Paper cartridges and humidity

[Bagheera]

Hi everyone ; )

What's your experience with them?
DO PAPER CARTRIDGES REALLY PROTECT FROM HUMIDITY
Acting like a quasi shell in that matter ?

I used to make them with rolling paper but never tested humidity;
Now I got nitropaper(H n C).
Thick just like in the picture.
Also the ones I have are loaded with 26 grs, i'd like to increase the load to 35 grs, impossible in a paper ctg.
would it be worthwhile to keep a lower load knowing I d like to practice to avoid flinching and a harder recoil management with this model But
when I don't go to the range I wanna keep it loaded.(just in case of zombies)..

Ur take on that ?

 

[AlexanderA]

My experience with paper cartridges is with blanks, for Civil War reenactments. But I never prepared the cartridges too far in advance of the events, so I don't know about long-term storage.

That said, it seems to me that paper would absorb moisture from the air, causing the powder to cake.

The solution would be to make the package of cartridges airtight, possibly by dipping the whole package into molten wax.

 

[Tommygunn]

You could also put a dessicant pack in with the paper cartridges.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Ask a cigarette smoker in your area. If a cigarette can hold up in its pack, then why not cartridges?

 

[Bagheera]

Let me be more precise on the original question n rephrase here..
Making a cartridge box airtight to conserve them isn't really the problem here.tuperware work fine.

Do you think that when loaded in the cylinder the cartridges will last longer because of the paper?
Or could the paper absorb too much water in the air.(not much air besides the nipples but I ll ceal them with fire resistant little tubes around the caps)

Bill Hickok's Colt was fired years and years later, n it went off.
Could paper ctg really act like that?(not that I won't resist shooting it for too long but still..)

 

[Mizar]

Do you think that when loaded in the cylinder the cartridges will last longer because of the paper?

No - paper is a very poor barrier against humidity. Given enough time, paper and black powder will absorb enough water to level their moisture with that of the air, but no more.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I think that when loaded...paper cartridges would be as equal to moisture as the powder..., meaning if moisture can reach the powder when you load loose powder and ball, then you will have the same problem if the powder is first contained in a nitrated paper container and loaded. They were intended, I believe, to be kept capped...so if you're not worried about a capped cylinder having loose powder and ball being harmed by humidity, then your nitrated paper cartridges will be fine as well. If it's pouring down rain, and you don't keep your loaded revolver, or single-shot pistol, in a flapped holster or other water resistant container...I think you may have problems. If it's drizzling rain, and you're not under cover while trying to load those cartridges...yes, you will probably have poor results.

Remember," alles Können ist eitel, wenn ein Engel in das Berührungsloch deiner Muskete pinkelt , " ...All skill is vain when an Angel in the touch-hole of your musket, pees.

Which is a way of saying, sometimes no matter what, stuff doesn't work as planned.

LD

 

[4v50 Gary]

I wouldn't worry about cartridges that have been loaded into the cylinder.

 

[Bagheera]

Gary do u mean it helps ?
Cause that's what I'd logically say.
After all the ball is cealed and my caps will be to..

 

[whughett]

Ask a cigarette smoker in your area. If a cigarette can hold up in its pack, then why not cartridges?

My experience was the reverse, the cigarettes would dry out in an open package after a few days.

 

[Tommygunn]

Gary do u mean it helps ?
Cause that's what I'd logically say.
After all the ball is cealed and my caps will be to..

Sealed, not "cealed." Ok I'm being a Grammer nazi.

 

[AlexanderA]

If, after loading the revolver, you seal the front of the chambers with grease, the only way air would get in would be through the nipples. One way to prevent that would be to keep the cylinder capped. Otherwise, you could make some sort of plastic plugs for the nipples.

I don't think it would make much difference if the powder was encased in paper cartridges, or not.

 

[AlexanderA]

My experience was the reverse, the cigarettes would dry out in an open package after a few days.

Humidity is good for tobacco; not good for gunpowder.

 

[damoc]

BP made from potasium nitrate should be very stable and last a long time in paper cartridges BP made from sodium nitrate is very hydroscopic (asbsorbs water) so not very suitable for paper cartridges.

777 might be a good substitute but in my expierience pyrodex would deteriorate fairly quickly when exposed to air and environment.
please ignore spelling mistakes its late im going to bed.

 

[Bagheera]

Tommy s ready to be on grammar patrol..
U right though it's sealed.
J essaierai de m en rappeler
Scuse ma french.. ; )
Alexander as I said earlier I got some,yhyeah


Damoc I'm only using classic BP.
Is it the first one ?

Also guys
let me introduce you to my new baby


That's a full size, wanna slick it up bulldog mode..what a shame it's impressive in full size, not practical though.

 

[damoc]

Most BP will be made from potasium nitrate KNO3 I think during 19th and early 20th sodium nitrate could have been used from mines in south america (niter I think is the term) later in the 20th nitrates were made by the haber process from the air.