reloading history
 

when did reloading of hulls become commonplace for the general public? anyone have any really dated equipment?

I have a set of reloading tools and roll crimper that dates to a little before 1900, I believe.
Don't know what existed prior to that.

reloading brass hull i believe dates to the earliest days of breech loaders

Most rural shooters loaded their own shells.





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Browse the photos of cased Parker hammer guns. Take note that they all had loading components fitted. Tools, and individual shotshell components were available virtually from the advent of loaded shells

I was under the impression that loading your own shells predates factory loaded shotahells.

Where did you get that impression from ? There had to be hulls invented first before you could reload them.

I believe you bought the brass and powder, shot etc. and then assembled them yourself. That's why old boxes say "loaded shotshells" on them instead of just "shotshells.". Of course, I wasn't around in the 1870's...

Not a big jump from loading a muzzleloader to loading brass shot shells. My guess loading shotshells started with the introduction of breech loaders.

William

You kind of made my point with the old boxes saying loaded shells instead of just shotshells - the factory loaded shells came first. Then people would take the fired shells and reload them. I would think unloaded brass could also be bought once there was a market for them. Bob, I guess no one is really answering your question other than the late 1800s. They made and reloaded the pin fire that pre dated the shell we know today.

But if factory loaded came first, wouldn't the assumption be that a box of shellls was loaded? Meaning, unless you were accustomed to shells coming empty ready for hand loading, why would you need to be told these hulls have powder and shot already? And why don't old boxes of .44-40 etc. say "loaded cartridges"?
I'm new to this board and am not trying to start a fight--i have now reason to believe I'm right. I'm honestly interested and thinking out loud.

This is why I thought that. Of course, who's to say he's right.
From the UMC section:
"Union Metallic Cartridge Co. (UMC) was originally formed to provide firearms and ammunition to the Union Army during the U.S. Civil War. UMC was reincorporated in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1867. UMC began to sell unloaded brass shotshells in 1868, which is said to be the first commercially available shotshell in the USA. Twenty years later, in 1888, UMC began to sell loaded shotshells."
http://www.rbs0.com/shotshell.htm

In 1812 a Swiss named Pauly in vented the first cartridge shotgun. The primer was separate from the shell much like a muzzleloader. Then in 1832 Lefaucheux from Parris invented the pinfire shell. Were they sold empty or loaded, I don't know, but our European counter parts were way ahead of us. What came first, the chicken or the egg ? At 71 I try not to give these things too much thought. I have enough trouble trying to remember why I went into a room or what it is I wanted. Charlie, it sounds like you knew the answer to your question before you ask it.

The buffalo hunters sat around the campfire moulding bullets from lead stock and recovered bullets and assembling ammo for their Sharps.

Lewis and Clark made up lead boxes in which they stored their powder. Crimped everything tight to make the package waterproof. When it was time to make more bullets, they opened up the box, melted the lead, and used the powder. Efficient packaging