Q: A.) Is the bullet paper patch or does he used Buffalo tallow.
Paper patching bullets is a tad more fussy to do than lubing bullets. It requires either precut papers
or a nice table & equipment out of the wind. The best long range work was/is done with paper patched bullets,
but out to 75-300 yards (typical ranges) lubed lead bullets will do just fine.
Buffalo do not have much fat, and the fat that is there (called
washi in Lahkota) is highly prized by anyone with a brain.
Hunters could buy bullet lube or tallow at the same time as their other supplies.
Q:
B.) How does the powder get compensed?
C.) Does he bother to crimp?
D.) With so many rounds does he use a rubber tube to a DC dress powder buildup?
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In 1874 Sharps sold paper patched lead bullets for between $8.75 to $12.75 per thousand.
Or he could melt lead and cast his own, and lube with fat or other tallow.
Blow tubes were used to keep fouling soft, but the smart shooterr would not shoot more buff than his team
could process at one time.
loading would have been accomplished manually with a Tong Tool.
in most cases it was not necessary to resize the case, as you would be shooting it in the same rifle
but some kits included sizing dies.
method:
deprime case with tong tool
seat new primer with tong tool
measure powder
dump into primed case
seat bullet with fingers
compress & crimp with tong tool
here is an original "portable kit".
This rifle was pictured on the front cover of the September, 1981 issue of Gun Report magazine.
It is accompanied by an extensive provenance file and factory letter stating rifle was shipped to a Gideon Burgess on May 29, 1873. File also includes a copy of the original 1873 dated sales invoice.
Rifle is contained in associated period oak and walnut travel case together with the following accessories:
1) Pair of buffalo fur gauntlets;
2) original hunter's black leather cartridge belt with 32 cartridge loops and shoulder harness
3) Full unopened box of Sharps cartridges with label reading:
10 Metallic/Centre Fire Cartridges,/50/100 Calibre.
Put up expressly for Sharp's Improved Rifle.
from Shells susceptible of being reloaded many times,
By Sharps' Rifle Manufacturing Co.,
Hartford, Conn.
4) Original period buffalo skinner's knife belt and harness with two skinning knives,
one marked: Geo. W. Hamm and the other: Russell/Green River Wo??.
5) Knife steel.
6) Cast iron ladle for melting lead for shot.
7) "Vinegar" horn with belt hook, used when sharpening knives. With carved legend 1846.
Two bullet molds, one for ball and one for the .50 caliber bullet. The ball mold marked: "Hall's Rifle".
9) Empty DoPont gunpowder can with illustrated label reading: Indian Rifle Gunpowder.
10) Period spring tension game scale by H. Boker, Germany.
11) Leather-Covered Wood Case for Long Range Sharps Rifle Sights Black leather-covered wood case with
blind tooling, including "SHARPS RIFLE CO./BRIDGEPORT CONN." on lid;
interior lined with purple satin and velvet.
All contained in a custom-crafted oak and walnut case with locking hasps.
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taken from here
https://www.collectorebooks.com/gregg01/usantique/Lot-121.htmhere are some articles for you:
http://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/scientific-buffalo-hunter/247855http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/resources/archives/five/buffalo.htmhttps://books.google.com/books?id=YAuOtMgfmC0C&pg=PA199&lpg=PA199&dq=buffalo+hunters+reloading+kit&source=bl&ots=7rdUYs_m7H&sig=ACfU3U2XnLUsVNo9CuOGihsaBNS6OkVl9A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj11tXb8vjgAhUB04MKHVGRDQ8Q6AEwDXoECAEQAQ#v=onepage&q=buffalo%20hunters%20reloading%20kit&f=falseTry searching the forum for articles and threads on buffalo hunters.
Dixie Gun Works and Track of the Wolf have some exxcellent books on the topic.
Mr Google is your friend, as is your local public librarian. Real Librarians love to help folks research
well-thought-out projects. It is literally what they trained for ( as opposed to sticking books in shelves).
have fun.
prof marvel
E..) What efforts are made to deal with the I evitable lead builldup?