might have been something worse than a wildcat 

 that had been found, and it so happened that only a few 

 days before the same officer was jumped by the Jltesand 

 corraled in a ravine all the afternoon with his entire escort, 

 but on that day he had regular Government ammunition and 

 found no trouble in using his piece. 



But I have said enough, perhaps nothing that is new to 

 the many, but again perhaps a good deal that i s new to 

 some, anil' my desire to see this important subject properly 

 recognized has been my excuse. 1 hope that others may give 

 their experience, either agreeing with or contradict in*; mine. 

 Wyoming. ^. D. 



Maine Lauoe Game.— Munson, Me.. July 16.— The 

 derful increase of caribou aud deer since the game laws have 

 been enforced in this region is acknowledged by those who 

 have been the most bitter opposers of I hese enactments, one 

 day during the past month a caribou was seen in the orchard 

 of a farmer near this village, and during the da 

 across the Jake to the forest within view "f the La! 



