Model12Win
Moderator
Hi all! As some of you may know, I'm the proud owner of a new Harpers Ferry percussion conversion horse pistol, which is a .54 caliber smoothbore gun:
I just love this gun. It's so fun to shoot, and amazingly accurate for what it is.
Being that this is a military style pistol that could have been used in the Mexican American War and the early part of the U.S. Civil War in the south, I am wanting to make some authentic paper cartridges for the gun. This will also speed up reloading at the range.
While I've been able to find articles and videos on how to make various paper cartridges, I have had no luck in finding any information on making .54 caliber pistol cartridges. They certainly did exist during the day, here are some well preserved original examples:
http://www.campsiteartifacts.com/54pistolcartridge.html
http://www.horsesoldier.com/products/firearms/cartridges-and-gun-tools/14602
http://www.gunauction.com/buy/10870466
It looks to me like these were very similar to a .69 caliber musket cartridge, and would have had the tail bitten off, powder poured down the barrel, and rest of the paper and ball inserted together, the paper forming the patching.
For constructing these, I am unsure of what materials or what process I should use. Specifically, I am not sure of what the dimensions for the paper cutout should be to form the round. I am also not sure what type of paper is best and historically accurate, same for the string that hold the ball in place.
If anyone out there could help me in creating authentic paper cartridges for this .54 caliber horse pistol, that would be just great! I plan to shoot these for accuracy as well, to see how they do vs. the patched round balls I'm currently using in my gun.
Thanks so much everyone!!
I just love this gun. It's so fun to shoot, and amazingly accurate for what it is.
Being that this is a military style pistol that could have been used in the Mexican American War and the early part of the U.S. Civil War in the south, I am wanting to make some authentic paper cartridges for the gun. This will also speed up reloading at the range.
While I've been able to find articles and videos on how to make various paper cartridges, I have had no luck in finding any information on making .54 caliber pistol cartridges. They certainly did exist during the day, here are some well preserved original examples:
http://www.campsiteartifacts.com/54pistolcartridge.html
http://www.horsesoldier.com/products/firearms/cartridges-and-gun-tools/14602
http://www.gunauction.com/buy/10870466
It looks to me like these were very similar to a .69 caliber musket cartridge, and would have had the tail bitten off, powder poured down the barrel, and rest of the paper and ball inserted together, the paper forming the patching.
For constructing these, I am unsure of what materials or what process I should use. Specifically, I am not sure of what the dimensions for the paper cutout should be to form the round. I am also not sure what type of paper is best and historically accurate, same for the string that hold the ball in place.
If anyone out there could help me in creating authentic paper cartridges for this .54 caliber horse pistol, that would be just great! I plan to shoot these for accuracy as well, to see how they do vs. the patched round balls I'm currently using in my gun.
Thanks so much everyone!!