This is our Master Kit. It comes with the knob and block for the caliber, calibers, or specific guns, the marked dippers for them, and one funnel. It also comes with all the things you need to make paper cartridges except for bullets and powder. This includes two packages of Elements rice paper rolling papers, a 5/8" paper circle cutter, a regular size All Purpose glue stick, and a 2oz can of black powder lube.
The lube is enough for approximately 200 paper cartridges if the lube is kept hot throughout. If you heat the lube, take it off the heat, and dip until you can no longer dip, it will not last anywhere near as long. The two packages of paper are enough for about 200 rounds of the .36 and .44 if you cut two strips for the body and use the end for two circles (see instructions page). For the larger cartridges, the number is about a half to two thirds, depending on well you combine your cuts.
All of our kits are engineered to fill the chamber so that the top of a conical bullet reaches the very top of the chamber when compressed with the loading lever. Small variances in height can be obtained by how much you fill or overfill the dipper.
For lower power target loads, you fill the powder first, for how much you want to use, then top it off with Cream of Wheat to about an 8th of an inch below the rim of the paper.
For roundballs, if you want them topped right up, you should fill the dipper to overflowing, with a little on the handle.
Experiment with your gun so you don't run into a situation where the bullet or ball will not compress enough to clear the cylinder. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
If you do get stuck, which most of us have, take your cylinder out and hacksaw the top off of the bullet.
None of our kits come with gunpowder, bullets, caps or of course the guns in the pictures. Our measurements are based on our experience, and you use them at your own risk.
This kit includes the knob and block for our .36 cal, .44 cal, Dragoon, Walker, and Old Army sets, the marked dippers for all of them, and one funnel.
The .36 cal was tested with the Richmond bullet from Eras Gone Bullet Molds. All of the .44s were tested with the Johnson & Dow bullet, and the Dragoon, Walker, and Old Army were tested with the Walker bullet.
For those bullets, if you fill the dipper so that there is no powder on the rim, the bullets will top up to the edge of the cylinder when compressed with the loading lever. You will have to experiment with your own gun and bullets to find the right height for whatever you are using.
Note that the J&D bullet DOES NOT FIT IN A .44 51 NAVY. You can use our brass tapping rod, or any other rod that won't damage your gun to start the bullet so that it clears the entry port. The Walker bullet also does not clear the loading port of some Dragoons and Walkers. Rather than file and reblue the guns, we choose to use the tapping rod to get the bullet started.