Shooting the Guncotton Cartridge for the M1854 Lorenz

History of Baron von Lenk’s Austrian guncotton cartridge: • The Von Lenk Guncotton...
The first shots in 150+ years with the Austrian guncotton cartridge for the Model 1854 Lorenz rifle-musket… at least I think so. If someone else has shot a Lorenz with one of these, let me know!
“I can hear the Kaiserhymne in the distance” would have been very strange last words, if the gun would have exploded. Fortunately, it did not, history was (re) made, fun was had, and nerds may rejoice.

[@sartorialdriver6528]

This feels like the gun most gun enthusiasts would realistically be able to cobble together if they were sent back in time.

[@LASSEFITTA]

Thats something i often think about. This is probably what i would go for first.

[@aristedes9449]

And it would still be monstrously effective.

[@JulioLuisEduardo]

Then followed by a needle-ish gun but with the primer attached at the end of the stick where the gun cotton is wrapped.

[@dointh4198]

Absolutely. If you are a gun-enthusiast and have some handy skill I highly recommend building your own muzzleloader. It's a great project.

[@andyf4292]

i wouldn't want to play with that chemistry in field conditions

[@jochenreichl796]

I didn't know there were actually smokeless percussion loads in the time. Thanks for showing! Also I love how the sticks sometimes can be seen going downrange.

[@georgeparrault9945]

Sticks down rang: First Tracers 😂

[@mediocrefunkybeat]

Smokeless and caseless, no less.

[@user-ww5jw7lm7f]

Hallo before I've heard the story the middle europe 1970 Berlin from , of the year ammunition ,,,

[@nathanguyon7620]

That tiny puff of smoke confused my brain pretty good, gotta say.

[@chopsddy3]

Same here! 👍

[@aguilayserpiente]

3m

[@deletdis6173]

3m

[@davefellhoelter1343]

the "Smoke lessness!" was known? but WOW! NOW I have Watched the difference! the whole thing looked and sounded different than I would have thought.

[@danielbutka8854]

Since I've had "only shoot black powder in muzzleloaders" drilled into my mind, this got me nervous

[@johnmcdonald587]

Awesomeness! Love to see a video on making the gun cotton and assembling the cartridge.

[@paulcallicoat7597]

Not likely as it would be banned and blocked by KZbin. The process is basically soaking unsized cotton in nitric acid and then rinsing it 10 times in clean distilled water. It is then dried and cut to differing sizes to control burn rate and set to the bore size of the rifle/cannon. The burn rate is about 28k ft per second so very important to not compress it as it will then be a bomb.

[@pARabell9mm]

There's plenty of videos on the youtube's showing how to make gun cotton...

[@Beuwen_The_Dragon]

You can make your own gun cotton, but it does require careful preparation and a VERY well ventilated space. Make it in small batches over a period of time. When you soak your gun cotton in water to remove the excess acids, change the water several times. And also be mindful where you store it after it has been made.

[@warwolf416]

This is awesome! You did this a lot sooner then I excepted since I was at your shop. Glad to see you where confident enough to switch to the Lorenz instead of the Enfield for your test. That really does look a lot of fun.

[@papercartridges6705]

As you can see the charges were very light, 10 grains. I have tried some with 13 grains and that is the max I will go. There’s a decent recoil and it’s blowing through a couple logs I use as a backstop but there’s no overpressure signs (cap stays on nipple, hammer is not being lifted). I think this is about a 800 fps load, more than good enough for my plinking purposes.

[@warwolf416]

@@papercartridges6705 That sounds just right for that. If you ever did try going full load defiantly would try it in something with a modern steel barrel meant to handle the pressures. But concept has been proven and that’s honesty just the best!

[@mikemcghin5394]

​​@@papercartridges6705 I've been watching couple of your past videos and it makes me wonder will guncotton cartridge working any of the capping breech-loader you've done like the sharps breech-loader or the green rifle no need to wreck your rifles trying though

[@ironmatic1]

@@papercartridges6705It would be very interesting for scientific purposes to perhaps commission a barrel (or just breechplug?) for a Pedersoli with the correct divot for the wood peg. And maybe proof that barrel with guncotton (and possibly other smokeless loads?) in a lab.

