Sharps cartridges

[ijak94]

I recently purchased a sharps carbine in 54 caliber. I have read quite a few different ways of making cartridges but i am not sure which method to use. Does anyone have any preference or a method that works well?

[Union Navy]

I use curler paper, glued with a glue stick along one edge, rolled around an appropriate-sized dowel and cut so a flap can be folded over. This too is glue sticked and folded over. This is shoved into a hole in a board and removed from the dowel. The tube is then filled with about 50 grains of powder and filled more with Cream of Wheat. Top of tube is twisted closed.

These are placed twisted end first in the chamber. Hot caps will burn through the curler paper.

[Calum]

'afternoon,

I use standard tubes (similar to musket tubes) with 70g of FFg and the tail twisted. These resemble the earlier war rounds, generally referred to as clip-tail rounds, because the closing breech cuts the tail off exposing the powder (if you do it right, very little powder is lost). You do need to make sure to blow away the tail and any loose powder before firing, otherwise it can flash in your face.

www.berdansharpshooters.com/usssbb/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=114 references a round similar to what Mr. Dispenza makes, although it doesn't sound as if any filler is used. Somewhere on the Berdan's forum there's reference to another version that they also use that is very close to the actual period rounds (although blank), but I could not locate it.

Calum

[ijak94]

Do you think nitrating pre-made cartridges would work? I am worried about having a burning ember left over in the barrel. I am not worried about ignition since the end is cut off anyway. Thanks for your replies