When I went to the Brooksville Raid the first day I didn't have enough rounds and then the second day I made too many.  How many do you usually carry with you during a battle?

Vince,

Since the rounds I make are a little undersized; (.50 versus .60)I usually put 26 rounds in the top of my cartridge box and two arsenal packs in the bottom. I've never yet ran completly out of ammo during a senario. If you want to be safe, just throw an extra arsenal pack, or two, in your haversack.

If you are attending the more authentic events, the sponsors will usually tell you how many rounds to bring to the event. In the absence of any instructions, I usually pack 40 rounds (Four arsenal packs) per scenario. Some events will have two scenarios back to back. You'll need to carry more ammo, in that situation.

As an aside, too many reenacting units fire too fast. You should never be firing more than three rounds per minute.  

Thanks!

If I am going to be a private for the weekend, I typically will roll about 80 cartridges (60grain).  I will put 40 in my box and then package the other 40 into packs of 10 and keep those in my knapsack for when I need to replenish.

I find that shirking or dying seems to save me on my powder usage.

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lhsnj wrote : If I am going to be a private for the weekend, I typically will roll about 80 cartridges (60grain).  I will put 40 in my box and then package the other 40 into packs of 10 and keep those in my knapsack for when I need to replenish. I find that shirking or dying seems to save me on my powder usage.

I agree with Greg and when doing line infantry just take 80 rounds for the event. The most I ever fired was at the 135th Antietam during the Morning Cornfield Battle. I was with my 2nd USSS unit and too many of them took hits and being on the right flank in front of the spectators I needed to lie prone and fire my Sharps a total of about 50 rounds along with a few other fellows to make it look realistic. By the end of the battle I could barely open my breech since I fired so much. Usually I do not come close to using 40 rounds in a particular battle.

Now sit down. The most rounds I have ever fired at an event was 62. 140th Antetiam. And, "we" were participants in all three scenerios and an all night picket in the cornfield. That was also the most rounds I had ever taken to an event, 100. And, no I wasn't picked to be a casualty. But, our half of the battalion did break and run during the conflageration that was the cornfield battle. But, "breaking scenerios" is a discussion for another time. Although carrying a cheese knife does have it's drawbacks, cleaning a musket is not one. Eh Bill???!!!

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GrumpyDave wrote :  Although carrying a cheese knife does have it's drawbacks, cleaning a musket is not one. Eh Bill???!!!

Amen Brother!  

I usually only carry a full cartrridge box (40 rounds). In both of my units, if the scenario calls for more, we have a reissue at some point during the event. At mainstream events, I reload my box each evening.

Did we meet at Brooksville? I was on the field on Sunday and was on sutler row the rest of the weekend. If not, please stop by my sutler tent next year as I love meeting folks from the board. If you are going to Olustee, I will be set up there also as well as taking part in the reenactment.  

--Last edited by toptimlrd on 2009-01-30 18:54:27 --

Marc,

What brand name of Sharps do you shoot?  Do you find yourself running through more cartridges with the breechloader than an muzzleloader?  I have an IAB and a Pedersoli cavalry length Sharps.  The IAB is of rougher fit and finish of the two but it is usually carried because of its dependability and already having its allotment of reenactment bumps and bruises.  The Pedersoli doesn't have the first ding and I am reluctant to see any get started.  So, it normally stays at the house when the IAB goes out to play.  (Deep sigh--Shrug shoulders) That IAB is considerably lighter than the Pedersoli, which is no small consideration at my ripe and tender age.   I do cheat impression wise and carry an infantry type cartridge box.  The reason being the smaller cavalry version is really restrictive as to the number of cartridges it will hold.  The insert is not as generous as its infantry counter part.  Even with an infantry box, it takes some special instructions if a skirmish is approached with more than forty rounds.  There was only a single occasion where I ran out of rounds and that was at a powder burning fracas just north of Pensacola, FL.  Maybe the numbers of rounds fired  is as simple as realizing the supply of nitrated cartridge paper is approaching the end of its run and me being a tight wad  

--Last edited by Curtis Makamson on 2009-01-31 18:30:15 --

Quote :

Curtis Makamson wrote : Marc, What brand name of Sharps do you shoot?  Do you find yourself running through more cartridges with the breechloader than an muzzleloader?  I have an IAB and a Pedersoli cavalry length Sharps.  The IAB is of rougher fit and finish of the two but it is usually carried because of its dependability and already having its allotment of reenactment bumps and bruises.  The Pedersoli doesn't have the first ding and I am reluctant to see any get started.  So, it normally stays at the house when the IAB goes out to play.  (Deep sigh--Shrug shoulders) That IAB is considerably lighter than the Pedersoli, which is no small consideration at my ripe and tender age.   I do cheat impression wise and carry an infantry type cartridge box.  The reason being the smaller cavalry version is really restrictive as to the number of cartridges it will hold.  The insert is not as generous as its infantry counter part.  Even with an infantry box, it takes some special instructions if a skirmish is approached with more than forty rounds.  There was only a single occasion where I ran out of rounds and that was at a powder burning fracas just north of Pensacola, FL.  Maybe the numbers of rounds fired  is as simple as realizing the supply of nitrated cartridge paper is approaching the end of its run and me being a tight wad

I have a Pedersoli Sharps rifle single trigger. I would love to have one of the old Shiloh's. I would say in most cases I fire about the same number of rounds with the Shiloh as a muzzleloader. Most of my events anymore are living histories which may explain the same usage. After I learned to use flash paper at the end of my Sharp's cartridges I have never run into a jammed breech  anymore due to the loose gunpowder since I do not have to cut off the end anymore.