Paper Cartridges with #4 shot?

[SgtErv]

I did notice that using tow created what sounded like a better gas seal. Thinking thats the ticket there.

For those that use tow...how do you keep from setting the woods on fire? It was smoldering when it came out of the barrel. Is there any kind of lube or anything that'll prevent this?

 

[Loyalist Dave]

When it comes to a seal, you need to be making cartridges that when rolled around the dowel, just fit inside the barrel. Some folks then dip them in beeswax, or a mixture of beeswax and olive oil blended as a lube. I never had a problem that needed the added wax or grease.

Tow or paper will smolder. If you have a serious threat of fire you could dip your tow in a solution of borax and water and let it dry.

When using a 20 gauge I did an experiment. I took a short piece of 5/8" copper pipe, about 2" long. Then I took 100% wool yarn, and carded it back into fuzz. That was stuffed tight inside the pipe, and I stuck it in the oven for about 30 seconds while I was baking something else. (I figured it had to be a bit warm or the lube would cool too fast and not pour to the bottom of the pipe) Then I removed it and put the pipe with the yarn upright on a foil covered dish, and poured in some melted beeswax and olive oil lube. When it cooled I popped the grease impregnated wool out of the pipe and cut it into four 1/2" "wads". I was trying to make DIY wads instead of having to wait for mail-order cork or felt or leather ones to arrive. Seemed to shoot in an acceptable manner.

LD

 

[SgtErv]

I get the best deal with my military cartridges by using .715 balls and coating the cartridge with some mink oil. Pretty good fit, much better than the .69 ball. The latter was so easy to load I knew it wouldn't seal. After shooting a few different sizes I settled on .715; while not a perfect seal, I can load quickly and get tolerable accuracy. I'm of the mind that a smoothbore military musket is what it is, which is an awesome thing in my mind.

I found that the cartridge former does indeed make a difference, LD. Good pointing that out. A Sharpie Accent highlighter is perfect actually, at 3/4".

Boy these things are fun.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I found that the cartridge former does indeed make a difference, LD. Good pointing that out. A Sharpie Accent highlighter is perfect actually, at 3/4".

Boy these things are fun.

Great minds must think alike ....I have used both sharpies and copper pipe To make cartridges.... :thumbsup:

I also like using a glue stick to adhere the paper to itself.

 

[BCarp]

I use military-style paper cartridges for my smoothbores, with both ball and shot. With a length of dowl, or some other former of the correct diameter, I roll the paper tubes and tied off the ends with waxed thread. Push in the ball, or pour in the shot load, then I insert a fiber wad "one size smaller" than the gun's bore size. In this example, a 20 gauge wad in a 16 gauge cartridge. The cartridge paper thickness makes up the difference in producing a snug wad over the powder....

 

[Black Hand]

An advantage of a paper-wrapped load is the shot doesn't come in contact with the bore and should eliminate leading.