• Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight.

    We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.

    Use this link to sign up please; https://membership.nra.org/recruiters/join/XR045103

Paper Cartridge Question

Muzzleloading Forum

Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

pheenix99

40 Cal
Joined
Jun 15, 2022
Messages
248
Reaction score
271
Location
Florida
General question regarding paper cartridges...how long can they be expected to remain functional before the humidity in the air takes its toll? I can't imagine the paper used being air tight.
 
Normal atmospheric humidity shouldn't have any noticeable effect on the powder in a paper cartridge, no more than it would be an issue with powder stored in a flask. The paper itself shouldn't be affected either. I have shot paper cartridges that I made up years ago without issue. Some of my revolvers have cases with flasks and I usually keep those flasks filled and use them when I take those guns out shooting .......... no issues. Actually getting wet would ruin a paper cartridge but I wouldn't worry about the humidity having any more effect than it does when using loose powder. Some original paper cartridges were treated (shellac, lacquer, etc.) to make them sealed against moisture but it was intended to protect against them actually getting wet in service. For the modern day, hobbyist shooter it shouldn't be an issue unless poorly stored in an extremely high humidity environment. I have lived in some areas noted for high humidity for a good part of my life and it just hasn't been an issue.
 
Normal atmospheric humidity shouldn't have any noticeable effect on the powder in a paper cartridge, no more than it would be an issue with powder stored in a flask. The paper itself shouldn't be affected either. I have shot paper cartridges that I made up years ago without issue. Some of my revolvers have cases with flasks and I usually keep those flasks filled and use them when I take those guns out shooting .......... no issues. Actually getting wet would ruin a paper cartridge but I wouldn't worry about the humidity having any more effect than it does when using loose powder. Some original paper cartridges were treated (shellac, lacquer, etc.) to make them sealed against moisture but it was intended to protect against them actually getting wet in service. For the modern day, hobbyist shooter it shouldn't be an issue unless poorly stored in an extremely high humidity environment. I have lived in some areas noted for high humidity for a good part of my life and it just hasn't been an issue.
Good to know. I'll eventually get a kit and try it out.
 
Back
Top