Paper cartridges for roundball loads in smoothbores work great! Besides accuracy equal to cloth patching, they are historically correct,
if you care about such things. They're also faster loading for times events, like the Winter primitive snowshoe Muzzleloading Biathlons we run up here in the Northeast.
When Gator asked the question ... it really would have benefited us if he had
clarified the use for revolvers, rifles or smoothies ...
The English tied the ball in place where the French typically sealed it with a slight twist above the ball. I lube the ball area by either dipping them in a 50:50 mix of bees wax to olive oil or by smearing on some mink oil from Track of the Wolf.
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