How to Make Paper Shot Cartridges for Muzzle Loaders

Obligatory Disclaimer Your firearms condition, loading and re-loading practices are beyond my control, so I assume no responsibility or liability for any and all accidents that may occur by following the information and demonstration contained within this video.
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• Improved Paper Shot Ca...
My method for producing paper cartridges for use in my muzzle loading arms. Here I am making shot cartridges but the process is the same for solid shot (round ball).
-Fowler in video: French trade gun, Flintlock, 62cal/20ga, no choke.
-Template dimensions: 6” (150mm) long leg, 5” (125mm) wide, 2 3/4” (70mm) short leg.
-Load: 1oz (28 gram) #6 hard lead shot over 65 grains (4.5 gram) of FFFg GOEX black powder (actual loading is 70 grains of powder, 5 grains are added for priming of the flintlock pan)
-Standard 8”x10” (200x250mm) printer paper used for cartridge tube and wadding. (Approx wadding measurement is 1 1/2”x3” (38x75mm) which is then folded in half to make a 1 1/2”x1 1/2” (38x38mm) square.
-Mandrel made from poplar dowel and hand sanded down to size. (Proper sizing of dowel is achieved when dowel wrapped with paper slides easily (very loosely snug) into bore.
-Ideal cartridge size/fit in the bore for shot is when your cartridge will push in very easily with finger pressure, but hold its position in the bore on its own (does not drop/free fall at all) (this allows for easy loading of subsequent cartridges). Once the shot is rammed down on top of the powder charge, the shot and paper will compress a bit holding everything in place firmly. Ideal size for round ball cartridges is when the ball requires heavy finger pressure to get the ball and paper started down the bore. (Swabbing of the bore after a few shots is recommended for continued easy loading of round ball. Also, the addition of a lubricant (applied to just the ball portion of the cartridge by dipping in your favorite lube mixture) will aid in easier loading of the cartridge as well as softening fouling in the bore making swabbing the bore a less frequent occurrence.
-You will notice once loading started, I worked just one tube until it was complete. This will help prevent accidentally double charging powder, leaving out any materials/steps, and fixing any mistakes that might otherwise go unnoticed.

[@tarzansbigknife7217]

not sure I would use that much paper for fear of starting a forest fire...just say'in

[@veteranironoutdoors8320]

Excellent observation! They do occasionally spit out a smoker. Usually lands around the 5 yard/meter mark. After The shot I watch were/what the game did, then I quick scan for smokers, reload the boomstick, and then do a more thorough search for smoke and/or black patches where it is starting to burn.

[@veteranironoutdoors8320]

Also: if you live in a area fire is a big concern, you can make the paper components fire retardant by saturating the paper in a mix of water and Alum or water and borax and then allowing to dry before assembling. If you have problems with folding the paper tails after this you can leave the tail portion un dipped as you are going to be ripping that off anyway.

[@dennishein2812]

I used to shoot a lot of BP years ago and I stopped using a patch because I was seeing too many small fires starting from them. I started using just maxi balls.

[@2326TX]

Wondering if you ever tried making a sealed cartridge using nitrated paper. Push the whole loaded cartridge down the barrel, prime the flash pan, and fire. Properly nitrated paper will have a clean and efficient burn, leaving no residual residue.

[@veteranironoutdoors8320]

@@2326TX One problem with that. We need the paper to act as wadding. Otherwise the expanding gasses have almost nothing to push on significantly reducing velocity and range, and blowing out any pattern the shot would have created.

[@danielprincipato629]

Jared you have just earned a whole new level of respect from me this is absolutely an awesome video keep your powder dry.

[@bentoombs]

Well done explaining of the process. Thanks Jarred! I sent it to my dad 👍

[@veteranironoutdoors8320]

Ben Toombs awesome! Thanks for sharing and I hope he finds it of use!

[@hannemannironworks1651]

Sweet video man I gotta save this for when I get a flint lock

[@denisdegamon8224]

If you use a volume measure in equal parts, shot to powder, you will get a uniform and balanced load. This was the way they did it in the past. One ounce load was 60 grain equivilent...using the same measurer. 1 1/8 ounce equals about 70 grains, and 1 1/4 ounce was about 80 grain load. This gave uniform velocities for each seperate load. Might want to try a cork, heavy felt or cardboard wads at the base of the column before the shot. That will also improve the shot patterns.

[@veteranironoutdoors8320]

That is more commonly known as a square load. Every gun likes different things, its all down to experimentation to see what your gun shoots best. These paper cartridges are meant to be simple and quick, not complicated with many parts to potentially fail or go bad. I also have an updated version of this cartridge that uses a powder tube that adds extra wadding and lets me shoot a heavier charge for the same pattern.

[@drason69]

Very cool.. I love bottle/ flintlocks! Do a shooting demo, perhaps?. 👍😀⚒️

[@veteranironoutdoors8320]

Twist my arm lol. I toyed with the idea of demonstrating it in the video, but we will be doing that later in the flintlock build series

[@drason69]

@@veteranironoutdoors8320 my avatar thingy, is a .62 Cal, I built mostly from scratch. The only thing I didn't do, was the actual lock. Even built the trigger

[@veteranironoutdoors8320]

drasons forge yeah the lock looks both simple and daunting to make from scratch.

[@Vkgameplay.]

Sir you should use slow burning blackpowder because slow burning powders give nicer pattern then fast burning You should use 1 f or 2 f instead of 3f powder . What s your opinion on this ? Thanks 😊

[@veteranironoutdoors8320]

Every gun likes different things.

[@marioromano6555]

Try using 80 gr Shot w/ #6 Shot & same amount of Cornmeal(as a Buffer!) with the 60 Gr of FFFg Black Powder Denser Pattern If you can get #6 Copper Plate even Better!

[@veteranironoutdoors8320]

Thanks, but as you know every gun likes different things and you cant beat the pattern im getting with the load shown in the video! EDIT: Ive made an updated version of this paper cartridge that adds more wadding behind the shot and lets me get the same pattern with 10 grains more powder!

[@DarkKrystal46]

I was taught to use corn meal or cream of wheat.

[@paulharveu526]

Does the paper help prevent shot spread?

[@veteranironoutdoors8320]

To an extent. Sometimes the paper shreds entirely away at the muzzle, and sometimes only the front tears out and the paper acts like a shot cup, and falls away witin a few yards as the shot travels on.

[@jjohnston94]

Where is the most affordable place to get (obtain/source) shot, assuming I don't have a source of scrap lead or any casting equipment.

[@veteranironoutdoors8320]

jjohnston94 depends on where in the world you are at. I buy mine from a store called Scheels here in the Midwest US. It’s much cheaper to go buy it in person even if you have to travel, because the shipping cost for the weight is a killer. That being said I’d call around to your local gun shops and sports and outdoors retailers and ask if they carry it.

[@kyleouten1473]

If you're making a custom rifle just use slingshot ammo

[@DarkKrystal46]

Make one and photocopy

[@veteranironoutdoors8320]

EVERYONE! Get a load of this guy-thats why he makes the big bucks!

[@DarkKrystal46]

Ever use wax paper?

[@veteranironoutdoors8320]

Never have

[@bobsmalser8304]

Tracing or sketch paper available in pads works better for me. Old teeth.

[@veteranironoutdoors8320]

Bob Smalser more than one way to skin this cat! Thanks for sharing! I’ll have to make a few out of that to compare!

[@DarkKrystal46]

Fold it over snd stick it with glue stick

[@DarkKrystal46]

Ever use wax paper?