Last Time for Paper cartridges?

[Navy Six]

Well, I don't know when to quit! Tried more paper cartridges yesterday. Two different types in a Uberti 5" 51 Navy .36. One was made from teabags. Remembered the idea from an article in the SASS Cowboy Chronicle(April '07). Followed those intructions. After making about 50 cartridges I ran out of teabags. Wanted to continue the experiment so I substituted common coffee filter paper. Figured you don't know till you try. After 65 rounds through the same gun, here's what I got:
1) ignition was instantaneous for every round. Couldn't tell the difference from loose powder.
2) some loose unburned paper still left in some of the chambers, but less than my previous cigarette paper cartridges
3) what paper was left, however was a pain to remove. It was packed into the very bottom of the chamber right up against the nipple. I couldn't get it
   out even with a thin screwdriver. Had to resort to firing another cap on those chambers. One was even tightly packed into the front part of the nipple (the cone)
   (directly under where a cap would go). I was using Slix Shot nipples and I can't believe that much paper made in through that small flash hole.
4) so I believe I'm going to stick with a flask unless you just want to use the paper cartridges when reloading isn't planned--like maybe the last stage of the day at a Cowboy shoot

[Jake C]

The tea bag idea is great, but I'm sad to hear about the un-burnt paper left in the chambers. I had tried to use flash paper from a magic store, but didn't do a good job making the cartridges, so attempt 1 was a failure.

[Drydock]

I have used a very simple paper cartridge:  I dip my 36 RBs in melted 90/10 beeswax/olive oil, let cool.  Wrap a cigarette paper around a proper sized dowel, lick and stick.  Twist one end, drop in the lubed ball, pour in 20 grains 3f, twist the other end shut.

When loading, bite off the powder end twist, pour in the powder.  Shove the paper end in, letting it wad up over the powder, seating the ball.  Cap and shoot.  As the paper is wadded up beneath the ball, nothing is left in the chamber.  Works great for me, if occasionally a little salty . . .  

I have used cash register paper and a glue stick as a substitute, works just as well, a little more time consuming waiting for the rolls to dry.  I suspect I have been a colorful sight at the loading table, biting and spittin.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

i found cigarette paper cartidges don't stand up to our WET COAST weather.

I have switched to pre-measured charges poured into cartridge cases with a bullet pressed on top. .38 Special works for the .36s, and .45Colt for .44s.  It speeds up the process at the expense of historical authenticity.

P.S: I call them "Mongoose reloads" after a guy who was active on TOR a few years back, for about 2 weeks!  in that time he dropped that tidbit of advice, and I run with it.

Coffinmaker; I pack them to the reloading table in a PLASTIC pistol cartridge box!

[Coffinmaker]

HECK, and just to be Contrary (who ..... ME??).

I make absolutely NO attempt at authenticity.  Nope.  Not one iota.  I load with a cylinder loading stand (Tower of Power).  Since I always load with and empty chamber, a "reload" is just a "miss." (Or I throw a rock  )

Coffinmaker

[Professor Marvel]

I too found cigaret paper to be too flimsy. I never got around to trying curler paper, but others proclaim it's superior properties.
For a time, whilst experimenting with my Sharps Papercutter,  I was nitrating my own paper, playing with different types and thicknesses - newsprint,  onionskin, printer paper, and common typewriter paper. Newsprint seemed to work well. as did printer paper. One can soak any paper in a super-saturated solution of stump remover , then air dry. The resulting nitrated paper will combust completely, leaving no paper in the revolver or rifle chamber.

hth
prof marbles

[Montana Slim]

I generally use loose ammunition & the lever, since long barrels give a long lever & easy loading.
I have a few hundred .36 paper cartridges left from last year, RB & conical. Made with combustible paper & a forming tool. Yet, a small amount of paper remains in the base. Never had a misfire due to use of cartridges, but the paper bits add a bit of extra time to remove during final cleaning. Butt I'm far from done with experiments.

Very handy to have a box of conical .36 cartridges in my kit in case I run into a Texas star or similar KDs at a shoot.

Slim

[Mogorilla]

When going for just period correct, I have not had too much problem with cigarette paper, other than my big simian fingers trying to roll them.     For regular shooting, I use 1 dram plastic sample vials.  Not sure scientific companies will sell to the average joe, but I find them on EBAY periodically.   They are really handy to premeasure the powder.  Depending on the size, they fit in cartridge boxes.   

[SGT John Chapman]

Did you nitrate the coffee filter??

[SGT John Chapman]

[Galen]

Anyone ever make paper cartridges for the Gallager carbine?

[Oregon Bill]

Good gracious, John, those are some handsome cartridges and boxes!

[Noz]

FWIW. Using paper cartridges is like shooting a Spencer.  An awfully lot of work just to be cool.

[SGT John Chapman]

Actually Noz, loading paper is real close to unloading and reloading a SAA, givin that you have to punch out individual cases.....

[john boy]

Navy Six & Capt John:  I thought about rolling the cartridges once and stopped quickly.  But I do enjoy making 22LR reloads with black powder thanks to John Kort, w30wcf

[Professor Marvel]

Navy Six & Capt John:  I thought about rolling the cartridges once and stopped quickly.  But I do enjoy making 22LR reloads with black powder thanks to John Kort, w30wcf

My Dear JB

wow.

.22 LR Rimfire BP Reloads are .... enjoyable?
yet you give pause at the simple rolling paper cartridges?

I am flummoxed, or something.

yhs
prof ( paper or plastic) marvel

[Coffinmaker]

Step right up folks, Join us for Brother Love's Traveling Revival Show!!

Yes.  There as absolutely no doubt.  It's Winter.  It's Cold outside.  There is a modicum of white stuff (wet AND cold) all over everything.

I still in no earthly way, have the patience, the temperament, the inclination, the desire or any sort of motivation to even consider, in the remotest way, acquiring the knowledge and skills to make "PAPER CARTRIDGES."  I mean, all that time, effort, patience, cunning, insanity and then BANG!! It's ........ GONE.  Not just fired.  GONE.  Without so much as a Hardy Hi Yo Silver ...... GONE!!!

I've been described as somewhat "round the bend" because I load All Brass 12Ga.  Compared to paper cartridges, that's EASY!  And besides, after the BANG there is still something left to remember all that work by.  A Memento if you will.  My 12Ga aren't just ..... GONE!

I also admit, I consider reloading 22LR Rimfire with BP to be a bit ......... unusual.  Not that I would ever stoop to describing one of our own as being "round the bend" ....... but cummon ........ reloading 22s???    Wid BP???   Oh My Wurd ...........

Coffinmaker     

[Blackpowder Burn]

Coffinmaker - is there any other way to reload shotgun than in brass hulls?! 

Now I have to admit, the thought of BP 22LR is intriguing....................I may have to track down those instructions.

[Professor Marvel]

Coffinmaker - is there any other way to reload shotgun than in brass hulls?!  

Paper ! I am not Coffin, but I regularly buy paper shotgun shells to load with BP ( or sub )
they were available in the era, and are easy to load. I think there are some small treatise on this....

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,9733.0.html
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,45886.0.html

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,29760.0.html
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,25296.0.html
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,57793.0.html
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,26013.0.html
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,4432.0.html



yhs
prof marvel

[Dick Dastardly]

But JB, the puny tubes on .22 rifles are more prone to fouling than the larger bore rifle barrels.  If you are manufacturing 22LR for a belly gun, that'll work, especially in a derringer where it's easy to swab those short barrels.  I do have the tools and materials to load 22LR but I lack the pocket pistol chambered for them.  Hmmmm, maybe another gun???

DD-MDA