Video on making 1855 British Enfield cartridges.

maillemaker · October 28, 2015, 06:26 PM

Here is a video I made that describes making 1855 British Enfield cartridges:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzA9aXEyT-c

Steve

Doc Hoy · October 29, 2015, 01:46 AM

Almost makes me want to get started.

**4V50 Gary** · October 29, 2015, 11:08 PM

those smooth sided pritchetts are sure purdy.

BTW, I have a couple of original versions on that Musketry Manual.

maillemaker · October 30, 2015, 08:14 AM

Quote:

BTW, I have a couple of original versions on that Musketry Manual.

Cool!

Steve

**4V50 Gary** · October 30, 2015, 08:52 PM

So, have you shot those pritchetts yet and how did they perform?

maillemaker · October 30, 2015, 11:07 PM

Nope, I have not yet made it to the range with them. I was hoping to this weekend but the weather is not looking good. Next weekend is an N-SSA competition so that is out, too. Possibly the weekend of November 14th if the weather is good; the rest of November is shot.

When I go I will be shooting 1855 and 1860 Enfield Cartridges, with service load of 68 grains as well as load workups from 45-65 grains in 5 grain increments.

The 1855 cartridges will use .566 bullets, and the 1860 cartridges will use .550 bullets.

Steve

maillemaker · November 4, 2015, 11:18 PM

Replicas of CSA manufactured copy of British Enfield cartridge, 1855 pattern. Based on extant example #540, "Round Ball to Rimfire Volume 4", Dean .S Thomas. .550" diameter Pritchett bullet with no base plug. Cartridges need to be lubricated and charged.

Original:

Lubed. On the right is pre-heated. Pre-heating allows the wax to stay liquid too long and soak into the brown paper. In the future I will not pre-heat.

Model12Win · November 7, 2015, 11:25 AM

Looks very good! Anyone have any info on how to make .54 caliber pistol cartridges of the Mexican-American war/Civil War era?

SIGSHR · November 9, 2015, 03:59 PM

Ah, but are they greased with the fat of the Sacred Cow ?

maillemaker · November 9, 2015, 04:33 PM

These are lubed with SPG. In 1855 the British lubricated them with a recipe that was 6 parts beeswax to 1 part tallow. Later they went to either all beeswax or beeswax with a small amount of mineral spirits.

I find SPG to be very similar in feel to the US Ordnance recipe of 1 part tallow to 8 parts beeswax, and since I already had some SPG in a tin for melting, I went with it.

Steve

October 28, 2015, 06:26 PM	#1
maillemaker Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 1,635	Video on making 1855 British Enfield cartridges. Here is a video I made that describes making 1855 British Enfield cartridges: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzA9aXEyT-c Steve

October 29, 2015, 01:46 AM	#2
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Good video Almost makes me want to get started. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

October 29, 2015, 11:08 PM	#3
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,831	those smooth sided pritchetts are sure purdy. BTW, I have a couple of original versions on that Musketry Manual. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

November 4, 2015, 11:18 PM	#7
maillemaker Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 1,635	Replicas of CSA manufactured copy of British Enfield cartridge, 1855 pattern. Based on extant example #540, "Round Ball to Rimfire Volume 4", Dean .S Thomas. .550" diameter Pritchett bullet with no base plug. Cartridges need to be lubricated and charged. Original: Lubed. On the right is pre-heated. Pre-heating allows the wax to stay liquid too long and soak into the brown paper. In the future I will not pre-heat. Last edited by maillemaker; November 4, 2015 at 11:48 PM.

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October 30, 2015, 08:52 PM	#5
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,831	So, have you shot those pritchetts yet and how did they perform? __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

October 30, 2015, 11:07 PM	#6
maillemaker Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 1,635	Nope, I have not yet made it to the range with them. I was hoping to this weekend but the weather is not looking good. Next weekend is an N-SSA competition so that is out, too. Possibly the weekend of November 14th if the weather is good; the rest of November is shot. When I go I will be shooting 1855 and 1860 Enfield Cartridges, with service load of 68 grains as well as load workups from 45-65 grains in 5 grain increments. The 1855 cartridges will use .566 bullets, and the 1860 cartridges will use .550 bullets. Steve

November 7, 2015, 11:25 AM	#8
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	Looks very good! Anyone have any info on how to make .54 caliber pistol cartridges of the Mexican-American war/Civil War era?

November 9, 2015, 03:59 PM	#9
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,700	Ah, but are they greased with the fat of the Sacred Cow ?

November 9, 2015, 04:33 PM	#10
maillemaker Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 1,635	These are lubed with SPG. In 1855 the British lubricated them with a recipe that was 6 parts beeswax to 1 part tallow. Later they went to either all beeswax or beeswax with a small amount of mineral spirits. I find SPG to be very similar in feel to the US Ordnance recipe of 1 part tallow to 8 parts beeswax, and since I already had some SPG in a tin for melting, I went with it. Steve