Arthritic Hands vs. Cartridge Box Tins.

[captain_kirk]

I have been in the hobby off and on since 1973 and I have noted a great may changes, mostly regarding my body and physical capabilities. In my unit I serve in several capacities, from a field grade officer to a private in the battle line. To get to the point, at 62, I have developed arthritis in my hands and and have extreme difficulty extracting cartridges from my box, especially those last few that fall over and lay down. For those of you that suffer from the same malidy, I have come up with a solution. Now I may be preaching to the choir here, but necessity is the mother of invention. As you all know the cartridge in an up right position does not extend past the top of the tin since it does not have a bullet. I first thought about placing wooden blocks at the bottom of the tins, this seemed praticable. Then it dawned on me after reviewing a article about making your own cartridges. Instead of using a 1/2 inch dowel to roll the cartridge paper, I used a 5/8 in dowel. at 55 grains, the cartridge now extened about 1/4 inch above the tins. I then found that I could easily grasp the cartridge, even if it fell over to the side at an angle, the cartridge could be easily extracted. Now here is the best part. Since the cartridges are of smaller diameter, you can carry more rounds into battle!!!!! Problem solved, now pass me the Advil.

[tompritchett]

Then it dawned on me after reviewing a article about making your own cartridges. Instead of using a 1/2 inch dowel to roll the cartridge paper, I used a 5/8 in dowel. at 55 grains, the cartridge now extened about 1/4 inch above the tins. ... Since the cartridges are of smaller diameter, you can carry more rounds into battle!!!!!

Are you sure that it was a 5/8" dowel and not a 3/8" dowel as a 5/8" dowel would generate a tube with an ID greater than 1/2"? Or am I totally missing something here?

[captain_kirk]

Tom, As usual you are alway correct. It is a 3/8 in dowel. Duh!?!?!

[tompritchett]

BTW, I tried to respond to your PM (affirmative) but it was full.

[Skip Arensmann]

Captkirk:
I guess it's too late now if you're rolling with the 3/8" dowel, but I would have suggested placing some sort of blocking in the bottom of the tin, say a piece of extruded polystyrene (Styrofoam), to bring the cartridges closer to the top.
Although not 62, I have sort of the same problem, as it seems the last couple of cartridges fall under the gusset of the tin, and they seem to try to get away from my probing fingers.....(there's an opening guys!!--run with it)
Your solution beats using something extra in the cartridge itself to increase its length....Foreign bodies/possible projectiles that may not pass inspection!
But hey, your way affords a greater number of cartridges in the top of the tins too, I would think, saving time on the battlefield.

Regards

[Jim Mayo]

When you place the cartridges in your box simply unfold the tucked in tab so that it protrudes above the top of the tins. Works especially good for paper lady cartridges but also works for home rolled.

[Pvt Schnapps]

I put plasticine blocks in the upper sections of my tins to raise the height for blanks, add a little weight, and keep cartridges from falling over and slipping under the dividers. I don't necessarily recommend it, but if you have any of those three goals, it works.

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

Opening the Can of Worms...

If one is not "ramming paper" as they say, what then is the harm in using say a cotton ball as the ball in a period dimension cartridge paper (that gets dropped with the paper upon loading)?

CHS

[jurgitemvaletem]

Hallo!

Opening the Can of Worms...

If one is not "ramming paper" as they say, what then is the harm in using say a cotton ball as the ball in a period dimension cartridge paper (that gets dropped with the paper upon loading)?

CHS

I was about to suggest something along those lines.

Using the correct construction for cartridges ( tied rounds) with the toilet paper, or cotton ball simulating the bullet adds about 3/4 of an inch to the height of your cartiridge. Further more, using the same correct construction, the tail of your cartridge with it's tri-fold should be left hanging over the side of your box inside your inner flap.

However, having arthritis, this may be a moot point as making the correct cartridges can be quite trying on the hands, what with the tying of the ends, and folding.

[Poor Private]

I use 1 piece of single ply toilet paper, since I don't ram the paper. It raises cartridges up enough to grab ahold of with my fingers. And if you stack them right in the tins you can get up to 60 rounds total top and bottom. This is usually enough for an entire weekend. You just have to learn to pace your firing, or take a hit when you time it right. Also with the price of powder going up firing rate will be going down. I used to loan a few to company members, but no more as it seems the same guys always bring too few. 10-20 rounds don't make a weekend. But inspectors never call them out on having to few. Ever see a guy run out in drill, then don't have any for the battle?

[captain_kirk]

Thanks guy . . . some of the suggestions like TP or cotton balls are novel. As for the rammer, for safety reasons, we are not allowed to pull rammers on the field or drop the paper into the barrel.
Got some more advil?????

[bob 125th nysvi]

pcs of TP to get the round to stand up high enough.

I do know that the older guys in my unit with arthritis have taked the tins totally out and just fill it with cartridges. that way they aren't fumbling with it.

And there are days I envy them. I ALWAYS seem to be cutting a cuticle on the divider in the tins. Why the heck did they design them with tose things in the first palce?

[rebyank]

I simply took the deviders out of the top of my tins, they work better now. I also use longer rolling papers and twist the bottom plenty, and it adds alot to the cartridge length.

Ian B.

[Frenchie]

Why the heck did they design them with those things in the first place?

To protect the fragile paper cartridges from shaking damage. To neatly organize them. To minimize damage to the soldier if they ignited.

Naw, I'm just pulling your leg. They did it to make your life harder. :)

[bob 125th nysvi]

To protect the fragile paper cartridges from shaking damage. To neatly organize them. To minimize damage to the soldier if they ignited.

Naw, I'm just pulling your leg. They did it to make your life harder. :)

Now the Second part I beleive!

And the first part is pure army logic (if true). Yep 6 ignited cartridges is so much less dangerous than 10 and of COURSE the other 30 in the box are perfectly safe with this marvel of fireproofing.

:)

[captain_kirk]

My division is very safety consience, and we are required to have tins, can not pull ramrods,nothing but powder in the barrel, and are prohibited from carrying cartridges in pockets or haversacks etc. At least we have never had anyone go off like a bottle rocket. I think that I will continue to roll the elongated 3/8 tubes. Thank goodness I will be an adjutant and aide-de-camp at Gettysburg 145. Most of our guys are going to take 500 to 600 rounds with them. We fight 6 battles in 3 days. My pard makes wounderful paper packages tied with string enfield label etc. holding ten round that go into the bottom of the tins. I completely outfitted him for Shiloh last year, his first reenactment and when the first gun went off, I heard the hook set, "thwang".
I have never seen someone learn so much, buy so much so fast!! I also got him into fly fishing and fly tying for trout. A good rod can cost over $600.00.
His wife will not allow me on the premise. Neither would my wife if she knew I had 3 Orvis, 1 R. L. Winston and two split bamboo rods.
Kirk

Too many battlefields and rivers and too little time.

[captain_kirk]

Hey Guys,
If any of you are attending Gettysburg 145 and would like to come by our HQ send me a PM and I will tell you where to find me and a good bottle of single malt scotch. That includes you too Tom.
Major Kirk Fuller

[bob 125th nysvi]

Most of our guys are going to take 500 to 600 rounds with them. We fight 6 battles in 3 days.

have your officers learn some fire discipline will you.

Just kidding.

Have you thought about using the "extras" to simulate resupply of the troops from the Regimental wagon? Might be an interesting experience.

Only bringing about 200 myself and that is 2.5 times my normal allotment for a 4 battle weekend event.