[@titanscerw]

Congratulations on such achievement in the fields of both Hoplology and Experimental Archaeology! God bless you and yours!

[@Schlachtschule]

Für den Kaiser; die Geschichte verlangt es!

[@erzherzogalbrecht8504]

Mit Gott, für Kaiser und Vaterland

[@TheMysticalBadger]

I'm damned impressed! Excellent.

[@YerluvinunclePete]

Awesome experimental history.

[@bgeipel]

There are not enough like buttons for this video!

[@wallaroo1295]

*What a GREAT 2-part Series! I learned a lot! Thank you, Man!* 🤠👍

[@felixthecat265]

I have made gallery rounds for 8mm Lebel and .303 using flash paper and lead balls. This was the standard practice for French training who issued reloading kits to units to make these rounds from fired cases. Flash Paper is essentially gun cotton. I would be wary in using anything but a cigarette paper sized sheet. NC, unless it is properly made can be full of pooh traps! Cordite was used in BP type guns, but it has significantly different properties to modern nitro powder.

[@allangibson8494]

The Lee Enfield is a black powder gun… It very much “depends”…

[@felixthecat265]

@@allangibson8494 Well... yes and no! The initial ammunition for the .303 Lee Enfield was a compressed gunpowder load, but this was at the very end of the gunpowder era and the energy levels were the highest they could squeeze out of GP. It was always intended that the Lee would go smokeless once they got the production problems sorted out. GP .303 was only ever an interim solution. The barrel was designed to take high pressure loadings from the get go. The main early issue with cordite was erosion rather than pressure.

[@allangibson8494]

@@felixthecat265 The main early issue with cordite is they didn’t have any. The Lee system was adopted in 1888 (a year after the French announcement of smokeless powder). Cordite was developed a year later.

[@felixthecat265]

@@allangibson8494 Well.. Nitrocellulose was reported by Schoenbein and Peloutz in the 1820s and there had been repeated efforts to develop a successful propellent for several decades. The French pushed through the Lebel in only six months which led to many problems subsequently. The properties of Nitro propellants were well understood from the 1870s onward. Most of the problems were about developing a reliable method of manufacture.

[@allangibson8494]

@@felixthecat265 Most of the problems with nitrocellulose were related to its tendency to go boom without warning (which got worse with age and residual acid content). This was solved by adding petroleum wax to the mix (nitroglycerin was also used as well (nitroglycerin and nitrocellulose play well together)). Cordite was specifically designed to replicate black powder pressures and burn rate (but without the smoke). Cordite is about 2/3 nitrocellulose, 1/3 nitroglycerin with 5% petroleum jelly and acetone added. Metallic cartridges permitted tight control over free space behind the bullet.

[@Jagdtyger2A]

The wooden base would have made a very effective base for a needle fire cartridge and could have held a waxed felt base to seal a Dreyse type rifle breech

[@olympicblackpowderrifles3155]

This guy should have every powder manufacture knocking on his door now

[@kovona]

No stabilizers, can't use it safely past 1-2 years.

[@GenericShirtNinja]

Is there a danger that the guncotton cartridge will prematurely combust due to a hot barrel if you fired off a lot of rounds over time?

[@papercartridges6705]

Perhaps but the Austrians did not seem worried about it. They claimed guncotton burned cooler than BP which kept the barrel getting too hot.

[@Beuwen_The_Dragon]

Unless you are machine-gunning your muskets, you should be fine.

[@chopsddy3]

Wow. I’ve never seen it in action. Thanks. 👍 Gun cotton is a bit too easy to ignite in storage. Too bad. It sure looks like it worked great. First step towards practical smokeless propellant.

[@papercartridges6705]

It did work great in the guns, but as you said, it keeps bursting into flames in storage. They were so close!

