cart. box blues

[roger]

what is the right way to lode your cart box for battle? or do you need the tins in there any way? OR NO TINS?

REGARDS pvt R. ZAVODA
7TH. OVI CO. K

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Tins are necessary to maintain the shape of the box, protect the rounds, keep them in uniform shape, and to protect the wearer (to a lesser degree) from exposion (or at least shield the rounds from sparks, etc.). Depending upon what type of cartridge box you have, they were designed to hold 40 to 50 rounds of ammunition. Federal boxes, and CS copies, usually held 20 rounds individually in the top portion of the tins, and 20 rounds in the bottoms. Correctly made replica rounds will help conform to that standard, but if you're using thinner paper tubes like many roll on smaller dowel rods or those bought commercially from sources like "The Paper Lady" will find that more than the original amount will fit. The bottom of correctly made tins will hold 2 ten round arsenal packs in the wrap in each side, so that when the top rounds are fired, you can pull the tins and retrieve the packs to reload the top. The number increases to 50 correctly replicated rounds if using a British import (Enfield box), with no bottom divider but 10 rounds in each section of the tin. I support the use of tins for several reasons, all of which correspond to the previously posted reasons why "they" used them.

[Jim Mayo]

See last picture on this page

http://www.angelfire.com/ma4/j_mayo/relics.html

[flattop32355]

Whether for battle or any other time, as already noted, use the tins. They were there for good reasons that still hold true today.
Put the cartridges in tail end up for easier handling and to help keep powder from spilling out. Seems obvious, but ya never know......

[mike51tenn]

Tins, yes, yes, yes.

I have a friend who always wants to take his tins out so he can put more rounds in his box. I usually roll my eyes at him, and really laugh when he gets busted for not having them.

[Craig L Barry]

The National Battlefield Parks require cartridge box tins for their historic weapon firing demos.

[S.D.Swart]

This is a hot topic for me. I have taken alot of heat discussing this. Tins are neccessary for many reasons.
First and foremost safety issues.
Second reason is they are part of a proper kit.
Third reason is the men of the 60s used them and carried 40 rounds. We should be reenactors first and foremost, and not powderburners. By cheating and stuffing a box with un-authenic rounds, you cheat yourself by not seeing how running low effects your re-creation of events. Without using proper rounds and numbers you do not have to use proper tactics, nor screen units or replace them as they fall back to regroup and reload thier tins. Or to get to those packs in the bottom of thier tins. Using your tins and proper ammo is just as important as using good drill on the field.

I am use to taking flak for such topics, and will continue to do so.

Shawn D. Swart

[Rob Weaver]

I'm really not convinced that tins are a safety feature of such magnitude that they should be required. After all, you're already putting the rounds in a thick leather box. Firemen wore leather coats because leather is reasonably fireproof. If you have the sense not to throw a cartridge box into a campfire, chances are it will never self-combust(Having said that, I use them.) I think that they are/were a convenience that helps in ammunition issue and control. They were also pretty much disposable - notice how many of them were scattered around after a big fight.
For a reenactor, they can be a headache. I have a box that won't fit Federal tins, but will fit Confederate (one-piece) ones just fine. I have another that will not fit any repro tins, but original Federal tins slide in like it was made for them.
For controlling your own rate of fire, they're really useful. Think about it: 40 rounds organized into groups of 10. And the second half you have to pull out to get to. Sometimes I decide beforehand that I'm only going to fire one side, or the top of the tins, in a given engagement.

[LibertyHallVols]

Couple thoughts:
1) The tins are to protect the cartriges. They are made of paper and if jostled around or crushed, they will break. The tins keep them stored in an orderly manner that protects them from damage. It is hard to shoot if you have to scoop loose powder from the bottom of the box!

2) The following procedure for "bringing up rounds" has worked well for me:
- Remove string from the pack of rounds and find which end has the caps.
- Work an index finger between the rounds and the caps and pry up, like you're opening a pop can.
- Put your hand around the pack to keep the rounds roughly aligned.
- Set the open end of the pack atop the empty upper portion of the tin so the rounds line up with the sides and divider of the tin.
- Shove.
... the rounds will slide right in the tin and you'll be left with an empty wrapper in your hand.

[doughboy]

Another bonus is the paper wrapper makes great starter for fires