EE es i 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     The Maritime competition was held in Saint John 
     
     on June 3rd, 4th, and 5th, 1913, and was as successful 
     
     as it promised! From the programme of this shoot, we 
     
     glean the following information on ammunition: 
     
    
   
   
    
     "The following kinds of ammunition will be 
     
     for sale on the grounds. Empire “Imperial,” 
     
     Dupont and Ballistite loads at .80 per 
     
     box...Empire "Sovereign" at .65 per box. 
     
     Ballistite "Regal" at .65 per box. 
     
     Ballistite 24, 25, 26 grains, Empire and 
     
     Dupont 3, 3 1/8 and 3 1/4 drams. Shot 7 1/2 
     
     x 11/4 oz. chilled. For other makes see 
     
     hardware ads." 
     
    
   
   
    
     Although the bulk of shotshells used were of 
     
     factory manufacture there was obviously an element of 
     
     handloading done at the time evidenced by Major Bill 
     
     Weeks' son Ernest's recollection of the era... 
     
    
   
   
    
     "I recall as a small boy, helping my father 
     
     £ill empty unused shell cartridges for his 
     
     shotgun. The cartridges were made of 
     
     cardboard with a metal bottom which included 
     
     a small circular firing point or cap. Powder 
     
     was kept in a leather bag with a metal spout 
     
     containing a built in measuring device. The 
     
     lead shot of several sizes, was kept ina 
     
     wooden box with divided compartments. The 
     
     measuring and filling operation was to pour 
     
     the correct amount of powder into the empty 
     
     shell. Then the wads, usually two, were 
     
     pushed down over the powder, and pounded with 
     
     a plunger to compact the powder. The lead 
     
     shot was poured in to about 1/2 inch of the 
     
     top and another wad was placed over the lead 
     
     shot. The final operation was done with a 
     
     'reamer,' an instrument with a handle and 
     
     wheel which turned down and inward the top 
     
     edges of the cartridge case." 
     
    
   
   
    
     I cannot find further evidence of handloading in 
     
     other families at the time, and it is quite possible 
     
    
   
   
    
     --116--