LOADMASTER CLASSIC

In 2004 after an absence of 12 years we reintroduced Bill Sinclair’s LOADMASTER. Bill invented the LOADMASTER in the early nineties and Joe Nickerson gave it his seal of approval with the words ' the best innovation in the shooting world for 30 years ' - he was a great fan and I had the privilege of being involved in the sale of his 28 bore Loadmaster that was made especially for him by Bill.

Of course we agree with the great man and we were pleased to reintroduce a lighter version of the original, this time made from lighter ABS plastic and with a slightly smaller capacity. Our first model was the ' Deluxe ' with an ABS plastic gate at the bottom, which, although very efficient, did require a knack to pull the cartridges past the gate. Whilst demonstrating to customers it was apparent that this gate raised some doubts so we decided to discontinue this model and return to Bills original design which didn’t have gate, just a simple on/off strap which retained the cartridges when not in use. We have called this current model the CLASSIC - which it is in every sense of the word. I feel sure that owners of the Deluxe will be very happy with their version, but should any one wish to change to the classic strap format, then I will happily convert at no cost.

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OPERATION OF THE LOADMASTER

The LOADMASTER is an oblong leather covered ABS plastic box, which is divided into two upright sections, each of which holds 14 x 12 bore cartridges. The cartridges are stacked vertically in a zigzag column which allows gravity to feed them to the loading ports at the bottom.

The box is reloaded in each chamber via a narrow central slot that runs vertically down the middle of each. After the cartridge is pushed into the slot it settles to one side so it doesn’t fall out. Gravity constantly feeds cartridges downwards to the loading ports at the bottom. The bottom of the LOADMASTER has 45 degree sloping sides which channels the cartridges from each side to the middle where the loading ports are situated. This means we always have two cartridges offered together, heads outwards, which can be pulled out by the shooter either singly or in pairs. When they are removed gravity feeds the next cartridges downwards to repeat the performance. SO SIMPLE!! Between drives the two cartridges at the ports are held within the Loadmaster by a leather strap which is attached by a ring stud to the front of the Loadmaster. The secured strap blocks the two loading ports and retains the cartridges until you arrive at the next stand.

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CAPACITIES

The LOADMASTER will hold 28 x 12 bore, 26 x 16 bore and 32 x 20 bores. I’m afraid it won’t work with 28 bores.

STRAP

The LOADMASTER comes with an olive green adjustable strap but if you prefer we can supply any Guardsman strap at no extra cost. Please refer to our strap section to make your choice - I would suggest a strap no wider than 2 ¼” as the wider straps don’t mould to the chest as well as the narrower ones and this may interfere with your gun mount.

COLOURS

The Classic LOADMASTER is covered in best bridle leather and we offer the four traditional shooting colours; chocolate brown (most popular), light tan, moss green and ox blood.

EXTRAS

The LOADMASTER will work with 12, 16 and 20 bore shells but 20 bores do stick from time to time, as they don’t stack well. To overcome this we can supply leather inserts which are stuck to the inside of the two outer walls of the frame. This tightens the stack and allows the downward thrust to operate efficiently on the column of cartridges below.

As the LOADMASTER is designed to take all cartridges including 3”, normal 2 ¾” 12 and 16 bores are slightly loose. If this concerns you (most people don’t mind) we can provide leather spacers which are stuck to the back walls of the frame. These take up most of the slack. Most 20 bore cartridges are 3” so spacers don’t apply to them.

We don’t offer extras in the BMW sense so all the above can be supplied free of charge.

PRICE : £215 plus Vat

THOUGHTS on RELOADING

Within my lifetime I think we are now on the third book of Game Shooting. Times have changed and gone are the Gentleman’s days of the 70’s when 100 driven birds were considered to be a perfectly good days sport. In the 80’s and 90’s we had a period when bags increased (doubled) and the cartridges fired increased proportionally. We are now at a time when bags are ever greater and quality is significantly higher so that the numbers of cartridges fired in a day can be 3 or 4 times that of 30 years ago. Clearly I am generalising but many Gameshots are now regularly experiencing what the Edwardian sportsman called a “hot corner”; if wish to enjoy these hot corners and maintain your share of the sport then clearly the ability to reload quickly is paramount.