[@chopsddy3]

@@papercartridges6705 They sure were. BTW Have you tried drilling your dowels with a lathe then turning the outside dimensions with the bit still in the workpiece? That should give you a perfectly centered hole in the dowel if you can pull it off.

[@JohnHughesChampigny]

@@papercartridges6705 Only took another 30 years...

[@dollarbill6102]

Didn't they kinda solve the storage of fun cotton by storing it wet in alcohol or something like that? I could swear I read that somewhere.

[@ThomasRonnberg]

that was awesome dude, thank you for taking the time to make this video.

[@sweepsp8468]

watched a few of your posts and do love the way you flick your hand each time, funny the things you see, keep up the good work

[@yt.602]

I had no idea this type of cartridge existed, really interesting. Obviously much less fouling than black powder, but when you'd finished was there much? Loading a bit light to be fired in such an old rifle was a good idea, the cartridges look great too.

[@CQBWarfighter]

Love everything about this channel. Been binge watching!

[@papercartridges6705]

Goooooood

[@rainermraz8791]

Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser ! Best Wishes from Austria ! I love your content !

[@jharchery4117]

Thanks for a very entertaining video.

[@blakek4750]

Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser

[@rre9121]

Man, that's pretty ballsey, but you are a big boy and are responsible. I know you probably can't/won't say, but is that homemade nitrocellulose?

[@AutumnsArmory]

I learned something today. Thank you.

[@haroldchase4120]

Love to see the muzzle velocity you’re getting out of that

[@bennyboy27or]

So cool! Learned about a new cartridge

[@stonewulf2755]

Wow! That was really something, very interesting.

[@baystateplugflipper7061]

Pretty cool, those Lorenze’s are a sharp looking rifle

[@thompsonjerry3412]

You are a maniac! So cool!

[@dlkline27]

I'm familiar with gun cotton but I never knew it was used like this in a firearm. Thanks for sharing.

[@Max_Chooch]

It's literally in the name, GUN cotton. Like, what did you think the "gun" part meant?

[@CaptRons18thcentury]

Interesting futuristic technology ... LOL... Great video...

[@sambowz9077]

Good Stuff Man!

[@nikitamckeever5403]

Oh yes . I didn’t know gun cotton was used for rifles but after making some and just igniting it I guessed it could be used for a propellant . My idea was to put it in a brass 45/70 cartridge much like cordite was used in the .303 . I didn’t have any loading data so “my” idea is still on the drawing board . I don’t think I will experiment for obvious reasons . Thank you for posting and now I know it can be done 👍

[@gaston01000]

Be careful with the loads. Start with a small quantities and then add grits to fill the cartridge. Greetings

[@Losantiville]

Variation between loads

[@nikitamckeever5403]

@@gaston01000 thank you , I’ve dabbled before and I will work the loads up watching for pressure signs etc . Be good to try though 😳😆

[@LASSEFITTA]

Isnt gun cotton what all modern propellants consist of?

[@kovona]

​@@LASSEFITTA The gun cotton in modern ammunition has been gelitinized and formed in to uniform flakes or pellets for more controlled and consistent burn. It also has stabilizers added to make it shelf stable. Straight gun cotton without all this processing will burn erratically, not to mention it "rots" over time and can become more unstable & explosive, making it very unsafe to use past 1-2 years. The French learned this the hard way when old smokeless powder without stabilizers spontaneously detonated and sunk a battleship.

[@avgastas1515]

I remember hearing of gun cotton in the mysterious island by jules vern thanks for putting a image to it 👍

[@vicfeb3]

If you’re casting your own bullets, place your bullet back in the mold and use a drill press through the sprue plate. The dowel will be as straight as possible then. I had to polish and old mold to get some surface rust out and I used a bullet as a polish carrier. Worked pretty slick.

[@papercartridges6705]

Good idea!

[@allanburt5250]

Brilliant thanks for sharing 👍

[@MrGottlanze]

Wunderschön!

