Too much trouble.....

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After the second or third cylinder I was having issues with the paper clogging the nipples to the point picking would not clear it took disassembly to remove the plugs.
 
Since we don't have anyone trying to take our scalps loading fast shouldn't be a requirement. Rather our kits these days are fairly easy to carry on ones person. Doesn't take very long to drop the powder into a cylinder along with an OPW, couple or three pills of soy wax and then the bullet atop that! At 85 I don't shoot comp. I sit at my bench in my back yard and shoot on steel at 40 to 50 yards.
 
To update this reactivated thread about making nitrated paper cartridges:

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/...did-you-do-today.134755/page-864#post-2767393

It's not that hard but does take some practice. Expect to waste some paper until you get the hang of it. It took about 30 minutes to make those 25 cylinders using already nitrated curling papers. I still have to punch out and glue on the 5/8 in. circles for their bases. Maybe another 30 minutes for that before I can load them with 25 gr. 3F powder and about 7 gr. filler.

And about paper clogging the chambers, you want to make sure there's only a single layer of paper for the cap to fire through:

IMG_0281.jpg


Besides wanting the cap to perforate the base you know the detonation will push back against it, so it needs to burn up in place, because it won't get blown out.
 
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You can’t buy nitrated cigarette papers, buts is easy enough to make with potassium nitrate and water. Just dip the paper in and hang it to dry. I’ve used coffee filters and now I use papers used for perming your hair. Not your hair specifically but hair in general!
Where does one get potassium nitrate without arousing suspicion of terrorist activity?
 
Where does one get potassium nitrate without arousing suspicion of terrorist activity?
Amazon has fireworks grade potassium nitrate. Pretty cheap too. Nu Wave end papers work well, they are tougher than cigarette papers and burn completely. They do leave a ring of paper in the bottom of the chambers that is from the glue from the end cap. They don't cause any problems. Just load over them and dig them out when you're done shooting.
 
You can buy stump remover that is made from potassium nitrate. Just read the label to make sure you get the right one. You can buy it from from companies that sell fireworks making supplies. The feds don’t really care about potassium nitrate. It’s the perchlorates and dark aluminum used to make flash powder that may draw their attention. I buy it online as well as sulpher and charcoal to make black powder without issue.
 
Where does one get potassium nitrate without arousing suspicion of terrorist activity?

I bought 10 lbs. online from Walmart delivered to my P.O. Box, a lot cheaper than stump remover. No one has knocked on my door at 2:00 AM nor are there any drones overhead. If the men in black visit just tell them you have a problem with a very active libido. 😄
 
I bought 10 lbs. online from Walmart delivered to my P.O. Box, a lot cheaper than stump remover. No one has knocked on my door at 2:00 AM nor are there any drones overhead. If the men in black visit just tell them you have a problem with a very active libido. 😄
I really don’t expect to have Feds knocking on my door (at least any time soon) as I have had black and smokeless powder delivered here with no problems that I know of.
We are having the drones show up at night though.
 
I tried the paper cartridges, bought a Guns of The West cartridge kit and Eras gone mold and after some trial and error I finally got to where I could make a pretty decent looking cartridge.

Tried loading them without taking the 1851 apart and made a mess of that, after that I loaded them in a loading stand.

Then I realized with all the hassle and paper left in the cylinder that needed picked out (yes, I bought the stump remover as well) it was easier to just put the powder in the cylinder and stick a ball or conical on top of it.

Maybe the kits work better on 1860 armies but mine is going to gather dust on the shelf.
 
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Maybe the kits work better on 1860 armies but mine is going to gather dust on the shelf.
I haven't tried making .36 cal cartridges (though I have the form & mandrill for them) so you might have a valid point, because they're smaller, and I know the .44 cal cartridges are already plenty small enough for my old fingers. OTOH, maybe yours just need more practice. I made a mess and ruined a few the first couple times, too.
 
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