Making Paper "Cartridges"

[Adam Helmer]

When trekking afield, I have found it easiest to reload using nickel coin wrappers filled with a measured charge of BP or Pyrodex. I get a big handful of nickel coin wrappers free from the local bank. I put a small piece of scotch tape on one folded over end, pour in a meaasured charge of powder and put a piece of scotch tape on the folded over open end. After making up 20 or 30 charges, I put them in a plastic baggie and label the contents with a magic marker on the outside of the baggie.

At the local cap & flint gun club, all muzzleloader matches are fired from the "horn or bag," meaning one fires all required shots from the possibles bag and/or powder horn (and pockets) at the firing line. The most popular event is the "Cherokee Run" where one fires a few rounds, runs a distance, tosses the 'hawk, runs some more and tosses the blade and then runs a bit and starts a fire with flint and steel and then runs back to the start line. A female longhunter won the last Cherokee Run event. Ah, but I digress.

My point is: I have 6 labeled baggies in the gun room to accomodate whatever arm or projectile I am going to shoot. I just grab the gun, toss the appropriate baggie into the possibles bag along with the projectiles and off I go. Coin wrappers are biodegradeable and cheap.

Adam