Making Paper Cartridges for the 1859 Sharps

[@Wildwest89]

Who knew that all that tracing and cutting on the lines and glueing and stuff you learn in kindergarten had such practical applications for such fun as an adult?

[@duelist1954]

I'm glad I paid attention back then...LOL

[@Everythingblackpowder]

I’m certainly going to try this!

[@pilgrimm23]

Thanks Mike! I just got a Sharps Carbine. Mine is a "IAB" but as Italian as yours :) no patch box but It fill that place for my inner Quigly :) I have been looking around for info on making cartridges and discovered Heeled bullets are rare rare rare. I (and my cousin) have a Lyman mold on order but till it gets here I have some 54s that look like your Christmas tree and also some 54 ball. I have heard you can load a Sharps like a bore stuffer; just roll in a ball till it seats, pour in powder shut breech and cap. Have not tried that yet. I am an older gun collector who recently ( a year or so) got into the black and got absolutely hooked. I have a blunderbuss, now 4 rifles, 10 revolvers and a flint pistol and It is the most fun you can have with your clothes on! Keep up the vids they are great. PS if 1954 denotes your age; I am older: 1953 :)

[@edwardsouza6985]

Mike it was a pleasure learning how to make paper cartridges for the sharps rifle

[@benjaminjarrett9816]

Looks like a good cartridge, for awhile now I’ve been saving paper receipts and using those for the tubes and using cigarette paper for the flat base. Thank you for the awesome content.

[@lorenray9479]

My evidence of what I spent money on would ruin the fun !???! Hoho

[@wadegrant7465]

A few purchases at CVS and you'll have enough receipt paper to last a century.

[@joemiller9632]

@@wadegrant7465 for sure

[@garyruark9506]

I have a 1853 (inventoried Aug 2, 1855) Sharps Sporting rifle. Now I know how to make rounds for it. Thank's Mike.

[@GaryED44]

Very professional my friend nicely done. Thumbs up for sure

[@Ostenjager]

Right off the rip, you answered a question I had: “where the hell did you get the bullets?” Thanks for that tidbit. Eras Gone is doing the work of the gods! I bought a batch of DGW Sharps “christmas tree” bullets, and they were trash.

[@matthewsullivan5713]

I recently purchased his Kerr 44 bullet mold and it produces beautiful 44cal bullets for my Remington. Great company run by a true history enthusiast.

[@ArgoPower]

​​@@matthewsullivan5713 Hi, I'm from Croatia. Also I buyed eras gone Kerr for the remington nma 1858 and it is fitting very well. With nitrate paper and 28 grains BP it is a lot of power!

[@bunkstagner298]

Thanks Mike this is interesting. My Sharps has the Hahn improvement and uses the Hahn paper tubes. Otherwise the loading sequence is the same. I will try some 1.5Fg powder.

[@kirkmorrison6131]

I'm going to have to get one and do it. In my 45-70s I use a similar load a card and lube as a filler. I make revolver cartridges for my cap and balls. It is a lot of fun hitting targets with homemade cartridges.

[@charlescomly1]

I hope you will be making another video soon I always enjoy watching them.

[@robertrobert7924]

Really enjoyed this video. Great to make cartridges when it is too hot outside to shoot. Look forward to the shooting video and the next cartridge making video using the Xmas tree bullet. Would also like to see cleaning of your sharps, since it is a breech loader. Thanks Mike.

[@bunkstagner298]

Now making paper cartridges for bullets, other than the ringtail. To simplify the blank size I use a free graph making program that makes grids the size of the paper . A little quick work with scissors and done.

[@bunkstagner298]

Also if you make a former a smaller size to fit the ringtail the same method will work. That works for me with my sporting rifle. Thanks Mike for your hard work.

[@blackpowderfirearmenthusia3194]

I have really fallen in love with the Pedersoli 1859 Sharps. Thank you for sharing these videos on the Sharps on your channel.

[@kidhammer2567]

Mike, thank you for your spot-on video. I'll try these bullets (thank you, Mark Hubbs) and your style, with N-SSA powder charges for my M-1859 Sharps repro carbine.

[@bunkstagner298]

My choice is40 to 45 grains of FFg powder for use in my carbine.. That load of Mike's would be brutal in thet light weight gun.IMHO.

[@kidhammer2567]

@@bunkstagner298 I am shooting a carbine Sharps and the 44-grain charge and projectile combo makes for a perfect chamber fit. Any more and I'm too long and any less and I am too short. I'm using both the Sharps Christmas Tree bullet and the Richmond-Sharps projectiles. Thanks for sharing.

