Does anybody make paper cartridges for their muzzle loader ?

[andrew cochran]

You know like they did in the civil war. A miniball and black powder held in a paper tube. They bit the end off and ramed it home. Just wondering if i could make some my self for hunting.

[DWARREN123]

I saw in Backwoodsman magazine where they use cigarette papers to do this, Wrap the sticky strip on the paper around the bullet and fill up with powder then twist closed.

[andrew cochran]

What caliber were they useing? Cause a 50 cal wouldn't work. But for smaller calibers it might just work.

[Mooseman684]

Use Tampon Wrappers...they are like 50 to 60 Cal...
Use fine cotton sewing thread to tie the ends and trim close to the knot with scissors.
Rich

[DWARREN123]

I can just see it. Your shooting shopping list, black powder, bullets, cig papers and tampons!

[chrish]

say i was at a Civil war reenactment and they had a tent set up as a general store and the guy sold the paper tubes that were used back then so yo might want to check it out a reenactment if you have a Chance.

[Gio]

can you do this for a revolver?

[chrish]

good question there, not shure, i would say they did have something for faster reloading of the pistols, seems like ive seen smaller paper wraped bullets before.

[Mooseman684]

Oh, and I forgot to add that if you are going to shove the paper down the barrel, it needs to be nitrate treated so it will burn as well...( refer to "Cartridges of the World" , by Frank Barnes ). This book has instructions on making them...
Rich

[chrish]

Originally Posted by Mooseman684

Oh, and I forgot to add that if you are going to shove the paper down the barrel, it needs to be nitrate treated so it will burn as well...( refer to "Cartridges of the World" , by Frank Barnes ). This book has instructions on making them...
Rich

yeppers on that one, use school note book paper and youll have a bad time hunting or shooting, use the right paper,, dont soak it in gas or kersoine as youll "have a bad time in shooting" tho you could if you want to go back pre mid 1800's
they used to soak the paper in whale oil, slow burning to say the least and then to get the whale inland to the mid east was a hasle ever drag 10 tons of lard over a hot land not good, smells bad too. nitrates came along with dynamite, what mid 1800's i think, paper soaked in other then nitrates didnt burn up all the way leaving the gun dirty and can mess up the next shot, nitrates is cleaner burning and didnt leave and paper behind thus cleanner shots for the time being, black powder was also very dirty too.

if anyone else know more or correct us or add to this go ahead, blast from the past on the old guns,
regards chris h

[OldTimer]

I've got a cartridge box full of authentic rolled rounds including arsenal packs. You can find instructions for assembling both rolled cartridges and arsenal packs if you Google: "making authentic cartridges". Look at the 33rd Wisconsin and Lazy Jacks Mess websites for excellent instructions with illustrations and references.

Old Timer
Who used to re-enact and wishes he had the time to do so again...

[andrew cochran]

Thanks guys for the help and info on this. I'll google this in a minute.
And yes they did use paper cartridges for their cap an ball revolvers. As far as my research went anyway.




After a lot of research on the computer I have got the idea of how to make paper cartridges for revolvers, pistols, and rifles. They are all pretty much the same. Parchment paper is what I have herd will work well, or blank news print.
You have to sand a dowl rod to the correct size of the bore rounding the point to the bullet shape. Templates for cutting the paper can be purshased at MidwayUSA – Shooting Supplies, Reloading, Gunsmithing, Ammunition, Gun Parts & Rifle Scopes OR you can cut it with out those. Really the processe is quite simple. I spent a while reading about it after i googled (making authentic cartridges) Thanks OLDTIMER. You just wrap the paper around your dowl rod, tie the bullet side with cotton thread, push any PURE LEAD bullet to the end. Sabots won't work! Neither will jacketed bullets. Round balls will work, but not in rifles. If you use a 44 revolver just use .451 round balls not .454 round balls. You then measure the powder, and pack it in, fold the end down to the powder down. and use any good glue to glue it. Your done! For good ignition you must bite the end off and then ram her home. Put a cap on the nipple and BOOM! For revolvers it may take more force to push the bullet into the chamber. And greasing the top of the bullet is nessary. Instead of just a ring of lead you'll see a ring of paper and lead! Hope this helps somebody else. I got it figured out! Thanks.