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 Dragoon kit was engineered specifically for the Italian copies of several eras of the Colt Dragoon pistol. There have been many many manufacturers of these pistols, and there are many variations. Not all bullets clear the entry port on the Dragoons. Some have suggested to file the entry port, but we prefer to use our brass tapping rod to pre-seat the bullet. Our new production Uberti Whitneyville Dragoons fit the bullets fine.
This design is specifically for the .44 Walker bullet from Eras Gone Bullet Molds, but will also work with the .44 Johnson & Dow bullet. We have not yet tested it with lube groove bullets from Lee and others.
If you fill the dipper just so that the rim has no powder on it, the top of the bullet will be at the edge of the cylinder with the Walker bullet.