[@allentempleton2429]

Thanks Mike I really enjoy all of your videos. I hope to some day be able to do some BP shooting again. I've always been interested in the 1859 Sharps.

[@KRRabbit1]

Excellent as always brother!

[@cameron515093]

Love these educational videos.

[@stevetodd693]

Well done as always Mike, Thank You for making it look so easy and professional!

[@karsonbranham3900]

Can’t wait to see them shoot! Very nice job!

[@dalemelson9756]

Outstanding vid thank you .

[@donmartin2788]

Enjoyed your video very educational and like the way you keep it safe thank you

[@sargedutch1085]

I have a couple of different sharps bullets. 42 grains is what I use in my cartridge. The load is accurate. I use 2F powder as 3F I found over the years is too hot. 3F will erode the gas check face. I fixed this by hard chroming he face of the gas check, Great video.

[@ww321]

Thanks for the videos Mike. I just measured my Frankensharps . It's 1.5" sounds right because I shortened the Pedersoli barrel to mate too the Garrett frame.

[@threeoeightwadcutter2820]

Great! That's exactly what I was waiting for

[@derekp2674]

Thanks Mike, that was all fascinating to watch.

[@rudynorvelle2870]

I like this video. It is a great lesson on how to make and load the cartridges. I will have to try it for my 1859 Pedersoli Sharps. My only problem would be that I only have access to 3Ffg powder and will have to figure out how much less to use. Then the smount of cream of wheat.

[@Marcus2750-u1t]

Great video! Thanks so much for sharing Mike! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@tomcurran1538]

Using 1.5 f powder is good now as it is more readily available. Good job Mike.

[@jimarcher159]

Interesting video, Mike. I enjoy them, keep ‘em coming.

[@INeverMetAGunIDidntLike]

You have one thumbs down. That just shows you how good a video actually is because that thumbs down person is soo "jelly' of you.

[@csorgb05]

Another fun gun you might like is the AGC Diablo 12 gauge pistol. I upgraded mine to the Desperado, larger grip and forearm, and it handles much better. 60gr charge seems to work best behind a round ball or shot.

[@benbateman2085]

Excellent video. I have a Palmetto 1863 Sharps Carbine. I think these were imported by Navy Arms in the late 1960’s thru 1970’s. I’ve used the Eras Gone bullet in my paper cartridges and found that it shoots very well. I have had many problems with my cartridges however, most because I was adapting the Christmas tree bullet cartridge design to the Eras bullet. I like what you have come up with and plan to make some new cartridges following your method. By the way, 45-50 grains does seem to be an accurate load. 65 grains was ok but the group sizes were much larger. Also I was using 2f Swiss, I’ll try 1 1/2f Swiss for my next effort. Thanks for all the great black powder videos.

[@Glenfilthie1]

Nice work Mike. Please do a range report too!😉👍

[@gerrypowell2748]

Interesting and rewarding❤️

[@ChrisSmith-rf8pv]

Great video Mike

[@singleshot2218]

Thanks Mike! Good reaching!

[@64samsky]

Very good video Mike!

[@knallis.hjemmelading]

Wow that is art,I think that I have to order a sharps,great video (as always)👍

[@jfk19780]

a piece of electrical shrink tubing i think would work great over your dowel

[@joemiller9632]

Thanks good info

[@wayneblair288]

Love my Black Powered

[@sergei_1863]

I use nitrated paper filters for tube and paper napkins for base

[@Riando4590]

Nice video as always ! Personally I use rice paper to make the base... and it works pretty good. But this paper is a bit fragile...

[@csorgb05]

Have you seen a double barrel derringer made in Czechoslovakia by a company called Great Guns? They have a variety of calibers and barrel lengths. Calibers are 9mm, 45, 50, and 54cal. They even make a rifle version of the derringer. The quality looks great.

[@duelist1954]

Not familiar with them. I'll look into it.

[@Bucky1836]

Capandball channel has vids on em i like en too

[@PCPointerDE]

I have a question. If I make the paper cardridge as big as the original brass cardridge it loads more black poweder because the paper cardridge has no wall thickness. Do I have to load it completly full? Because there is a maximum load capacity for weapons ... And do you do a hole on the backside of the cardridge ?

[@duelist1954]

First of all the Model 1859 Sharps was made for paper cartridges, not brass. The Pedersoli chambers are longer than the originals, so I use cream of wheat filler to fill the space. No hole is needed in the base.

