319:
fired, the pressure of the gases would force the skirt of the bullet to expand, fitting tightly into the rifling grooves, unlike the loose-fitting and inaccurate musket ball. This was achieved by including a deep cavity in the rear, into which fitted (initially) an iron hemispherical cup, later a conical clay or timber plug, which caused the base of the projectile to expand upon firing, sealing the skirt to the bore, allowing an undersized projectile to be used for ease of loading without a patch. (Eventually it was found that the pressure of the powder gases expanded the base to fit the bore, without any plug or filler.) Another was a number of grooves around the projectile, the leading edges of which are intended to scrape out the fouling but were found better used making the projectile more accurate when filled with a lubricant (traditionally made of beeswax and rendered animal fat.) As noted before, this lubricant also serves to keep the black powder fouling soft, thus making the fouled barrel much easier to reload.
472:, consisting of a paper body with a brass base and rim, have continued to be made and used many years after their general replacement with plastic shotshells. The only areas where these are still used in fairly large numbers, though, are in extremely cold areas where plastic shells often split when fired at −40-degree C temperatures (−40F), and when handloading very low pressure rounds for extremely old shotguns. Paper shotshells consist of a coiled paper tube placed in a brass base, with the web of the case made of compressed paper pulp. These cartridges are sturdy enough to be
366:
118:, which served a number of purposes. They provided some degree of water resistance, they lubricated the paper-wrapped bullet as they were pushed down the bore, they melted upon firing to mix with the powder residue and make the resulting fouling easier to remove, and they were not as hazardous to carry and handle (especially in combat) since the gunpowder inside was not as susceptible to being ignited by stray sparks or other ignition sources.
78:
327:
cartridge as wad and sealant. Accuracy went from 50 to 100 yards for the smoothbore out to some 400 to 600 yards with repeatable accuracy for rifled barrels. At the longest of ranges a rifled barrel could accomplish 2000 to 2500 yards. While lacking pinpoint accuracy, effective harassing fire at an enemy some distance away became possible with units of disciplined riflemen firing in alternating volleys aimed at a common target.
274:
389:, a high temperature glue that was widely available, as it was also used to preserve fresh eggs. Many examples were tapered into a cone, being wider at the bullet than at the rear. Some commercially produced cartridges, such as those by Hayes of England, were also equipped with a small cloth tear tab at the front to assist in the removal of the protective outer layer prior to loading the cartridge.
413:
323:
picking up grit and other hard detritus which damaged the bore of the firearm. The solution was to encase the bearing surface of the projectile in paper, with a lubricated wad or waxed cotton disc placed behind the projectile. With a grooved projectile, lubrication is available directly, often negating the need for further lubricated wads behind the projectile.
210:(South). The two guns were similar enough that both sides could make use of ammunition captured from the enemy without any problems. The loose-fitting nature of minie ball ammunition in rifled muskets meant that slightly undersized ammunition could be used in a pinch, although accuracy would be degraded compared to correctly sized ammunition.
356:
To load the rifle, the powder end was opened up by unfolding or tearing, and the powder was poured down the barrel. The bullet end was then inserted up to the level of the thick paper tube, which was then torn off and discarded. The bullet was then seated with the ramrod, and the nipple primed with
330:
A solid lead projectile used in a rifled barrel requires the paper around the bullet to be much thinner than in a smoothbore, to fill in the space between bullet and bore achieving a gas-tight fit. To meet this requirement, while still ensuring a rugged cartridge, the cartridges were made in multiple
384:
Typical paper cartridges for revolvers differ from the robust percussion rifle cartridges, in that the cartridge is inserted into the chamber whole, and rammed into place. Revolver cartridges were often combustible, and the bullet was typically exposed. The paper cartridge was glued, typically with
264:
The paper, typically a thick, sturdy variety, keeps the undersized bullet centered in the bore. As each shot leaves progressively more fouling in the barrel from the black powder, this makes each shot harder and harder to load. This can be helped by using a lubricant, which serves not only to help
231:
were loaded with lead balls, slightly smaller than the diameter of the bore, to make them easier to ram down the barrel (especially as fouling built up); a "patch" of paper or cloth was wrapped around the bullet before inserting it into the barrel, to make it fit snugly, so it wouldn't roll back out
159:
loads, the cartridge also served to package up the projectiles, so they did not have to be measured or counted out. The paper also served as a patch in smoothbore firearms, which fired balls that were smaller than the diameter of the bore, and wrapped a paper or cloth patch to make them fit snugly.
