Suggestions For Casting Bullets……………............……29 One Man Army 144th National Schedule…………………...............……38

may smear lead between the blocks and the cutter. It may also cause a cavity in the bullet. If cooling of the sprue takes too long, try touching one edge of the sprue cutter to a wet sponge in a shallow container of water. Moisture on the sprue cutter will evaporate quickly, but be very careful not to allow moisture to be carried into the pot. (This is one of the suggestions from the NRA Cast Bullets publication.)

After casting for a time, problems may occur when the mold temperature becomes too hot. The typical problems are frosty appearing bullets and whiskers (caused by some of the melt entering the vent lines of the mold). After casting a quantity of bullets, it generally is necessary to lower the temperature of the melt. Experiment to determine the best casting temperature and strive to consistently keep the mold and melt at the best temperature.

Keep the mold and melt temperature from dropping while casting. You can keep them hot by following the suggestions that follow:

1. Cast at a good rate.

2. Limit delays or breaks while casting.

3. Fill the mold and leave the mold where heat from the pot will help keep it hot if a delay is necessary. If possible leave the mold with the tip of the sprue cutter in the melt.

4. Add lead or alloy in one pound ingots after about one pound of the melt has been removed (unless you use two pots ? see item 6 below).

If larger amounts of lead are added, the melt temperature may drop enough to cause casting problems.

5. If a bottom pour pot is used, make a steel wire basket that fits into the top of the pot unless you use two pots. Using the basket will prevent cooling the melt that enters the mold from the bottom of the pot and helps prevent the melt from solidifying in the valve. Always keep the level of the melt above the bottom of the basket while casting. Add to the melt by placing ingots in the basket instead of dropping them into the bottom of the pot.

6. The best way to keep the melt temperature high and consistent is to use two pots. Using two pots avoids dropping the melt temperature every time an ingot is added and frequent adding of ingots is unnecessary. Use one pot to cast from; use the other pot to melt the ingots and to provide hot melt for the casting pot. If you want to cast lead at 850 degrees, and if you use two pots capable of keeping the melt at 850 degrees, you should have no problem keeping the melt in the casting pot at the desired temperature. Or for casting at a lower temperature, the melt in the casting pot can be kept at a near constant temperature. I use two pots for all my casting. I find it helpful in casting good quality Minies. I use two pots for casting round balls and conical bullets also because of the convenience.

Frosty-looking bullets. If the mold and melt temperatures are very high, frosty-looking bullets may result. The frosty look is due to a metallurgical change to the alloy at the outer surface of the bullet. If the thin outer skin is scraped away, the bullet looks normal. Some authorities state they should be remelted. Other authorities state they are more consistent in weight than normal appearing bullets. Cast Bullets, page 137, states that evenly frosted bullets are not harmed by the frosting except for a slight reduction in diameter. I shoot them, but sort them into my second class of bullets along with others that have minor defects. As far as I know, they do not cause an accuracy problem.

8. LEAD POISONING.

The NRA publication, Cast Bullets, page 42, has a thorough discussion of this potential problem. To summarize very briefly: 1) Lead poisoning caused by casting bullets is very uncommon. Very long exposure to fine dust is necessary to cause a problem. 2) Use adequate ventilation (a fan, not necessarily blowing through a door or window open to the outside). 3) Keep the temperature of the alloy down to limit vapors. 4) After casting or handling lead, wash before smoking or eating.

9. SOME FINAL COMMENTS.

You probably will be able to cast good quality bullets without following all the suggestions in this article. There is some art involved in casting and it takes some experimentation to find what will work best.

Don’t leave casting to the last minute, and leave adequate time for casting. You will probably cast three times as many good bullets in two hours as you will in one hour if you consider preparation time. I usually watch video tapes while casting and I don’t mind casting for three or four hours at a stretch with only short breaks.

It is worth the time and expense to buy good equipment if you want to cast good quality bullets. If you have a mold that gives you problems, buy one you know works well for others. I have owned molds that would not consistently produce good Minies and others that made casting easy.

One Man Army By Anthony “Tony” Keppler

We often think of skirmishing as a team sport because it truly is. But sometimes there are such wonderful feats of marksmanship by our members that we must share them. Below are the exploits of one of our very own proving just what one man can do with a firearm. Eddie Davenport - Editor

