Who uses Speed Loaders?

[Adam Helmer]

I bought a .50 caliber flinter last month and got a BIG tackle box full of shooting stuff in the deal.

Among other things were two dozen assorted plastic speed loaders for .45, .50 and .54 caliber loads. Some speed loaders were capped at both ends; one cap said "powder" and the other said "bullet." Six of the plastic loaders had a cap only on one end and an open exit hole on the other. One was loaded with powder on the cap end and had a patched round ball in the open end which filled the .50 caliber exit portal.

Until now, I have used coin wrappers to hold premeasured powder charges and had balls and bullets in small tins in the possibles bag. I can see where these plastic speed loaders offer a faster reload for flinters and caplocks.

How many Longhunters use these plastic speed loaders for their muzzleloaders? I suppose they will replace the powder horn and coin wrappers for some of us.

Adam

[captain2k_ca]

I use em, and like em......alot quicker, especially if you are hunting and need to get off a quick second shot!!!

[BILLY D.]

I do. But like I said before, I'm a 1/2 a$$ed traditionalist.

I like your idea with the coin wrappers, it adds a special flavor to the hunt. As far as speed loaders puting the powder horn out of business, only if the ol' guys let it happen.

It's up to folks like you to keep the rest of us in check and show us yuppies how it's really supposed to be done. In these times when everything has to be fast I am surprised nobody has invented a belt fed muzzleloader yet. :rolleyes:

I am sure if our Muzzleloader season were not so late, it follows all the other seasons, that you would see more traditionalists hunting here. But it makes it very difficult to hunt when the thermometer is hovering at 10° below zero to hunt in Buckskins.

Member back when I asked about the little plastic hootnannies to put over caps? well I found them at a place in Pa. They are called cap guards. They serve a couple of purposes. They protect the cap from moisture and they also keep the cap from throwing metal particles in your beautiful face. The name of the place that sells them is RMC Sports.

As far as tradition goes, if you are looking for a great Knifemaker that makes traditional Damascus knives I found one named Billy Watson. I just received a knife from him based on the Randal model survival knife, the man is truly an artisan of the first rank. Just go to his web site Billy's Blacksmith Shop Home of Watson Knives. I can't recommend him highly enough.

Best wishes, Bill

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Personally, I prefer to try and do it as "traditionally' as possible....i.e., NO plastic of any kind.
I carry my powder premeasured in glass vials fitted with a cork....I can pull the cork, pour my charge, then ram a ball home with a starter block and do it just about as quickly as someone with a 'speed loader (just an FYI....unless you practice with one of them 'speedloaders, they ain't so 'speedy';) ).
I keep my shot in a paper roll....used to just drop the paper tube down on top of the wadding, but some of them didn't break open and functioned as a slug, so I'm going to start breaking them and pouring the shot on top of the wad.

[Jack]

I guess I'd have to say I don't use them.
I do carry pre measured charges in pieces of PVC pipe, with a cork on one end, and a glued in plug on the other.
A few extra bullets in a loading block, and a fully loaded capper, and that's about all I carry.

[roundball]

I do all my shooting & hunting with Flintlocks year round but I'm not a purist and I use TC 4-N-1 quick loaders in .45/.50/.54/.58cals,
arguably the best pocket reloaders available because of their built-in short starter.

I don't think of them as "speedloaders" but simply as a convenient way to carry a few reloads in the pocket of a hunting shirt.
A deer is either down within sight and no "quick reload" is necessary, or they've bolted 25-35yds and crashed just out of sight
making a quick second shot impossible anyway.

After a shot, I take my time, spending several minutes thoroughly cleaning, drying, lubing the bore with cleaning kits carried
for that purpose, followed by the frizzen, vent, flint, and pan.....then I quietly reload the rifle and go fetch the deer...and if it's still
very early in the hunt, I'll drag him back to my stand, sit back down and continue hunting with a fresh load in a clean rifle.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/roundball/Muzzleloading/FieldCleaningKits1000pix.jpg

[BILLY D.]

roundball

Good idea with the finger cots also. Keeps the barrel nice and fresh.

Best wishes, Bill

[gumpokc]

I have used them before, but I havent hunted with the smokepole in about 5 years.
When i did use the plastic quickloaders, it was mainly for bad weather and helped keep the powder dry, plus i could carry 2 ready in a pocket on my jacket, and have the rest in a buttpack.

On a related note, I saw in a museum once, what I believe to be period speedloaders. the museum was eithe rin kentucky or central texas, since I remember it from when I was in service, I just can't remember exactly where.

They looked to be carved from antlers, and had a small leather cap on each end, and were part of a possibles bag and assorted gear.

They looked to be about the right size and shape, and I can't think of any other use for them, nor that there were 10 in the bag.

Our ancestors weren't stupid, and such an easily made item was well within their abilities.

Hell a scissors jack that alot of cars use today was easily within the abilities of almost any decent blacksmith in the 1700's, there just wasen't a need to generate the idea to make one.