There are several. First, learn how to make paper cartridges.
You use book paper from a cheap book bought at the dollar store, and make a pre-loaded powder charge cartridges. You do the same thing with newsprint, and make cartridges that holds only the shot. So..., you tear open the the powder cartridge, dump it, then invert the now empty paper tube an stuff it into the muzzle, then ram it down to make a "wad". (some guys just toss the paper and use a fiber wad). Then you gently load the newsprint with the shot, intact and not torn open, down the barrel with the ramrod, seating it against whatever wad you used. It's very quick. Then prime and close your pan. Ready to shoot again.
You will want to make the paper cartridges from book paper so they just fit into your muzzle, and you can use these insted of a patch
for your round ball. Patches don't fold the say way twice, but using a paper cartridge as a "shot cup" for a single ball fits the same way every time.
Using the same thicker paper from a book instead of newsprint, make a cup for your shot, and heat up the shot cartridge holding the shot in the oven to about 170 degrees, then pour a 50/50 mix of melted beeswax and shortening over the shot in the cup and allow this to cool and harden. You have then a replica of a historic, "wax round" which were used to sorta tighten shot patterns. The pre-heating helps the wax/shortening mixture flow throughout the cartridge before it hardens.
Some guys instead of the wax rounds, today will do the same thing, but instead of heating them up and pouring in wax, they simply pour in some dry, Jiffy brand corn muffin mix, and tap on the paper tube with the shot to help the dry corn muffin mix settle among the shot pellets.
WIERD yeah I know, but some guys swear by the stuff, and have tried plain cornmeal and don't get the same effect.
Bottom line is you have to pattern your gun and learn what it's doing....
LD