The Mason-Dixon shoot came at a busy time for me, and I got a late start coming to the range. I didn’t arrive until around 2pm. When I got there, I found that no one else from my team, the 9th Virginia Cavalry, was there. I wanted to shoot smoothbore, and when I couldn’t pick up anyone else for a team, I decided to shoot it by myself. Paul Davies, from the Washington Blues, helped me to make up my targets. The Blues also agreed to switch off with me for time and safety monitors. Earlier in my shooting career, the Washington Blues were an inspiration to me. As a team of shooters, they were good shooters and worked well together – they were the team to beat in the Potomac Region. When the shoot started, I was concentrating on shooting for the pleasure of it and trying not to think about everything going on around me. In the first event, I broke six pigeons on the backer board before missing my seventh shot. I was able to shoot one more pigeon before time ran out. I left two pigeons on the backer board and finished 7/8 shots. The second event was wood blocks. I broke six for six in this event. I started to feel the pressure of having people watching me, and I wanted to do well. For the third event, hanging pigeons, I shot five pigeons in five shots before missing on my sixth shot. I got one more pigeon on my seventh shot, finishing the event 6/7 and clearing the hanging pigeons. There isn’t a lot of time to clean your gun between events, plus having to time and safety for another team. The host team helped me to hang targets, and I’m grateful to them for their help. Everyone was very supportive and happy for me. The fourth event was 4” tiles with the bottom cut off. With some level of anxiousness mixed with enthusiasm, I was able to go six for six in this event. I finished the shoot with 25 hits in 27 shots taken. I want to thank the Washington Blues for being supportive and not giving me time to think about what I was doing. One of the Blues team members gave me his metal to remember the day by, and this was very humbling. I never thought out of 19 teams shooting that day, I would finish in 12th place shooting by myself. Even after shooting at the Fort for 42 years, it’s still exciting to participate in competition. It’s great to be featured in an article in the Skirmish Line.

144th National Skirmish

September 29 – October 3, 2021 Fort Shenandoah

The Host Teams welcome you to the 144th Nationals 13th Conf. Inf. 008PT * 1st Md. Cav., CSA 018PT * 2nd NJ Vols. 020MA * 27th NC Tr. 033CR * 108th NY Vol. Inf. 041NE * 21st Va. Inf., Md. Guard 042CH * 2nd Md. Cav. 046PT * 13th NJ Vols. 055MA * Baltimore Rifles, 1st Md. Vols. 085PT * 72nd NY Vol. Inf. 126NE * 1st Regt. Eng. Tr., ANV 137 CV * 1st Fla. Cav. 160CV * Harris’ Light Cav. 176MW * 14th Miss. Inf. Regt. 205DS * Buncombe Rifles 211CR * Terry’s Texas Rangers 217NE * Chiswell’s Exiles 220PT * 11th Va. Cav. 226CV * Co. G 1st US Sharpshooters 232WR * 48th Va. Inf. 271CV Skirmish Director: Charles Hahn, 13th Confederate Infantry

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS – Check for new times and locations in bold

Small Arms Committee (SAC) Inspections – Hocker-Hughes Building – IG Office, Wed.-Fri. mornings only – 9:00-11:00AM Executive Secretary Office Hours – Wed: 1:00-3:30PM Thurs-Sat: 8:30-2:30 Sunday: Closed

Tuesday, Sept. 28 – Sunday Oct. 3, 2021

Registration/Target Pickup: Noon Tuesday – Noon

Sunday All Members attending the Nationals are required to sign in at Registration.

Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021 8:00 Required Training: All Range Personnel – Stat House; Stat Personnel inside Stat House 8:15 Required Training: Line Judge at Stat House/ Ordnance at Main Tower/Tower Staff behind Main Tower 8:30-9:00 Set up ranges for Individual Matches 9-5:00 Main & revolver ranges open for Individual

Matches Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 7:30-8:00 Set up ranges for Individual Matches 8-5:00 Main & revolver ranges open for Individual

Matches 4-6:00Artillery Inspections – 1st Va. campsite 5:30 Smoothbore Pistol Demonstration Match Non-Shooting Events - Thursday 1:00 PM “Doc” Chambers Memorial Golf Outing 5-6:00PM SCV & UDC Social – Lower Level

Historic Center 7:30PM Board of Director’s

Meeting – Historic Center

Friday, Oct. 1, 2021 7:30-8:00 Set up main range for Individual Matches and set up revolver range for Revolver Company Matches 8:00-10:00 Artillery Inspections – 1st Va. campsite 8:00-11:45 Main range open for Individual Matches 8:00-9:15 Phase I

Revolver Company Match 9:15-10:30 Phase II Revolver Company

Match 10:30-1:30 Resume Revolver

Individual Matches 11:00 Artillery meeting - all cannon/mortar crews – Barn 11:45-12:15 Set up main range for Smoothbore

Match 12:15-1:45 Smoothbore Company Matches – 2 relays 1:45-2:15 Set up main range for Breechloader/Spencer Match 2:15-3:15 Breechloader/Spencer Match – 1 relay, double hang 3:00-5:00 BB Issue Air Rifles, Safety Glasses & Conduct

Individual Matches – Revolver Range 3:15-3:45 Set up main range for Single Shot Match 3:45-4:30 Single Shot Match – 1 relay, triple hang 4:30-5:00 Set up main range for Mortar Match 5:00-6:00 Mortar Match

