Summer 2019 Update: Please expect 10 days before your order ships. I'm doing my best to keep up, but everything sold here is truly hand-made one at a time, and I sometimes fall behind in busy summer months. Thanks for your patience and understanding!
New! Wilkinson-Lorenz .54-cal Compression Bullets and Cartridges: Just in time for you to shoot the new Pedersoli reproduction 1854 Lorenz with the historically correct bullet and paper cartridge. These bullets and cartridges also work wonderfully in the 1857 "Mauser" Vereinsgewehr, and the .539-cal bullet can be used without a paper patch in any 54-caliber rifle like the M1841 "Mississippi" rifle. Click here for more details on our Lorenz bullets and cartridges.
Authentic cartridges accurately resembling period rounds, with bullets simulated by tissue paper
The history and development of the bullets and cartridges used in the Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle-musket
Brett and Darrell shooting Enfield cartridges from P1853 Enfield rifles
A few observations about making and shooting historically-accurate cartridges in the P1853 Enfield.
Updated February 2018
The Williams Patent "Cleaner" Bullet and Cartridges: In the middle of the American Civil War, Elijah Williams patented a bullet that was quickly adopted by the U.S. Ordnance Department. Designed for great accuracy, they also kept the bore of the rifle-musket clean, leading to the nickname "Williams Cleaner Bullet." Now you can try our reproduction of this iconic Civil War bullet, which we have found to be an extremely accurate shooter. Click here for more information.
550-caliber Pritchett bullets, compression formed: these are swage-formed (like the historical bullets) and not cast, forming perfect bullets that perform wonderfully in rifle-muskets like the P1853 Enfield and also the US Springfield. These bullets are exactly like the originals in every specification. If you want to shoot your .577 Enfield rifle the way it was intended, then these are the bullets to use! Click here for more information.
Ten Rules for Enfield Cartridges
Best practices for making your own Enfield cartridges for the P1853 rifle, and a few tips for troubleshooting if your Enfield cartridges don't seem to be working.
We make more than just paper cartridges! Visit our sister site at www.FTG1853.com for historically correct reproductions of various Victorian-era military and civilian items.
Authentic Paper Cartridges
Live Fire Muzzleloader Shooting
Bullets and cartridges correctly made to historic specifications for Civil War-period long arms
Please call or email if you have any questions. I enjoy talking to my customers! I do my best to respond to emails in 24 hours; please keep in mind this website is a labor of love, and not my full-time "real" job!
EVERY product sold here is made one at a time, by hand. I ship most orders in 72 hours but occasionally may take a little longer. I appreciate your patience and understanding. I'm just one guy with an old dachshund (and he doesn't help much).
brett.gibbons@papercartridges.com
(805) 218-2214
Enfield Cartridges: accurate reproductions of the rifle cartridge, made to the 1859 British Army pattern for the .577 caliber P1853 Enfield family of rifle-muskets. This was the preferred cartridge for the Confederate Army in the American Civil War, and millions were imported and made in Confederate arsenals. Each cartridge has the historically correct swage-formed Pritchett-style bullet and plug, like the originals. Just add black powder and you're ready to go! Click here for more details about our Enfield cartridges.
A short introduction to period-correct ammunition methods of construction for Civil War era cartridges