Paper Cartridge Patterns and Information
The N-SSA currently allows the use of US Expanding Ball paper cartridges for use in the Traditional Musket matches held at the Spring and Fall Nationals. The US pattern cartridges are unique in that in historical use the bullet was extracted from the paper cartridge and loaded "naked" down the barrel. The British Enfield cartridge, in contrast, was effectively a paper-patched bullet with an attached powder chamber. When the powder was poured into the barrel, the bullet-end of the cartridge was inserted into the barrel, paper and all, and then the excess portion of the cartridge torn away. The N-SSA does not allow paper-patched bullets at this time nor any paper to go down the barrel for any reason, for fear of residual embers causing cook-offs of powder during loading.
This information is provided for historical education and for those who wish to try their hand at making and using historical cartridges.
This information is provided for historical education and for those who wish to try their hand at making and using historical cartridges.
Instructions on how to manufacture 1855 and 1859 British Enfield Cartridges:
| enfield_paper_cartridge_instructions.pdf |
1855 Enfield Cartridge Pattern for printing.
| 1855_enfield_cartridge.pdf |
1859 Enfield Cartridge Pattern for printing.
| 1859_enfield_cartridge.pdf |
Here is a fantastic article by Bruce Carins concerning the evolution of the British Enfield cartridge. Provided with permission of the author. Note: The assembly instructions for the final 1860 pattern may show the inner wrapper reversed from its correct position.
| enfield_cartridges_by_bruce_carins.pdf |
Here is a groundbreaking essay by Brett Gibbons concerning the evolution of the British Enfield cartridge. Provided with permission of the author.
| pattern_1853_enfield_ammunition_-_brett_gibbons.pdf |
Instructions on how to manufacture 1855 and 1862 US Expanding Ball Cartridges:
Instructions to make the 1855 pattern US Expanding Ball cartridge:
| 1855_expanding_ball_instructions.pdf |
Instructions to make the 1862 pattern US Expanding Ball cartridge
| 1862_expanding_ball_instructions.pdf |
Period Sources
These are the sources for the above excerpts.
Instruction of Musketry, Horse Guards, 1854
Hand-book for Hythe: A Familiar Explanation of the Laws of Projections and An Introduction to the System of Musketry, Hans Busk, 1860
Rifle Ammunition: Notes on the Manufactures Connected Therewith, Arthur Briscoe Hawes, 1859
Reports of Experiments with Small Arms for the Military Service, United States Army Ordnance Dept., 1856
The Ordnance Manual for the Use of the Officers of the United States Army (1862) Third Edition, United States Army Ordnance Dept., 1862
The Arms and Ammunition of the British Service, V.D. Majendie, 1872
Text Book on the Theory of the Motion of Projectiles, the History, Manufacture, and Explosive Force of Gunpowder, the History of Small Arms, the Method of Conducting Experiments; and on Ranges: For the Use of Officers Sent to the Schools of Musketry, H.M. Stationery Office, 1863
The Rifle-musket: A Practical Treatise on the Enfield-Pritchett Rifle Recently Adopted in the British Service, 1854
Manual of Musketry Instruction, A.W.O. Saunders, 1863
Hand-book for Hythe: A Familiar Explanation of the Laws of Projections and An Introduction to the System of Musketry, Hans Busk, 1860
Rifle Ammunition: Notes on the Manufactures Connected Therewith, Arthur Briscoe Hawes, 1859
Reports of Experiments with Small Arms for the Military Service, United States Army Ordnance Dept., 1856
The Ordnance Manual for the Use of the Officers of the United States Army (1862) Third Edition, United States Army Ordnance Dept., 1862
The Arms and Ammunition of the British Service, V.D. Majendie, 1872
Text Book on the Theory of the Motion of Projectiles, the History, Manufacture, and Explosive Force of Gunpowder, the History of Small Arms, the Method of Conducting Experiments; and on Ranges: For the Use of Officers Sent to the Schools of Musketry, H.M. Stationery Office, 1863
The Rifle-musket: A Practical Treatise on the Enfield-Pritchett Rifle Recently Adopted in the British Service, 1854
Manual of Musketry Instruction, A.W.O. Saunders, 1863
Other Sources
Here is an article by Brett Gibbons on US and British style paper cartridges.
http://www.storymindmedia.com/angryalien/military_manuals.htm
http://www.storymindmedia.com/angryalien/military_manuals.htm
