Little Conveniences for Riflemen
“Little Conveniences for Riflemen”
By R. E. HERRICK
BULLET GREASER: The bullet greaser herewith has stood the test of three years time on the rifle range, and has not been found wanting. It is not patented and anyone is welcome to the use of the design. The body of the greaser is a 1-ounce brass grease cup having a non-rising stem, or handle. It is a good grade brass cup and not one of the cheap cast ones having rolled threads. The octagonal part was ground off flush with the body of the cup, and the stem itself ground down until it would slip inside a cut-off cartridge case, which was soldered to the grease cup.
It will do as a greaser as it is, but if a real one is desired it will be necessary to melt the lead out of a service bullet. Take the remaining jacket, drive a good bullet into it to expand it slightly, cut off the point slightly, and insert this jacket point first into the cartridge case soldered on to the grease cup. Solder the jacket in slightly, and the greaser is complete. Fill it with your pet grease, screw the handle about one turn, and the grease will pass through the stem into the enlarged jacket. Being shaped inside to the contour of the service bullet the greaser will put on a nice thin coating of grease, not in gobs as many greasers do, and one filling will lubricate at least 100 bullets, making it quite large enough for an extensive day's shooting.
The cover to the greaser is made from an empty pistol cartridge, and an improvement would be to have this fastened to the greaser by means of a length of small brass chain.
OUTDOOR CARTRIDGE BLOCK: The small bore rifleman who shoots out of doors will no doubt have found more or less difficulty in keeping dust and dirt out of his cartridges. Indoors the little loading blocks such as were distributed by some of the ammunition companies at Caldwell and Camp Perry suffice very well, but out doors are not a success, and to try and overcome their failings the writer evolved the loading‘ block shown herewith. The block is made from a piece of red insulating fibre, which is easily sawn and drilled. Holes were bored to hold the cartridges, and smaller ones bored clear through the block so that dust might be blown out of the holes. ‘A hole was bored in the center of the block and reamed to fit the enlarged end of a Krag jointed cleaning rod; the sort that comes in the butt of the Krag. A screw was put in from the top and the opposite end of the rod sharpened to stick into the ground. Here then, is our loading block, just a handy height for use and up and out of the dirt and sand.
CLEANING TUBE FOR SPRINGFIELD: The cleaning tube shown in the accompanying cut was made and given the writer by a tinsmith friend, and is quite easy to make and easier yet to use. The body is made from a piece of brass tubing, to which is soldered a Springfield cartridge case cut off at the neck, and just ahead of the solid base. A block is soldered to the body of the tube so it rests in the position of the safety lug on the Springfield bolt. A handle is soldered on, and the whole combination inserted in the rifle exactly as is the bolt of the rifle.
THE SHOOTING CASE: Some sort of shooting case is essential to the confirmed rifleman, and a substitute for the very expensive boughten ones may be made from an old plate camera case of 4 by 5 or 5 by 7 size.
Cut loose one side of the cross partition, which may then be folded back out of the way. Cut a thin board that will just fit in the case length wise and tack on two narrow ones at either end to keep it in place. Put on a few loops or pockets to hold the articles used and there will still be room for the telescope and stand, rifle rest, and other articles dear to the shooter.
The case in the photo herewith is a 5 by 7 camera case, and shows pockets made from sheet metal to fit the thong case, micrometer, bullet greaser, sight black, ear protectors, screw driver, score book and pencil, and case for the shooting glasses. A make-shift? Yes, but it fills the bill.