One can use combustible cartridges for revolver, but one can't use combustible cartridges, patches or wads with single shot pistols. Why am I confused here?
Patches and wads, like all down-the-barrel paper, probably is from the legacy fear of cook-offs. Though I think it is unfounded, that's probably why. I think it's unfounded because anything that is completely on top of the charge is pretty much guaranteed to be blasted out of the barrel.
Combustible cartridges down a muzzle loader is asking for trouble in a serious way. I've had 3 cookoffs in the 9 years I've been doing this, and that's just when you pour loose powder down the barrel. Imagine shoving a complete cartridge down with a ramrod and finding the ember then!
With revolvers, there is probably very little chance of a cookoff, if for no other reason than the amount of time between shooting and loading. That said, I'm surprised that paper revolver cartridges became acceptable before paper-patched muzzle loading bullets (like the Enfield cartridge) did. With paper-patched muzzle loading bullets, the paper is on top of the charge. There is virtually zero chance of any paper remaining in the barrel after firing a shot. Whereas with paper cartridges that are both around the sides of and behind the charge, there is very often paper remnants left in the chamber.
If there ever was a revolver cookoff while driving a cartridge home with a rammer, I expect that would be ugly.
Steve
Steve Sheldon
Commander
4th Louisiana Delta Rifles
NRA Certified Muzzleloading Instructor
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