@@ryanlemons7831 Pyrodex was once the only thing available for most Black Powder shooters, as the real thing was not to be had. It has remained popular because it is slightly more powerful (faster velocities) and ver slightly easier to clean up
Your silk and glue process is pretty much what the old balsa and silkspan aircraft modelers called "doping", which was also how real airplanes were assembled a century ago. The dope was also a nitrocellulose glue (about the same consistency as your fletching glue), and used to bond and seam paper and silk to the balsa structure in models. Your technique brought me back to 6th grade shop class, lol. Fascinating subject, methodology, and tooling you developed! What material are your 3D prints layed up with?
The molds are printed in PLA. There's alot of crossover and borrowed ideas. Nitrocellulose was only a decade or so old when these were made, it was the new thing to experiment with.
@crossencartridge6403 hell, nitrocellulose based paint is still the "gold standard" for fender electric guitars. Doped fabric is still used on light planes, at least vintage ones. Obviously, it's still used for fletching arrows. All that besides being the major component of smokeless powder. Nitro dope tinted with aluminum powder was pretty much why the hindenberg was such a fast consumed fireball that day in New Jersey. It actually seems an ideal binder for your use, it seals, it binds, and it burns like hell, especially under pressure. My bet is if metallic cartridges hadn't taken over, the 1870s would have seen the whole planet scrambling to produce such cartridges, and the patent holder dying fat and rich, lol
@@ludditeneaderthal it sure is amazing stuff. Fun fact, the 3 patent holders of these cartridges were doctors. Collodion was used as a surgical dressing too.
@crossencartridge6403 almost forgot, the original movie stock and men's shirt collars were made of nitro-cellulose. The us army field expedient munitions manual from ww2 suggested chopping up shirt collars as propellant for reloading small arms ammo, lol. It really is about as "wonder stuff" an invention as came out of the 19th century. About the only thing it wasn't used as at some point was food, lol
What a process!. Shooting BP is fun, but at times I got tired of the loading process and cleaning afterwards. Watching the making of these little beauties would make me more resistant to making smoke and tossing lead. I know it is a work of art and I am sure you find great pleasure in knocking out these interesting rounds. Thanks for showing me how it is done.
I have a Pietta repro of a Remington New Model Army (aka Model 1858). I plan to grind out the frame and reprofile the ram to let me shoot conicals in it, then get a mold for a Johnston & Dow or Kerr bullet. I'd love to make cartridges like these. I've made paper cartridges with cigarette rolling papers, but they seem too fragile to carry long, even in the nice wood and paper boxes (and I've only got two of those). These look sturdy enough to stand up to some travel. Important question: how weather resistant are these? Could they be further protected by wrapping the entire charge pellet in something like cigarette paper before doping? And do they still work well for larger charges (my '58 likes 30 grains)?
You know. I suggested that those who use old needle fire rifles, use the nitrocellulose flue to seal the cartridge, stiffen it and waterproof it. Now I see that that trick is old hat and already known LOL
Everyone is different. It isn't so much about the end results, but getting there using authentic ammunition. Unfortunately, to do that, we must now assemble our own ammo. But you must admit, it is fascinating and for some of us, provides that "You are there" feel that many living historians seek.
