David LaPell
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I decided to try an experiment. Since paper cartridges were THE way militaries loaded flintlock and even percussion muskets up to the Civil War, I decided to see if it was possible to do the same with muzzleloading shotguns.
My first attempt was with my Pedersoli Baker shotgun, a reproduction of something used by the Confederate Cavalry in 20 gauge with 11-inch barrels. I made buck and ball rounds, wrapped up in newsprint and tied at the ends over three .310" round balls and a .570" roundball with 50 grains of FFG Triple 7. I would tear the bottom end of the paper off, pour the powder in and then take the rest of the cartridge, paper and all and ram that down the barrel. At 15 yards it proved pretty effective, I lost a couple of the .310" roundballs somewhere, but it worked really well.
Then I tried the same with my Pedersoli 12 gauge Coach Gun with it's 20-inch barrels. I used the same three .310" and this time a .690" roundball for each round. I tied them up the same, but this time I greased the outside of each paper cartridge with Bore Butter. At 15 yards the pattern was very tight, again, a very effective load.
My first attempt was with my Pedersoli Baker shotgun, a reproduction of something used by the Confederate Cavalry in 20 gauge with 11-inch barrels. I made buck and ball rounds, wrapped up in newsprint and tied at the ends over three .310" round balls and a .570" roundball with 50 grains of FFG Triple 7. I would tear the bottom end of the paper off, pour the powder in and then take the rest of the cartridge, paper and all and ram that down the barrel. At 15 yards it proved pretty effective, I lost a couple of the .310" roundballs somewhere, but it worked really well.
Then I tried the same with my Pedersoli 12 gauge Coach Gun with it's 20-inch barrels. I used the same three .310" and this time a .690" roundball for each round. I tied them up the same, but this time I greased the outside of each paper cartridge with Bore Butter. At 15 yards the pattern was very tight, again, a very effective load.