[@smartmeis]

id like to see more of this... i want to know if it can be used in revolvers, can it replace black powder if need be? I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS NOW!

[@Frank-bc8gg]

I was so disappointed when you said it was just a dummy but the first live shots are great! I wonder if they were actually drop down in practice or if it was just something the brass were told...

[@MemorialRifleRange]

Fantastic!!!

[@randyhavard6084]

I'd really like to see some chronograph data to compare the gun cotton vs the black powder, even if it is a light charge

[@scottfoster9452]

Absolutely splendid Bret! Hope you can refine this cartridge and show how perhaps accuracy can be, if at all, synched up a bit? And when you make a batch of these cartridges, do you need to employ extra safety precautions in storing them, or is it a case of making a small batch, and shooting them fairly quickly?

[@papercartridges6705]

A batch of guncotton makes about 15 rounds so they tend to be shot pretty quick.

[@scottfoster9452]

@@papercartridges6705 Ok thank you buddy and please keep producing your fascinating presentations.🫡👍

[@jasonz7788]

Awesome thanks 👍👍

[@svetozarboroevicvonbojna4702]

This is gonna bring a tear to my eye, finally someone who appreciates the empire, AND HE IS ALSO FROM PA

[@Tounushi]

Finally found it. I'd been wondering for a while why there wasn't this sort of cartridge that you just drop in as just one unit rather than tearing it apart to pour the powder and ramming the projectile.

[@cipherthedemonlord8057]

Is this stuff non corrosive? And safe for originals and maybe a 75 caliber Brown Bess smoothbore repro? Have an original 1860 Type 2 Lorenz myself.

[@ge0arc244]

I want to try this with my black powder Colt revolvers, Great video.

[@DudeInWalmart]

If you don't want to make gun cotton, a sample can be bought from one of those magic supply stores as flash cotton, flash paper. Magicians use it during shows. $6 for 25gm. It's shipped wet so not hazmat fees.

[@leanman9900]

How do you make these gun cotton cartridges? U should do a whole process of making them like how Von lenk mae them

[@user-fr5zw7sv6z]

Joules Verne wrote about that cotton, if I remembered right. In his novel from the Earth to the moon cannon club used that kind of explosive to send a man to the moon

[@andyedwards9222]

A great video. Experimental archeology.

[@kevinforget549]

I had no idea smokeless rounds were used so early, though it makes sense since gun cotton was invented in the 1840s. Surprised it took until 1886 for it to become mainstream.

[@fcw2bom]

Very cool... However, how do you shoot at targets below you? Won't the cartridge just fall out?

[@ralphh4131]

I've never seenthis type of cartridge b4 thx

[@robertrobert7924]

Were there any problems with shooting the gun cotton cartridges in a barrels made for black powder when they were testing the original cartridges? Any blown up barrels?

[@papercartridges6705]

I’m sure they blew up plenty while trying to figure this stuff out.

[@Gurkenkasper]

Die Bratwurst ist so vergänglich wie eine Welle im Meer oder zwei Kirschen Blüten im Wind, das lächeln deiner liebsten im Sonnenschein darum nie den Senf vergessen zur Bratwurst!

[@Steve-ht5yi]

Cordite, or raw guncotton burns very hot according to British sources I've read, and that looks like an origional gun. You might look into this, because that is old steel and probably very valuable because I've never even seen one of those rifles before except in old phorographs.

[@papercartridges6705]

Original Lorenz rifles are somewhat scarce and mine is in pretty nice shape. My cartridges are loaded to about 60 to 70% strength of what the originals were, to reduce the stress on the gun. That’s why there is hardly any recoil, since the loads are very mild.

[@tedarcher9120]

​@@papercartridges6705would be very cool to see chrono readings on both full cotton and full black powder loads

[@bobconnor1210]

Fascinating. What if…you bound the charge with thin nitrated paper or thread?

