Paper cartridges for .77 cal doglock musket

[doglock01]

I'm a proud new owner of a replica 1708 British military doglock musket - my first smoothbore. I've always been a longrifle shooter, so I'm very comfortable with the patched round ball. But although I'm not a reenactor, I'd really like to stay authentic with this doglock and learn to make and use paper cartridges similar to those that would have been used by the british soldiers at the time. Can anyone give me some tips or some how-to advice?

Thanks for any help or direction.

 

[ericb]

There have been several good discussions here on Paper Cartridges. I imagine if you you use the Search Function you will find them pretty quick. In the meantime, you may find this link useful; it covers Minie as well as Roundball Cartridges:

http://www.lazyjacks.org.uk/cartrdge.htm

I find rolling my own to be good therapy...

Eric

 

[ericb]

PS - Welcome to the World of Musketry. It will give you a whole new sense of perspective, and appreciation......

 

[doglock01]

Good stuff! Thanks a million for the info; I'll check it out. I think you're absolutely right about the new sense of perspective. I think that's a big part of the appeal - what did it sound like, feel like, smell like when using those big muskets on the field of battle? It really is stepping back in time, isn't it?

 

[ericb]

The Sound, Feel, and Smell - stepping back in time - yep, I guess thats what it's all about...and making your own Cartridges and other equipment makes the experience more satisfying, IMHO.

I'm sure others may chime in, but a few Pointers. You can start out with Newspaper, which is normally .003", but it can be fragile. A lot of people use the Artist Pad Newsprint (.005"), which is usually available at most Art Supply/Craft Stores (take your Micrometer; some of it is pretty cheap & thin). Grocery paper bag can work, but it's awfully thick, and not for the Dentitionally Challenged. The Paper Bags the Liquor Store uses are thinner (.004"), and pretty tough, and work well also. For Lube I dip mine in a mix of Beeswax & Olive or Castor Oil, but there are many receipes. You'll need to settle on a Ball Size; Paper Cartridges require a looser Ball than a Rifle. I currently shoot a .662 out of my .69 Charleville. Some go bigger, some go smaller, and I'm always experimenting. You'll need a Cartridge Box with a Wooden Block for the Cartridges, or at least a Block for your Range Box. Remember most of the Original Load Data you see includes the priming charge. If you're going to prime from a priming horn/flask adjust your loads accordingly.

You have quite an experience ahead of you, and while I doubt you will abandon your Rifle, it will no doubt become a little jealous of the relationship you develop with your new Musket...

E

 

[spudnut]

I roll em like that link shows but I don't tie off above the ball and run the string down the side,It would be too tight in my musket.I just twist the paper above the ball leaving a point of paper there.I tie below the ball between ball and powder then finish it off like they show there.
My accuracy is excelent with my bess.If I hold dead on out to about 70 yards it hits where I point it,Anything overthat I have to start holding a little higher.

 

[ericb]

Hey Spud - Whatcha usin' for a load?

 

[spudnut]

I use 90 gr.2F with a .735 round ball,The night before a shoot I lube the paper around the ball with a beeswax olive oil/neatsfoot oil/bear oil(Whatever I have on hand) mixture.
I tear off the paper (only had to do it ONCE with my teeth )dump the powder down,Insert the ball still wrapped in the paper and tear off the excess,slide er down easy,and prime from the horn.

 

[ericb]

Thanx Spud - just curious. Was shooting 85/90 out of .69 Charleville, and dropped down to 65/70 to see what happened. Accuracy was perhaps a little better, but I found the ball hit a good bit lower (naturally) and I had to compensate quite a bit. Went back to 85grs 2F today - Accuracy was quite good,(paper Cartridges; .662 Ball) and at 50yds I can hold dead on. .672 Balls work well too, but Mold I have is.662, so that's what I shoot most of the time.

Eric

 

[BillinOregon]

Dave: Any chance we can hear some details on your new musket? Sounds fascinating. A photo or two would be gravy.

 

[tg]

What is everyones favorite glue for making the cartridges? I have heard about everything from heatglue guns to super glue to scotch tape, not looking to have to be PC/HC but that info would be interesting as well

 

[ericb]

Well, the British Style Cartridges in the above link are tied, and require no Glue. I do 'em simply cuz I think they're cooler looking, and I enjoy the process. The French style Cartridge uses no twine, and the excess paper above the ball is pleated and glued in Place. No other glue is required - the long sides of the rolled cartridge stay in place as is, and the folded tail effectively closes the base. As for type of glue, when I was playing around with French Cartridges I simply used the ChapStik type rolls of Elmer's White Kiddie/Craft glue. I would think you'd want a glue that was basically "organic" in nature, to avoid problems with melted synthetic residue. Never tried the old style Mucilage, but that might be an option. Whatever you use, it doesn't take much.

I'm talking Musket Cartridge here; Revolver, Sharps, etc Cartridges are a different matter, and for those I will defer to others...

Eric

 

[doglock01]

Bill, I'm a lousy photographer with my cheap digital camera, but I've uploaded a few photos. She's a whopper - 62" from butt to muzzle with a 46" octagon-to-round .77 caliber barrel. The butt is almost 2 1/2" inches wide with a flat brass plate. The stock is American Walnut. This musket was duplicated from an original British military musket; the stamp on the lock is 1708. The lock also features the British crown symbol of the period - "AR" for Anne Regina (Queen Anne). It's a lot of fun to shoot... not much recoil because of the weight, but hard to hold steady offhand after a few seconds.

 

[BillinOregon]

Dave: That's a very nice musket, and pretty darned unique. I've never seen anything quite like it. Did you build it? If so, where did you get that lock?

 

[ericb]

That's really someting. Boy, that Lock sure isn't goin' anywhere.....

E

 

[doglock01]

Bill and Eric:

Thanks for the compliments! I'd love to take credit for building it, but I'm nowhere near that skilled. It was built by The Rifle Shoppe in Jones, Oklahoma. They made the lock using molds that they created from an original piece. I don't know much about the original beyond its use by the British Army in the first decade of the 18th century. The lock maker who created the original in 1708 was Edward Nicholson in London.

I'm trying to convince my wife that it would make a great showpiece in the living room, but I guess she isn't quite as attached to it as I am. Maybe after she fires it a couple of times, she'll be smitten... here's hoping.

 

[spudnut]

I like glue sticks in the tube like lipstick.Holds everything very nice