[@mrmeener625]

I give you a lot of credit for your know how but that is a lot of work. seems easier to loose load the chamber. I wonder if using clear nail polish with the handy little brush on the back of the paper would give good ignition

[@TripleAAA53]

YOU ARE FREAKIN' AMAZING Mike !! Thank you !!

[@martincross4583]

I have an IAB Sharps .54cal and have been using the Pedersoli xmas tree mold in .541cal for casting my own bullets. On checking the targets the bullets are very unstable and are tumbling, I have run the bullet data through a stability checker and they come out with an SG of 1. Just wondering if you have any ideas on what alternatives might be suitable? The twist on the Sharps is 1:48. Love the videos and used them to help make the paper cartridges.

[@frankkalisz7455]

Finding your video was timely for me.. because I also just bought an 1859 Pedersoli Sharps, and I sent it to Larry Flees for his improvements. It turns out my chamber has same length as yours. I’ll use similar method to make linen cartridges with Richmond bullet. But is there any chance you might do something similar with the Flees Ringtail Bullets?

[@ryanlemons7831]

First let me say how thoroughly I’ve enjoyed your channel over the years sir! You’re a real gem. I haven’t read through many comments , please excuse me if this question was already asked or an obnoxiously common question. Do you ever use sodium silicate (water glass) glue?

[@Slickricky7979]

I have a original sharps rifle company ammo box for 10 metallic cartridges for a cal 50-140-700 Bridgeport conn USA and wanted to know history and maybe what it's worth it has old newspaper in it for liner from 1948

[@boydbrooks7848]

Good video! I make mine pretty much the same. However, my Sharps Carbine only makes it to about the 10th shot before the breach becomes too fouled to drop. Can you post the contact info for Larry Flez? Thanks!

[@bunkstagner298]

Search around on "the Muzzle loading Forum" for Larry Flees. It will take some searching he does not have, as far as I can find, a web site.

[@erasgonehistoricalmolds2400]

You can reach Larry at [e-mail]. He did an excellent job on my Garrett Sharps

[@duelist1954]

All his contact info is in my previous Sharps video

[@arkansasstone5331]

Just brought a mold myself

[@wolfpack2723]

Awesome ! What type of lid is that you have on your black powder containers?

[@ianlowcock6913]

That's all well and good, but down here in Oz the Eras Gone mould is not available and both the Pedersoli and CBE are the christmas tree type. Has anyone done a video on that type? I glue mine onto the third drive band, but I'm wondering is there a better way? The whole video is good though.

[@dylanbutler4919]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/m56xo2engJyIZ9E This guy uses it

[@ianlowcock6913]

@@dylanbutler4919 Thanks for that Dylan. I had seen that video but missed where he glued the paper on. He did it the way I've done. We let quite a few rounds go on Wednesday just gone, different cases ' some nitrated, some not. various ignitions, all good fun. The rifle is accurate (more in my mates hands than mine).

[@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305]

Hey man i was hoping you could help me. I bought two 1851 navy 44cal pietta a few weeks ago. Took them to the range, one is brass the other steel.. loaded 25 grains in both.. The brass one fires and works flawlessly.. the action is smooth, and after 6 rounds i can reload, and fire another 6.. Then on the 3rd round it still works but starts to get a little more finicky and jams on the hammer when cocking it and i have to help it along. The steel one though, after only about 4-5 shots it starts to jam horribly. It isnt a cap jam, the hammer wont cock back unless i cock the hammer and rotate the cylinder by hand to help it along. Then for round 2, i have to help it for every 6 shots. Round 3 the cylinder and hammer are completetly locked up and i cant even reload it anymore. Why is the steel one jamming after just 4-6 shots to where i have to help the cylinder rotate ? This has actually now caused the crappy ring around the cylinder to show up.. aka scratch my cylinder.. :((( sucks.. I dont even wanna fire this steel 1851 anymore because its more hassle then anything. If it helps, i am using Shuetzen powder "spelling" and the 1075 #11 german caps, and 457 round balls. FYI i am now a huge fan of black powder.. these 1851's are far far far more accurate than my 1911. That 1911, i have to aim to the right to hit near center, but its rounds are still all over, the 1851 navys i am always bulls eye or near it, and i always seem to throw balls in the same holes too. This is 30 feet out

[@duelist1954]

It sounds like you might have a problem with either the bolt, or with the cam on the hammer

[@ratscoot]

Interestin but how do you lube the bullet? Thinking about using the christmass three myself.

