First try making paper cartridges

[sharps4590]

All I can do is admire everyone's perseverance. Paper cartridges are immensely interesting and I enjoy reading these threads. After trying my hand at simply paper patching bullets for a 500 BPE double with Henry rifling, I sold the rifle and swore off anything to do with paper and shooting anything, BP or smokeless.

[Brokenbear]

One thing for sure is... going out to a shoot'n session with several cap n ball pistols with pre rolled paper cartridges sure allows a feller to put a bunch more lead down range ..smell the smoke ..n it sure draws the youngsters in to watch ...

Bear

[Tar Heel]

One thing for sure is... going out to a shoot'n session with several cap n ball pistols with pre rolled paper cartridges sure allows a feller to put a bunch more lead down range ..smell the smoke ..n it sure draws the youngsters in to watch ...

Bear

Absolutely!!!!!

[charlie b]

Nice loading technique.

We tried the acid as well as salt nitration (back in the 80's). The acid method resulted in almost no paper residue but it did not hold up. It became brittle and barely withstood loading when 'fresh'. The salt method resulted in no real degradation of the paper, but, it didn't reduce the residue much either so we didn't use either one. What did help was using model cement to glue the ignition end of the paper. Just enough to hold the shape. It was cellulose based and reduced the residue a little. Don't think the current version is same formula.

We put the ball inside the paper tube after the powder (no lube or wad) and twisted the end over the top of the ball. When loading the cartridge was inserted and the twist was torn off. Then rammed home.

[cornbelt]

They used to make flash paper. Bookies supposedly kept their records on it. It could be bought in novelty stores. Seems like it ought to make good paper ctgs. Anyone try it?

[HamGunner]

This is nitrocellulose glue. Works decent enough and supposed to help burn the paper a bit better, but I am not convinced that it helps all that much. The glue is good though. Never had a cartridge fail to go off when using it.

https://www.amazon.com/Duco-Cement-M.../dp/B013U213YQ

[HWooldridge]

I've never made paper cartridges but I have handled (and shot) some originals. Those were all conical slugs and appeared to have the paper rolled onto the projectile first then were filled with powder from the rear. The paper was either folded or twisted - rather than filled with powder and gluing the bullet as the last step.

[maillemaker]

I make combustible paper cartridges for my Sharps carbine. I tried a batch of nitrated paper once, and it does make the paper burn up better, but I worry that it also makes the cartridges more prone to cooking off if shoved into a chamber with an ember still in it. Regular paper would probably snuff out an ember, but nitrated paper would instantly take to burning like a fuse and set off the powder inside. Ultimately, I found it more trouble than it was worth.

Now I mostly use Hahn tubes which pretty much disintegrate on firing.

Steve

[armoredman]

I am sorry I haven't gotten back on this yet, but between work, being sick, and being sick at work, I haven't really had the time to get out. HOPEFULLY this weekend I will be able to get out and make some smoke. I still haven't lubed the balls in the paper cartridges, since the only lube I have is the "Chapstick" style of home rolled lube Guns of the West sent or Bore Butter, and I am planning on using the Bore Butter on the arbor.

[Blackrock52]

I suggest abandoning lubricated wads in paper cartridges. The geometry of a cone precludes their use. They are fine when loading chambers individually at the range with loose components, but their use in a paper cartridge is neither practical or historically accurate. You will be chasing you tail attempting that.

Nitrating paper is, in my opinion, a complete waste of time. I got almost as much residue with nitrated paper than I did with regular paper. When using paper cartridges, you WILL get more residue in the chambers as a matter of course. It is the nature of the beast. Originally paper cartridges facilitated the loading process and eliminated all the extra cooters you needed to tote around with you. They were never marketed or quoted to be debris free or clean burning. Even users back in the mid 19th century experienced paper debris in the chambers hence the attempts to relieve it with nitrated paper.

You will still get buildup with nitrated paper at almost the same rate as non-nitrated paper. For me, it was just not worth the extra time nitrating paper for the minimal advantage it provides - if any. It's fun to try and you can say you did it, so by all means, give it a whirl and see what happens!

What WILL make your range session more productive when shooting paper cartridges is to bring a bronze cleaning brush that will fit into the chambers easily (like a 38 caliber cleaning brush for a 44 caliber cylinder).
Every two or three cylinders you shoot, run that brush down in the chambers and capture all the paper debris that accumulates at the base of the chamber. You can shoot paper cartridges all afternoon doing that.

Here is a photo of nitrated paper cartridge debris. I was using period paper (c 1870) with a higher rag content. Theoretically this nitrated paper should have burned itself up yet it didn't. When using nitrated modern papers like coffee filter paper, hair curling paper, or cigarette rolling paper, I still have debris accumulation, not to this level of course, but still have a significant amount.

Attachment 293631

I recently purchased the same kit. I've been going back and forth re: using a wad. Though I've not tried them yet, a poster said to use rice paper. Forget nitrating. This is the same paper used in food products but companies also make rolling papers from rice paper. It is nearly see through. Much more translucent than typical rolling papers so I imagine they will burn better as well.

[armoredman]

I did try them, had great difficulty loading, has several come apart, not as easy as I thought. I think I set the ball too high and the glue wasn't enough t keep them in the paper. Also, the 1860 JAMMED solid after the first 6, have to get it looked at by a professional, no idea what went wrong. The paper cartridge kit will be sitting for some time until I go at it again.