Using paper cartridges in "modern" replica revolvers.

[ccastellani]

Hello all!

I could not find another category, so I have decided to ask here. I have been doing a lot of research on the Colt 1860 Army revolver, and I have found many references between the civilian model and the government/military model; The main difference being the that the civilian model used the round ball, and powder flask; with the government/military model using a conical round and nitrated paper cartridge.

My question to all is, in today's replicas, can a nitrated paper cartridge be used, or will it damage the firearm, and potentially cause damage to myself, and more importantly, others? If they can be used, does anyone have a template used for the Colt 1860 army?

Thanks!

Best Regards,

Chris "Butch" Castellani

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Using paper cartridges in "modern" replica revolvers.

Hallo!

"The main difference being the that the civilian model used the round ball, and powder flask; with the government/military model using a conical round and nitrated paper cartridge."

Not so much, really.

The "difference" lies not so much in the revolvers themselves but rather where they came from. The same revolvers were sold directly by the Colt factory, through agents and distributors, purchased by the Government (or state governments) on the Open Market, or under direct contract from Colt for X number (NUG with appendages) at Y price each.
Many of the "civillian" versions are essentially the same models as the military ones with the possible exceptions that one might puchase a plated grip frame or pay extra for most costly forms of nitre bluing or engraving. And the military ones NUG carry inspector cartouches and/or US ownership stamps.

The preferred "intended' ammuntion for the revovlers was fixed paper or sometimes foil cartridges from Colt or from other manufacturers. However, Colt realized that the revolvers may be widespread and more widespread than sources or stores for commercial ammunition so the moulds were designed to cast round ball or conical bullet. In that way, someone with no access or no money to buy them could "roll their own" and essentially load "loose."

Yes, one can use paper cartridges in modern reproductions. It is not a concern, problem, or danger in any way. (With the possible exception of any paper fragments left in the chambers possibly smoldering and prematurely igniting the next cartridge rammed down if the gun is reloaded too soon and the embers are still alive.)

IMHO, this is rarely done due to the added time involved in "rolling" them, and their common paper wrapped wooden block packets...and in the minor annoyance of making blank cartridges. So we have a Hobby Tradition of "loading loose" and some folks look at that and often transfer that 100% to the originals.

Curt

[ccastellani]

Re: Using paper cartridges in "modern" replica revolvers.

Thank you Curt

Chris Castellani

[fedhead]

Re: Using paper cartridges in "modern" replica revolvers.

as long as you use nitrated paper all the paper burns up in the cylinder in my experence,

[DDay41]

Re: Using paper cartridges in "modern" replica revolvers.

Home made paper cartridges are my preferred method for loading. You either buy or make nitrated paper, carve a wood block to use as a form (I used a wood lathe to make one), and start rolling. There are half a dozen nice guides on the net that show you how, pick the one that suits you. With a little searching you can make a historically accurate cartridge if that is what you want. At one point I even cut Balsa boxes and found a wrapper to scan and print (that was a little excessive). At first rolling your own seems like a lot of work until you get the hang of it, but if you like to shoot it's nice to hit the range with 1-200 pre rolled cartridges and just shoot. They let you forget fiddling with wads and flasks etc. You do all the work beforehand.

[Kevin Spangler]

Re: Using paper cartridges in "modern" replica revolvers.

As stated above, by the time of the Civil War percussion Colts and Remingtons (as well as others) were fired with Combustable Cartridges and not loaded with loose powder and ball.

Properly nitrated paper will for the most part be consumed with the main charge and the Chamber can be reloaded with another Cartridge without cleaning it out. Also a properly "rolled" Cartridge doesn't need to be punctured with a Needle through the Nipple to allow ignition of the main charge as some of the Combustible Cartridge instructions state. You should be able to ram a Cartridge, cap the Nipple, and have it fire. When I first started shooting my Navy Colt (2nd Gen) in the late '70s I rolled plenty of Combustible Cartridges and they all loaded and fired properly without any problem. I nitrated my paper with Potassium Nitrate I got from a Science Supply House. Bullets I cast from a Brass Double Mold (that happened to cast decent Bullets as many "repos" don't), and I made up a Cartridge Dowel/Former from a properly sized Dowel I picked up at a Hobby Shop.