[@michaelcroy3026]

How much cream-o-wheat do you drop in? Thanks. Keep up the great work.

[@anthonysimon6165]

What load would you use in a Hawkins rifle

[@duelist1954]

That depends on caliber and rifling pitch.

[@brianpencall4882]

This cartridge looks to be a lot more work, than the folded tail cartridge. It appears to offer the advantage of being able to unload the rifle, when desired.

[@duelist1954]

Except for the shell casing material, and the lack of an integrated primer, these cartridges are pretty much like shooting modern cartridges. I had the Sharps out today for a shooting session, and these cartridges make for fast, easy loading.

[@ixb1]

Its possible to make ctg base use one layer of toilet paper? It seems to be quite porous for reliable ignition.

[@duelist1954]

Maybe, If it is strong enough to hold together.

[@mkultraification]

I wonder if pedersoli left room in the chamber for the people who like to use lubed wads or grease cookies

[@jeffshootsstuff]

Why does the circular bottom on the Sharps cartridge have to go inside rather than outside?

[@duelist1954]

Because the tube is not tapered like a revolver cartridge. If the base was outside it would make the base of the cartridge too thick to chamber.

[@fordfan3179]

Any history on how these were done on a production level during the civil war?

[@duelist1954]

They were made by both private companies and in government arsenals, mostly using child labor.

[@fordfan3179]

@@duelist1954 oh great, now to be 100% "authentic" I gotta go find some kids who will handle explosives for me all day for pennies. Lol, my kid actually said "it's harder now to be a kid then in any other time in history"

[@duelist1954]

@@fordfan3179 LOL!

[@dlh1947us]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@CrimeVid]

It’s like rolling custom.made cigarettes,so they will look good in a cigarette case, just do it about a thousand times, then you may be ready to start your career ! So how do you transport these things, dry, to your shooting grounds, I don’t know where your local war or buffalo are these days, but you have to get there on your waggon in the rain !

[@ww321]

Why Cream of Wheat and not corn meal? Any reason?

[@redsky8509]

if you live in the Southern States would you use Grits? Nice video sir.

[@duelist1954]

sho nuff would

[@victorshults242]

👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@jeffthebaptist3602]

Just like to point out that Eras Gone doesn't actually make those molds. Unless things have changed very recently, he contracts that out to Lee Precision. He's had a few supply issues because if Lee's mold shop gets too busy, he can't restock.

[@colinmoore7460]

Would they have originally used fish glue?

[@Bucky1836]

"Water glass"

[@scottrice4431]

Got a suggestion for you. Instead of tracing around the cap of a glue stick why not get an ink pad stick the cap down on the ink pad and stamp cartridge base

[@duelist1954]

That's a good suggestion, but I have actually moved on to a paper punch to knock out the bases.

[@frydemwingz]

based

[@win1885]

What is the diameter of the bottom disc?

[@duelist1954]

about 1 1/4 inches

[@win1885]

@@duelist1954 Would 1" work?

[@duelist1954]

@@win1885 I think it could...barely. You won't have much contact surface for the glue, and you'll have to center it carefully.

[@win1885]

@@duelist1954 I'm sending a 1 1/8" punch. See if it works.

[@duelist1954]

@@win1885 ok, thank you.

[@johnstacy7902]

Thanks Mike, kinda curious to see how much faster those where over Springfields...

[@kevinbaker6168]

Eeekkk! Bare jaws on your Sharp's. That takes me back to making BP blanks for re enacting with my 1861 Springfield repro. Some of the guys used a piece to f cardboard cut us a pattern for their paper, I did like you do, make a rectangle large enough to go around a dowel or large elementary school pencil. I also used plain light weight typing paper, if I had wanted to be more authentic I would have used onion skin. I was wondering Mike, did you use nitarated paper to make you cartridge tubes combustible? Did you use cigarette papers or make your own by soaking paper in some water and sodium nitrate?

[@duelist1954]

The vice jaws are plastic and I pad them with a thick wool blanket. I use un-treated tracing paper for the tubes. They burn completely...no nitrating needed.

[@asas-mb4wj]

Could 3D print that tbh

[@win1885]

I'd get a punch to cut the bases. Leather punch would do the trick...

[@rodgermoore1321]

I'm gluten free and in the south, can I use grits? 😋

[@curtwuollet2912]

You would have a hard time keeping up with an army. They must have had a lot of cartridge makers.

[@albertvonschultz9137]

I will say it's quite a comical situation. You can shoot him and feed him at the same time