How To Make Paper Cartridges: The Manley Paper Cartridge Former
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
- In his video I’ll be demonstrating how to make paper cartridges for cap & ball revolvers, using The Manley Paper Cartridge Former. Be sure to subscribe to my channel for more videos. Thanks for watching!
I’m sad to say that Cliff Manley has passed away and his formers are no longer available. I’m now offering some of my own, as well as complete paper cartridge kits. For pricing and ordering, visit my website here: gunsofthewests...
Here’s a video on my new cartridge formers and kits: • Paper Cartridge Kits If you have any questions, feel free to email me at gunsofthewestllc@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to help.
Eras Gone Bullet Molds: erasgonebullets...
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This is the best channel for black powder shooting that I've seen.
Thank you!
This looks like a 2nd grade craft but in reality hes making deadly ammunition😂 I absolutely love your videos man
@@mekong9629 you are sick.
@@VeryProPlayerYesSir1122 that was the point pepe profile pic in 2021.
"Deadly ammunition" 🤓
@@thegunnut1944 If you want to see just hoe deadly this ammunition is Google Civil War Bullet Wounds. Not as funny as you think.
@@RetiredDuke your missed the joke Earle mate 😂 I'm taking the piss at the fact he had to put deadly ammunition 🤦♂️ I know ammunition isn't something to fuck with buddy 💀
Have wondered for a long time just how those paper cartridges were made. That's my "learn something new every day" task. Thanks.
I've been rolling combustible cartridges for over 40 years and the Manley former and the Eras Gone conical molds are the best thing to happen to the C&B revolver hobby in decades.
I was going to write a comment about using cigarette paper. My grandfather used this method for muzzle loaders. With practice you can get them about as good as with a device like this.
Yes,it takes a little practice. Great minds think alike. ;-)
I like the RAW brand. They look like vintage parchment type paper cartridges using RAW papers.
@@RockandrollNegro i wonder if smoke shops are seeing empty shelves right now? Nobody can smoke reefers because the gun community bought up all the papers for cap and ball guns...lololol
I stay away from deadly cigarettes, but I just can't seem to break to coffee habit.
@@earlycuyler2295 stoners will find a way to smoke they are the most creative mfs ever... Everything's a bong
Blackpowder is so much fun in that it's challenges make you think of ways to make it easier and more reliable. My very first front-stuffer was a CVA .36 squirrel rifle cap and ball. Taking inspiration from my knowledge of paper cartridges from studying military history I'd cut paper sleeves and make my own. (I was 12-Mom would complain about the BP mess I'd make.) I also learned to not bother with actual 'patch lube' sold commercially but to use Crisco. (Dad would joke and say I needed to shoot a bear so I could use bear grease.) Later on I'd just do the old timer trick of putting the patch in my mouth and making patches out of pillow ticking using a nickel as a stencil. A Remington Army or perhaps a Colt will be a nice addition.
The manliest of arts and crafts projects
Terrific tutorial. Always wanted to know how this was done.
Thanks, Santee!
I agree. This is great stuff. I'm going to have to get the mold and former and start making my own paper cartridges.
@@blacksheep_edge1412 It's a much much faster way to load.
Dang, I have got to get at it. I ordered both sets .44 and .36 last year and still have not made any yet. Time gets away from me so easy. Nice video my friend.
Many years ago, I read an article on making paper cartridges for muzzle loading shotguns. I believe it was in Gun Digest. The paper was nitrated so it would burn up completely.
Unfortunately, it usually still doesn’t burn completely.
@@GunsOfTheWest : And that's why caseless rounds are still an area of research.
The nitrated coffee filter cartridges I saw shot from a long gun seemed to burn the same as the powder sparks. Only greased patches were ever seen after many shots!
Put two or three of those cartridges in the display as well. Cool idea.
Oh !!! I just saw duelist show that liquid glue will not always burn or blow out of cylinders, causing a blocked flash hole. The stick glue lightly applied may burn out better, being starch base. My home made cornstarch glue is a little difficult to lightly apply consistently. I just ordered an engraved .44 pietta 1851 so I can try these! Hoho. I told EMF you tipped me off to their company! Thanks bro!
