Becoming a Paper Cartridges Youtube addict

This has happened to me recently after I ran across three books by Captain Brett Gibbons, USA. I first read "The Destroying Angel," his account of the revolutionary effect of the rifled musket properly and devastatingly used in the case of the British against the hapless Russians in the Crimean War.
Next, I read his "Like Fire and Powder," a discussion of the chemistry and characteristics of black powder, and how to make excellent powder safely, on your own.
On deck is his study of the Pritchett bullet "The English Cartridge," widely used by the Confederacy during the Civil War.


Brett has a fascinating Youtube channel, Paper Cartridges, and here is his presentation on the Pritchett bullet. Try it. You'll like it.

I agree with you Bill. I too have the 3 books by Brett Gibbons and I have bought the cartridge cutting templates from Forth Armoury also. I bought the NOE Boxer bullet mould and the base plug moulds, but alas my knee replacement surgery has slowed things down a lot(!).

It is so cool to see the weight of the steel ramrod push the bullet down the barrel in the Gibbons video - a lot different than ramming your ramrod into a tree to seat the bullet as I have read about what happened after loading & shooting during the ACW battles.

Hopefully I'll get some bullets cast and cartridges made in the next few months and experience the English style of shooting my 1858 Parker-Hale.

The 93rd Highland Regiment at Balaclava:


The most famous test of the Pattern 1851 rifled musket. First volley at about 600 yards, second volley 300 yards, final volley at 150 yards stopping the Russian cavalry charge by English infantry troops in "a long, thin Red line".

The Pattern 1851 rifled musket .702 caliber.

Bretts work is top notch.

Yeah, his books and channel are great. He's a really nice guy too. Email him and stop by his place in Gettysburg if you're ever there. I bought some cartridges from him and talked guns for a while.

It got me to buy the molds and cartridge templates/materials and I've gotten pretty good at making my own.

Steve at Forth Armoury is also a nice guy and good resource for supplies and videos.

dd832 said:

The 93rd Highland Regiment at Balaclava:
English infantry troops in "a long, thin Red line".

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Sorry for the pedantry, but they were Scottish.

What's a good source for the right kind of paper today?
Gibbons emphasized the importance of the paper used to accuracy. He found 100% cotton rag 9lb typewriter paper worked the best, but in The English Cartridge he wrote that it doesn't exist any longer.
He recommends Helix and Staedtler 100% rag drafting vellum 16lb paper.
https://www.duall.com/store/product...-vellum-100-rag-plain-11x17-50-sheet-pad.html
The importance of matching the bullet size with the paper thickness is emphasized, but using 100% cotton rag paper seems to be the most important detail.
This is all beside the point for me until I can get my hands on a rifle or barrel with the correct rifling. In the mean time I'll continue down this paper cartridge rabbit hole.

tjiann said:

Yeah, his books and channel are great. He's a really nice guy too. Email him and stop by his place in Gettysburg if you're ever there. I bought some cartridges from him and talked guns for a while.

It got me to buy the molds and cartridge templates/materials and I've gotten pretty good at making my own.

Steve at Forth Armoury is also a nice guy and good resource for supplies and videos.

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Yes, I agree. I went into his store in Gettysburg, last year. He was very welcoming and loved showing me Mr. Pritchett's military commission (of Pritchett Enfield Bullet fame) that he has framed on one of his walls. I particularly love the video he has where he dispels the myth of smoothbore musket inaccuracy by using a '42 Springfield while at the range and consistently nails a 100 yard target with round ball cartridge loads. His point was that no, they are not as accurate as a rifle, but they were certainly capable of producing casualties.

very cool channel! particularly like when he gets oddball rifles on there ive never heard of

Cubreac said:

What's a good source for the right kind of paper today?
Gibbons emphasized the importance of the paper used to accuracy. He found 100% cotton rag 9lb typewriter paper worked the best, but in The English Cartridge he wrote that it doesn't exist any longer.
He recommends Helix and Staedtler 100% rag drafting vellum 16lb paper.
https://www.duall.com/store/product...-vellum-100-rag-plain-11x17-50-sheet-pad.html
The importance of matching the bullet size with the paper thickness is emphasized, but using 100% cotton rag paper seems to be the most important detail.
This is all beside the point for me until I can get my hands on a rifle or barrel with the correct rifling. In the mean time I'll continue down this paper cartridge rabbit hole.

