Making paper cartridges for cap & ball revolvers

[@kathryntruscott6351]

I use the thin tissue paper used to wrap stuff in gift shops. Very cheap and burns without residue in my Remingtons. I use a mini glue stick (from stationery store).. quick, clean and easy. I just cut the paper big enough to form a closure at the butt end with a dab of the glue stick. Simple. I glue the ball or bullet with the glue stick and drop it in. Works a treat. Oh... I use a 1/16" wool felt over powder wad lubed with my favourite lube, a mixture of petroleum jelly and beeswax. That way I don't need any other lubrication. It's interesting to see how others make these cartridges... everyone seems to do it a little differently, but the result is the same.... a big grin on the range. BP rocks! :-)

[@garyanderson2720]

Could I ask the dimensions of your tapered dowel? I have the book by W.J. Kirst on cartridge making but is vague on the size and length of the dowel. I have all the rest of the paraphernalia, but I don't want to risk my guns by loading and shooting something wrong.

[@Las-Vegas-Muskets]

What exactly is "water glass" and where can it be found?

[@TheStraycat74]

sodium silicate, "water glass" floor sealer can be got from most hardware stores for about $30 a gallon... I think the glues-stick method is cheaper and easier

[@stevensheldon9271]

How are the bullets lubricated? Were they lubricated by dipping? If so, how was the excess lube removed from the nose of the bullet? Were they pushed through a sizer that lubricated?

[@bravesirrobbin6865]

Steven Sheldon they were dipped in paraffin wax, nothing more.

[@cloneinvictus9206]

Could you also use tissue paper for paper cartridges?

[@NoosaHeads]

I'd like to do more cap and ball shooting but the mess and cleaning of black powder is considerable. I'd like to find a black powder alternative but I'm in Australia and Blackhorn black powder replacement isn't available here. (as far as I can tell). Does anyone have a formula for Blachorn 209 (or something similarly "clean"?). The guns I use are 1) Original Winchester 1873 rifle. 44/40 2) Deane Adams and Deane original revolver. 3) Repro Colt Walker revolver (Colt brand but probably made by Uberti or similar). 4) original 6 barrel pepperbox pistol. 5) Original Le Forcheux pinfire revolver. The original pistols _must_ have low pressures, or they'll get damaged. I think it'd be too risky to use smokeless powder. Any suggestions or assistance would be greatly appreciated.

[@GunDrone]

good job

[@SpeedFreak62]

Good Info, i sall try this to.

[@LEPOUDREUX]

HELLO could give us the size of paper map ? Merci beaucoup

[@Flatnick78]

+LE POUDREUX Sorry for the late reply. The template must be adapted to the dowel you use. This article shows you how to do it: www.svartkrutt.net/articles/vis.php?id=51

[@user-rz6ge1rg1i]

How it’s gonna fire without a primer in cartridge? How ignition will occur

[@Flatnick78]

The primer is seated on the percussion nipple on the revolver.

[@albertoestrella5098]

Hello what type of powder are you using please !

[@tacuachandocuh8233]

Where can i buy the tools to make them

[@Flatnick78]

You can buy the cartridge forming dowel and cartridge paper here: svartkrutt.net/shop/en/search?tag=percussion%20revolver

[@tacuachandocuh8233]

@@Flatnick78 do the ship to the United states

[@Flatnick78]

Yes.

[@Darthbelal]

Dixie Gun Works is another place for everything black powder.....

[@TheStraycat74]

69,00sek for the forming dowel is about $6.96usd... that's pretty dang good!

[@ramilapchoudhary2661]

How to fire

[@jimhayes7497]

Unless youre going for strictly period correct cartridges... this method is a time consuming pain in the ass. Check this out if youre just looking for some easy shooting... www.northwestfirearms.com/threads/why-muzzleloading-is-awesome-paper-cartridges-101.205013/ All you need is an empty .38spl case and cigarette rolling papers... youll have a loaded cartridge in less than 30 seconds!

[@DaveSmith-cp5kj]

Good tip, although I don't necessarily see it as that much faster. Less dexterity needed maybe.

[@ZoSo1973]

This seems MORE tedious than just using powder, ball, and lube loose

[@EaganTheTrollface]

+Thelonesniper101 Making them in the field and then loading them into the gun, yes. Making them ahead of time and then loading them in the field? No.

[@francisallen5459]

Actually it's not, you can make around 100 cartridges in about a hour or less when you get the hang of it this is the best way I have found to make paper cartridges so far

[@pommel47]

NSSA competitive shooters use loose 3F, round ball, and lube, because it is the most accurate and spreading loose lube over the mouth of each chamber is the safest, least fouling method. Those guys have it down to a science and remove the cylinder to load faster, the same way one must do with a BP revolver that has no loading lever attached(.31 cal). I have made and shot many combustible paper cartridges, and it is soooo tedious, I make them in Winter. Making 100/hour is only possible if you are a superhero named FLASH or a tweaker on meth. I highly recommend using cigarette papers to learn how to make the paper trapezoidal cartridge; then graduate to flash paper + flash glue. They are more difficult to work with, but leave zero residue. Cigarette paper cartridges will work, but leave charred and even smoldering paper residue. They are nitrated to make the paper burn at the same rate(slowly) as the tobacco. Eventually combustible seamless cartridges were made from nitrated lamb appendices because they were a perfect seamless natural shape. Imagine how tedious and dangerous they would be to make in your home laboratory using nitric acid. I would rather buy flash paper & glue from H&C in France or from a magic supply shop over the internet.

[@collinlampkins]

101st sub

[@genepenninger2294]

please give us the form dimenions for the wooden form and paper

[@ps2hacker]

I'm not so sure that using flash paper is a very good idea. Flash paper is nitrocellulose, the same chemical also known as smokeless powder, they are one in the same. You are never supposed to mix or use any amount of nitrocellulose in the chamber of a black powder firearm. I'm just saying, that sounds like a recipe for disaster, if you asked me. The saltpeter paper idea is a sound one, though.

[@pommel47]

Flash paper & flash glue are perfectly safe for these cartridges with a charge of 3F BP. That method leaves zero residue. Also modern Italian reproduction revolvers are made with modern steel. They are even safe to use with conversion cylinders that fire cowboy action loads of smokeless powder. However, never use smokeless powder to charge a BP cylinder or the BP cylinder will become a grenade. The conversion cylinders are made to withstand using mild smokeless loads in .38 & .45 Long Colt brass cartridges.