Thread: .65 Musket service loading info circa 1850

I want to research the original service loading ball, powder, cartridge and loading sequence for a circa 1850 65 cal smooth bore musket

Someone might have a reference book that outlines the paper cartridge, weights and sequence ?

I'm just guessing it would have been a ball in a paper cartridge with powder.
Tear off the twisted paper cartridge end.
Pour powder into bore
Push ball into bore with remains of cartridge first or last ?
Put percussion cap on and fire

Then use the carbine as a club because it's so slow to reload

I'm a bit in the dark on this one and the internet isn't as smart as it could be
It struggled with the really important questions like this

Something like this I guess

Just need a how to and how much

https://svartkrutt.net/articles/vis.php?id=6

70 grains of 2F is a fairly standard musket load. Some carbines dropped to 60 grains to reduce recoil.

Originally Posted by gundoc

70 grains of 2F is a fairly standard musket load. Some carbines dropped to 60 grains to reduce recoil.

Ok thats a fairly modest load compared to the bigger bore Brown Bess and Charleville ball and load

I will obviously start with and even lower charge out of respect for its 175 year vintage

My preliminary play with two rolls of paper around the balls I have is quite promising diameter wise.

This ball to too big for even a thin cotton patch
So the traditional paper cartridge might be the best option anyway

I have a copy of musketry drill from the period for the p53 if you want to follow the proper sequence, stance, and shout the commands in your head

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

I have a copy of musketry drill from the period for the p53 if you want to follow the proper sequence, stance, and shout the commands in your head

@Marty Henry oh I should have expected that from you.
You seem determined to have me in full period garb and a pipe in the corner of my mouth

This is a Constabulary Carbine and I don't think they were quite that structured and this would have been for close range use
Hence my comment fire one shot and then use as a club

Well acording to the reply to a question I asked on British Militaria Forum

Dr Rhodes. The British Soldiers Firearm, From Smoothbore to Smallbore 1850-1864
It is listed as a Cartridge containing 2.5 Drams of powder and a .60" ball

That's 70 gains of Black Powder and the .60" ball is 50 thou under bore diameter so there cartridge might have been pretty thick

You'd fit right in I'm sure.

The ball was that smaller in diameter, because with fouling after a few shots you would otherwise have trouble getting the ball down. (picture Michael Caine - "Front rank Fire!, rear rank Fire! "Fire!" Fire!

You've got it pretty spot on already - ball still in front part of the paper pushed down the muzzle followed by the rest of the paper.

I used to make my own cartridges when I had a .58 cal...

Originally Posted by BillyDixon

The ball was that smaller in diameter, because with fouling after a few shots you would otherwise have trouble getting the ball down. (picture Michael Caine - "Front rank Fire!, rear rank Fire! "Fire!" Fire!

You've got it pretty spot on already - ball still in front part of the paper pushed down the muzzle followed by the rest of the paper.

I used to make my own cartridges when I had a .58 cal...

I'm looking forward to making these paper cartridges

Good practice for the Monkey Tail I hope to stumble on some time soon