Reload in 12 seconds while running.

I was reading about a penn. man explaining why the penn rifle was called kentucky.The artical was printed in 2007 on a site called armslocker .com.He said that a man called Simon Kenton could reload his kentucky in 12 seconds while running.I havent tried it, but it may be possible.Have you ever heard of this? squib

Mark Baker wrote two books "A Pilgrims journey" if I recall right in which he is telling about this ability. Pretty good reading too!

I can do it in 11.5 seconds, running full tilt and jumping logs. Believe that and 'll tell you another!

:haha:

I'd like to see someone load that fast standing still at a loading bench!

HD

An infantryman in the American Revolution, well trained and drilled, was expected to get off a shot every 19 seconds, loading from paper cartridges.
That an experienced rifleman could reload on the move is not denied. But to reload a rifle in less than 2/3 the time alloted a man with a musket can only be considered fictional. Even by tapping the butt on the ground to force powder out the vent and into the pan, and also to somewhat seat a bare ball on the powder charge goes beyond fanciful imagination.

Sounds like a tale, to me. There was a character supposedly famous for his exploits of loading while running, but it was Lewis Wetzel, not Simon Kenton. Mark Baker wrote a bit about him, but I don't recall any claims of his doing it in seconds.

Spence

Reloading while being chased consisted of sticking the end of your powder horn in the end of the barrel for a second or two and spitting a bare ball down the barrel, try it most of you could do it with a little practice. To aim and shoot takes a few more seconds.
H08

Hell, I can't even just run for twelve seconds.

Spence is right, it was Lewis Wetzel who became well known (I hesitate to say "famous")for bating Natives into chasing him so he could systematically pick them off, reloading as he ran, turn, shoot, run and reload again. I've read the first person narative in his words and IIRC there was no mention of twelve seconds or any other time amount.

Using a loading bloc, an premeasured powder charges I have no problem getting off second shot in approximately 10to 12 seconds. Standing still and shooting a "loose fit ball". To do it on the run would be a "good story" but nothing else in my personal opinion. :idunno:

I found I can pour powder and drop a patched ball in 9.5 seconds while running; just not in the rifle's bore. :rotf:

hanshi
Now 'that's funny'!!!
Macon

Like all storys and tales of the time,it keeps the attention of your listeners by adding a little myth along with the fact. Several years ago I came across some period writtings that alluded to this feat, seems the more famous of the feat was Lew Wetzel but others are credited with loading bare ball on the run also. I have no doubt that it can be and was done but as was said no time estimate was given?
This idea of a time factor may have emerged from the works of Zane Grey"s series of books. Lew Wetzel became known to the local NAs as La vent de la morte or the wind of death.
It seems that some claimed no person existed by that name, but there are referewnce in some of the old archive that would prove differently. The documents indicate he traveled in the area of W.Va. Del. and S.Pa.

:hatsoff: :thumbsup:

laffindog said:

Hell, I can't even just run for twelve seconds.

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Me neither let alone reload while doing it! :shocked2: :rotf: :rotf:

Yea, but I heard that that was in fights with the Indians and he was just pouring powder in and just throwing a bare ball down the bore.

It helps if you have 4-5 Shawanees chasing you...

I was thinking that the Shawnees called Simon Kenton "the man who's gun is always loaded"?
Due to on the run loading?
Macon

I can run for 12 seconds "But", I ain't too sure about the reloading part.

I know a guy that has SIMON KENTON's 1887 lever 12 ga

rubincam said:

I know a guy that has SIMON KENTON's 1887 lever 12 ga

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How did he manage that? Kenton died in 1836.

Spence

I would have to weigh in on the not likley side of the fence on this one, even with pouring and primimg from the same horn and using no patch, I would hold off on saying impossible but would have to see documantaion of it to be sold on the idea.

Running and loading in 12 seconds? Hell, Squibb, at my age I can no longer run nor load in 12 seconds let alone doing them at the same time....not even if I did have an Indian chasing me. If I did, I'd just have to turn and face him and tell him to just take a little off the top.:rotf: But, I have no doubt that someone at sometime in history has done it at least once. :idunno: