Paper Cartridges, step by step photos..

[timuchin]

Here is everything you need. FFFg Goex in the flask, 30 grain spout. French light rolling papers, though any will do. Some just work better than others.

Place ball in paper (sprue towards front) about 3/4th of the way down.

Roll paper around ball and MOISTEN where it touches ball.

Moisten entire front end of paper and twist shut gently.

Pour in powder.

Continued...

 

[timuchin]

The rest of it...

Moisten the gum along the entire length of the paper. Gently press the paper together so it sticks. Overlap the end of the paper away from the ball a little bit so that the edge of the paper runs at an angle away from the ball. This will form the cartridge into a cone as you shake down the powder.

Grab the end of the paper away from the ball and shake gently to settle the powder. Moisten the entire length of the paper past the powder and begin to twist the paper closed. The powder will form the paper into a cone shape. Continue to twist and shake until the powder no longer moves. This must be done gently.

This is what it should look like when you are done.

Clip the tails off, and you have a paper cartridge.

.45 ACP boxes are perfect for storage.

This works best if you let the paper dry after each time you moisten it. If you are rolling 20 or 30 at a time, the first one is dry by the time you do the last one. Pouring the powder in, moistening the side, and twisting it closed are all done at the same time, in that order.

Any questions, give me a holler. Cheap cigarette papers will work, but are more fragile, don't burn as well, and just more difficult to deal with.

 

[P95Carry]

Tim - EXCELLENT!!! I know you ''threatened'' to post this and pics and - here it is. Quite superb and I think even our esteemed Gatofeo would be proud of you too!

This is about as foolproof as it gets and I shall for sure be trying this with my pack of Zig-Zag papers before too long. It's easy really ain't it - just needs a small ''knack''.

Kudos to you and thx for taking the trouble to put this together!

 

[timuchin]

Took less time than I thought it would...

That's why I waited so long to do it. The most important thing to remember is to Moisten the paper, do not drool all over it. If you get the paper wet, it will tear. If it does tear, save the powder, save the ball, and grab another paper. No big deal. It happens.

Drop right in a 58 Remington. Colts are kind of a pain though, due to the rear of the frame being thicker, and all around less clearance for loading.

Once you get used to loading these at the range, it's just as fast as ejecting the empties and reloading a Single Action revolver.

 

[mete]

For a combustable cartridge I thought the paper had to be treated with nitrate ??

 

[timuchin]

It will burn better...

but untreated paper will still burn. :banghead:

 

[P95Carry]

As I see it the paper is merely a containment vehicle - and will be totally shredded and disappear on firing. It's only about a half thou thick anyways!

''Means to an end''

 

[pauli]

i've only got a passing familiarity with old revolvers, so clue me in - the paper is lit by a percussion cap, or what?

 

[P95Carry]

Pauli - it is not so much that the paper is ''lit'' - it is more that this is a very convenient containment for powder and ball, which, when the flame from the cap travels down the nipple aperture, will ignite the powder - as if the paper is hardly even there!!

 

[robert garner]

Dang if I hadn't known bout this for 30 yrs an never tried it!
Y'all sure make it look easy!
Thanks

 

[c_yeager]

Wow, turns out i actually learned something usefull in highschool afterall

 

[PowderBurn]

Very appreciative of your effort!

No need for wad or grease?

 

[P95Carry]

PB - I'll leave timuchin to comment on this too, but reckon myself that I'd still smear some grease - Bore Butter for me these days. Some folks I know still like Crisco!

I doubt a wad needed providing the loading process still shaves that small ring off the ball to show a good seal.

 

[timuchin]

No wad, no grease.

Grease wouldn't hurt though. I never had a problem with barrel leading. I encourage everyone to give this a shot and report back with their findings/results.

 

[BHPshooter]

This is quite possibly the coolest thread I've ever seen on the High Road.

I need a Single Action BP revolver.

Wes

 

[PowderBurn]

I've never bought rolling papers in my 40+ years on this earth, but tonight's the night!

 

[Fairlane63]

Just bought my first rolling papers too-- the clerk gave me that "ahhhh yeahhhhhh" sort of look. I hope mine turn out as neat as timuchin's.

-Chris W.

 

[1911 guy]

Very good post

I've done this for a couple years with my squirrel rifle for hunting (I gotta tear the paper open to load-flint lock) but mine don't turn out as neat as the pics. I must need more practice. And more Zig Zags.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Great. Thank you Timunchin and I see Gatofeo has competition. Always practice safety and while the shave lead ring should preclude chainfires, grease the cylinder.

BTW, love that green plastic cartridge box. Do you think the NSSA will frown upon that on the skirmish line?

 

[Burt Blade]

If you are using real black powder, the lube over the ball is very important for keeping the fouling soft. American Pioneer and Triple Seven do not seem to require lube over the ball to reduce fouling, based on my experience.

Make sure you get the ball firmly seated on the powder, so that the powder compresses to fill the entire chamber space, with no air pockets or gaps. Otherwide, you may damage the gun.

You can improve ignition by using a nipple pick after loading the cartridge. This will pierce the paper and ensure a clear path for the flame from the cap to reach the powder directly.

 

[P95Carry]

You can improve ignition by using a nipple pick after loading the cartridge. This will pierce the paper and ensure a clear path for the flame from the cap to reach the powder directly.

Burt - that is a very good point - in fact a straightened out paper clip would do just fine for that.

 

[Cortland]

I make paper cartridges for my Sharps rifle. I use onion skin -- sometimes sold as airmail paper, but in either case increasingly anachronistic and hard to find -- soaked in potassium nitrate. Even with the Sharps' circuitous flash tube I've never had ignition problems, although I've never tried untreated paper. With the Sharps of course you've got to tie the paper cartridge onto the base of the bullet; I use potassium nitrate treated cotton string for that. I glue my cartridges with sodium silicate.

Regarding *compressing* the charge to avoid air pockets -- that's not possible in theory or in practice with a Sharps but they seem to do OK.

 

[Tinker2]

Flash paper

I used to make shot capsules that way. Shot only no powder.
Worked best if it was my first shot in my 1851 repro.
I used that as my main packing piece when out in the sticks.
I have not made paper cartridges for it since the early 60’s
When I did, I made them with flash paper. Worked the best
for me. Anyone beside me ever use flash paper??


Google for " Magic supply flash paper "

 

[Dirty Bob]

Timuchin, you rock! This is one of the coolest threads in a long time! I gotta try this!

Thanks,
Dirty Bob

 

[Mac Attack]

Way cool. Kind of makes me wish I had a old cap and ball firearm to try it out of. Thanks for posting the pics.

Mac