[@Snarlacc]

What would happen if the cartridge didn't seat right? Woul it still ignite if it was only 50% down? If it ignited, would this be dangerous (explosive) or just less velocity since bigger volume powder chamer and shorter barrel travel?

[@papercartridges6705]

I don’t know if the cap would have enough flame to ignite the guncotton only 1/2 way down. It seems for me that they have to be all the way down for them to ignite. As for being dangerous, absolutely everything about guncotton is dangerous so yes probably.

[@bcubed72]

Using guncotton in the Lorenz is a real transformation!

[@blackpowderburner7296]

How did you determine the thread diameter and density of weave to use? Where’s your guncotton sourced from?

[@papercartridges6705]

Careful trial and error, trying to follow the sparse historical descriptions as close as possible. I made the guncotton.

[@gussie88bunny]

....... you made the gun cotton ..... that is freakishly excellent and you receive a plethora of man-hugs for such fiendish ingenuity.

[@gussie88bunny]

Brett, would the Pedersoli Lorenz repro work with your bullet-on-a-stick? I ask, coz they appear t be very solid guns, and perhaps with the breach plug pulled and drilled for the stick, you could up your power and truly test this awesomeness. Your thoughts please. Great video, cheers, Gus

[@papercartridges6705]

I've used a modern repro Enfield for testing some of these, which are made out of modern steel. I don't know if I'd want to buy a very expensive repro Lorenz ($1700) and then start drilling holes into it, when I have the original Lorenz that works good enough. Guncotton scares me, I would be very nervous using "full power" charges even in a modern gun. The stuff is wild and is very hard to tame.

[@gussie88bunny]

@papercartridges6705 well, that's just scary to hear and it makes me ponder even more how anybody had the balls to actually experiment on a large scale, with troop trials etc. Please don't blow up. I like your videos. Gus

[@SwarmerBees]

If a barrel explosion of the antique gun is possible due to potential user error (eg ramming the gun cotton), then I wonder if it is more advisable to wear greater eye protection while firing.

[@Afro408]

Very neat Brett. What does the smoke smell like?

[@papercartridges6705]

Reminds me of cordite in old milsurp .303 ammo

[@Afro408]

@@papercartridges6705 that sounds about right, because cordite was the next step, wasn’t it?

[@gonatas1]

Awesome. I have to believe that even with “perfectly straight” Austrian ammo double loading is going to be a thing with a company or battalion firing all at once and no ramrods?

[@papercartridges6705]

The Austrians came up with a clever "loaded gun indicator", check out my previous video which is all about the history of the Austrian guncotton cartridge.

[@SilntObsvr]

Now you've got me wanting to make something like that for my 1858 Remington repro -- except the nipple is right where the stick would have to go, and I don't think the stick would/could be tight enough to hold #6 against the recoil of #1 through #5.

[@Beuwen_The_Dragon]

I would be very wary about using even a small amount of nitrocellulose in a black powder revolver, new or original. The pressure spikes are just too volatile for the thin walled cylinders. I suggest trying in very small amounts, loading one ad a time, and proofing them with a shooting stand and string before shooting freehand…

[@danielcurtis1434]

I really want a video on how exactly you made the gun cotton and how the cartridges are made? Obviously this wouldn’t be KZbin legal (what is???). However I think it’s definitely something I’d love to try. I have a modern optima V2 pistol rated for 150 grains of black powder. I think it we’ve fun to try some gun cotton (very small carefully measured amounts). How about getting a proper performance cartridge??? I’m confident you could sell those things (for modern reproductions). I think smokeless muzzleloaders are underrated. The issue normally with smokeless in a muzzleloader is getting a consistent seating depth. The cartridge removes this issue entirely and it seems it would be safe enough for modern reproductions (maybe even some antiques)??? Anyways you have a hugely underrated channel yourself!!! Seriously keep it up!!!

