THE GUN: RIFLEMEN ALL

Subject: THE GUN: RIFLEMEN ALL Sun Dec 12, 2010 8:26 pm

Really worth watching to the End.Cover a wide range of rifles including the M.H.

My computer volume is in full time mute. ??. Needs repairing.

Neil. There is one particular rifle where the guy is firing quite rapidly it has a side lever. Would this have been about in the Zulu War. Because its appears to be a lot faster to load and fire than the M.H

Subject: Re: THE GUN: RIFLEMEN ALL Sun Dec 12, 2010 9:15 pm

Littlehand. Great post. Now thats a day out I would really like. Idea

Posts : 553 Join date : 2009-10-14 Location : Loughborough

Its a Soper rifle, trialled in 1869 with the MH, in 1869 John Warwick of the Berkshire Rifle Volunteers, fired 60 rounds of boxer ammunition in sixty seconds from a pattern 1868 Soper Rifle. He did it in the initial field trials carried out by the military to decide on the latest rifle. Soper was unsuccessful, as the mechanism was considered too complicasted for a military peice.

The Carter and Edwards, as mentioned in the footage, was a superb peice, but dodgy ammunition, and the fact a missfire injured Col Halford an assesor caused ot not to be considered.

Posts : 747 Join date : 2009-10-18

Thanks Neil. What don't you know about firearms.

http://www.micksguns.com/antique%20guns.htm

Posts : 553 Join date : 2009-10-14 Location : Loughborough

Admin

Welcome to my Normal sunday morning!.,

Posts : 747 Join date : 2009-10-18

Quote :: Welcome to my Normal sunday morning!.,

Are you telling me you don't go to church on a Sunday morning..

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 62 Location : UK

Neil. Perhaps you could invite members of the forum to a shoot. One day. (At a cost of course) I wish my Sundays were like that. (In-stead of getting Nagged at by her in doors all day.

Posts : 553 Join date : 2009-10-14 Location : Loughborough

Sunday is a day for worship,.... Victorian gunmakers!

John, its not that easy unfortunately, it is only periodic guest days that non Firearm certificate Holders may shoot, the law is if you are not a member of a club, or, FAC holder you cannot shoot, as both I (as the gun owner) and yourself (as a member of the public in possesion of a firearm) are breaking the law.

On Guest Days at out club, A member can bring along a guest to shoot, (1 member=1 guest) as it is authourised by the police, (how else can anyone try and see if they like it?.), as you can imagine I get innundated with requests, and there simply ain't enought guest days, cost isn't the issue, (although it works out at approx 50p per round), the reloading time, bullet casting time is, 30 rounds takes three hours to load, and 30 mins to fire.

Posts : 187 Join date : 2010-02-04

Neil Aspinshaw wrote:: Sunday is a day for worship,.... Victorian gunmakers!

John, its not that easy unfortunately, it is only periodic guest days that non Firearm certificate Holders may shoot, the law is if you are not a member of a club, or, FAC holder you cannot shoot, as both I (as the gun owner) and yourself (as a member of the public in possesion of a firearm) are breaking the law.

On Guest Days at out club, A member can bring along a guest to shoot, (1 member=1 guest) as it is authourised by the police, (how else can anyone try and see if they like it?.), as you can imagine I get innundated with requests, and there simply ain't enought guest days, cost isn't the issue, (although it works out at approx 50p per round), the reloading time, bullet casting time is, 30 rounds takes three hours to load, and 30 mins to fire.

Neil - Can you elaborate on the bullet casting? - I guess that you reuse the cartridges?

thanks

Posts : 553 Join date : 2009-10-14 Location : Loughborough

Cisco

The original MH bullet was not cast, it was swaged, i.e lead rod was chopped to size, then it was compressed into shape in a pre formed steel die. (as was Shrapel or case shot balls, they have a seam, swaged, a musket ball being a cast will not and that will have a small sprue or flat spot where it ws fed into the mould)

Today, in absence of a swage, then bullets are cast. Firstly I melt pure lead in a crucible, to this about 15-20% by volume of tin is added, (original was 12:1), this is harden the lead. Beeswax is added to flux the lead.

The lead is then poured into bullet moulds, on cooling (5 seconds) the mould is opened up and the bullet tumbles out to cool. Once cool, the bullet cannelures are lubricated with beeswax/lithium alloy, and pushed through a sizing die to ensure roundness and perfect size, in my case either .459" , .461" or ,464" depending on the MH being shot.

If I am paper patching, the bullet is sized to .451", then wrapped in template shaped 100% cotton fibre paper, dipped 1/3rd depth in molten beeswax, then pushed through a .459" pre heated die, this ensures the round is identical in shape and size to Mk3 Boxer bullets.

The whole process to prepare crucible, prepare moulten lead, cast and prepare 100 bullet heads is approx 3 hours.

» "With 6 good riflemen"
» Sergeant William Grapentin, Cape Mounted Riflemen.