Speed Loaders

[reward]

Just wondering what you are using for speed loaders. I am hunting with a 45 cal hawken rifle, 285 gr conical and 80gr pyrodex. Thanks in advance and God bless!!

[Dan Chamberlain]

Technically, I don't use them.  I don't like carrying any more into the woods than I need.  But I have made some that are pretty reliable and incredibly light weight.

I buy wax paper and large label paper.  I cut wax paper and label paper into squares.  The label paper is normally a quarter inch larger than the wax paper.  I lay the wax paper on the sticky side of the label paper so that one side of the sticky is exposed for that quarter inch.  THen I roll it around a mandrel, dowell or whatever you like.  With this method, I make a tube.  I fold over one end and glue it.  Pour my powder charge and fold over the other end and glue it.  I have placed these in water and let them float for several minutes and the powder has remained viable. 

In the woods, I tear off one end and pour my pre-measured powder charge and stuff the remaining paper in my pocket for later fire starter.

I do this with shot charges as well.  That way my speed loaders weigh no more than a piece of paper and are useful as well.

Dan

[Snowshoe]

I have had a few different types over the years, and like the T/C 4-N-1  best. They come in packs of 2, so I just carry a few powder charges in copper pipes cut to the right length and capped, and few extra balls and patches, to reload  the speed loaders if needed. With my new .54, I plan on using a ball board and the copper pipes.

[SuperstitionCoues]

Technically, I don't use them.  I don't like carrying any more into the woods than I need.  But I have made some that are pretty reliable and incredibly light weight.

I buy wax paper and large label paper.  I cut wax paper and label paper into squares.  The label paper is normally a quarter inch larger than the wax paper.  I lay the wax paper on the sticky side of the label paper so that one side of the sticky is exposed for that quarter inch.  THen I roll it around a mandrel, dowell or whatever you like.  With this method, I make a tube.  I fold over one end and glue it.  Pour my powder charge and fold over the other end and glue it.  I have placed these in water and let them float for several minutes and the powder has remained viable. 

In the woods, I tear off one end and pour my pre-measured powder charge and stuff the remaining paper in my pocket for later fire starter.

I do this with shot charges as well.  That way my speed loaders weigh no more than a piece of paper and are useful as well.





Dan

Dan,

Could you maybe post a picture of this?  These sound like the old paper cartridges issued to a solder in the cap-and-ball/flintlock era.  It sounds like a really good idea, but I am not sure of what "label paper" is.  Do you mean something like a large Avery label, that you could run through a laser printer?  I'll bet I could get this to work for my .54 cal. GPR.

[roundball]

Just wondering what you are using for speed loaders. I am hunting with a 45 cal hawken rifle, 285 gr conical and 80gr pyrodex. Thanks in advance and God bless!!

Of three or four types I've tried, IMO the TC 4-N-1 pocket reloaders are head & shoulders above all the rest...settled on them and have been using them for 10-15 years in .45/.50/.54/.58 calibers...simple, durable, built in short starter makes them the stand out for me...load my rifle before I leave the house deer hunting, slip 3-4 of them into a ziploc bag in my coat pocket, and I'm all set.

[reward]

Do they work well with a prelubed conical?

[roundball]

Absolutely...I use a .45cal/255grn TC Maxi-Hunter from time to time and use them for that...

Here's a photo of some .58cal TC 4-N-1 reloaders...

[Dan Chamberlain]

Superstition:

"Could you maybe post a picture of this?  These sound like the old paper cartridges issued to a solder in the cap-and-ball/flintlock era.  It sounds like a really good idea, but I am not sure of what "label paper" is.  Do you mean something like a large Avery label, that you could run through a laser printer?  I'll bet I could get this to work for my .54 cal. GPR."

No photo help just yet since I didn't photograph my last construction.  By label paper I do mean that which is used to print labels.  Say you cut a 2" square of label paper (depending on the size of tube you want) and you cut a 2" X 1 3/4" of wax paper.  You lay the wax paper (waxy side in) on the label paper so that one side has a quarter inch of sticky exposed.  Roll it on your mandrel and you make a tube when the sticky side meets the paper again.  (I don't know any better way to explain it)

Pinch and fold one end over and glue with elmers.  Fill it with your powder charge and pinch the other end and fold over and glue it.  You have a premeasured charge.  Not really a speed loader, but it precludes having to get out the horn and charger.

The used preload can be crumpled up and put in you pocket for later disposal...or used for firestarter.  The wax paper resists moisture.

If you got really tricky, you might also include your conical in one end for an old style preload.

Dan