Non-Shooting Events – Friday 10:00AM Inspection of Probationary Teams – IG Office 6-7:00PM AA meeting – Lower Level Historic Center 7:30PM Membership Meeting in the barn. All units must be represented. 8-9:00PM History Committee Speaker Series – Lower Level Historic Center 8:30PM Irish Jam – Ruritan Pavilion – New musicians welcome Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021 7:30-10:00 BB Issue Air Rifles, Safety Glasses & conduct Individual Matches – Revolver Range. Last relay 10:00AM 7:30-11:00 Stat Office open for Individual Match protests 8-11:00 Artillery Inspections – 1st Va. campsite 8-8:30 Set up main range for Carbine Company Match 8:30-12:00 Carbine Company Match 11-11:45 BB Gun protests – Small Arms Building 12:30-1:00 Set up main range for Artillery Matches 12:45 Set up and conduct BB Gun Team Matches – main range, Position 55+ (Match begins at 1:30PM)

1-5:00 Artillery Matches & Memorial Firing 3:00 Protest period closed for complete Company Matches 3:30-5:00 Individual awards available for pickup – Stat House 5:30-6:00 BB Gun Matches Awards Ceremony – Memorial Park 6:00 Awards Ceremony (not Artillery & Musket) –Memorial Park Non-Shooting Events – Saturday 4-7:00PM Gainesboro Fire Hall – Roast Beef & Ham Dinner 7:00PM Protestant Worship – Lower Level Historic Center 8:00PM Catholic Worship – Lower Level Historic Center 9-11:30PM Barn Dance Costume Committee Events – Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021 11-12:00 Registration: Infants, Children, Girls, Boys Civilian & Boys Military 11-12:45 Registration: Young Ladies, Adults & Revolving Trophy 12 Noon Children’s Competition; Young Ladies, Adults & Revolving Trophy category competitions to follow Workshop (open to all) to follow Adult Competition. 4:00 Robert L. Miller Award – Memorial Park Costuming events are held in Memorial Park. In case of inclement weather, competition will be held in lower level of Veteran’s Bldg. Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021 8:00-8:30 Set up main range for Musket Co. Match 8:00-10:00 Stat Office open for Artillery Match protests 8:30 Opening Ceremonies for Musket; match to immediately follow 12:00 Registration closes ca. 1:30 Protests close ½ hour after final musket match results are posted 2:00 Final cleanup of ranges Awards Ceremony in Memorial Park ASAP following Musket Match – Artillery awards will be presented at this time.

Smoothbore Pistol Demonstration Match

1.12.5 yards) 9 clay pigeons on a backer 2.( 12.5 yards) 6 hanging 6"x6" ceramic tiles 3. (12.5 yards) 6 hanging clay pigeons 4. (12.5 yards) 6 hanging 4"x4" ceramic tiles

Company Matches

Breechloader (4 competitors/ company)

1.(50 yards) 32 clay pigeons on a backer 2.(50 yards) 16 hanging 4”x4” ceramic tiles 3.(50 yards) 16 hanging clay pot silhouettes 4.(100 yards) 10 hanging 6”x6” ceramic tiles

Carbine (8 competitors/company)

1.(50 yards) 32 clay pigeons on a backer 2.(50 yards) 16 hanging 4”x4” ceramic tiles 3.(50 yards) 16 hanging clay pigeons 4.(50 yards) 16 hanging clay pot silhouettes 5.(100 yards) 10 hanging 6”x6” ceramic tiles

Revolver (4 competitors/company)

1.(25 yards) 12 clay pigeons on a backer. 2.(25 yards) 6 hanging 6”x6” ceramic tiles. 3.(25 yards) 8 hanging clay pigeons. 4.(25 yards) 8 hanging 4”x4” ceramic tiles.

Spencer (4 competitors/company)

1. (50 yards) 32 clay pigeons on backer 2. (50 yards) 16 hanging 4”x4” ceramic tiles 3. (50 yards) 16 hanging clay pot silhouettes 4. (100 yards) 10 hanging 6”x6” ceramic tiles

Smoothbore (4 competitors/company)

1.(25 yards) 12 clay pigeons on a backer 2.(25 yards) 8 hanging 4”x4” ceramic tiles 3.(25 yards) 8 hanging clay pot silhouettes 4.(50 yards) 6 hanging 6”x6” ceramic tiles

Single Shot BLR (4 competitors/ company)

1.(100 yards) 5 hanging 6"x6" ceramic tiles 2.(50 yards) 16 clay pigeons on a backer 3.(50 yards) 8 hanging 4"x4" ceramic tiles 4.(50 yards) 8 hanging clay pot silhouettes

Musket (8 competitors/company)

1.(50 yards) 32 clay pigeons on a backer 2.(50 yards) 16 4x4 hanging ceramic tiles 3.(50 yards) 16 hanging clay pigeon 4.(50 yards) 16 hanging clay pot silhouettes 5.(100 yards)10 hanging 6”x6” ceramic tiles

Fort Shenandoah Winchester, Virginia

Arrows on the map below indicate one-way traffic on Fort Shenandoah roads unless otherwise posted during the event. Failure to obey these restrictions will result in a citation and disciplinary action by the N-SSA Board of Directors. If you experience any problems while at Fort Shenandoah, please call 540-888-4334 (only available during National Skirmishes). In case of an emergency, dial 911. Emergency evacuation routes are posted on all bulletin boards and available at the Executive Secretary’s office.

