I found something of interest. This is a quote from Round Ball to Rimfire: A History of Civil War Small Arms Ammunition, Part One, by Dean S. Thomas (1997), p. 102:
"For common rifles, the ball is prepared by being enveloped in a square piece of fine muslin, or soft thin leather, or of bladder, tied over it and leaving a projecting end about 1/2" long, which, after being trimmed with scissors, and the whole saturated with tallow, is introduced into the paper cylinder which is choked over it and fastened by turns and a double hitch."
This was evidently taken from the 1849 Ordnance Manual, and is part of a section concerning paper cartridges. I thought the M1841 rifle was issued with a pouch and flask, for loading with loose powder and patched balls, but evidently paper cartridges with patched balls were sometimes used, as well.
These "Common" rifles, including the Mississippi, were nominally .54 caliber and used a .525" patched ball. I was curious regarding powder charges, and in reading through both Round Ball to Rimfire and Small Arms and Ammunition in the United States Service, by Berkeley Lewis, found that recommended powder charges were all over the place. The earlier rifles were to be charged with 100 grains of rifle powder, but these would have been flintlocks, and I suppose some of that powder charge may have been used for priming. I understand that powders were improved sometime early in the 19th century, and I found recommended powder charges of 60 grains, 68 grains (which is right at 2-1/2 drams), 70 grains, and 75 grains of rifle powder for these .54 caliber, round-ball rifles.
That's all academic, though, and possibly even irrelevant. The takeaway is the @ADK Bigfoot was not dreaming. Pre-patched round balls were used.
Best regards,
Notchy Bob
"For common rifles, the ball is prepared by being enveloped in a square piece of fine muslin, or soft thin leather, or of bladder, tied over it and leaving a projecting end about 1/2" long, which, after being trimmed with scissors, and the whole saturated with tallow, is introduced into the paper cylinder which is choked over it and fastened by turns and a double hitch."
This was evidently taken from the 1849 Ordnance Manual, and is part of a section concerning paper cartridges. I thought the M1841 rifle was issued with a pouch and flask, for loading with loose powder and patched balls, but evidently paper cartridges with patched balls were sometimes used, as well.
These "Common" rifles, including the Mississippi, were nominally .54 caliber and used a .525" patched ball. I was curious regarding powder charges, and in reading through both Round Ball to Rimfire and Small Arms and Ammunition in the United States Service, by Berkeley Lewis, found that recommended powder charges were all over the place. The earlier rifles were to be charged with 100 grains of rifle powder, but these would have been flintlocks, and I suppose some of that powder charge may have been used for priming. I understand that powders were improved sometime early in the 19th century, and I found recommended powder charges of 60 grains, 68 grains (which is right at 2-1/2 drams), 70 grains, and 75 grains of rifle powder for these .54 caliber, round-ball rifles.
That's all academic, though, and possibly even irrelevant. The takeaway is the @ADK Bigfoot was not dreaming. Pre-patched round balls were used.
Best regards,
Notchy Bob