93:
in 1586, while the
Dresden museum has evidence dating their use to 1591, and Capo Bianco writes in 1597 that paper cartridges had long been in use by Neapolitan soldiers. Their use became widespread by the 17th century. The first army to officially use paper cartridges is presumed to be "piechota
213:
There are a number of features which are not specific to any particular firearm, and so apply to any paper cartridge. For example, the cartridge must be sturdy enough to withstand the handling it can be expected to receive. This means either a sturdy paper must be used, or the cartridge must be
154:
firearms. While these may be loaded with loose powder and balls or bullets, a paper cartridge combines a pre-measured amount of powder with the ball in a sealed unit. This eliminated the operation of measuring the powder during loading. In the case where multiple projectiles were used, such as
322:
As the speed of the projectile increased with better and more consistent black powders, loading and firing techniques, it was found that a lead projectile, in close fit, would leave lead streaking behind adding to the fouling of the bore. Lubrication aided somewhat, but that too had its problems
318:
Minie balls were manufactured in a smaller diameter than the bore of the weapon it was to be used in, just like a normal musket ball; this allowed for easy loading, even when the gun was fouled, while a rifle ball had to be forced down the tight-fitting barrel by force, even using a mallet. When
198:
Paper cartridges varied in their construction based on the specifications of the buyer or the practices of the builder; a cartridge tended to be built with a specific weapon in mind, with a specified powder charge and a correctly sized ball or bullet. A cartridge built for a .65 caliber musket
404:, giving them an effective monopoly on the American manufacture of effective cartridge revolvers until the patent expired. Prevented from converting to rimfire or centerfire cartridges, other manufacturers had to remain with percussion systems or develop proprietary front-loading cartridges.
326:
With a rifled barrel, the projectile needs to engage the rifling for it to impart the spin which improves accuracy dramatically. The Minié ball allowed easy loading of a slightly undersized skirted projectile that would expand to seal; or a loose-fitting round ball would use the paper of the
459:
The fragility of the breechloading needle gun was a primary reason that only a few militaries adopted the system; in the well trained
Prussian army, this was handled by having each soldier carry several spare needles. This allowed the individual soldiers to repair their guns in the field.
163:
The paper used in cartridges varied considerably. The instructions for making
Enfield paper cartridges, published in 1859, which uses three pieces of paper of two different thicknesses, shows the complexity that could be involved. Some cartridges, such as those for percussion
242:
cartridge consisted of a paper tube, tied off in three places to form two compartments. The first compartment contained the projectile or projectiles, either a single round ball or a large round ball plus three buckshot in the case of a
424:
The concept of a fully self-contained paper cartridge for a breech loader was patented in 1808, only a year after the invention of the percussion cap. One of the earliest breechloading firearms that was widely adopted was the
121:
The standard procedure for loading a musket or rifled musket involved biting open the cartridge; this caused problems for those with strict dietary restrictions. In 1857, a new cartridge greased with tallow helped start the
199:
obviously could not be used in a .50 caliber weapon. However, similarly-sized weapons could often share cartridges. During the
American Civil War, the primary small arms used by each side were the .58 caliber
220:, a paper specially produced for the production of paper cartridges. In some cases the cartridges were produced directly from paper pulp, and formed into a seamless cylinder of the correct diameter.
89:
Paper cartridges have been in use for nearly as long as hand-held firearms, with a number of sources dating their use back to the late 14th century. Historians note their use by soldiers of
345:
The bullet end of the cartridge was crimped shut, and the powder end was filled and folded closed. The bullet end of the completed cartridge was then dipped in a mixture of melted
668:
311:
contained a number of important innovations that allowed rifled weapons to be adopted by the main infantry units, rather than being the preserve of elite
307:
to this day. While both conical bullets and balls were used with rifles, both in cartridge and loose form for several hundred years, the mid 19th century
505:
437:
used a unitary cartridge, containing bullet, powder, and primer in a paper wrapper. The primer was located at the base of the bullet, and the
142:. Rumors of the use of lard and tallow in the lubrication of the cartridges they were using were part of the cause of the Rebellion of 1857.
742:
634:
590:
Headrick, Daniel R. "The Tools of Empire: Technology and
European Imperialism in the Nineteenth Century". Oxford University Press, 1981, p.88
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covering bored through cylinders on a revolver (adopted for a paper cartridge application). That patent was exclusively licensed to
377:
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the ball slide down the barrel, but also serves to soften the fouling in the bore, so that it is pushed clear during loading.
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90:
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when the muzzle was tipped downward. It also helped the ball to not bounce around inside of the barrel as it was fired (see
685:"Competition Or Circumvention?The Case of Rollin White and Smith & Wesson Versus Three Unusual and Unique Revolvers"
392:
The revolver paper cartridge lasted longer than it otherwise would have and encompassed a wider range of forms, due to
293:
by military forces, the spherical projectile eventually died out – though the new elongated bullets were still called
179:
Despite the complexity involved in their construction, paper cartridges were used through the 19th century, from the
331:
parts. The following describes the construction of a cartridge for a
British Enfield musket, from the inside out:
20:
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load. The second compartment contained the charge of powder. To load the musket, the following steps were used:
303:
298:
176:
solution and then drying, this made the paper far more flammable and ensured it burned completely upon firing.
