Making Paper Cartridges

[Truly Grits]

I know this is old stuff for many here, but it is a new/old skill I wish to learn. I am trying to make paper cartridges for my Walker revolver, just cause I think it would be fun at the range, very authentic. This is my first batch:



For now, I'm using plain untreated cigarette paper, over a wood mandrel. I'm putting 30 gn of FFFG Goex into each, using the 36" drop tube I use in loading my 45/70 BPCR rounds. I just hold the paper tube in an old 45/70 case.The bullet is a 200 gn Walker Conical, that I cast myself. I have water glass on order, but for these I just used paper glue stick to hold the bullets in and the lick to stick strip on the cig papers to hold the cartridge shut.

I plan to make nitrated paper to do this in the future. Question, what paper works the best for this? Another question, has anyone tried using magicians flash paper for this? Results?

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I see that you are rolling paper on the diagonal. I will have to try that. I was using Timuchin's instructions from thehighroad. Here they are without the pictures?:

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-144094.html&s=500cc9430d0134f24e44320d9d827191&

I see you are tapering the paper tube mush m ore than I was. I will have to try that as well.

[Bunk Stagnerg]

If you decide to make cartridges for a percussion Sharps do the easy thing and get the paper tubes from Charlie Hahn.
Easy to do and easy to load. Shove one in, slap the breech closed, cap the cone and BOOM. If there is a little scrap of the tube left in the chamber shove in anther round and blow the scraps out.
That works well for me.
just a thought
Bunk

[Truly Grits]

An update.

Using glue stick as the adhesive turned out to be less than reliable, I had about half my cartridges come apart in the storage box. I could not get Water Glass (Sodium Silicate) in a small quantity, so I ended up making some myself. Very easy to do, with commonly available ingredients. Wow! What a difference! Those old Cowboys really knew their stuff. Using Water Glass as the adhesive the production rate is at least doubled and so far none of the cartridges have come apart in the box. If anyone is interested in the recipe for Sodium Silicate, shoot me a PM or should I just go and post it on the forum?

[Blair]

Truly Grits,

Post it please.
My best,
Blair

[Truly Grits]

Your wish is my command, sir!

To make a small jar (about 2 1/2 fluid ounces) of Water Glass (Sodium Silicate)

You will need:

Ingredients:
100% Pure Sodium Hydroxide (Household Lye)
100% Pure Non-indicating Silica Gel (NOT the kind that changes color when it is wet) *Note* This is the stuff in the little packs used to absorb moisture.
Distilled water

Safety Gear:
Safety Glasses/Goggles
Rubber Gloves
Bib style apron

Equipment:
Small SS bowl
SS spoon
Powder Measuring Scale

Formula: (by weight)
Sodium Hydroxide 20 gm
Silica Gel              30 gm
Distilled Water      50 gm

WARNING!!

You will be making a saturated solution of Sodium Hydroxide to start.
This is extremely caustic. It WILL burn your skin on contact.
If you get it on your skin, flush with plenty of cold running water. Then go see a Doctor.
If you get it in your eyes, flush with lots of cold water, call an ambulance, keep flushing with cold water till the EMT's arrive

Technique:
Put all the water in the bowl
SLOWLY add the Sodium Hydroxide a bit at a time. Stirring constantly. * NOTE * The water will get quite hot, that is why you add the Sodium Hydroxide a little at a time.  If you add it too fast you could boil the water and cause the solution to spray all over. This is not good! See the warning!
Once all the Sodium Hydroxide is dissolved. slowly add the Silica Gel. Again the water will warm up, but not as bad as when you mixed the first step. Again stirring constantly, until all the Silica Gel dissolves.
If the solution cools off too much. warm it very gently on a stove or hot plate. DO NOT boil the mixture.
It is done when the liquid becomes very thick and syrupy. There might be a few crystals of the Silica Gel left in the bottom.
Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature.
Strain the liquid into a clean jar and now you have it.

Real Water Glass, just like the Cowboys once used.

Enjoy, Truly Grits

[treadhead1952]

Thanks TG,

I appreciate this as do all the others who are looking to do this sort of thing.  Nothing like having recipes and instructions along with cautionary notes.

[Noz]

Surprisingly, most pharmacies carry "water glass" in pints and quarts.

[Truly Grits]

Really! Not up here north of 49. Where are you?