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Questions about .54 caliber paper cartridges plus box

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armoredman

32 Cal
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Oct 3, 2022
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I am toying with the idea of making paper cartridges for my TC Renegade and my sons highly customized left handed Kit Carson, both in .54. I am starting from absolute nothing, only thing I know is making a few 44 caliber revolver cartridges with the Guns of the West kit, really haven't shot them that much, going to experiment with nitrided paper next. So, to start, I am GUESSING I can make the same style, paper around powder with ball glued to the top, ram it in, or is there another, better method? My son is VERY methodical, and in a single shooting session he might get 6-7 rounds down range in two hours. Seriously, he takes forever, but he IS having one heck of a good time, never seen him grin so much shooting when he is making smoke. Neither one of us would meet Civil War reload speeds, ever, but it might be kinda cool to make him some paper cartridges' to speed it along a wee bit. I love seeing that grin.
Second - what pouch/kit to carry them? It is not unreasonable to think I might carry my rifle afield, and I am thinking about what kind of pouch/box/etc., might be a good way to do it? I couple probably get a drill and drill out some holes in a wood block, ( 9/16th is .5625, think that would be wide enough?), but just wondering if anyone had an idea of something that, obviously wouldn't be "period correct" for anything, might look neat as well, one for him and one for me, even though he doesn't hunt.
Just throwing that out there if anyone has some good ideas/links I might follow? Thank you so much for your help.
 
If your paper cartridges include deleting the cloth patch from your loads I’m afraid you’re going to be disappointed in the accuracy you’re going to get. Paper cartridges are for civil war era rifles using minie bullets. Reinventing the wheel for patched roundball rifles is a waste of powder and lead in my opinion.
 
I have a Minie ball mold...
Check the cast boolits forum.

I shoot minies in competition. I also shoot a paper cartridge Sharps. While I don't nitrate the paper for the Sharps, I've had zero ignition issues. I think you'll have problems if you try Sharps type of ammo in your T/C.

Consider N-SSA style musket ammo instead. Use a tube to hold the powder. Insert minie nose first as a stopper. Dip lube the exposed base.

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Nifty, thank you! I did order some of the Traditions Universal Fast Loaders, haven't had a chance to try them out yet.
 
I've shot a few paper cartridges in a 54 cl rifle. Said cartridges are made like rev war musket cartridges with greased "paper patching". They work ok for fast reloads, when necessary, ,but I" haven't shot them on a regular basis.
 
Paper cartridges are for civil war era rifles using minie bullets.

Someone else mentioned Revolutionary War period paper cartridges. I have researched online info about pre-ACW paper cartridges for my reproduction .54 Mississippi rifle. I found references to and and photos of .54 round ball paper cartridges made for the Mississippi rifle long before their use in the ACW. What interested me the most was the muslin patch sewn around the ball then loaded into a paper cartridge. Later cartridges eliminated the muslin patch.
 
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