Roundballs in a Sharps

[skwerleater]

I have made paper cartridges with round ball for the 59 sharps. I rolled them with a 54 cal fiber wad under the ball and about 60 grains of powder. Worked pretty good.

 

[2 shots]

it would be slow but what about a dowel sized and cut to length with breech closed on it to seal rear of barrel [like a wooden cartridge,] ,load a patched round ball down muzzle [ with a ram rod] remove stopper, load loose or paper ' cartridge' of powder . seems that way you could use a lubed patch , proper size [?] ball. and have a good seal. less leading also. yes slow , but do our type rapid fire much??? anyone want to try it and report back?

 

[Elkhorse]

it would be slow but what about a dowel sized and cut to length with breech closed on it to seal rear of barrel [like a wooden cartridge,] ,load a patched round ball down muzzle [ with a ram rod] remove stopper, load loose or paper ' cartridge' of powder . seems that way you could use a lubed patch , proper size [?] ball. and have a good seal. less leading also. yes slow , but do our type rapid fire much??? anyone want to try it and report back?

I'll pass on that, thanks.

 

[Bad Karma]

it would be slow but what about a dowel sized and cut to length with breech closed on it to seal rear of barrel [like a wooden cartridge,] ,load a patched round ball down muzzle [ with a ram rod] remove stopper, load loose or paper ' cartridge' of powder . seems that way you could use a lubed patch , proper size [?] ball. and have a good seal. less leading also. yes slow , but do our type rapid fire much??? anyone want to try it and report back?

It’s been years since I owned a sharps percussion rifle but I did occasionally use a round ball. Probably .454” and I seated them from the breech using a short starter. Then just add loose powder, cap and fire. It worked okay as I remember it. Very light recoil from a 9+ pound rifle.