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I'll find you the links to the supplies I use. The 16lb velum is only for one part of the cartridge. You use a much thicker stock for the powder chamber.

Here is a photo of templates and paper. I use the Staedtler Velum 16lb (.003" thickness) for the inner wrapper, card stock for the stiffener (.0105" thickness), and regular computer printer paper (not shown in pic, .0035-.004" thickness) for the outer wrapper. Rolls of 1/2" colored masking tape for label. All available on Amazon or a Michaels Craft.

I watched his video on needle rifles a couple days ago.

I was Skyping with a longtime poster on here from Australia -- Heelerau. We had a good chat and briefly got into the paper cartridges. Gordon is a keen Enfield shooter and seems to have them all sorted out. Perhaps he will add a post.

I use the Bienfang 360
Linen rag vellum

Not only would it be ruinously expensive to ask Brett to ship unloaded paper cartridges here, the total lack of suitable paper makes their home-construction only a dream.

As both Bill and Brett know, I have an original .577cal Pritchett rifle, and shoot BES knurled but otherwise smooth-sided bullets in it. Sadly, Mr Sellers passed away recently and supplies of his bullets with the new owner are uncertain.




I'd love to replicate shooting the 'English cartridge' in my Musketoon, as well as the Pritchett, but right now I can't see that happening.

Cubreac said:

Sorry for the pedantry, but they were Scottish.

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Yup, he obviously missed the kilts, sporrans, bright tartan sock tops and bonnets.....

Terry, my friend, she is just a beautiful rifle and fully deserves a place on your FAC.

That is indeed a sweet rifle Mr. Foley. May I ask why the Prichett style bullet is knurled? Watching Brett's videos are among my favorite late night pastimes.. His video on "Shooting the Whitworth" was the first I watched after getting mine. I've only added the "English Cartridge" to my library so far.. His discussion with one of his shooting buddies on black powder while dressed in period garb and enjoying brandy was very good.. The Von Lenk Guncotton gun video was really educational on a little known footnote in firearms history.

lol, I just started watching his Channel couple weeks ago. Fully enjoy it

Whitworth said:

That is indeed a sweet rifle Mr. Foley. May I ask why the Prichett style bullet is knurled? Watching Brett's videos are among my favorite late night pastimes.. His video on "Shooting the Whitworth" was the first I watched after getting mine. I've only added the "English Cartridge" to my library so far.. His discussion with one of his shooting buddies on black powder while dressed in period garb and enjoying brandy was very good.. The Von Lenk Guncotton gun video was really educational on a little known footnote in firearms history.

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Well, these bullets are around 2 thou smaller than the bore, and therefore cannot be paper-patched in the way that the real one, I think .565cal, were. The knurling is used to retain some lube, and that's what I do, using a secret formula gloop from Andy Alwood here in England. Works just fine, but you need to patch out for the best accuracy.

This is the last nine shots in the box before I put it away - not that good, even for 50m. 485gr bullet and 68.5gr of 1.5 Fg Swiss. Lively, though.






And yes, it IS a hooked breech design.

tjiann said:

Yeah, his books and channel are great. He's a really nice guy too. Email him and stop by his place in Gettysburg if you're ever there. I bought some cartridges from him and talked guns for a while.

It got me to buy the molds and cartridge templates/materials and I've gotten pretty good at making my own.

Steve at Forth Armoury is also a nice guy and good resource for supplies and videos.

Click to expand...

He’s deployed right now.