Linen Cartridges

[coogs]

Having made the mistake of watching a Clint Marathon a few months ago I got bit, again, by the black powder thing. I sold all my original Sharps and stuff a few years ago. So.... I fell into a Pedersoli .54 caliber 1859 Musket. Found a good video on you tube....Linen, starch it with either spray on starch or wall paper paste...I chose the paste. Let dry a day. Measure your chamber, using a bullet glued to a dowel. I have both the Flees Ringtail and the Richmond. (prefer the Richmond) Cut The linen to length. Take a dowel rod, and using a set of mics, build up the dowel to the diameter, with silver metal duct tape, that allows the bullet to just slide into. Rap the linen around the dowel allowing about a 1/4" overlap.....glue with a stick glue....allow to dry for a day. Get a 1 1/2" craft paper punch and make circle out of present tissue paper. rap around the end of a dowel and start it down one of you linen cartridges. Before you shove it to the end, brush the inside of the linen with Elmers glue. Place on hard surface and press down flat. Leave dry a day. Measure out your powder, I'm using 2F Black powder, 60 grains. Pour in and see how much more "filler" is needed so that the pullet sits flat on your load. I use cream of wheat or corn meal. Rub glue stick around the edge of the bullet and insert into linen. Let it dry a day, Final step, 60% lambs tallow and 40% beeswax. Melt in micro wave, and dip bullet up to the linen, doesnt hurt if you get some on the linen. I have found that a trick here is to keep your lube hot and/or don't lube to many bullets at a time. The cooler your mixture gets the thicker the lube will be on the bullet maybe not allowing the linen cartridge to completely chamber, let it dry a day....yes, roughly about five days. If you got in a hurry I think ya could do them in two.....but I wouldn't rush it any more than that. Still haven't squeezed any off yet....weather got bad at home.....and besides, I'm 2 weeks in Jamaica right now......they will be there when I get Back.

[bula]

Too complex for me now. Do need to make a run to your 'hood and a gun shop that has more than the usual BP in Titusville. A 36cal 1862 Colt has appeared here, and some FFFg and Pyrodex-P to raise stock levels needed. That is quite the recipe, needed components, to make those linen load. Know paper version, not tried.

[coogs]

Seems complex, but once you get into it it's easy....at least for me......love the experience.......next project is working on the 1851 Colt Navy Pietta....

[sharps4590]

Interesting! I would assume they're more durable than paper?

[x101airborne]

And I whine about paper patching bullets! Would be pretty danged cool to have you show me the process in person.

[sharps4590]

x101, I had an E.M. Reilly double in 500 BPE with Henry rifling and the ONLY way I got it to shoot BP was paper patch the bullets. I sold it and I NEVER intend on paper patching another bullet! I believe I'd rather make paper or linen cartridges!!!