Unlike loading the .58 rifle musket, where the cartridge was torn open, the powder and bullet loaded into the barrel and the paper discarded, the older smooth bore muskets and pistols were loaded by tearing open the cartridge at the tab, dumping the powder down the barrel, then loading the front part of the cartridge, with the bullet still wrapped in paper, down the barrel. The ball and paper should allow that, as the paper was intended to reduce the "windage" or space between the barrel wall and the projectile.
Revolvers were loaded with combustible cartridges, but muskets and rifles were not. (They could be, but "back in the day" combustible cartridges were too fragile to carry around; even standard paper cartridges became broken, wet, or otherwise useless after a few weeks in a cartridge box, which is why officers ordered their men to obtain fresh cartridges from the ammo wagon before a battle, if possible.)
Jim
Revolvers were loaded with combustible cartridges, but muskets and rifles were not. (They could be, but "back in the day" combustible cartridges were too fragile to carry around; even standard paper cartridges became broken, wet, or otherwise useless after a few weeks in a cartridge box, which is why officers ordered their men to obtain fresh cartridges from the ammo wagon before a battle, if possible.)
Jim