I rolled up 20 Enfield Paper Cartridges today for the 1853 Rifled Musket. The bullets are 460gr .561" hollow base bullets which can be used with the clay plugs to assist expansion. Shown below are the 20 original paper patched bullets prior to being lubricated with wax and charged with the service load of 68gr of FFG muzzleloading propellant (black powder).
I finally got my clay plug mold clean enough to make the plugs which when made of clay, shrink to the correct dimensions to fit in both the N.O.E. .550" bullet mold, as well as the Old West Pritchett bullet mold.
I am getting better at rolling these cartridges and they exhibit much better eye appeal then my sloppy cartridges when first learning to roll them. Paper thickness is absolutely critical for bore fit. too thin and there will be too much windage. Too thick and you will never get the cartridge down on the powder charge. When it's right and using .0017" 9lb paper, you can shoot these ALL DAY without any problems whatsoever. The British demonstrated this paradigm shift with the 1853 Enfield Rifle and English Cartridges to not only the Russians, but the Indian rebels, and the South African uprisings before the steady decrease of the Empire.
These cartridges had a very short service life and were rendered obsolete when the Empire migrated to smokeless powder and brass cartridges in the latter part of the 19th century. These Enfield cartridges are fun to make and even more fun to shoot.
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With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.
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