Excellent I was thinking of getting me a 44 caliber black powder pistol and now I can see how easy the cartridges are to make, thank you so much for your quick tutorial thank you and have a great day.
Thanks for watching! My paper cartridge kits are 10% right now through this weekend with coupon code DAD21.
Well done, and thank you! I already got the whole coffee filter thing down to a science when I was working up a load of modernized grape-shot for my home made .75 cal. folding blunderbuss. I didn't think the coffee filters could also be useful for faster reloading of my blunderbuss. I also didn't think how much better it'd be with my 1851 snubby (customized Pietta 1851 "Navy" replica in .44 cal.), with it's 50 grain charges to propel rather low mass projectiles to be sent through a 2" long barrel for a more practical and compact profile, but without a spare cylinder or 2 of those antique firearms/six-shooters. There's a good reason I don't call those things "revolvers" or "firearms," though. Here in the US nowadays, according to the ATF, revolvers are "legally" and officially, in contradiction to the oath of public office, defined as handguns that use cylinders AND cartridges, and you know how they like to blur the lines between things that aren't so regulated and things that are regulated past the point of any simple infringement, right? I don't like to use words that would most likely later be used against me and many other people. For less hassle and more freedom with less sacrifice, I'd rather not create confusion where there is none to begin with. Antique firearms are currently the last, best refuge of the 2nd Amendment right of the people in most States, without having to fight for that right, and I'd rather not do or say anything that'd provoke the powers that be any further into changing that at all in any way to our detriment, or to incite any armed conflict. Anyway, I hope this comment helps you in some way almost as much as this video has helped me :)
Thank you sir for the great tutorial. I tried my hand at making my own paper cartridges using cigarette paper.
The tutorial I used suggested putting a pre lubed felt wad between the powder and the lead ball. Another video
suggested cutting small disks out of card stock to put between the powder and the lubed wad to prevent contamination
of the powder. I made 6 of these paper cartridges using 24 grains of American Pioneer Black Powder Substitute FFFG.
They seemed to burn OK but they did leave a bit of residue in the chambers.
I live on a low fixed SSI disability income. It took me a year to save up for my Pietta 1858 Remington New Army BP revolver.
I like the idea of the Manley former but if it is expensive I may have to save up for it. I am considering next making my own paper
cartridges by nitrating my own brown paper coffee filters. I thought of using Flash paper but research says it can be unstable.
I assume your pre made paper cartridges can last a long time because you only load powder and bullet.
Here are some pics of my first range target. I used 5 of my paper cartridges on the target where I stood up and used a one hand hold.
Haha grab your kids and hide yer wimmen folk!!!! I do better if the bad guy will sit still and i shoot at him 2 handed from a bench rest.
Thank you for all your videos. They helped me make an informed decision when I finally " pulled the trigger " and bought my first BP gun.
animoto.com/play/UnWQN6Anm700rExN76tJCg
I like it a lot!!!! KEEPING the History of the Constitutional Republic Alive! Keep up the wonderful work!
Thanks for watching!
I bought a Cricut die cutting machine to help me cut out things like this. As for the former, I could turn one on my lathe. Fun to play with.
Style AND substance - it's rare for something to have both. Clearly an excellent tool though making the cartridges is pretty labour intensive. Excellent video.
I was a reenactor 25 years ago,this took would have saved me so much time
Thanks for watching!
I reenacted for 25 years, starting in the 80s. We actually used a pencil to make thin paper blank cartridges. Tied off like rifle cartridges. Kinda like pixy stix with gunpowder. We carried a little tin of grease to top it off!
Great system for revolver reloading reenacting blanks in the field.
The good old days!
Years ago Turner Kirkland at Dixie Gun Works had some instruction on making paper cartridges from rolling papers. He also described how to make hard tack which I did try. The rolling paper thing didn't work so well. He always had good advice and hints in the back of his catalogs which I enjoyed immensely. Stop by his place in Union City some time. Lots of neat stuff. Be careful or you'll max out your credit card.
