Making and shooting military paper cartridges

[coloradoclyde]

But what about 18th century round ball cartriges?

 

[Artificer]

Sorry, I misread the above post thinking he meant WBTS cartridges.

Honestly, I am not sure which end went in first. The times I've made and used paper cartridges with balls in my Brown Bess, I always loaded the torn paper end first and never had a misfire.

However, I can see by the way the English made their cartridges for the Enfield Rifle Muskets with the base loaded first and the excess paper torn off, this may have been an extension of loading the bullet first in the 18th century.

Gus

 

[pargent]

3 Ways depending on time (date) and the tactical circumstance .
1:- the paper and ball went in after the powder either way around .
2:- the ball went in followed by the paper and the paper was rammed down to hold the ball on top of the powder (most common method )
3:- the bare ball went in on top of the powder and the paper was discarded .(usually with a fouled barrel or in rapid fire )