How to Make a Paper Display Rifle Cartridge
- 1). Break up about an ounce of beeswax and place it in a candle warmer. Turn on the candle warmer and let the wax melt as you make other preparations.
- 2). Fold a cigarette paper in half, making sure the gummed edge is bisected by the fold. Open the cigarette paper and cut in half along the fold with scissors.
- 3). Wrap one of the papers around the end of a dowel rod, making sure the roll can slide up and down the dowel easily. Moisten the gummed edge and press down.
- 4). Slide the paper down the dowel so about 1/4 of the paper tube is now empty. Fold in the left and right sides of the empty side of the tube, pressing them against the end of the dowel, creating two paper points. Fold these paper points against the bottom of the dowel, also (the dowel need not be centered).
- 5). Dip a toothpick in the melted beeswax and swab it over the folds to hold them in place and sealing the end of the cartridge. Hold the waxed folds down with your thumb for about 30 seconds. Wait another minute or so before sliding the tube off of the dowel.
- 6). Slide the paper tube off the dowel rod and slip a lead ball into the tube. Gently squeeze the tube to slide it to the bottom. Place the tube upright on a flat surface and put a funnel in the opening.
- 7). Pour a pre-measured amount of black powder into the tube. Remove the funnel and twist the top of the cartridge shut. The amount of powder used depends on the firearm; use what you would normally use for your reenactment weapon. If the cartridge is just for show, fill the tube about ¾ full of powder. Do not use cartridges with estimated powder amounts in them.