Thank you for this informative video, but I was wondering how the cap ignites the powder charge through the paper base of the cartridge.
Cliff Manly has been a good friend and yes he is very passionate and skilled at making things such as the paper cartridge formers. Beautiful Remington my favorite old west gun. Great presentation as always.
Thanks!!
I'd love to use this to try and make blanks for film. Making several of these before a film shoot would really speed up reloading between takes. I could buy a few of these Manley tools and have the crew over for a cartridge making party.
EDIT: I've learned that sadly, Cliff Manley has passed away and his cartridge tool is currently not in production.
Dustin's brother-in-law Mark is currently producing a 3D printed tool for $10. Dustin posted a video about it and after viewing it, I decided to buy 2, one for me and one for a friend since we both have .44 cal BP revolvers. Our hope is to make the paper cartridge with the same overall length at a live one, but replace the bullet with an inert powder, such as shotgun buffer. And if it doesn't work for blanks, then we'll still have a way to Lakeville paper cartridges, since these revolvers are range guns in addition to props.
I was able to use my wood smoking pipe as the dowel for paper tube. A folded towel worked as a die. A dime worked great for the round paper cutouts.
Writing a book and you've helped loads. Thanks from over the lake
Great video and that bar looks like a place I could get comfy and have a few shots of JD while making paper bullets.
I now have a project that my kids can help me in
Itistabaccobro or let your kids do things they want to do. Your kids don’t want to help you with your hobbies my guy. Let them follow their own hobbies.
@@benjamincook3901 In fact from the moment they show signs of not wanting to be near you, they should be handed over to state care who will assure they only do what they want from then on....
Parrotshootist yes when your kids want to do what they want rather than do boring shit with their father you should disown them actually. Your kids don’t want to make bullets with you. Let them do what they will actually enjoy instead.
@@benjamincook3901 you obviously didn't get the joke "my guy"
Itistabaccobro obviously so
I absolutely have to get into shooting black powder soon! Every time I watch one of your videos I become even more interested in it. I reload 9mm & .380 w/a 95gr flat point that I cast myself but I've been rdy to take it a step further for a while now. The paper cartridges are awesome! Thanks for the videos & the motivation!
You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!
I just had to say that is one of the most unique user names ever! 😁 We must have similar interests as I see your comments kinda often!
Seems like the Mandrel and block would be a pretty easy weekend project where you could turn several.
A bit sensitive, due to the bullet. I imagine you'd want to either experiment a lot, or use a reamer to finish the hole.
anycubic printer maybe?
It would be easier than you think. Make a slightly smaller mandrel to smooth out and shape the hole that you drill out with appropriate bit. I don't currently have BP pistol. Good excuse to get one :-)
@@demizer1968 the chamber is tapered right
Anyone into gunsmithing should also be into wood and metal working. This sounds like a great project. I could use one for my 1851 & 1861 Navies and another for my 1860 Army. Of course the time to construct them vs. the cost could be factors.
That former is a wonderful item.
Thanks Dustin. Great Job! I'll have to find one of those hole punches. I've been doing it the hard way. Some of the originals were made with square end caps. That is another option. It works fine, but does not look nearly as polished and professional.
Thanks, Mark! I’ll try the square ends, just to try it both ways.
That makes me want a black powder pistol now . Really cool tutorial. Well done
Yes, vintage is cool too.
Thank you for the video it was very helpful. I believe the cartridges are better than the manual way for loading. 🤠✌️
Thats genius! Wow, I've seen other folks struggle with the other methods. So cool!
Be sure to check out the full kits here: gunsoftheweststore.com/collections/complete-paper-cartridge-kits
Thanks for watching!
First time see coffe filters used for this purpouse great video thumb up.
Looks as if another purchase is in my future! I may even see about making a punch or "clicker" die for the coffee filters.
Thanks for watching!
I really like this ...wish I had a pard, or two ,that had one - make a night out of making paper cartridges - making enough for the entire season! *LIKED* another fine production pard. *LT*
Thanks for watching!
one of the coolest ammo making videos I have seen. that tool looks like something you’d expect to see in a 1800s saloon girls bedroom 😜
This channel is awesome. Im subscribing to have a solid source of info for when I get my 1858
Porter Rockwell would be proud to use those cartridges!
