Cold, Rainy Day

[JimT]

So I am trying to get ahead on making paper cartridges for the .36 and the .44 ...

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[Bill in Oregon]

Good way to spend it, Jim. It's cloudy and cool here -- low of 38 this morning, but there is a rumor of sunshine later in the day. Have a Mississippi Roast humming along in the CrockPot and the house sure smells good.

[Griff]

Loading a couple boxes of BP shotshells!

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[Scott Tschirhart]

Loading.44 Special for Arkansas.

Perfect day for this.

[Shasta]

Cold & rainy here too. I'm busy casting bullets for my .25-20 and my .32-20.

Shasta

[Ysabel Kid]

Went from summer back to winter here in less than 48 hours. High Wednesday was 85 degrees; high today was 47, with lots of rain. Good day to catch up on several indoor projects, and contemplate the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior this Good Friday.

[Ysabel Kid]

So I am trying to get ahead on making paper cartridges for the .36 and the .44 ...

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Hi Jim –

I found a couple pictures from 2021 of some of my paper cartridge reloading. Not a lot – I know I have more photos, I just can’t find them yet! Anyway, here is a comparison between a .44-caliber paper cartridge using a Johnston & Dow conical bullet from a Lee bullet mold special ordered by Mark Hubbs at Eras Gone Bullet Molds, versus the “Baby Dragoon” conical (same Lee/ERBM) in .31 caliber. Those cartridges are just TINY!. Hard to do so are so small!



Both of these use nitrated unbleached coffee filters. Those hold up better than cigarette paper, and using unbleached filters give them more of an “old-timey” look.

I took an old cigar box and turned it into a kit for making paper cartridges. You can see I incorporated a loading tray up top, a bin to hold formed paper cartridges, one for the tools, and one for the cast bullets. Works out nicely!

[Ysabel Kid]

Here is the kit in use:

[JimT]

Those look great! I can't even imagine doing .31's. The .36's are small enough for me. I have a .31 and am content to shoot it without the paper cartridges.

[Ysabel Kid]

Oh, and I created a modified pattern of the paper cartridges that eliminates the need for a separate piece for the bottom. If you look at the middle section you can see cut coffee filter paper waiting to be "rolled", shaped like "T's". I find these easier to manipulate.

[JimT]

That's a great idea!! I am gonna try that. THANKS!!

[Bill in Oregon]

Wow, Jay, that's an elegant setup you have there. I'll bet your tent was the tidiest one in Scout camp ...
I'm still trying to envision how you are using the T-shapes papers for the bottoms.

[Ysabel Kid]

Wow, Jay, that's an elegant setup you have there. I'll bet your tent was the tidiest one in Scout camp ...
I'm still trying to envision how you are using the T-shapes papers for the bottoms.

LOL. Yes, I have a tinge of OCD when it comes to organization.

So the "cross" of the "T" is the body of the paper cartridge. It goes around the mandrel (cartridge former), The "tail" or "stem" of the "T" is what then folds up to form the base of the paper cartridge.

[Ysabel Kid]

That's a great idea!! I am gonna try that. THANKS!!

My pleasure!