How the heck do you get paper catridges to work in an 1860 colt???

[Dakota Widowmaker]

Doesn't appear as though there is nearly enough space between the parts to get these to work.

Anyone have some dimensions from a paper cartridge that they have gotten to work with their 1860 colts???

[hellgate]

Dakota,
The original paper cartridges were tapered and somewhat conical in the paper portion with less than full charges. Also, if you look at an ORIGINAL colt 1860 Army you will find there is a lot more room under the rammer. Take a close look at the photo of the Armies on the home page of the Brimstone Pistoleros.   brimstonepistoleros.com
There is very little metal under the barrel and a thinner area where the allignment pins insert. The repros leave a lot of "meat" in that area so it is difficult to insert a bare conical let alone paper cartridge. I've only made paper cartridges for my 36 cal 1861 Navy where there is plenty of room. I can insert a plain 200gr LEE conical into my ASM 1860 Army (with a little bit of jiggling), an Uberti Army (with hardly any jiggling at all), but not in a Pietta. It takes hand finishing/grinding & polishing to make more room under the rammer so it just isn't done. That's why they are so affordable (less hands-on labor).

[Montana Slim]

Years ago, I used a die-grinder on one of my 1860's to enlarge the "scoop" on the barrel. Loads paper cartridges just fine. Touch up with some cold-blue....but don't expect it to stay "purty" too long.

Slim

[Oldelm]

Howdy Dakota.....

This might help ya, too.

I would have to make the paper cartridges for my 1860 Colt a little longer and slimer than those I'd made for the Remington.

Here's a photo of them side by side,........

http://i15.tinypic.com/307m1av.jpg

.....the Colt one on left I ended up making more of because I could use 'em in either Colt or Remington. Even though they're longer because of the taper, the end will wiggle down into the chambers ok if you're careful, and once the ball clears the frame arch, then you can rotate the cylinder into place under the rammer.

I got into making little matchbox style boxes so I could carry the paper cartridges easily and re-use the boxes.
Printed out copies of period labels to paste onto the boxes,...it gave them a nice authentic look....
You can get my measurements from the rule in the pic,...should give ya an idea of their length.

http://i15.tinypic.com/2ivl5zq.jpg 

Good luck 

[Tommy tornado]

Make sure you take a paper clip or something similar that will fit throught the nipple hole.  You will need to prick the end of the paper, especially after shooting multiple cylinders worth.  I made mine as shown above.  Widdled a dowel rod down to about .44 cal and used 3/8ths dowel for .36 cal.

[St. George]

In the old 'Guns and Ammo Complete Guide to Blackpowder' - Konrad F. Schrier, Jr. wrote an article titled:  'Make Your Own Paper Cartridges'.

It's on pages 51-55, and it shows the techniques used to create the round and the dowels used to create the tubes.

It'd be worth looking for a copy - especially since the rest of the material's pretty well-written.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Dakota Widowmaker]

Anybody got a photo of a pietta and a "colt" that paper carts work in for comparison???

My 1860 Sherrif models saw plenty of use this summer and I had a bad fitting wedge that caused me to use tools to get it out that I would not normally have used... Its badly marked and I am going to have to reblue it anyhow.

[FYI: I use BlueWonder which is a "warm blueing" to reblue my mistakes... holds up alot better than PermaBlue or SupraBlue from Birchwood casey]

I figured the colts would require a smaller charge than the rems for paper carts.

Didn't figure on having to muck with the webbing area though... another winter project to look forward to.

Thanks everyone!

[Tommy tornado]

In the old 'Guns and Ammo Complete Guide to Blackpowder' - Konrad F. Schrier, Jr. wrote an article titled:  'Make Your Own Paper Cartridges'.

It's on pages 51-55, and it shows the techniques used to create the round and the dowels used to create the tubes.

It'd be worth looking for a copy - especially since the rest of the material's pretty well-written.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

I believe the back of the Dixie Gun Works Catalog also has an article about this topic.  They suggest rolling papers.

[Montana Slim]

I bought a booklet somewhere (DGW?) on making paper cartridges years ago (wish I could find it, too).....I made cartridges per the directions in it.

The cartridges started with a piece of paper glued around a tapered dowel (I made) and glued....they looked like little ice-cream-cones, empty on both ends. Then, I glued in a small piece of tissue-type paper inside to form the bottom. Then inserted the charge of BP, finally gluing the ball on top.

Just rammed them home, capped and fired. Didn't poke anything into the nipple (caution ,that could be painful!).

I used similar technique to make cartridges for a .50 Sharps carbine, but these were straight-sided.

Using non-combustible papers, I did find the need to clear paper out of the chambers after 15 shots or so, to avoid misfires. A smaller-caliber, wire cleaning brush worked dandy. In the long run, I gave up trying to produce paper cartridges for the revolvers as it was too time-consuming.

Best,
Slim

[Oldelm]

I found the paper cartridge tutorial of Sgt. John Chapman to be usefull.....over in the Darksider's Library at the Open Range.....

http://www.theopenrange.net/forum/index.php?topic=326.0

....just make your forming dowel with narrower taper for Colt loading.

[hellgate]

Saltpeter (potassium nitrate) Best source (i.e. CHEAPEST!)= your friendly neighborhood GARDEN CENTER. Just buy a box of STUMP REMOVER. It is usually pure KNO3. It works out to about a dollar a POUND. Don't waste your time on Ebay or asking a pharmacist for it.