As always Excellent job on the presentation. Thanks Dustin!
Thanks!
The 1858 Remington New Army pistol is my all-time favorite!!! I just love the lines of this pistol. Have you by chance chrono'd the two different types of cartridges? I'm wondering if you'd get a cleaner and more thorough burn of the powder in the Manley-style cartridges vs the loose(r)-packed cartridge? And if that affects velocity? Perhaps with other black powder propellants and, say, trail boss, etc.?
The powder will be crushed to similar density by the rammer regardless of whether the casing is tight or loose, but the tight cartridge will be less likely to fail in transit than the loose one.
Never use Trail boss or other smokeless powder in a BP gun. You could get seriously hurt or even killed .
Holy shit this how have I not found your channel before? You live in my hometown!! Subscribed very educational and as a revolver lover (of all kinds) always love this kind of content.
Small world! Thanks for watching!
@@GunsOfTheWest good ol smallt lake county for ya
Dang you dustin !! I've got the bug now to try this out................. thanks for a great video that makes making paper cartridges so easy a caveman could do it........
This former really makes easy work of it. Thanks for watching!
Cigarette rolling papers work really good as well.
Yes, rolling paper for, uh, cigarettes...tobacco cigarettes and nothing else lol
Yup use the 4" heavyweight papers, can even coat them with clear lacquer to prevent em being damaged by humidity (UK weather 😂)
@@LowlyDegenerate and coffee filters are only meant for coffee.... Oh wait
Goldenfightinglink he's just a jackass know it all.. probably can't even roll his own self out of bed
I’m curious if this is something you can do for black powder rifles. Make a handful, place in an altoid tin with several biker sized foam cutouts, with a few silica gel packets. It would definitely cut down on mistakes in the field.
Plus I think I could easily turn a few of these molds out in various calibers in just a weekend.
This is a game changer.
Nice. Sinsearly Christopher William Kirchoff in Montana.....! Good history sir.
Pretty good design and procedure. I wonder if they make formers for needle rifles
haha I'm a few steps behind you. I also am trying to make blackpowder 38 sp cartridges as well
I've been testing paper cartridges and I think I'll find me one of those paper punches. I had to to much paper left in the cylinders on my last batch. I think the punch will help that.
Thanks for watching!
Nitrate paper will burn away
That was mighty fine.
Great product!
I'm curious how well the filter paper burns. Do they need treating with a nitrate or chlorate compound? Thanks.
Thank you!
How crazy is that?! Super Neat
Nice
I tried making paper carts, once. It was a big pain in the ass, and it took just as long, if not longer to load them than without a cart. At least for me, anyway. I used rolling paper, and I wet them with a solution of potassium nitrate dissolved in water to form them and glue them together. It made all the paper burn up completely.
Good video dude, its to the point and ypu are well spoken i learn me sumthin gud
Thanks for watching!
I’ll stick to my Hornady premade but a good skill to get familiar with
Have you tried different types of paper? I'm curious how nitrated (or not) coffee filters perform vs cigarette rolling papers vs "perm hair end papers"
Also curious if anyone has the dimensions for the manley former? and/or how to modify it for different calibers/charge loads? I hear he passed and is no longer with us, and there doesn't seem to be anyone making these any more?
Very helpful, but I wanted to see how you measured and added the powder.
This one may be more helpful. It’s the method I use now. th-cam.com/video/3Zx3Ph3xsak/w-d-xo.html
You could also trace the main part of the cartridge once, then fold the paper over and cut multiple at a time
They actually didn’t cut as cleanly that way.
@@GunsOfTheWest that makes sense
Those cartridges are beautiful! Do you ever have problems with misfires from using the thick paper? Or does the paper get ripped open and release the powder when the bullet gets pressed into the cylinder? I suppose you still have to cap it off with bullet lube to prevent lead fouling?