144th Fall Nationals Host Staff Officers

Skirmish Director Charlie Hahn

13th Confederate Infantry Adjutant Ed Thompson 21st Virginia Infantry, MD Guard Artillery & Logistic Tim Scanlan 1st Maryland Cavalry, CSA Chief Announcer Kennie Post 13th Confederate Infantry Individual Match Bob Peloquin Harris” Light Cavalry Ordnance Paul Altland 21st Virginia Infantry, MD Guard Range Officer Scott Harris Range Support Dave Eppley 1st Florida Cavalry 13th Confederate Infantry Registration Howard Taylor 2nd Maryland Cavalry Revolver Range Larry Chiarizia 21st Virginia Infantry, MD Guard Sanitation John Barnette Baltimore Rifles, 1st MD Volunteers Statistics Richard Hill 14th Mississippi Infantry

An Introduction to Your Small Arms Committee

By: John Holland, Chairman, and Small Arms Staff Officer

The N-SSA regularly loses and gains some several hundred members every year. The Covid 19 Pandemic has only made that condition worse. However, with the loosening of restrictions many members who had dropped out are now returning, and along with them are a healthy number of first time members, too! With that in mind, perhaps it is time to introduce these new members, and refresh the returning members, to the Small Arms Committee (SAC), what it is, what it does, and how to work with them.

As Chairman, I have attempted to make the Small Arms Committee, and its services, more accessible to you, the membership. We have become more of a “customer service” operation than ever before. I say “we” because this is certainly not a “committee of one” by any means. The SAC is a very vibrant and active committee, comprised of members representing nearly every Region of the N-SSA. Some Regions may not have a SAC member, which is usually due to that Region’s proximity to Ft. Shenandoah where most skirmishes have at least one SAC Inspector available. Other Regions may have one Small Arms Inspector and some have as many as four or five. These numbers are governed by several things such as the physical size of the Regions, the number of people, etc. Until last year there had been a list of SAC Inspectors on the N-SSA Home page. We were advised to remove the list of names for security reasons due to the public access to the list, and the increasing growth of groups of people who are anti- anything related to the American Civil War. If things settle down later on perhaps we can restore the list. Only time will tell. To arrange for a small arms inspection at a Regional Skirmish you can email me and I will make arrangements for you if at all possible. You will find my email address in the N-SSA publication “The Skirmish Line”. By doing this ahead of time, the SAC Inspector will be prepared for you with the proper inspection sheets. If you are contemplating a new project, don’t hesitate to contact your SAC for information on what is required beforehand. We really don’t like telling you that you have to make a correction, any more than you like hearing it! I believe you will find the SAC Inspectors to be polite, courteous, and willing to assist you with any problems you may have.

Some N-SSA competitors believe that all Regional I.G’s are also automatically SAC Inspectors. This is not true. Quite a few SAC members do serve in both capacities, and others only volunteer their services to the I.G. Corps at each National skirmish. This is why you will see some SAC members doing lottery inspections on the firing line in the capacity of an IG.

For those of you who have never required the services of the SAC, I would like to take a moment to explain how the small arms inspection process works, and what responsibilities you have as a member of the N-SSA. When you build or acquire an arm that requires an Individual SAC Card, you should contact your Regional SAC Inspector, or me, to make arrangements for an inspection at a mutually agreeable time and place. You will want to get the arm inspected at the first opportunity. This is so you may use it in official N-SSA matches without the potential of incurring a penalty, either for yourself or your team. Some SAC Inspectors have gone so far as to have invited members to their homes, and others have actually made “house calls” to get inspections done for you. If your arm meets the established requirements, your SAC Inspector will fill out an Inspection Sheet, issue you a Temporary Approval, and send the original sheet to me. The inspection sheet will then be reviewed for any errors or omissions. If everything is acceptable, you will then receive a permanent SAC Card for your arm. Occasionally an arm will require a correction before the permanent card can be issued. In an instance such as this, you will receive a “Temporary Conditional Approval”, with a liberal amount of time to make the corrections. This will allow you to use the arm until the corrections have been made. Once the corrections are completed you will want to see your Regional SAC Inspector to have him/her verify that said corrections have been made. They will then contact