Paper cartridge
These cartridges consisted of a paper cylinder or cone containing the bullet, gunpowder, and in some cases, a primer or a lubricating and anti-fouling agent.
[1][2][3] Paper cartridges have been in use for nearly as long as hand-held firearms, with a number of sources dating their use back to the late 14th century.
The first army to officially use paper cartridges is presumed to be "piechota wybraniecka" of Poland under the rule of Stephen Báthory.
They provided some degree of water resistance, they lubricated the paper-wrapped bullet as they were pushed down the bore, they melted upon firing to mix with the powder residue and make the resulting fouling easier to remove, and they were not as hazardous to carry and handle (especially in combat) since the gunpowder inside was not as susceptible to being ignited by stray sparks or other ignition sources.
Treated by soaking in a potassium nitrate solution and then drying, this made the paper far more flammable and ensured it burned completely upon firing.
In some cases the cartridges were produced directly from paper pulp, and formed into a seamless cylinder of the correct diameter.
[1][6] Smoothbore muskets were loaded with lead balls, slightly smaller than the diameter of the bore, to make them easier to ram down the barrel (especially as fouling built up); a "patch" of paper or cloth was wrapped around the bullet before inserting it into the barrel, to make it fit snugly, so it wouldn't roll back out when the muzzle was tipped downward.
A typical flintlock cartridge consisted of a paper tube, tied off in three places to form two compartments.
To load the musket, the following steps were used:[7][9] The paper, typically a thick, sturdy variety, keeps the undersized bullet centered in the bore.
When fired, the pressure of the gases would force the skirt of the bullet to expand, fitting tightly into the rifling grooves, unlike the loose-fitting and inaccurate musket ball.
This was achieved by including a deep cavity in the rear, into which fitted (initially) an iron hemispherical cup, later a conical clay or timber plug, which caused the base of the projectile to expand upon firing, sealing the skirt to the bore, allowing an undersized projectile to be used for ease of loading without a patch.
(Eventually it was found that the pressure of the powder gases expanded the base to fit the bore, without any plug or filler.)
Lubrication aided somewhat, but that too had its problems picking up grit and other hard detritus which damaged the bore of the firearm.
The paper cartridge was glued, typically with sodium silicate, a high temperature glue that was widely available, as it was also used to preserve fresh eggs.
[3][10] The concept of a fully self-contained paper cartridge for a breech loader was patented in 1808, only a year after the invention of the percussion cap.
One of the earliest breechloading firearms that was widely adopted was the Dreyse needle gun, patented in 1839, which was used by the Prussian army.
[2][4][11] The acorn-shaped bullet used by the Prussians was carried in a Papier-mâché sabot which served not only to seal the bore, but also contain the primer.