[@Beuwen_The_Dragon]

There are videos on how to make nitrocellulose, the process is very simple. You can even find many high school textbooks with the recipes for everything from Nitrocellulose, to black powder to rocket fuel.. But keep in mind, it is legitimately Chemistry. Don’t just start trying to cook up some nitrocellulose in your kitchen with pots and pans. Acquire some proper measuring utensils, Glass beakers, bunson burners, etc, and only attempt doing this in a well lit, well ventilated area, and either wear a chemical respirator or have a fume extractor beside your workspace. You do not want to breathe in these chemicals.

[@danielcurtis1434]

@@Beuwen_The_Dragon yeah I understand you go to the hardware store, get potassium nitrate stump remover, sulphuric acid drain cleaner and cotton balls abd your hood for nitrocellulose. However how exactly do I make the cartridges??? He explained in his video that it requires very very specific handling to control the surface area (which controls the burn rate). I have a strong action to try er out (optima V2 pistol rated for 150 grains of black powder. However I would definitely want some instructions??? So yes making nitrocellulose is vet easy… If you watched the video you know that it took 40+ years from nitrocellulose invention to the point it could be used in small arms reliably. I think he’s probably afraid of liability???

[@williamhower3636]

This video is a month old now. Hopefully new enough that you can get back to me. With a bullet/cartridge so loose that it literally falls to the breech, am I correct in assuming that the charge expanded the bullet tight in the barrel? I'll look for these cartridges on your website as well and I can Google stuff. Just amazing to me that it can expand enough to be a viable accurate shot. Thank you in advance for your time reading my question and also creating all of your fascinating content.

[@papercartridges6705]

Historically the explosion was sufficient to force the pure soft lead to expand into the rifling. My loads are so weak that they don’t always expand. I did find one bullet with some nice rifling marks, in the dirt behind the target stand.

[@williamhower3636]

Thank you for the reply. Much appreciated.

[@richardsmith3199]

keep it alive my friend that i have never met

[@bskorupk]

Were the shots flying higher than usual for a Lorenze? at 70% charge is the velocity noticeably increased?

[@papercartridges6705]

I wasn’t really aiming, but I did hold high because velocities are pretty low with my mild charges. These are experimental rounds so I didn’t expect much consistency.

[@bskorupk]

@@papercartridges6705 So far it seems reasonably consistent, I'm staying tuned, gl&hf! :)

[@samspencer582]

I hear the Kaizerhymn too😮

[@wagon9082]

Good video

[@richardross119]

Did they have issues with this cartridge in damp conditions?

[@jonhdoe9623]

I'm seriously confused.... Why wasn't this main streamed? This seems ingenious!

[@papercartridges6705]

Manufacturing and storage problems prevented it from being adopted. The stuff has a tendency to spontaneously burst into flames.

[@Beuwen_The_Dragon]

The cartridges themselves are easy enough to make, however compared to simple black powder paper cartridges and later rolled brass cartridges, they were more fragile, and more susceptible to moisture. However they were developed during the 30-40 year period of mid to late 1800s when propellants and cartridges were being experimented with and improved upon, each having their own pros and cons.

[@EXO9X8]

People, in general, were not aware that, during some ten years, half a dozen experiments on a large scale had been tried in the French army, each of which had no sooner been thought worthy of adoption, before another was introduced; and that, even at the present day, the Minié is but little used, owing to a previous pattern having been largely circulated. It is also most probable that the Prussians would never have adopted their needle-gun had they thought that so perfect a weapon as the present rifle would so soon have made its appearance. The Rifle-musket: A Practical Treatise on the Enfield-Pritchett Rifle ... By Henry Jervis-White-Jervis

[@normsti000]

As a native Pennsylvanian lost in the dry mountains of New Mexico, my eyes almost wept at the greeness of your mountain.

[@papercartridges6705]

I spent 30 years in the California high desert. There are times I miss it.

[@taggartlawfirm]

I have a wesley Richards monkey tail rifle … one of the Portuguese contract rifles… how about a video on making cartridges for those??

[@TheGreatDrAsian]

That's so fucking cool dude!!!!

