Some .54 caliber ringtail conical bullets have just been ordered.  I want to make up a few Sharps rounds.  I’ve never done this before.  So, this post is actually a request for assistance.  My intention is to tie the nitrated paper tube to the ringtail on the greased bullet using nitrated cotton string.  Pour a measured charge in the tube, twist the ends shut, and hope it comes close to fitting the chamber dimensions.  That is the general plan.  What I’m asking for is specifics about how to do this.

Curtis, since this topic is silent as a stone:

You'll do better on getting answers on this by contacting the North-South Skirmish Association.  They are the 'live fire' folks.

http://www.n-ssa.org/

Hallo!

 Oh alright, you twisted my arm...

   

 The original pre Civil War Sharps cartridge utilized the "ring tail" or "boat tail" lubed Sharps bullet in a paper cartridge with a folded tail (the tail similar to a musket cartridge) with the bullet tied in place with string over the "ring tail."

 For the Civil War, that changed to a different bullet that the end of the cartridge paper was glued to.

 At any rate, when not talking about making "authentic" Sharps
cartridges, there are a variety of ways to make live-fire cartridges.

 This one is as good as any, IMHO, and saves me a ton of words:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Srl62OzmvY

 I used a similar method but simply folded the tail end as per a musket cartridge.

 Curt
 Former 17 year member of the N-SSA and a long-time Sharps carbine and rifle shooter.  

--Last edited by Curt Schmidt on 2009-04-05 19:38:54 --

A quick question from someone who isn't a carbine shooter. Was that tail designed to be cut off when the breach block was closed?

Thank you, Curt.  The video helped.  I have a few of the ring-tailed slugs onto which the nitrated cartridge tubes have been tied.  I’ll try the glue only routine as soon as a handful of flat based bullets can be acquired.  In the meantime, some of those ring-rails are going to get a glued tube.

Bill, uh huh.

   Hallo!

 "A quick question from someone who isn't a carbine shooter. Was that tail designed to be cut off when the breach block was closed?"

 Historically, actually... no.

  Ordnance chief Colonel Craig wrote that "...to be loaded without being sheared, although the Slide is provided with a cutter, that is capable of any portion of the Cartridge which by accident may protrude."

 The Civil War era linen Sharps cartridges had a base insert or end that was paper so that the flash would burn/blast through it rather than "guillotine" it off.

 The overall length of the cartridge, if inserted correctly, would not have its end being cut by the breechblock cutter.

 Curt

Curt,

I did not know that.  Once again, thanks for sharing your knowledge.