Pistol and Revolver Shooting Part 12

If the sh.e.l.ls were originally crimped they will have to be opened with the tool so as to admit the bullet without shaving off or abrading its surface. The Ideal Manufacturing Company can furnish a special plug, screwed to the tool, by which the primer may be extracted and the mouth of the sh.e.l.l opened in one operation, the tool automatically releasing the sh.e.l.l from the plug, thus making the operation of opening the mouth of the sh.e.l.l rapid and easy. In the case of smokeless powders the cleaning of the sh.e.l.ls is not so important, but is desirable, as some of the powders leave a sticky residue which interferes more or less with the reloading process.

After the sh.e.l.ls have been cleaned and dried the new primers may be placed in position. In doing this be sure to seat them firmly on the bottom of the pocket and below the surface of the head of the sh.e.l.l. This will prevent misfires and premature explosions.

The measuring of the powder charge is the most important detail in reloading ammunition. There are several devices to measure powder that are convenient and fairly accurate. Those furnished by the Ideal Manufacturing Company, designated as No. 5 or No. 6, and those made by H. M. Pope are the best.[18]

The usual method is to measure the powder with a charge cup that is supplied with the reloading tools. A quant.i.ty of the powder should be poured from the can into a small box and the charge cup dipped into it and filled. With a thin lead-pencil tap the cup lightly two or three times on the side to settle the powder uniformly. If the powder settles below the top of the cup dip the cup into the powder again and fill it, being careful not to tilt the cup so as to disturb the powder already in it.

Strike off the powder in the cup with the pencil and pour it into the sh.e.l.l. By measuring the powder in this way and verifying it by weighing each charge in a delicate balance, a high degree of skill may be acquired in a short time. Ordinary revolver charges should not vary more than one-tenth of a grain in weight.

The charge cup method is preferred by many in measuring smokeless powders, as some varieties, being coa.r.s.e grained and light in weight, are liable to form large voids. Such voids are invariably corrected when the charge cup is tapped and the powder settles.

After the desired quant.i.ty of sh.e.l.ls has been primed and charged with powder, the bullets, properly lubricated, are started into the sh.e.l.ls by hand and then one by one the cartridges are placed in the reloading tool, which seats the bullet and crimps the sh.e.l.l.

In reduced black powder charges, when the bullet is seated below the mouth of the sh.e.l.l, the tool should be adjusted so as not to crimp the sh.e.l.l.

In loading cartridges in which the sh.e.l.ls are not crimped on the bullets, it is very important that both the sh.e.l.ls and the bullets should be absolutely uniform in size, so that the fit, and consequently the friction, of the bullets in the sh.e.l.l will be the same in all cases. By reloading some of the sh.e.l.ls oftener than others or with different charges, the expansion of the sh.e.l.ls will vary and the bullets will fit more or less tightly. Such ammunition when fired will vary in elevation.

It is well to begin with new sh.e.l.ls using the same load in them and reloading them the same number of times. Even with the same charge and under apparently identical conditions a few of the sh.e.l.ls will expand differently. This variation will, however, be readily discovered in seating the bullets with the tool. Cartridges in which the bullets seat with greater or less effort than the average should be carefully separated from the rest and not used when fine shooting is required.

In reloading ammunition with spherical or "round" bullets the neck of the bullet should be up, opposite the powder side. In this position the neck is always in sight, and any turning of the bullet so as to bring the neck on the side and in contact with the barrel will be apparent and can be corrected. All round bullets should be at least 1/1000 of an inch larger in diameter than the bottom of the grooves of the barrel. This causes them to deform slightly on the circle of contact with the barrel, and creates a narrow cylindrical surface around the bullet, securing a better bearing and greatly increasing the accuracy. It also insures the tight fitting of the bullet in the sh.e.l.l, preventing it from being displaced by the recoil.

If round bullets fit loosely, or if there is the slightest imperfection in the bullet where it comes in contact with the sh.e.l.l or the barrel, "gas-cutting" will result and hot lubricant is liable to pa.s.s by the bullet into the powder charge. In either case the accuracy is impaired.

When round bullets are used, the lubricant must be applied after they have been seated. This can best be done with a small brush. The brush is dipped into melted lubricant and then pa.s.sed around the bullet where it is in contact with the sh.e.l.l. Too much lubricant is undesirable. At least three-quarters of the surface of the bullet should project above the lubricant. By keeping the lubricant at a constant temperature, the quant.i.ty adhering to the brush will be approximately the same and the results uniform.

In reduced loads, when black powder or "bulk" smokeless powder is used, the bullets may be seated so as to just touch the powder charge; never so as to compress it. When "dense" smokeless powder is used, a suitable air s.p.a.ce must always be provided. This is necessary both when round or conical bullets are used.

With all forms of conical bullets and when using either "dense" or "bulk"

smokeless powder, in full or reduced charges, better results are invariably obtained by seating the bullets in the regulation position and crimping the sh.e.l.ls moderately and uniformly on the middle of the front band of the bullet.