The spark from the cap goes right through the paper.
can you make these with lead balls rather than conicals
I believe I've seen them for round ball but don't quote me. I shoot both ball and conical so I'm gonna order a former for conical and try it with ball... The worst I can see happening is the chamber cuts the paper when the ball is pressed home but at that point the powder is in the chamber so it wouldn't matter.
Hi Dustin, How do I get one of those Manley paper cartridge formers. Thank you.
You can email Cliff Manley directly for the details. His email address is in the video description. Thanks for watching!
@@GunsOfTheWest Unfortunately Cliff has passed and these are no longer available, Hopefully someone will consider manufacturing these.
he passed.. :(
My brother in law is quite handy with this kind of stuff any chance you could take the dimensions of the block, dowel length & width and shoot those to me? Thanks so much for all your fun videos!! I’ve been binge watching lately. Cheers, William.
Dustin where have you gone , miss your videos
Thanks Dustin great video!
Thanks for watching!
Does all the coffee filter burn up when fired and is there no problem with it sooting up because of the burnt paper? I thought coffee filters would be tougher than that. I met a guy at the range shooting a paper cartridge Sharps years ago and he was making his with tissue paper that he nitrated so there was no fowling but maybe it’s different for a pistol? I’ve got to try this now, I never did because I didn’t know how to nitrate paper and thought it was required, thanks.
Sometimes, they leave little rings of unburned paper in the chambers, but it’s no big deal. Nitrating helps, but doesn’t eliminate the problem. I just dig the rings out with a toothpick after a few cylinders.
Guns Of The West thanks man.
So can you shoot them with the paper on, or is it just to hold until you get ready to pour everything in?
You shoot with the paper on. The whole cartridge is loaded into the chamber and the percussion cap will easily burn through the paper to set off the powder.
I am thinking about buying one of those cartridge conversion cylinders for my New Army 1858 Remington ,Pietta made Replica ,remington stainless gun. I just never got into black powder and dont have the time or money to start getting into it. So for me the Conversion vylinder is the way to go! Any suggestions on the Conversion cylinder to buy?
Have you fired these yet in your revolver, I read another sub asked you did you nitrate your paper, an if not, then did you have any residue in your chambers after firing, I watched Mark hubbs vid on this to, an like the concept, an the coffee filter trick is why I follow, everyone of YT channels has a slightly different take on things, great vid an following. Thx.
Thanks for watching! I haven’t fired these ones yet, but I will next week and I’ll get it on video. I’ll be sure to show inside the chambers to see if there is any residue.
@@GunsOfTheWest thx Dustin, following.
I’ve made some before with a cartridge former that I made, definitely not as nice as that one but I wanted to test proof of concept. I made mine similarly but with cigarette papers and there was little to no residue but I too have heard that for thicker material like coffee filters that it’s a must to nitrate them. I’ll be interested to see how your testing goes. It would be nice to know if that is fact or fiction.
Very informative. You gained another subscriber! I appreciate your valuable help.
Thank you!
This is actually a really cool video.
Wonderful video, thank you! Did you have to modify your revolver to accept these?
rammbostein Not this particular revolver. However, my Colt replicas did need to be modified to accept them.
interesting to see how it was done
Hi, thanks for the video. Can round balls be used in paper cartridges??
Is it possible to wax or varnish the paper for a harder and storable cartridge?
Can I purchase conical bullets to make these paper cartridges with, as apposed to casting them myself. It would be for the Pietta 1858 New Model Army .44, thanks again for any recommendations.
How exactly do paper cartridges fire? I know that metal ones have a means of being fired with hammer but how does it work with paper ones??
Being a cap & ball revolver, it still needs percussion caps on the nipples. The spark from the cap burns right through the paper and ignites the powder.
@@GunsOfTheWest ah ok ok, thank you so much for clearing that up, I get so confused with how guns operate sometimes, always curious for more information on how the internals work with these older gun.
Thank you 🙏
In the words of Buffalo Bill Cody about the Remington: *It never failed me*
Great video
Thanks for watching!
I wonder if this will work on my pietta replica 44 cal black powder revolver
Do I have to do any modification to my revolver to use these?
