cartridges for brown bess
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Many Klatch
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I have made a few for fun. I normally load with a cloth patch, but here is how I do it.
You will need a former. This is a piece of dowel rod with a shallow bowl carved in one end. Put a piece of newspaper down that will go twice around the dowel. Cut the top end of the paper so you get a tail. Put the round ball in the bowl end of the dowel rod and roll the ball in the paper. Crimp the paper over the ball and tie a string around the bottom of the ball you get a neck. Turn the cartridge up and pour in the powder, turn the neck down. Some people glue the paper before they tie the neck I haven't messed with that.
You will need a ball that is smaller than what you would use if you were using a cloth patch.
There are a lot of instructions online if you go to Google and type in Brown Bess Cartridge instructions.
Many Klatch
You will need a former. This is a piece of dowel rod with a shallow bowl carved in one end. Put a piece of newspaper down that will go twice around the dowel. Cut the top end of the paper so you get a tail. Put the round ball in the bowl end of the dowel rod and roll the ball in the paper. Crimp the paper over the ball and tie a string around the bottom of the ball you get a neck. Turn the cartridge up and pour in the powder, turn the neck down. Some people glue the paper before they tie the neck I haven't messed with that.
You will need a ball that is smaller than what you would use if you were using a cloth patch.
There are a lot of instructions online if you go to Google and type in Brown Bess Cartridge instructions.
Many Klatch
ian45662 said:
Depends. I sanded a 3/4 dowel to a little smaller than the ball dia. About .705, or so. The dia is not critical, but needs to be small enough to form a tube that is smaller than the bore.
I roll the tube as tight as I can get it. Leave about an 1 1/2 inch of paper protruding from the dowel. Insert the ball in the protruding end of the rolled tube, sprue up or down doesn't matter as long as its not to one side. Leave the dowel in the tube while the ball is inserted and the end twisted. A little glue on the end will help it stay in place.
The ball end of the cartridge can be dipped in a wax based lube prior to loading the powder charge, if you want.
Remove the dowel and pour in a powder charge. Fold the tail and glue it. Fold the tail down alongside the body of the cartridge and your'e done.
The ball can be loaded with either the paper, or without, whichever loads and shoots best.
The paper is cut into a half trapezoid 6" long X 2" wide at the bottom, and 5 1/2 at the top. The long side is about 6 1/2".
The ball goes into the top, 5 1/2 inch long end, BTW.
The dimensions are not critical, so the pattern can be modified for your gun. I have one pattern for a musket and another, smaller one, for use with a rifle.
I prefer recycled paper towels. The paper is strong enough to withstand handling, but tears easily.
Some like newsprint, but IMHO, it is kinda fragile.
Some like printer paper because it is so durable, but it is really hard to tear open...and at my age, my teeth aren't that dependable. :grin:
Some like newsprint, but IMHO, it is kinda fragile.
Some like printer paper because it is so durable, but it is really hard to tear open...and at my age, my teeth aren't that dependable. :grin:
