paper cartridges for rifle

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

I'm not accustomed to posting with pix so bear with me. . .
 
I've been trying to come up with a paper cartridge that would simplify loading a muzzle loader while not sacrificing huntable accuracy.  It's been an endeavor of mine on and off for years.  I think I've finally had a break through.  These cartridges are easy to load (thumb start) and I was successfully popping tin cans at 40 meters off hand.  I also did not seem to need swabbing after about ten shots. 
 
I haven't run it through all the paces - next I'll shoot it off the bench to see just how tightly these can group. 
 
The first picture is just a picture of the template I use to cut the paper cartridges from 8.5x11 laser paper.  The stuff I use is 32# with 25% cotton from Staples.  I get about 4 cartridges per sheet.  Note I put the direction of roll on the template because I kept forgetting how to orient the ball in the paper. 
 
Next is a picture of a paper laying on a damp sponge.  I dampen the paper then place the ball and a section of 1/2-inch dowel on the paper.

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

Next picture is the ball and dowel laid on the dampened paper.  Remember to place the sprue forward.  These are cast from Lee's .527 mold so the sprues are not very visible.
 
And the fourth picture is the beginning of the roll.  With practice I noticed much improvement on getting the dowel perpendicular to the direction of the roll inspite of the fact that there is no parallel edge to align the dowel with.

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

The fifth photo shows the ball and dowel rolled in the paper and the nose of the ball twisted tight.  This tail will later be clipped.  I tried not clipping these and found the entire paper cartridge would travel to the target with the ball.  Oh, another thing to check is the direction of the rifling twist.  These are wrapped so that when fired the paper will unravel the instant it leaves the bore. 
 
The sixth photo shows the "wasp waist" between the ball and powder charge.  This is something I invented since I've never seen it done.  This waist holds a good amount of tallow lube.  It's also something I picked up from paper patching for centerfire rifles.  The twist for centerfire ammo is always at the base of the bullet.  A closed twist at the base performs a similar function as copper gas checks do protecting the lead from hot gas erosion.  I make the waist simply by pulling the dowel out 3/4-inch or so and twisting again.  The trapezoid shape of the paper patches works to tighten when twisted instead of wrinkling.

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

7th photo shows the dog claw nippers I use to clip the tail off the front of the ball.  Marking the powder charge is also a wise thing to do along with other pertinent information if you shoot more than one caliber. 
 
8th photo shows a 110 grain hunting charge all loaded and lubed with a mix of deer tallow, crisco, murphy's oil soap, and a red crayon.  To load simply bite off the rear tail as near the powder charge as comfortable (I've heard consumption of saltpeter can make you impotent - so far no worries) and pour powder down the bore.  Then just ram the whole thing down leaving the powder "case" to get crumpled between the ball and powder charge.  I tried this with a .530 ball and had a devil of a time starting the ball.  The .527 works slick!  No short starter necessary.
 
And the 9th photo shows my cartridge box.  Just got it at a regular sporting goods store - a leather box intended to hold a standard box of 20 rifle cartridges on your belt.  Instead of the modern ammo I just put a section of 2x4 lumber drilled out with a 9/16" wood paddle bit.
 
I'll play with this some more this fall and hopefully I'll like it well enough to hunt with it.

[Rock Home Isle]

Those are beautiful. 
 
Thank you very much for starting this thead.

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

Those are beautiful. 

Imagine some weedhead seeing those in the back of my truck and making off with them.  Then lighting them babies up in some empty alley!  Surprise!
 
Question is, would they then be addicted to muzzleloading?