Cupfire...say what?

[The Saint]

Well, here's a weird one that walked through the door today. Eagle Arms .30 cupfire 6 shooter. I've read about these, but never held one until today. I'll likely never be able to shoot this due to the ammo being, well, nonexistent...but that's ok. Unless I figure something goofy out, this is a neat collector piece if nothing else. You just have to respect the ingenuity of the 1860s...

 

[Threeband]

Take that, Rollin White!

 

[Blacksmith101]

Here is a description and some pictures of "Cup Fired" cartridges:

THE CARTRIDGE COLLECTOR

 

[The Saint]

I've debated trying and putting this thing back into the field...but I have no idea how I'm going to cobble together a modern .30 cupfire case. The bullet is not the problem...there's a mold for everything, these days. Brass? not so much.

 

[Threeband]

It's basically a sort of rimfire, so you'd have to prepare a priming compound and place it in the unobtanium cases.

 

[The Saint]

It's basically a sort of rimfire, so you'd have to prepare a priming compound and place it in the unobtanium cases.

Yeah, I know exactly how they work. Priming compound is easy...I just can't see myself making brass haha!

 

[JohnnyE]

Well, here's a weird one that walked through the door today. Eagle Arms .30 cupfire 6 shooter. I've read about these, but never held one until today. I'll likely never be able to shoot this due to the ammo being, well, nonexistent...but that's ok. Unless I figure something goofy out, this is a neat collector piece if nothing else. You just have to respect the ingenuity of the 1860s...

Are there any dimensions available that you can use to recreate the brass? Soon I'll be rolling my own paper black powder cartridges in .36 cal, but at least I have a template to cut the nitrated paper into which I'll throw the black powder and glue in some conicals and balls.

 

[The Saint]

Are there any dimensions available that you can use to recreate the brass? Soon I'll be rolling my own paper black powder cartridges in .36 cal, but at least I have a template to cut the nitrated paper into which I'll throw the black powder and glue in some conicals and balls.

If there are, I sure can't find them. The cupfire system only lasted a few years before it was gone, so what's out there is scarce.

 

[Threeband]

I think you could get the dimensions from the chambers themselves.
Diameter X by Length Y, with a concave closed end and slight rolled lip at the open end.

You just need ductile copper blanks and a swage.

 

[Blacksmith101]

Here is a source of Priming Compound it is originally for reloading .22 rimfire cartridges.

Prime-All Repriming Compound

IMPORTANT: YOU MUST BE 21 YEARS OF AGE TO ORDER PRIME-ALL REPRIMING COMPOUND! By adding this item to your cart and proceeding to checkout, you acknowledge you are at least 21 years of age. Prime any casing, anywhere, including muzzle loader caps, and have the ability to reprime any old primer...

22lrreloader.com

 

[The Saint]

Here is a source of Priming Compound it is originally for reloading .22 rimfire cartridges.

Prime-All Repriming Compound

IMPORTANT: YOU MUST BE 21 YEARS OF AGE TO ORDER PRIME-ALL REPRIMING COMPOUND! By adding this item to your cart and proceeding to checkout, you acknowledge you are at least 21 years of age. Prime any casing, anywhere, including muzzle loader caps, and have the ability to reprime any old primer...

22lrreloader.com

Yeah, I've debated loading .22s for giggles for years now, I always had these guys on my radar. The cost of the kits just always held me back.