130:
derived from beef, which would be offensive to Hindus, and pork, which would be offensive to
Muslims - and the
123:
816:
807:
lists, often with pictures, many obscure ammunition types, including numerous paper and combustible cartridges
341:
A long tube of thin paper, which holds the bullet at one end, and the stiffened powder container at the other
338:
A longer tube of thin paper, pushed inwards at one end, which serves to separate the powder from the bullet
200:
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832:
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rifled musket cartridge, showing the three layers of paper and how they combine to form the cartridge
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reinforced for strength. The importance of paper cartridges can be seen by the existence of
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Bite open a cartridge, pour a small quantity of powder into the pan, and close it
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819:
Discusses
British Army paper cartridges and the introduction of coloured paper
804:
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438:
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34:
31:
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684:
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Chambers's
Encyclopaedia: A Dictionary of Universal Knowledge for the People
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239:
82:
58:
50:
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sabot which served not only to seal the bore, but also contain the primer.
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A short tube of stiff paper, which provides the strength for the cartridge
417:
257:
Hold the musket vertically, and pour the remaining powder down the barrel
165:
66:
654:
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673:, video explaining the use of a paper cartridge in a flintlock musket
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Hold the musket level, place at half cock, and open the flash pan
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Ram the ball and remaining paper down the barrel with the ramrod
111:
126:. The grease used on these cartridges was rumoured to include
813:
Shows how a flintlock musket was loaded with paper cartridges
150:
The most common applications of paper cartridges were in
655:"Making and Using Combustible Paper Pistol Cartridges"
452:-shaped bullet used by the Prussians was carried in a
528:
William
Chambers; Robert Chambers (18 August 1866),
134:soldiers in the employ of the British were largely
187:, after which time they were displaced by modern
65:are paper cartridges that use paper treated with
69:to allow them to burn completely upon ignition.
817:How Cartridge Paper almost killed King George
315:and rifle units as had been the case before.
8:
552:
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361:Nitrated cartridges for percussion revolvers
733:Frank C. Barnes, ed. Stan Skinner (2003).
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429:, patented in 1839, which was used by the
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94:wybraniecka" of Poland under the rule of
669:"Demonstration of the flint lock musket"
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106:Paper cartridges were often coated in
16:Various types of small arms ammunition
811:Smoothbore musket and Paper Cartridge
7:
772:. USA: Times Mirror Magazines, Inc.
576:William Wellington Greener (1907).
41:. These cartridges consisted of a
718:Edward Spon, Oliver Byrne (1872).
558:"A Cartridge Collector's Glossary"
14:
208:.577 caliber Enfield rifle-musket
805:A Cartridge Collector's Glossary
735:Cartridges of the World, 10th Ed
720:Spon's Dictionary of Engineering
541:, no. 138, pp. 518–520
172:paper. Treated by soaking in a
45:cylinder or cone containing the
289:and the widespread adoption of
766:Nonte, Jr., George C. (1978).
530:"The Needle-Gun and Cartridge"
37:used before the advent of the
1:
609:. Vol. 8. p. 719.
603:W. and R. Chambers (1891).
578:The Gun and Its Development
30:is one of various types of
849:
653:Tom Kelley (August 1995).
506:"Enfield Paper Cartridges"
21:Cartridge (disambiguation)
18:
353:to lubricate the bullet.
299:Full metal jacket bullets
698:Townsend Whelen (1918).
625:Joseph G. Bilby (1996).
183:through the time of the
124:Indian Rebellion of 1857
61:and anti-fouling agent.
737:. Krause Publications.
285:With the advent of the
53:, and in some cases, a
421:
381:
282:
224:For smoothbore muskets
201:Springfield Model 1861
86:
63:Combustible cartridges
416:An 1872 diagram of a
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376:paper cartridges for
368:
276:
269:For percussion rifles
80:
512:on 25 December 2009.
420:needle gun cartridge
380:percussion revolvers
146:Construction and use
19:For other uses, see
189:metallic cartridges
701:The American Rifle
627:Civil War Firearms
538:Chambers's Journal
422:
402:Smith & Wesson
382:
357:a percussion cap.
283:
229:Smoothbore muskets
185:American Civil War
87:
39:metallic cartridge
769:Basic Handloading
744:978-0-87349-605-6
636:978-0-306-81459-4
629:. Da Capo Press.
427:Dreyse needle gun
408:For breechloaders
297:in the military.
206:(North), and the
174:potassium nitrate
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508:. Archived from
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464:Paper shotshells
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833:Handloading
433:army. The
301:are called
91:Christian I
59:lubricating
779:0943822114
580:. Cassell.
480:References
470:shotshells
439:firing pin
435:needle gun
313:skirmisher
309:Minié ball
35:ammunition
32:small arms
240:flintlock
166:revolvers
83:Chassepot
67:oxidizers
51:gunpowder
827:Category
788:77-26482
753:52357214
474:reloaded
431:Prussian
418:Prussian
191:and the
170:nitrated
81:An 1866
533:(eBook)
347:beeswax
235:windage
168:, used
108:beeswax
73:History
786:
776:
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741:
633:
468:Paper
443:needle
398:patent
351:tallow
140:Muslim
128:tallow
116:tallow
55:primer
47:bullet
450:acorn
441:, or
295:balls
136:Hindu
132:sepoy
114:, or
57:or a
43:paper
784:LCCN
774:ISBN
749:OCLC
739:ISBN
631:ISBN
448:The
378:Colt
372:and
349:and
112:lard
396:'s
374:.36
370:.44
138:or
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26:A
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23:.
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