Paper Cartridges Questions

[Mac Attack]

I was reading the thread in the BP Essentials sticky about making paper cartridges and it peaked my interested. Are paper cartridges made for revolvers only or can you use them in rifles as well? I can see how it would save time by having a single self contained unit containing the powder, ball and paper/patch.
I suspect that this would only work with conicals and not balls since balls need a patch and the paper would not be thick enough to act as a patch.

Also, I know the post said the powder would ignite through the paper just as if the paper wasn't there. I can't help but think this would cause some delay in ignition since the spark from the cap or flint would have to burn through the paper cartridge first.

Anyways, has anyone made their own paper cartridges and if so how did they work?

 

[Bad Flynch]

>Also, I know the post said the powder would ignite through the paper just as if the paper wasn't there<

Hence, the use of nitrated paper and cloth.

 

[oneiron]

I use regular cigarette papers. The bran name is Top, but they are a little small and just fit around a 451 ball. Jaz is wider and could be used with a larger ball. If you are using this for a rifle, I would use a waxed brown paper to make my cartridges. Bite off the end pour the powder and put the paper and ball in the barrel and ram it home.

 

[mykeal]

Yes, paper cartridges were used in rifles originally and are still occasionally used currently especially by reenactors.

 

[Cap n Ball]

I would caution anyone who might have heart problems about biting paper cartridges. After four or five shots the nitrate traces from both the powder and the paper can cause cardiac palpitations as well as headache.

 

[mykeal]

I get heart palpitations just from opening the locker where I keep my Walkers, but yes, anyone with heart issues needs to be careful handling anything that can expose them to nitrates. Good point.

 

[Misfire99]

Alfred Nobel in his later years had to take nitroglycerin tablet to stop the massive head aches he had from decades of handling nitro. The same nitroglycerin tablets you doctor give you for your heart problems.

I wonder if one could use Potassium Perchlorate instead of Potassium Nitrate in the making of BP. The percolate is a better oxidizer then the nitrate. Any adventurous souls out there? Maybe it will just be me. Or maybe the Potassium Perchlorate could be used on the paper to get it to consume better. Might even be able to use something like a Sugar and Potassium Perchlorate solution on the paper to get it to be part of the charge.

 

[hildo]

Have been smoking since I was 12. I'm 46 now so I have this habit for 34 years now. I roll my own, like many do in The Netherlands, so I suck on an average of at least 30 nitrated papers per day.
I'm still alive and kickin'.

Hildo

 

[Ray P]

Are paper cartridges made for revolvers only or can you use them in rifles as well? ...

I suspect that this would only work with conicals and not balls since balls need a patch and the paper would not be thick enough to act as a patch....

I can't help but think this would cause some delay in ignition since the spark from the cap or flint would have to burn through the paper cartridge first.

Anyways, has anyone made their own paper cartridges and if so how did they work?

DGW sells a kit you can use to make self-consuming paper cartridges for Sharps and other percussion rifles.

I've seen illustrations of paper-patched round ball cartridges. IIRC, a nitrated string was used to tie off the cartridge behind the ball. Yep.

Self consuming nitrated paper patches that aren't torn open on loading have only worked well for me in my revolvers; even thin, re-nitrated rolling papers need a short, straight flame path to work that way. For my hawken & musket, I have noticed a real delay in firing if I used the paper cartridge whole. Eventually, I made self-consuming paper powder loads (no bullet) for these guns by making the tube extra narrow, and using the separately loaded ball/bullet to crush the paper tube open. Also, for parades in Kittery & Eliot ME, I used non-nitrated newspaper as cartridge material for blank loads. I would tear the folded end off the cartridge, pour the powder down the barrel, and ram the paper down on top of the powder as wadding.

 

[StrawHat]

I would caution anyone who might have heart problems about biting paper cartridges. After four or five shots the nitrate traces from both the powder and the paper can cause cardiac palpitations as well as headache.

Rifle cartridges don't need to be nitrated. The paper is used as a wad between the powder and ball.

Pistol cartridges were traditionally loaded without biting.

I get heart palpitations just from opening the locker where I keep my Walkers,

Great line!

 

[Mausermike]

Think about it. The amount of nitrate in the paper is peanuts compared to the powder. I do not believe nitrate is a vasodilator like nitroglycerin is.

Perchlorate salts in general are very shock sensitive. It would NOT be a good idea to make shock sensitive black powder. Ram the ball down the bar...BOOM! (bye bye arm)

 

[oneiron]

Paper Cartridges

Guys bp is not pressure or shock sensitive. That is way you need a spark to set it off. All I did was describe a civil war cartridge. If you bite off a great many of them you may lose some teeth. The paper is the ball or Minne Ball's patch.

 

[jimrbto]

The only cure I know of for a nitro-headache is black coffee not more nitro.
Jim

 

[sharps59]

If you use paper you may get a suprise w/ the next round going woff as you pour it down that is if any of the paper is smoldering down the bottom. my 2 cents
get some plastic tubes to make your charges up