Chapter 7 – Bibliography and Attachments

7.5 Step-by-Step – Loading Cartridges for Modern Thuer Conversions

 

7.5   7.5.1 7.5.2 7.5.3 7.5.4 7.5.5 7.5.6 7.5.7

–             Step-by-Step – Loading Cartridges for Modern Thuer Conversions Loading Device Preparations Seating the Primer Loading Primed Cases with Powder Seating the Bullet Lubrication of the Thuer Cartridge Recommended Bullets

 

7.5_1 Two Nedbal Thuer Army custom conversions with extra C&B cylinder (top down): Thuer ammo reloads, Centaure #7266, Uberti #A14289

 

7.5.1

Loading Device

 

Nedbal supplies his Thuer conversions with cartridge loading fixtures. That is how this loading combination tool was called back then. Their shape and dimensional specifications correspond to the originals‘ patterns. His Thuer cases are machined from .44 Magnum empties.

7.5.1_1 Nedbal made Thuer loading device clockwise: Saddle piece with primer seater cone and bullet seater, bullet seating guide, primer seating guide, priming punch, center spent primer ejector

 

For the real cowboy feeling only this device was used to load our Thuer cartridges.

 

7.5.2

Preparations

 

During our first loading session we followed F. Alexander Thuer’s recommendation from 1868 to the letter. Hence, the flat of the saddle piece was placed directly on the recoil shield. After some trials, however, the procedure was modified. Today, we place the saddle piece on the conversion ring instead. This way we can use the full stroke of the lever of the loading press and produce cartridges with a high degree of uniformity.

 

7.5.2_1 Saddle piece with primer seater cone and bullet seater

 

1. Pull cylinder from the arbor but leave the conversion ring in place.
2. Screw priming punch into threads of the rammer of the loading lever.
3. Use the wedge to fix the barrel with the arbor to the gun.
4. When reloading fired, empty Thuer cases remove spent primers with the thin end of the spent primer ejector by applying a sensitive stroke with a wooden of plastic mallet as needed.
5. Clean and polish the empty cases as appropriate.

 

7.5.3

Seating the Primer

 

7.5.3_1 Seating the primer

 

1. Place the empty case on top of the cone of the primer seater of the saddle piece (above picture).
2. Position the primer seating guide over the case (above picture).
3. Position a large pistol primer into the opening of the primer seating guide (above picture).

 

7.5.3_2 Hammer at half-cock

 

1. Place the saddle piece from the right-hand side (!) against the arbor on the flat of the conversion ring (case under the rammer).
2. Press the primer into the primer pocket with the priming punch.
3. Remove the saddle piece from the pistol and pull the primed case off the cone of the saddle piece.
4. Screw the priming punch off the rammer of the loading lever once your empties are primed.

 

7.5.4

Loading Primed Cases with Powder

 

7.5.4_1 Primed case „filled to the rim“ with powder

 

1. Place the primed case into the bullet seater of the saddle piece.
2. Fill case to the rim with black powder.
3. A flat surface of the powder in the case is important.

 

7.5.5

Seating the Bullet

 

1. Position the bullet seating guide without any play (!) on top of the case charged with powder in the bullet seater of the saddle piece.
2. Drop a bullet vertical-down, base first through the opening of the bullet seating guide.
3. If the position of the seated bullet needs to be corrected, some rotating of the bullet under light pressure will usually help. The base of the bullet’s heel (heel type bullet) or the rim of the base (hollow base bullet) or the base (bevel base bullet) will bury itself in the powder some.
4. Hammer at half-cock position.
5. Now place the saddle piece from the left-hand side (!) against the arbor on the conversion ring flat (bullet under rammer).
6. Finally force the bullet with the rammer of the loading press into the case.

7.5.5_1 Seating the bullet

 

1. Remove the loading device from the arbor.
2. Lift the bullet seating guide off the bullet.
3. Pull the loaded cartridge out of the bullet seater.

 

7.5.5_2 Finished Thuer cartridge

 

In case you are having problems separating the cartridge from the bullet seater, insert the thin end of your spent cartridge ejector into the small peripheral hole at the bottom of the bullet seater and apply a sensitive blow to its thick end with your plastic or wooden mallet. That will do the separating trick.

 

7.5.6

Lubrication of the Thuer Cartridge

 

Some initiates feel lubricating black powder cartridges is an art-in-itself. Over the years many shooters developed their own technique and their own recipe. The authors found just dipping the bullet end of the Thuer cartridge in our hot wax-oil mix is working for us. The fat will find its way into the groove (s) of the bullet.

 

7.5.6_1 Thuer cartridge before lubrication

 

In our first shooting session with the Thuers we also applied some high water content crème with a disposable syringe to the chamber mouth over the bullet once the cartridge was loaded into the chamber. But this procedure was discontinued soon due to its lack of historical correctness. Or do you know of a 19th century cowboy who possessed a disposable plastic syringe?

 

7.5.7

Recommended Bullets

 

Soft lead bullets of around 195/200 gr preferably of heel type, .450″ diameter can be seated vertically and relatively firm with the gun’s loading press. Chamfered hollow base of bevel base bullets might work for you, too.

 

 

Updated March 2, 2024

© Michael, Neely & Wolf 2007/2024

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