Lee PrecisionWidenersReloading EverythingMidSouth Shooters Supply
Load DataRotoMetals2Inline FabricationRepackbox
Titan Reloading
Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Indoor Gallery Practice 1858-1921 Doctrine, Methods and Equipment

  1. #1
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Indiana
    Posts
    5

    Indoor Gallery Practice 1858-1921 Doctrine, Methods and Equipment

    Reading this article on indoor gallery practice. Figure 17 shows the use of 5 grains of black powder with a round ball for the 45-70. Any thoughts on what they may have used as a filler for such a round?

    https://americansocietyofarmscollect...rksmanship.pdf

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master



    M-Tecs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    9,452
    I don't know how valid this is but I have read that with the light BP gallery loads you could hear loose powder if the case was shaken???
    2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

    "Before you argue with someone, ask yourself, is that person even mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of different perspectives? Because if not, there’s absolutely no point."
    – Amber Veal

    "The Highest form of ignorance is when your reject something you don't know anything about".
    - Wayne Dyer

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master Don McDowell's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Hell Gap Wy
    Posts
    6,094
    They mostly used specific built cases with long flash channels and a small powder chamber
    Long range rules, the rest drool.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Central Texas
    Posts
    1,910
    FWIW, the various sectioned rounds show no filler.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    The Willamette Valley, in Oregon
    Posts
    692
    That was an interesting article, thanks for posting it.
    Sad how the conclusion cites the current lack of military interest with regards to gallery practice for marksmanship training;

    -----

    From 1858 to 1921 the U.S. military made steady
    improvements in marksmanship skills, thanks to ef-
    fective training methods for both outdoor shooting
    and also taking advantage of the lower cost and
    more accessible indoor gallery practice opportuni-
    ties. While the goal was proficiency with the service
    weapons with full charge ammunition, gallery prac-
    tice had an important role in achieving that success,
    using various innovative arms and ammunition. This
    has provided a diverse array of items for collectors
    to pursue, and helps understand the doctrine and
    methods used to prepare troops for combat.

    Gallery practice continued in varying forms after
    1921, expanding greatly in World War Two, and then
    returning to mostly competitive focus until near the
    end of the 20th century when it was largely eliminat-
    ed due to purported concerns about safety, and de-
    clining emphasis on marksmanship and military skills.
    The subject of post-1921 gallery practice arms is a
    worthy topic for further research.

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master


    Larry Gibson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Lake Havasu City, Arizona
    Posts
    21,304
    Quote Originally Posted by M-Tecs View Post
    I don't know how valid this is but I have read that with the light BP gallery loads you could hear loose powder if the case was shaken???
    It is true as seen in the sectioned gallery 45-70 cartridges in the article. Loose BP in a cartridge case......kind of belies the old adage, taken as gospel these days, "thou shalt not ever, never leave any air space between BP and bullet." That admonition was given on fear of death, destruction and possibly the end of the world.....

    However, those small charges of BP, whether compressed or loose, contain only so much potential energy regardless of how they are ignited. None of those small charges of BP can produce enough pressure to cause destruction of the firearm, mayhem to bystanders or cause the sky to fall. I have used such loads in my TDs using BP w/o any fillers under RBs and Rapine 460210 cast bullets. Quite fun actually.
    Larry Gibson

    “Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
    ― Nikola Tesla

  7. #7
    Boolit Man
    Washington1331's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Suffolk, VA
    Posts
    86
    There was a gentleman who was selling a kit for making multi-ball and gallery loads for the 45-70. He had advertised almost exclusively on the old trapdoors galore website. If memory serves me on the directions, using fireformed brass it was 5 grains of FFFg black powder with a .457 round ball seated all the way down on top of the powder.

    It was a surprisingly accurate round even with over 2 inches of jump before the rifling. I'll see if I can find his card in the controlled chaos that is my man cave. If I do, I'll post it in case he's still open, and anyone is interested.
    NRA-Life Member
    Dabbler in Holy Black and Heathen Smokeless

    "There are very few situations in life that cannot be solved by the proper application of high explosives."

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check