Paper cartridges?

[RandyLee]

Its been awhile since I had time to thing about MLing. While sitting here thinking, and reading some of my CW books I started thinking about papr cartridges.

I've seen some videos and read some info regarding how to make them, but could always use more.

And I was curious if paper cartridges designed for percussion rifles are all of the "tear one end open, pour in powder, stuff ball with excess paper down barrel" variety, or is there a cartridge designed to be inserted whole, much like I keep finding for C&B pistols?

Thanks for the help guys. I'm looking into picking up a new rifle, and hopefully looking into the MLing seasons out here. Might even be able to get my Father into it, he used to hunt all the time when I was a kid.

Thanks,
Randy

 

[poordevil]

I made some paper ctg's out of cigerette paper zig-zag. For my parker-hale musketoon. I incerted the thing in whole. The act of loading and ramming it will upset the paper enough to fire. For my .577cal I used 2 papers , licked thw glue strip on one and put on the other then wraped it around the bullet , nose up and filled it. Just don't have too much paper down around where the powder meets the breach.

P

 

[pulaskius]

Interesting stuff !

 

[mikee51848]

I would tear it open if you want reliable ignition, I would think. :hmm:

 

[Homesteader]

For my Sharps I soak high rag content typing paper in a solution of potassium nitrate the night before making cartridges, and then hang the sheets like laundry to dry. The next day I cut a sort of stubby pie-shaped piece of the nitrated paper, roll it around a correctly sized dowel, and lightly use a glue stick on the edges and to attach the paper to the base of the conical. I fill the open end with the powder charge, then slightly twist and fold it over to close.

The Sharps is made to snip off the end when the block is closed, but I've never found even the slightest bit of paper left after firing a round. Completely consumed. I've tried the same thing with revolvers, and find it works well as long as the end is pierced one way or another, either by biting off the end or poking a pin through the nipple hole before capping.

Hope this helps.

 

[Curtis Makamson]

Does cigarette paper receive an application of potasium nitrate?

 

[Poor Private]

Are you after something to make for authenic use?
Are you goin to use it for reenacting(firing blanks)? If for period use stop at a box store and get a roll of 3M painters paper thats as close as you can come to it today. Then if you look up on the net you can get the proper dimensions for cutting the paper to size and hole to roll them, and even how to make arsenal packs.

 

[torn moc]

CIGARETTE papers will ignite just fine ...they are already nitrated....but they are kida THIN and flimsy and prone to tear,,,
Onionskin paper is much better but it must be soaked in nitrate solution. You can awalys find onionskin paper on ebay.

 

[Dphar]

Its been awhile since I had time to thing about MLing. While sitting here thinking, and reading some of my CW books I started thinking about papr cartridges.

I've seen some videos and read some info regarding how to make them, but could always use more.

And I was curious if paper cartridges designed for percussion rifles are all of the "tear one end open, pour in powder, stuff ball with excess paper down barrel" variety, or is there a cartridge designed to be inserted whole, much like I keep finding for C&B pistols?

Thanks for the help guys. I'm looking into picking up a new rifle, and hopefully looking into the MLing seasons out here. Might even be able to get my Father into it, he used to hunt all the time when I was a kid.

Thanks,
Randy

My 16 bore will use a tapered paper cartridge made of printer paper. Roll on a sharply tapered dowel and glue the seam, fold and glue down the tail. When dry charge with powder and drop in a ball and twist shut. To shoot tear open the tail and put the small end in the bore, the powder will run out as you ram it all down. This rifle shoots point of aim at 50 yards with this system.
Impromptu testing shows it will shoot well enough to kill deer to 75-100 yards.
The rifle has .008" deep rifling and very narrow lands.
Just test the paper to see that the ball will fit down the bore with the paper around it.
Paper comes off the ball at the muzzle like a PP in a BPCR. Recovered pieces of paper show good rifling marks. A friend in Canada gave this tip to me and has used it for quit some time with good results for fast reloads when needed.
The bore will foul in 2-3 shots since there is nothing to soften the fouling. But for a fast follow up its certainly usable.

Dan

 

[Curtis Makamson]

An acquaintance claimed he was making percussion revolver cartridges and using cigarette paper for the powder holding tube. I was wondering if anyone else had tried such.

 

[bingo1952]

Nitrated 25% rag onionskin paper is a lot tougher and holds up in a pouch better than cigarette paper which is very fragile.

 

[crockett]

Randy Lee: A Mr. White out of Gettysburg has written several books on this topic. I think Dixie Gun Works sells them or you can surf the net- I think he sells direct.
The answer is yes but not often. The combustible pistol cartridges were made by the millions but I think only around 600,000 rounds of combustible rifle cartridges were issued to Northern Troops. After about 6 rounds the fouling started to build up and clog the nipple area but until then the rate of fire was very fast. Ram the whole thing, cap- fire, ram down another, cap fire- The Johnny Rebs didn't know what was going on.
To some of the rest of you guys- on revolvers the percussion cap is powerful enough to bust up about any cartridge and ignite the power- I've used thin aluminum foil. The nitrated paper is to insure ALL the paper is burnt up and no live embers remain in the chamber before putting in another combustible cartridge- not good for your health!

 

[longfowler]

I made these a few years ago for my colt 1860 repro. The paper is the stuff found in between pages of carbon copy forms, it may be what others are calling onionskin. I just stuff the whole thing in the chamber, and ramming the load seems to rip it open enough, or the cap is powerfull enough, so I've always had 100% ignition.

 

[Emet Huntsman]

Dixie Gun Works catalog has instructions toward the back -- uses Topps Cigarette papers.