There is plenty of advice out there on how to shoot straight but I don’t think I have ever seen advice on reloading. I am sure you know plenty of people who seem to have the knack of reloading quickly and so get far more shooting than is good for them! Why don’t you join them?

RELOADING TECHNIQUE

If you are happy reloading from your pocket then this advice is not for you, loading from your pocket is slow, simply - cartridges will not always come to hand the right way up, this will interrupt the flow and a fumble will result. If you like watching other guns shooting your birds then clearly this is not a problem but if you enjoy the red mist and its speed you want then please read on.

So if the pocket is out, you will have to decide which reloading device you are going to use. The available options are:- Cartridge Belt: either ABS plastic clip (30 cartridges), standard leather (25) or double leather (50) Pannier (50/60) Belt Gannochy (15) Loadmaster (28) For the enthusiast, it is possible to combine two of the above and it would seem that the pannier on a clip cartridge belt is now considered to be the ultimate in firepower! I think the simplest way of really increasing your rate of fire is with a LOADMASTER or BELT GANNOCHY. Both of these offer a flow of brass up cartridges with no fumbling. The LOADMASTER is the most popular as it gives 28 continuous reloads and it is very easy to refill during the drive.

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Let’s study the technical side of actually reloading of the gun. Perhaps we should say that both side by sides and over and unders are equally easy to eject, but the side by side does have a significant edge on reloading. The over and unders bottom barrel is always the problem and 20 bores in particular are slow.

To achieve maximum reloading speed we have to make use of both hands at the same time. Those who load with their right hand do have a problem, as the secret of fast reloading is to open the gun with the right hand and at the same time take one or two cartridges in the left. This use of the left hand is fundamental to quick reloads and if you want to speed up then you will have to retrain to take the cartridges in your left hand.

Sounds difficult? Perhaps, but it is not! The secret is to ‘nod’ the gun open with the right hand and then let gravity do the work. To do this comfortably you must have the right purchase on the gun, this is achieved by holding the small of the stock quite tightly in your right hand with the underside of the right forearm lying along the length of the comb. At this stage you will find it more comfortable (and efficient) to push your elbow into a position just resting on the front of your right hipbone. By keeping your upper arm tight against the ribs and pivoting your forearm from the elbow, lodged on the hipbone – you can push the top lever over with your right thumb and using your wrist nod the barrels downwards. You only need the nod to open the gun, gravity will open it fully and allow the ejectors to work – all with one hand! Unless your gun is stiff (new) this takes but a moment and turns your gun into a self opener.

Whilst the opening was going on, your left hand should be working, taking cartridges from the Loadmaster (hung on your left side) and then moving across to the now empty chambers. The right wrist then slightly cants the chambers to the left and the cartridges are dropped in. If you are of my vintage then you may remember Gough Thomas and his advice for this last part of the reload. This was to take the two cartridges in between the thumb and first two fingers pushing them together (like chopsticks) but with one cartridge slightly above the other – the lower one was then offered to the first chamber and then used as a pivot to rotate the second higher cartridge and when this second cartridge is in place release both and let them drop in.

Perhaps I should remind you that the more vertical the barrels, the easier the cartridges will drop into the chambers (if you have a stuffer then please remember this) So, as the cartridges are released into the chambers rotate the wrist the other way and let gravity swing the canted barrels back to near vertical. A cartridge that wasn’t quite lined up will then usually drop neatly into its chamber.

We are almost finished – shutting the gun is easy, but much easier if you move the left hand down the barrels (towards the muzzles) to lengthen the lever – Purdey users take note! Again, if the hipbone is used as an anchor point for the toe of the stock then the leverage is at its most efficient and effort and time will be saved.

Job done! When you perfect your reloading technique it will become automatic and you shouldn’t need to look down. Your eyes will hopefully never leave the sky and so you will gain valuable time looking for the next shot, judging distance, angle and speed – all with the gun down whilst the reload takes place. I recall a famous shot partridge shooting years ago – we had blanked in a single covey into a turnip field and this covey split as the drive progressed; these greys duly came out in an extended stream and went straight for the infamous gun. He shot every single partridge - 5 in total - with cool and deadly efficiency, no rush, no fumbling, just the product of spending his whole life (13 game books) and three fortunes following this great sport. Happy days.