Too much trouble.....

[Sun City]

in my opinion to mess with loading paper cartridges! I'm pretty dexterous with my hands but in loading some paper cartridges for my New Model Army .44 revolver and no more trouble than it is to carry loading components in the field....I will opt for doing just that!

 

[Jappo]

I tried that myself. Even got the kit, one out of three would come out good. Not perfect. After 30 minutes or so, I gave up. Definitely not for me. I did pretty good with just the powder and paper. Load it and ram the ball on top.

 

[wiscoaster]

"Easier" overall is not the reason for making and using paper cartridges.

And it takes more than 30 minutes of practice to get it down. I've lost count of the paper cartridges I ruined and had to tear up to reclaim powder and ball.

 

[Gtrubicon]

There is a learning curve like anything else. I enjoy making paper cartridges for my pistols, caps also. It’s really nice to have them all made up while shootIng.

 

[Smokerr]

"Easier" overall is not the reason for making and using paper cartridges.

And it takes more than 30 minutes of practice to get it down. I've lost count of the paper cartridges I ruined and had to tear up to reclaim powder and ball.

So what is the perceived advantage? All I can see is back in the day it gave you consistency. Anyone that shoots a BP now is astute enough to do a reliable job of it , vs someone off the farm who you just ran through basic.

I am not saying a farm lad was dumb, nor a city guy, but firearms would have been all new to many.

Now if you want to recreate a historical aspect, I can sort of see that. The ultimate paper cartridge aspect would be an unmentionable cylinder.

I tried making my own caps and in the end, I would rather pay for the expensive caps that never being sure mine would go boom. Others had much better success, I did not. I want to shoot not mess with things.

 

[wiscoaster]

So what is the perceived advantage? ....

Easier, faster loading on the range. More time and bother at home trades off for less time and both under actual shooting use. Though the total time involved probably stills favors measure & pour.

Besides, I'm not very good at just sitting and watching TV. If I've got something to do with my hands I'm happier. Better making something useful than snacking and drinking.

 

[smokeum54]

The way i make mine is pretty quick and simple. I can make 100 in about two hours sitting on my butt watching TV. One of my favorite things i used to do was walk back and forth thru a woods walk and plink. They come in very handy for that.

When i used to trap i often carried a 36 navy and i liked to take some plinking shots along the way. When you have a 60lb or more pack on your back paper cartridges make things easier.

 

[Sun City]

I watched Blackies' process about putting a drop of clue atop the ball and then sitting the sleeve stick atop the ball. That's fairly easy but then when I slide the sleeve and ball off the stick the paper wants to collapse. I'm wondering how spray starch might stiffen up the paper a tat before sliding it off the mandrel?? I'm going to try an open ended mandrel and close the sleeve over the end, attach the ball and then drop the soy lube and powder down the hollow mandrel!

 

[wiscoaster]

I watched Blackies' process about putting a drop of clue atop the ball and then sitting the sleeve stick atop the ball. ....,

Do it the other way around and use Super Glue. I tried the "glue the ball on top" method and I thought it worked really well:
https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/...did-you-do-today.134755/page-762#post-2662956

You close the powder cylinder off with the flaps at the top before you glue the ball.

You don't need spray starch to stiffen your powder cylinder, you just need heavier paper. I found that curling paper works the best. It's heavier than cigarette paper, makes a sturdy powder cylinder, but not so heavy that the percussion cap flame doesn't penetrate.

 

[nick_1]

I used to make paper powder charges and it was just one more thing to waste time on.

 

[smokeum54]

I use a bushing type method i figured out years ago.

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/what-is-the-best-paper-cartridge-kit.185575/post-2709847