"Run some bullets and put by patches."

[Gary/CO]

It's a statement by a Civil War soldier who is equipped with a target rifle. I understand running bullets or patched balls through your gun barrel, but is "run" being used in the same context? Help the ignorant! Please.

[Jim Brady Knap's Battery]

Could he be referring to casting bullets? As in "Running off a batch of bullets and cutting some patches."

Jim Brady
2249V
Knap's Battery

[Charlie Hahn]

I believe this might refer to the process used to swage a cast bullet to the correct size for his rifle. The sniper rifles where of odd calibers and a luck or skilled sharp shooter could be equiped with a ahnd swage that would size the bullet for a precise fit and also conform the inside and outside features of the bullet.

This bullet would then be fitted with an oiled paper patch and placed in a loading block. This bullet block assembly is either loaded direct into the gun with a started rod, or used with a false muzzel.

I refer to a shooting diary from a cap lock book.

Hope this helps a little

Charlie Hahn