military reeanctors

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November Ghost

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I was wondering if anyone on this forum a militray reenactor or living histoian? I am myself and have been doing so for 20+ years. I do all eras of US miltary reenacting, but focus mainly on these three: Civil War, World War 2and Vietnam.

I hope this is the right place to post this since it is not entirely related to guns!
 
There is no "not entirely related to guns" area here at THR.org. If you want this thread to continue, make this a discussion about the guns you use in your reenactments.

Absent the FOCUS of the thread being on the firearms, this would just be a thread about a hobby and, while interesting, not on-topic for THR.
 
well, that was my reason for posting. I was curious what guys use and talk blanks and BFA making, etc. as well as reloading ammunition for the M1 garand and gov't issue 1911a1 and so on...

i thought it would hopefully generate a few reenactors in my area to emerge...
 
I am gearing up to do Australian WW2 and maybe WW1. I have a nice Lithgow No1 MkIII* with and Australian bayonet that I bought for this.

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that is neat ... i really enjoy off beat, non mainstream impressions and weapons.
where are you gathering gear and weapons and blanks?
 
being a bolt action you do not need a BFA so that is nice, blanks should be pretty easy to make if cases and crimp die are availible...
 
I plan on buying a blank crimping and just making my own blanks. I have plenty of old (1909) Egyptian 303 cases. As far as my gear goes I use Lawrance Ordnance out of Sydney Australia and What Price Glory from here in the US. WPG's gear is ok. But they are the only folks that I know of that sell the Australian battle dress.

Any 30 cal blank crimping die should work. But finding one is the tricky part.
http://www.ch4d.com/catalog/?p=19
One can be had for about $80. And then I can roll my own.
 
that is where i got mine for my M1 ... easy as heck to set and use ... it took me 5 times to get the crimp perfect ... the trick is finding a load recipie for the blank you want to make. The pros keep theirs secret as i know the owner of a very succesful blank maker and he will not spill the beans. I have talked with other DIYers and got several recipes and from that i took my own and made them. They cycle perfectly in my BFA adapted garand.

A bolt action is a lot easier to get a bang from with a low grain blank...you do not need the gas to cycle a new round!!
 
Nor do I need long nosed blanks like the semi autos or MG gunners. I can get away with short nosed blanks. I figure once I get the die, I buy a few different powders and then settle in to trying different amounts to see what gives be the best sound. I am really looking forward to it.
 
for Civil War : reproduction M1861 Springfield and/or M1859 Sharps Rifle
for WW2 : M1 Garand 7-51 barrel and 43 dated receiver and an M1 Carbine (3rd Gen Universal, do not get me going on this!)
for Vietnam : preban SP1 colt flatside

i also have a ww2 dated Remington Rand M1911a1
 
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I've always been kind of curious about the gun handling in re-enactment - isn't pointing a gun at someone breaking the 4 rules? Are there extra safety measures taken? Every time I see a reenactment I think to myself "I sure wouldn't want someone pointing a gun at me, much less pulling the trigger; what's to stop someone from mixing up live ammo. or firing the blank too close?"
 
Another re-enactor of 20+ years, French and Indian Wars and American Revolution are my main interests. Flintlock firearms ranging from .62 cal.(20 gague)fowlers to .77 caliber Brown Bess's, and not to forget the 4 bore rampart gun, and occasional blunderbuss! Lots of interesting things in any era of re-enacting. We keep the hobby safe by rigorous saftey inspections, a live round, or even a loose ball will get you sent out of the line. As far as pointing at some one, the usual method of firing is to elevate your muzzle a bit over their caps when firing in line. The public can't tell, and it works.
Thge worst injuries I've seen in my time in this hobby have come from heat exhaustion, or sprianed limbs.
 
I'm looking to get into reenacting but haven't yet. Got a Pedersoli Brown Bess a couple months ago (it was abused, but cleaned up OK and looks like it spent time on the battlefield because of the neglect). I'm planning to look up some F&I war units in the spring after I get some shoes (most units can loan clothes, many can also loan muskets, but loaner shoes are rare). The 2nd Model Bess is wrong for F&I, but still often accepted and accurate for Revolution and War of 1812. So far I've found it to be fun at the range and it always draws attention. I'm using .715 balls now but I did get hold of some old .454 round balls I had and am planning to waste them at the range by loading three or so at a time. It will probably pattern terribly, but I don't care.
 
1. Revolutionary War. A rifleman, Continental soldier, artilleryman or militia man depending on the event. Pennsylvania rifle or Charlevile 2. Civil War-Union infantryman. I carry a P1853 Enfield.
3. Spanish American War-Volunteer, I carry an M1888 Trapdoor-this is more a
living history impression.
Regarding safety.
1. No lead balls EVER-not on your person or even in camp. Perhaps one mounted on a wooden base for "Show and Tell".
2. Ramrods are NEVER used in battles. Again, OK for demonstrations.
3. Paper is never loaded in battles, OK in demonstrations.
3. In battle reenactments, closer that say 30 yards you aim over the opposing forces heads.
 
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