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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. 
Instructions on how to manufacture 1855 and 1859 British Enfield Cartridges:
Picture
enfield_paper_cartridge_instructions.pdf
File Size: 2895 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

1855 Enfield Cartridge Pattern for printing.
1855_enfield_cartridge.pdf
File Size: 8 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

1859 Enfield Cartridge Pattern for printing.
1859_enfield_cartridge.pdf
File Size: 9 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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
File Size: 3456 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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
File Size: 2424 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Instructions on how to manufacture 1855 and 1862 US Expanding Ball Cartridges:
Picture
Instructions to make the 1855 pattern US Expanding Ball cartridge:
1855_expanding_ball_instructions.pdf
File Size: 729 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Instructions to make the 1862 pattern US Expanding Ball cartridge
1862_expanding_ball_instructions.pdf
File Size: 930 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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

Other Sources

Here is an article by Brett Gibbons on US and British style paper cartridges.

http://www.storymindmedia.com/angryalien/military_manuals.htm


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