[@HolahkuTaigiTWFormosanDiplomat]

So it's a loose fit and that is how the catridge slide to the breech easily?

[@Eggomania86]

It would be interesting to see how a gun cotton load would work in a modern Inline muzzeloader with the same setup. A majority of modern Inlines are rated to take up to 150gr of black powder (pyrodex pellets) substitute. They utilize a shotgun primer and sabot. The trick would be not to compress the load. It would be a challenge to ram it home because a sabot is a tight fit. Said load can't be compressed.

[@vicroc4]

Lee makes a mold for a Minié-style bullet intended for modern muzzleloaders. You might be able to make a workable version with that.

[@ZacharyBurgard]

I want to do this now for my Remington 1863 contract rifle

[@johnnyholland8765]

Ze Kaiser woud be smilink...

[@simonphoenix3789]

if it slides down that easily, then can't it fall out or come out of position if the gun is pointing downwards?

[@papercartridges6705]

The Austrians drilled a wedge shaped hole in the breech face, so that when you dropped the stick down, it wedges in the hole and won’t slide out. At least that was the hope.

[@eco-beehive]

wow.. fantastic..

[@thegioiongvat-animal9383]

Interestingly, if you were on the battlefield, would you choose this super slow-firing gun or use a bow and arrow?

[@paulharding1621]

Wow, every day is a school day. I’ve heard of gun cotton but never seen that type of load.

[@ChodaStanks]

Wow never seen this before

[@coppergearheart4125]

How's the recoil versus black powder, and the velocity?

[@papercartridges6705]

Recoil is very mild but these are also reduced loads to keep it safe in a very old musket.

[@titanscerw]

02:22 Sir thank you for sharing this piece of information with us! It makes so much more sense now! While ppl usualy drone about how fast and wunderbar was Dreyse needlegun it completely makes sense why the Austrian militär did not update its Infanterie Gewehr Lorenz as it was going to get the update in amunition and speed of reload all the while they could keep the same gun and thus same drill for already trained troops of regular army and also Landwehr! This is blast of information, IF they could pull this one of the famous Battle of Königgratz would unfold very differently for sure (by the way it is best preserved historical battlefield on this planet, go visit, reserve several days so you cannot miss anything preserved from that Duel of the Fates that decided future development of Europe to this very day). Awesome work Shame they did not pull it off and solve the pickle with guncotton. Gott erhalte! +][+

[@papercartridges6705]

I really want to see Königgrätz someday. I also need to visit the Kriegsarchiv in Wien.

[@camojoe83]

What if you added a final wrap of cigarette paper to it so it would always slide reliably regardless of the stick angle?

[@papercartridges6705]

That might be something to look into.

[@spiffinz]

True historical data

[@joefisher6810]

I'm curious could you not make a nitrated self contained paper cartridge for am 1861 springfield?

[@papercartridges6705]

I’m sure in theory this would work in any rifle musket. The difficulty is getting it to work safely. It’s very easy to get one little thing wrong with guncotton, and cause damage to the gun or worse.

[@christiandore7518]

It's crazy how the sound and recall is so low 😯

[@papercartridges6705]

They’re very light loads. Guncotton is unpredictable stuff and has blown up many guns, and I don’t want to add my gun to that list!

[@STho205]

Oh, so you did a gun cotton, no tear cartridge. Very good. Again windage is poor but elevation and range is pretty good. That's what matters in opposed infantry fire.

[@thomasmanson1119]

Brett, This is not what I am familiar with as “gun cotton”. In my experience, “gun cotton” employs no actual cotton cloth and instead is called that because of the fabric-like consistency of nitro cellulose. So what was the purpose of the fabric wrapped around the powder and stick in this round? In fact, what was the purpose of the stick at all? Great video, Tom KC3QAC

[@papercartridges6705]

Check out my earlier video where I go into the development and history of the Austrian guncotton cartridge, in depth.

[@bernardantoinerouffaer7578]

Très intéressant. :-)

[@foamige]

Is it also quieter?