How to carry precut patches?
 

All last summer I was practicing on the range using a patched roundball in my ML. Then a few weeks before deer season, I switched to a Powerbelt like I have used other years and sighted in. I got a deer with the Powerbelt with an easy shot at 48 yards. So this year I'm comfortable enough using a patched roundball to use it for deer season. My question is, how do you carry a precut, prelubed patch and get at it "quickly" to reload?

Right now I carry 5 speedloaders that have a partition in the middle; the loose powder goes on one side, the projectile on the other. It was very easy with the Powerbelt, but a roundball with a patch is another story. The patch is not going to stay put in the speedloaders I use.

If it matters, the ML is a .50 cal. Pedersoli Frontier caplock, traditional, with open sights.

You can get the inline style speed loader and load the patched ball and then put the powder in.

like these,
https://www.bpishopping.com/cva/acce...ack-green.html

Yep! That's the easy way if you want to reload fast. Quite a few speedloaders will hold a PRB.

This is another option, and the one I use. It's more period correct if that matters.

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Catego...93&styleID=978

+2 on Muley Hunter. I made mine out of a chunk of oak I had around the house. All you need if five holes for hunting. Punch it right through into the rifle and you're loaded in no time. Another way is I have an Altoids breath mint can. In that can are patch and ball. I never hurry when I reload anyway. Good luck.

For hunting, a small home made loading block/ball board that holds three balls and hangs around your neck on a cord works just fine. They are easily made from any tight grained wood and can be as fancy or plain as you like. A very thick piece of leather works well also.

THERE'S what I'm looking for! I like that it's a little more period correct than what I have been using. It looks like it would be very easy to make with some scrap oak I have here. And if I have trouble making it, Track of the Wolf is just a couple miles from the range where I shoot. Thanks!

I should add: It looks like it's maybe 1/4" to 3/8" thick; about right??

Here's a five ball in line model made from two pieces of leather sewn together. Wood is simpler.

It's 3/8".

Do you carry a powder horn and shooting bag as well???

I have my powder measure and loading/ball block on a leather thong...
This thong is attached to the strap of my shooting bag so when I need
to reload I simply pull this thong out of my shooting bag and then
I pour the powder into my measure (mine is set, non-adjustable)...I
drop the powder down the barrel and then get my short starter from my
bag, put the loading block over the muzzle and get the ball started with
the short starter...I then ram the ball home...

It takes less than 30 seconds to reload...

btw...My loading block has 4 holes...The first one or two are patched with .018 thick
patching...The last two are patched with .015 patching...After the 2nd shot, I use the
thinner patching...It makes it easier to load when the barrel is fouled and gives good
hunting accuracy...

PS...I also carry extra precut patches in wooden pill boxes, as well as a rolled up strip of ticking already lubed in my ball bag....

HA! I thought I was the only one using different size patches.

Yep, I'm going to have to figure out how I want to handle the powder now. Any ideas? In the past I measued the powder and put in one end of my speedloader. I guess I could do the same thing, but that wouldn't exactly be period correct either. I know I don't want to be measuring powder if I'm reloading in the middle of the woods with the potential for another deer coming by. HEY it could happen :rolleye0011: Maybe I'll swing by Track of the Wolf and see what they can suggest too.

Period correct would be to use a fixed powder measure made from brass/copper. A modern adjustable powder measure is not correct. Of course you need to use a powder horn.

Some of the guns in the old days came with the proper powder measure. Of course a speedloader is the fastest, and you don't need a powder horn. You can also make period correct speedloaders. Hammer them out of copper, and put a cork in them.

Anything you can think of now. You could have thought of back then too. Use your imagination, and don't use modern materials. It's all part of the fun, and you only need to satisfy yourself.

Actually they had tin powder measures in the 1700s, I've seen them at Williamsburg...

I'll try to take a few pics of my bag and it's contents this weekend and post...

Here is one Ted Cash makes...

http://www.tdcmfgstore.com/agora.cgi...ootingSupplies

Weren't they all fixed measures?

Muley, nope they were adjustable...I've seen them at Williamsburg and asked the gunsmith there if they had them in the 1770s he said, sure did...Now he also said a fixed or non adjustable were more common for the average fellow but when they bought a gun, it came with a mold, measure and bag as well...

I learned something. I always thought an adjustable powder measure was a modern thingy.

Once you find the correct load you want, you can make a powder measure from an antler or turkey bone. I was at the Eastern Sports Show on Monday and seen a whole box full of powder measures of different grain sizes made from turkey bones with a leather or wood plug on one end. They looked nice but I made my own from an antler tine.

Oooooh, I like the idea of using an anltler tine! I have a rack from a 10 pt. that I used to use for rattling bucks but gave up on. I've never been a fan of measuring powder in the field, at least not for deer hunting, but it sure would be a great way to carry premeasured powder. Man, did I come to the right place for some help!!

Antler tips will work fine. Cut them off square so you can seal them with a cork or something similar. If they come out too big. You can pour some epoxy in the bottom to get the charge volume you want.