Shooting the Revolver - Army Style

[Shotgun693]

Given the right horse it's not that hard to train one to use as a shooting mount. Go see a Cowboy Mounted Shoot some time. I've owned several, out of 22, that were good to shoot off of.

 

[OutlawJoseyWales]

Shotgun, I've always wondered if it was the horse or the training. Horses are such strange critters, it would be easy to see how you'd have to find just the right one. They all have unique personalities, breeding, raising etc., so much goes into how they are going to react.

In history though, I don't know how that would work.
It would seem that every horse in the South would have been pressed into duty during The War.

Did you say only a couple out of 22 could be trained to gunshots?
Thanks.

 

[arcticap]

its strange no one has thought it odd that the manual instructs the shooter to bit open the end of each cartridge before inserting into the chamber. ive never seen that referenced anywhere else, and well not even the collectors of civil war cumbustable cartridges haveever stated that.

kinda strange.

It's was referenced as recently as Februrary 11, 2011 that Civil War recruits could be refused entry into service if they have didn't have enough good teeth.
It was stated that was because teeth were necessary for tearing open paper cartridges.

The quotes below are from the following thread:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=440359&highlight=teeth

The note about the "tail" of the pistol cartridges reminded me of something: This does not apply to pistol cartridges but the recollection came to mind that Civil War infantry soldiers had to have few or no front teeth missing or they would be rejected because they would be unable to bite & tear open the paper cartridges used in the rifled muskets.

hellgate, liked your fronteirsman catagory explaination....

that is true about pulling your front teeth for deferment during the war of southern independence.

probably happened previously during the American revolution too and handed down .

this only was for musket & rifled musket cartridges....

most breech loaders & pistols used combustible cartridges also called self consuming,

loved that explaination..... that's the one i'm going for!

s.m.

 

[Newton24b]

everyone knows about the front teeth rule for pulling open teeth. in fact, its still one of the mandatory questions a military recruiter asks you.


ive just never seen ripping open cumbustible cartridges for revolvers mentioned before in period material.

 

[4V50 Gary]

The "Old Cavalry Method" to train horses to stand gunfire was to shoot a gun and then when the horse calmed down, give him some oats to eat. The trooper did this over and over again.

After a while, the horse associated gunfire with FOOD and didn't Spook anymore.

Thanks Southron. I didn't know Pavlovian methods were used by the cavalry.

 

[arcticap]

Here's photos of three original paper revolver bullet cartridges that are found at the last link below. Looking at the photos it seems obvious why it would be beneficial for the paper tail to be removed before loading. With so many suppliers of various qualities of paper cartridges to the military, it would make sense to officially include the loading procedure that's listed in the manual. They do appear to be constructed more for durability, ease of transport and convenience, and not for reliable ignition unless the military loading procedure is followed.

Revolver cartridge photos:

Colt Army .44 paper bullet cartridge:

http://www.campsiteartifacts.com/images/154_Colt44Cartridge_Icon.jpg

Colt Navy .36 paper bullet cartridge:

http://www.campsiteartifacts.com/images/166_Colt36b-Icon.jpg

Pressed collidion waterproof .44 paper bullet cartridge:

http://www.campsiteartifacts.com/images/161_HazardsColt44_Icon.jpg

Product page with descriptions and references for the photos:

http://www.campsiteartifacts.com/cartridgespaperboxes.html

 

[egor20]

Sorry I hadn't really noticed this thread before.


This is from a message I sent earlier to some one whom asked me about how I train horses to be around gunfire.

Hello XXXXXXX

Yes I do hunt from horseback, when I have the opportunity. Teaching a horse to be a Hunter (not the Dressage type) is one of the things I train and teach them.

Hmmmm Where to begin

OK you’ve stated you’re horse (stallion or gelding?) is not adverse to loud noises ie: traffic, 4 wheelers, ect. Just remember that .22 and 30/30s are high velocity rounds. If it’s going to be LOUD to you think about what it will be to an animal that utilizes and can turn an ear at want.

I start by taking them out in the middle of nowhere and shooting a blank pistol (very little echo to harm their ears). Don’t go too far out, you may be walking home. I then ramp it up gradually by shooting multiple times, then upping the caliber to a .45 ACP (still sub-sonic).

It will take a while but eventually you can train them into rifle calibers. I personally go to shotguns before I start with rifles, but I know others whom skip this.

Another thing I tend to do, is to leave whatever I’m wearing while shooting at the time in the horses stall, they become accustomed to the look and the smell of it.

I hope this helps you, and good luck

I hunt from horseback with a Friesian (Belgian Black) that I've deer hunted with the last few years, she has no problem with an SKS or a .45ACP being shot around her.

OutlawJoseyWales:

Shotgun, I've always wondered if it was the horse or the training. Horses are such strange critters, it would be easy to see how you'd have to find just the right one. They all have unique personalities, breeding, raising etc., so much goes into how they are going to react.

It varies between horses and breeds, one of my wife's horses has no problems with gunfire, the other hates it and runs, they're both English Shire's.

BTW:

Southron:

The "Old Cavalry Method" to train horses to stand gunfire was to shoot a gun and then when the horse calmed down, give him some oats to eat. The trooper did this over and over again.

After a while, the horse associated gunfire with FOOD and didn't Spook anymore.

So, they still train horses that way.It works.

Yup, I train them very similar.

 

[arcticap]

2. Handle-Cartridge.

1 time, 1 motion.

Seize the cartridge with the thumb and the first two fingers, and carry it to the mouth.

3. Tear-Cartridge.

Bite off the end and carry the cartridge opposite the chamber nearest the lever.

4. Charge-Cartridge.

1 time and 2 motions.

1. Empty the powder into the chamber, and insert the ball, pressing it down as far as possible with the thumb and fore-finger.

Foto Joe recently posted the following problem regarding the use of paper cartridges. Perhaps the military also discovered the same problem thus another reason for their loading procedure.

If you're just using cheap cigarette paper you will eventually wind up with paper fouling the flash hole in the nipples. Normally I run a nipple pick through the flash holes after each firing no matter what. But I've found that the cigarette paper will really blast itself into that hole. So much so that a nipple pick can't punch it out. When this happens I just cap the nipple and fire a cap through it clearing the problem. Unfortunately this wastes caps and I'm thrifty (cheap). To avoid this problem I simply tear the end off of the paper cartridge and pour a few grains of powder into the cylinder "before" I stuff the cartridge in the hole.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=144094&page=10