Ammunition for automatic pistols may also be reloaded by hand, but there is much less economy than in reloading other ammunition. When the full charge is used, a metal-cased bullet is required which must be purchased from the manufacturers. Reduced loads with lead bullets will operate in some of the pistols only. An overcharge of powder for a lead bullet will lead the barrel and is liable to cause difficulty with the mechanism, and accidents. Only experienced persons familiar with the operations of loading the rimless sh.e.l.ls and whether or not the arms will operate with the charges they propose to use, should attempt reloading this ammunition.

APPENDIX I

THE UNITED STATES REVOLVER a.s.sOCIATION

This a.s.sociation was founded on March 5, 1900, and incorporated in January, 1904. It is the recognized national organization of the revolver and pistol marksmen of the United States of America.

Its objects are: to foster and develop revolver and pistol shooting; to establish and preserve records; to cla.s.sify arms; and to encourage and conduct friendly matches between members and clubs in this country, as well as with the marksmen of other countries.

The officers of the a.s.sociation, excepting the secretary, serve without pay. There is no initiation fee. The annual dues are only $1.00. The members.h.i.+p, scattered from Maine to the Philippines, Alaska to the Ca.n.a.l Zone, includes all the well-known shots of the country.

The a.s.sociation has conducted five international revolver matches, all of which were won by the United States. It selects the members of and is responsible for the United States teams in the Olympic and all other international matches. It has established the Annual Outdoor and Indoor Champions.h.i.+p Matches, the U. S. R. A. Indoor League and provided suitable trophies and medals. It has formulated uniform rules and regulations governing pistol and revolver shooting. In the record books of the a.s.sociation are inscribed and preserved all the scores in the Annual Champions.h.i.+p Contests, the individual and team league series, the scores of contestants, shooting for rating medals and the "best on record"

performances, together with details concerning the arms and ammunition used. The a.s.sociation also publishes the _U. S. R. A. Bulletin_, a monthly devoted to all subjects of interest to the members, the subscription for which is included in the annual dues.

The a.s.sociation is financially self-supporting. It has an increasing surplus in the treasury, which is devoted to the purchase of new trophies for additional matches.

All who are interested in pistol and revolver shooting, and who are in sympathy with the aims and purposes of the a.s.sociation, are cordially invited to join it. Forms of application for members.h.i.+p and other information will be supplied by the Secretary-Treasurer on request.

The officers of the a.s.sociation for 1915 are as follows:

President: Col. W. H. WHIGAM, Chicago, Ill.

1st Vice-President: Capt. R. H. SAYRE, New York, N. Y.

2nd Vice-President: C. C. CROSSMAN, St. Louis, Mo.

3rd Vice-President: C. W. LINDER, San Francisco, Cal.

4th Vice-President: Dr. R. J. MULLIKIN, Baltimore, Md.

5th Vice-President: Dr. H. E. SEARS, Boston, Ma.s.s.

Secretary-Treasurer: J. B. CRABTREE, Yalesville, Conn.

CONSt.i.tUTION

ARTICLE I--_Name_

The name of this organization shall be the United States Revolver a.s.sociation.

ARTICLE II--_Object_

The object of this a.s.sociation shall be the encouragement of revolver and pistol shooting.

ARTICLE III--_Members.h.i.+p_

The members.h.i.+p shall consist of three cla.s.ses: Members, Honorary Members, a.s.sociate Members.

Any reputable citizen of the United States is eligible for members.h.i.+p.

Any reputable person interested in revolver and pistol shooting is eligible for Honorary or a.s.sociate members.h.i.+p.

Members and a.s.sociate members may be admitted by vote of the executive committee and by paying the regular dues. Honorary members may be elected at a regular meeting of the a.s.sociation and shall be exempt from dues.

Honorary and a.s.sociate members shall be ent.i.tled to all the privileges of the a.s.sociation, except the right to vote.

[See Art. VII for Life members.h.i.+p.]

ARTICLE IV--_Officers_

The officers of this a.s.sociation shall be a president, five vice-presidents and a secretary-treasurer, who shall const.i.tute the executive committee. They shall be elected by a majority vote by ballot at the annual meeting of the a.s.sociation, and hold office for one year or until their successors are elected.

ARTICLE V--_Duties of Officers_

The president shall preside at all meetings of the a.s.sociation and may call meetings of the a.s.sociation at any time, one week's notice by mail being given of such meeting by the secretary-treasurer. The approval of the president shall be necessary on all bills before they are paid. The vice-presidents in the order of their seniority shall perform the duties of the president in his absence and shall have responsible charge, subject to the executive committee, of the affairs of the a.s.sociation in their respective localities. The secretary-treasurer shall keep the minutes of all meetings and take charge of the correspondence of the a.s.sociation. He shall receive all dues and pay all bills approved by the president, and keep account of all the funds of the a.s.sociation. The executive committee shall have charge of the affairs of the a.s.sociation, shall elect members, appoint State governors to act as local representatives of the a.s.sociation, and shall have power to accept, decline, or issue challenges by a majority vote. Any member of the executive committee unable to be present at any meeting may vote by mail.

ARTICLE VI--_Vacancies in Office_

In case a vacancy should occur in any office, the remaining members of the executive committee shall have power to fill the vacancy until the next annual meeting.

ARTICLE VII--_Dues_