18-lødig M/1849/55 Kammerlader – bullet and mould information wanted

[Schaaapie]

Hi all,

I recently bought a Belgian/Francotte M/1849/55 Kammerlader, serial number 1156, in 18 lødig. It appears to be matching-numbered and is marked Fr.M.C-D83.

I'm trying to learn as much as I can about it and put together a proper collector's dossier. I'm especially interested in the original M/1855 pointed bullet and paper cartridge.

I would eventually like to shoot the rifle with black powder, assuming it is first checked and found safe to fire, so I'd like to get the historical ammunition details as accurate as possible.

Does anyone have original measurements, drawings, photos, or other information on the M/1855 bullet — especially diameter, length, weight, grooves, hollow base and paper cartridge construction?

I'd also be very interested to hear from anyone who has experience shooting an original 18-lødig M/1849/55.

And if anyone here knows of a suitable bullet mould, makes them, or knows someone who does, I'd be grateful for any leads.

Thanks in advance for any help or information.

[Cap'n Redneck]

If You do not already own it, I would strongly suggest You buy this book, written by the owner & webmaster of www.svartkrutt.net:

https://blackpowderbook.com/


Of course, this book specifically on Kammerladers is also highly recommended:

https://svartkrutt.net/shop/no/boker/161-norske-militaere-og-sivile-kammerladningsgevaerer.html

(Also written by the owner of svartkrutt.net, it's printed in Norwegian, but with the assistance of Google Translate etc. You should be able to make sense of it.)

[Torgeir]

Hello.
I like your plan. There should be plenty of the information you seek on this page, but language of course is a barrier.
There's plenty of guys on this forum with extensive experience shooting these rifles, and they can be surprisingly accurate.
Bullet molds are somewhat hard to come by. Accurate molds have several suitable designs listed as "kammerlader". Myself, I am using this design successfully in black powder competitions here. https://accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=70-675K
The load is 85 grains of 2F, with the bullet stuffed on top of it seated in a carton wad formed like a cupcake-form. Some rifles need a wad like this to shoot really well, others just need a disc of carton or semolina or whatever you prefer between powder and lead. Make sure to stuff plenty of lard on top of the bullet once chambered. You mention hollow base. As far as I know, these rifles did not use hollow base bullets.

[Schaaapie]

Thanks for the information.

I ordered a mold, the 70-675K and the 70-686k from Accurate molds.

So will see how it goes when that arrives