Cigarette paper burns a lot better than coffee filter. Just sayin. Hey do you have a link for the paper punch? That actually looks kind of handy for making end capped cartridges. I usually just leave excess at the bottom end and then fold it up along the side of the hull and that works great. You can glue that, or not. The end cap does give a very neat appearance, though.
I never bought a Manley kit because TBH I have been making and using similar for about 40 years for my own use and couldn't see buying two pieces of wood that I could make myself in a half hour. I looked at your Etsy listing and usually Etsy is the very last place I will go to buy something but I saw your slick shiny mandrel and it seemed like a good idea. I usually just whittle the mandrel out of oak dowel, drill a block to the small diameter if I want a block, wrap the mandrel in sandpaper, chuck it in my drill press and ream the hole taper with the mandrel and sandpaper if I want a block. I have been thinking about using some ebony I have because it polishes up nice and slick, but your plastic setup looks like it will work just as well, so I pulled the trigger on it. I will see how it goes.
1858 shooter here. Right now I only own a Pietta but I have owned a Uberti 1858 too, and a Walker Colt I bought as a kit. Cap and ball rocks!
Do you recommend this type of cartridges for a muskit?
I actually don’t because it may be harder to ignite and it would also be harder to get any leftover paper out of the barrel. There are paper cartridges for muskets, but it’s a type that you tear open and pour the powder down the barrel.
could you do a video about black powder laws
That’s actually on my to-do list. Thanks for watching!
Very nice
Was this used at the time ?
Loved this. Will you make a kit for 12 gauge? Like for Diablo/Desperado guns?
Thanks for the video. Would it work for 454 round ball also?
Not very well with this particular former, but Cliff Manley told me he now has a different one that will work with round balls. Thanks for watching!
@@GunsOfTheWest Thanks, your channel has been a huge help. Have a good weekend.
I need extra powder to ignite the chamber wenn i use paper cartridges? Or the cap is enough to ignite the paper bullet? May be a litle hole in the back?
The cap burns right through the paper with no trouble.
Could you do one on storage of them im assuming this is using the cylinder the revolver comes with
Does this work with all antique black powder revolvers? I'm looking to buy one of the ones at cabellas? How come when I saw videos on cap and ball , loading I saw actually ball bullets and they were loaded inside each slot? This is a lot different. I'm new to this.
First, welcome to the world of cap & ball revolvers!
Historically, these revolvers were used to fire both round balls and conical bullets like these. When you go to a store like Cabela’s, you’ll only find round balls for them. If you want conical bullets, you’ll probably need to find an individual who will sell them to you online or buy a mold and cast your own like I do. For starting out, I recommend just using the round balls for simplicity. In this video, I made paper cartridges. They work in the same guns; they just allow you to attach the bullet to the powder charge for fast, convenient loading. I hope this helps. Please check out the rest of my channel for more information. Thanks for watching!
Civil War Era speed loaders.
@@jpungello Okay well its the same principle for modern speedloaders... You may not be taking these into battle but a shooters range may not be in a place where its so easy to have a tin of powder and box of shot, or they wanna go shoot in the woods.
Yes a preloaded cylinder is much faster but not every man in the Civil War had multiple cylinders, every man had access to paper and a stick to make these.
Would this method work with round balls? I don’t really want to modify my revolver to fit conicals.
Maybe not this exact method, but there are other methods for round balls. Depending on the gun, it may need to be modified anyway to take paper cartridges. Thanks for watching!
Cin I put a thin layer of wax or glue around the paper to make it more durable. Wood it gum up in the cylinder?
I think it would make more of a mess than you want in the chambers.
Great video was the remington revolver you made these paper cartridges for the Pietta's Remington 1858 New Army revolver? In your previous videos about the Pietta Remington New Army you said you doubted you could use conical bullets or Conical bullet paper cartridges due to the Pietta's rammer ? Thank you for any clarification.
This is that same Pietta. The rammer does blunt the conical bullets, but I often shoot them anyway. Thanks for watching!
Nice video thank you
I don't see Johnston and dow bullet molds you listed ?