Pistol Rounds

[Outrider]

Fellars,

Im looking for anyone who can tell me how to make good, reliable blank pistol cartridges. Ive tried a few things with un reliable results and I sure get tired of lugging those pesky flasks around with me. A tin of good rounds in my haversack would be such an improvement.
Any advice in making such is appreciated.

Patrick McAllister

Critters
WIG

[wavey1us]

Re: Pistol Rounds

Pat,
Here is what if have. If you wish to e-mail me off line. I can provide the format for the box, and cartridge blank, and copy of pistol label. Cannot figure out how to post the pic.

1) Purchase of package of Nitrated papers or women’s hair roller paper. If you can’t find the nitrated papers, visit your local convenience store and purchase some gummed cigarette papers (extra wide). These are fairly inexpensive and easy to work with. You only have to worry about those funny stares from the clerk behind the counter. Women’s hair roller papers are also inexpensive.
2) Find a dowel rod (form) of a size as close to the caliber of your revolver. Some folks use a wooden dowel rod, but Don hit on an idea of using a brass/copper hollow tube. You can find these at your local hardware store. The hollow tube will come in handy later.
3) Take the paper and smear the glue as indicated. I prefer to use the glue that comes in a glue stick. This is a little less messy then the regular white glue. When all is done you should have a hollow tube.
4) Wrap the paper around your form, leaving about a half of inch of paper in the end. Roll the paper against a flat surface to adhere, as rubbing can be harsh on paper is thin.
5) Put a thin smear of glue on one side of the half-inch of paper that is past the edge of the form. Fold and stick this to the bottom of the form. You should have a perfectly cylindrical bottom, with nothing hanging off.

6) Now, depending on what type of form is how this step is performed. If you are using the hollow form, you can go ahead and pour in the black powder. The remainder of the tube should be filled with cream of wheat. If you are using the dowel rod, remove your newly formed tube from the dowel, and fill it with the appropriate amount of powder, from flask or measure.
7) Hold the cartridge vertically, and carefully cut the excess paper a little more than half an inch above the powder level. Cover one side of the excess with a light smear of glue, and fold it over against the body of the cartridge.

You should have a complete cartridge ready for action. You can either tear the cartridge or place the whole thing in the cylinder (cream of wheat end up). Now that you completed the cartridge, now you can tackle the container to carry the cartridges. Most cartridges were packaged in a rigid paste-board box. I have found that white poster board from the local store will suffice. When complete the box should be ½”X 2 7/8”X 11/2”.
Once the pattern has been cut, and the areas which fold have been scored, (keep in mind that once the pattern is cut, it will remain in one piece,) fold the flaps in place, and apply masking tape or glue around where the side flaps meet. Be careful to leave the top flap open so that you will be able to place your cartridges inside. The top flap will serve as a lid,and only when you place the final wrapper over the package will anything fasten it down.
By now, you should have a rectangular box with an open lid. If you have scored you cardboard properly, there should be a groove facing outside where the lid “hinges” with the box. Fill this groove with glue, and then take a piece of cotton string about eight inches long, and put the very end of the groove. From here, run the string into the groove so that it is a firmly anchored. At this point, a good amount of excess string should be hanging off the back-left corner. Open the lid, and bring the string around along the inside crease of the box, keeping it taught, and have it come out of the box at the same corner, but on a different side of the lid, then where the string began. You should still have some string hanging from the right side. This must be saved so that you may open the package by tearing the string. Once this is accomplished, insert 6 cartridges.
The next, and last steps, are wrapping a labeling. Cut a long strip of parchment colored paper, about four inches in width. Apply a thin coating of glue to the bottom of the box. Place the box, right side up, the wide way, on the far edge of the paper. Make sure you should have about half an inch of paper left on each side. Apply glue to the front edge of the box, and to the top of the lid as well. Keeping the paper taught, wrap it up and back over the box, making sure that the string is free from paper. Apply more glue on the bottom over the first layer of paper. Wrap the paper around so that it is on the bottom, and the excess is facing you.
Cut the excess paper against the long side of the box. Fold the sides of the wrapper like you would when wrapping a gift. Before folding the right side, cut a slit in the corner nearest to where the string emerges from inside of the box. Pull the string through the slit, and keep it free as you fold the wrapper. Later, cut the remaining string to your desired length. All that is left to do now is to paste the label on top. I have provided a copy of an original label for your use.

Hope this helps,
Bill Jordan

[Dreamer42]

Re: Pistol Rounds

As far as LIVE rounds I have had great success using cigarette paper because of how well it burns. I even use it for "hunting" rounds (that leave no powder residue when loading).
I admit I haven't tried making blanks because I shoulder a musket, not a side arm, when taking to the field.
A problem I can foresee is a "bullet" that is strong enough to withstand pressing home the cartridge, yet will bust up easily upon firing so as not to pose any safety issues.
Just begin experimenting with different materials on a target within five to ten feet to see what works best.

- Jay Reid
9th Texas/165 NY

[Outrider]

Re: Pistol Rounds

Thank you very much Bill. Ill send you an email.

Patrick Mcallister
critters

[Outrider]

Re: Pistol Rounds

Bill if you like you can reply with your email address or otherwise I can be reached at cavman63@yahoo.com .

Thanks,
Patrick McAllister
Critters

[wavey1us]

Re: Pistol Rounds

Sure thing. The one item that I have tried to simulate a "bullet" was a Cocco-Puff/Cocco Roo. Believe it or not, these dang things nearly the same diameter as a .44 cal ball. They basically fall apart within a few incles of the barrell. Cocco- Roos: Functional and yet still filling. Both the cream of wheat serves the same function as to keeping the powder in the cylinder and preventing flash over into the adjacent chamber.

[10nycav]

Re: Pistol Rounds

Cream of wheat packs in the cylinders quite well. I have used cream of wheat alone to top off blank loads for years and have never had a chain fire or losss of powder.

Ken Morris

Sure thing. The one item that I have tried to simulate a "bullet" was a Cocco-Puff/Cocco Roo. Believe it or not, these dang things nearly the same diameter as a .44 cal ball. They basically fall apart within a few incles of the barrell. Cocco- Roos: Functional and yet still filling. Both the cream of wheat serves the same function as to keeping the powder in the cylinder and preventing flash over into the adjacent chamber.

[KyCavMajor]

Cocco puffs ....

Sure thing. The one item that I have tried to simulate a "bullet" was a Cocco-Puff/Cocco Roo. Believe it or not, these dang things nearly the same diameter as a .44 cal ball. They basically fall apart within a few incles of the barrell. Cocco- Roos: Functional and yet still filling. Both the cream of wheat serves the same function as to keeping the powder in the cylinder and preventing flash over into the adjacent chamber.

I saw them being used in a tactical in Camden SC this spring by some Florida troopers. It seemed to work well.
I was on the recieving end of the breakfast treat and never heard anything flying by me.
They said Cooco Roos are 44 caliber while cooca puffs are closer to 36...And they buy them and let them go stale before use.