GDG- Rifled Musket Characteristics?

[Batrinque at aol.com]

In a message dated 10/21/06 4:48:17 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
Batrinque at aol.com writes:

> I was looking through Dean Thomas's immensely detailed multivolume work on 
> small arms ammunition the other night, and I recollect reading of some 
> rifled 
> musket rounds that were made with a deliberately small diameter that could 
> be 
> loaded in such a fashion, but I believe they were quite uncommon.
> 

Some additional information on this:  the cartridge I had in mind was the 
"Johnston & Dow" cartridge manufactured for both Springfield and Enfield rifled 
muskets (and also for pistols).  The cartridge was treated with chemicals so 
that the paper (or cloth) was highly flammable and would be entirely consumed 
during firing.  This meant that it was not necessary to tear open the cartridge 
to pour the powder down the barrel, substantially making the loading process 
faster and increasing the rate of fire.  In addition, the cartridges were 
coated with collodion to make them waterproof.  The Johnston & Dow cartridges were 
tested quite extensively in the AoP duirng 1861, and an impressive collection 
of enthusiastic reports was assembled, testifying that not only did the 
cartridge cases burn completely, but also that they burned so cleanly that fouling 
was reduced.  In additional, numerous examples of the cartridges successfully 
withstanding prolonged exposure to rain, sweat, and water were provided.  And 
it was asserted that the Johnston & Dow cartridges were physically tougher than 
standard issue, substantially reducing cartridge wastage through damage in 
ordinary handling.  One observer, watching the 7th Michigan using these 
cartridges at Fair Oaks noted "that until the piece gets foul from use a rammer is not 
necessary to drive the cartridge, that a slight touch of the butt of the 
musket to the ground after the Cartridge is inserted in the muzzle sends it home." 
 I erred, however, in earlier attributing this ease of loading with a smaller 
diameter bullet.  Instead, standard diameter Minie bullets were used.  I 
would suspect the reported ease of loading had to do with a lowered coefficient of 
friction stemming from the collodion used to waterproof the paper/cloth, plus 
the increased weight of the whole cartridge being loaded as a single package 
along with a longer length-to-width ratio that would help overcome localized 
"sticking" issues when sliding down the bore.

Bruce Trinque
Amston, CT