Cowboy reloading.

[mckenney99]

I Assume that at least some old west cowboys reloaded their own cartridges, 38-40's, 44-40's, 45 Colts and even rifle cartridges.

I also assume they had to use the Black Powder they could obtain in towns that they traveled through.

How did they carry/store their Black Powder to keep it dry and usable until it was needed?

I have seen photos and read stories where they purchased the powder from bulk barrels and it was supplied in cloth or paper sacks, but that packaging would not have provided any type of protection from the elements, even in saddle bags.

 

[mtgianni]

I find it difficult to assume that the average cowboy from 1875 -1900 shot his revolver more than a dozen times a month. As such most would buy cartridges from the general store. Reloading might have been done by a curious and adept store owner. Someone with a permanent home and an interest in shooting may have reloaded. The general business of a dawn to dusk workday left little time for shooting, hunting or fun. Cooking was at the ranch or if you were at a line camp well provided for.

 

[scattershot]

Buffalo hunters reloaded their cartridges, but they travelled with so much baggage they would have had room for waterproof containers for their powder.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I would think that the well traveled cow poke, did little reloading..........

since Black Powder was very touchy about ANY, static electricity !!

 

[tops]

About 60 yrs. ago my great uncle gave me some black powder that was in a brown paper sack and tied with a string. He had not owned a shotgun for at least 20 yrs. The powder was still good. Larry

 

[merl67]

I would think the good ole powder horn that had been used for many years during the flintlock to percussion cap era would have served them well....

 

[Green Frog]

I think the picture of a cowboy loading cartridges by firelight while on a cattle drive is pretty much a romantic myth. Every town had cartridges for sale at the general store and/or the gunsmith who was probably a watch repairman, blacksmith and perhaps reloaded too. Yes, some people reloaded for themselves, but I don’t think it was a very big thing, except of course for the Lone Ranger... where else would he have gotten silver bullets?

Froggie

 

[rwsmith]

Brass powder flask.......

I would think the good ole powder horn that had been used for many years during the flintlock to percussion cap era would have served them well....

The brass powder flask was ubiquitous until cartridges became widely used.

 

[Heinz]

I think a lot would depend on the actual time frame. Prior to 1870 the cap and ball revolvers were al "hand loaded," one cylinder at a time. For any cowboy used to that routine, loading a cartridge was just more of the same with primers instead of percussion caps. Cowboys in the pre-1880 time period spent a lot of time out where there were no stores. And, in the 1880s there were a plentitude of calibers out there and the local store may have your 32/20 or 41 Colt or 45 Schofield, or maybe only 45 Long Colts. All you need to reload black powder is a bullet mold, a primer punch and seater, and a crimper. The old powder flask has a measure. I believe lots of pocket reloaders were out there by 1880.

 

[Bryan Austin]

Winchester's 1875 catalogue

"Where it is desired to have a more perfect cartridge than can be made with a simple cast bullet, the best course is, if practicable, to purchase the machine swaged bullets, having grooves to receive the lubricating compound, from the manufactures; but, where this can not be done, a very perfect bullet can be made in hand swages, furnished to order. For ordinary use, however, it is found that the cast bullet will answer."

I guess it depends on what their goal was.

 

[rockquarry]

Those that handload ammunition are an incredibly small faction among those that shoot. It would appear that this faction would have been even smaller in the late 1800s due to the inconvenience of the process, especially considering an unsettled and wandering lifestyle.

 

[SMSgt]

Wet black powder is works fine when dried.

 

[Heinz]

Those that handload ammunition are an incredibly small faction among those that shoot. It would appear that this faction would have been even smaller in the late 1800s due to the inconvenience of the process, especially considering an unsettled and wandering lifestyle.

For most of the 1800s cartridges were not an option. Folks were used to muzzleloaders and marvelling at the convenience of the cap lock. Anyone who shot an 1860 Colt army or a 36 Colt Navy knew the basics of handloading. Convenience was having more than one shot. I have a 31 Colt revolver that was used by a Hazard County Kentucky deputy sheriff well into the 1920s.

 

[Nevada Ed]

My father bought a 36 Navy Colt back in the 50's.

The owner, a older lady in Redding Calif., had no more use for it and let my
father buy it from her. He asked if it was in good working condition, at
which the lady replied........

"Yes it is. I shot a 90 pound black tail, from off my porch, just last year".

Black powder works but a lot of care must be used with the "Real" stuff.

 

[scattershot]

Just another thought, I’ll bet cowboys didn’t go through a box of cartridges in a year. Just a guess, though.

 

[dave1918a2]

If and when You go to one of the State collectors gun shows notice all of the ancient handloading tools. Some date early 1800's and still work good.

 

[Bryan Austin]

Wet black powder is works fine when dried.

Alliant still has a jar of Unique that has been "secured" in water since June 26, 1899. Samples still work well when removed, dried and fired!

 

[BigMuddy]

If and when You go to one of the State collectors gun shows notice all of the ancient handloading tools. Some date early 1800's and still work good.

Older thread I know... I have an original Winchester loading tool to go with my 1873 rifles in 38 w.c.f. (38-40). I’ve used it to load bp cartridges and yes it works. I’ve used it several times for educational demonstrations. For the demonstrations I have everything in my saddle bag. Not sure if it’s how it was done but the powder is in a brass flask. It keeps a long time.

Dan

 

[2152hq]

There's an awful lot of antique reloading tools that were made and still around for a time that no one seemed to reload.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Watch Quigly Down Under.