No they do not take a cartridge. You load each individual cylinder like you would the breech of a muzzleloader rifle. The difference is they load from the side of the cylinder in the case of the 1858 New Army of Navy six shot revolver. The actual single shot pistol like a kentucky pistol is loaded in the same manner as a muzzleloader. On the back of the cylinder is a small nipple to each open cylinder. They take a #10 percussion cap there. Check you local and State regulations. Many places these revolvers are regulated. On the six shot model, using a small powder flask you dump into the empty cylinder 25 grains of Goex 3f, Pyrodex P, Triple Se7en 3f, or Pinnacle 3f powder. You then place a lubed fiber wonderwad over that. On top of the wad you place a .451 round ball in my case or an actual conical bullet. The loading lever located under the barrel works on a pivot press system. You line up the set chamber under the press lever and then press all the parts of the load into the cylinder under the lip of the cylinder so it can still rotate. After you have all six cylinders (many load only five cylinders and carry on an empty one) You put bore butter or Crisco over the end of the cylinder to prevent a chain fire of the spark and fire from an ignited cylinder jumping from loaded cylinder to cylinder. After all of that you put the #10 caps on each nipple behind the loaded cylinder and you are now ready to shoot.[quote]

I hope this answered your question and happy holidays to you and everyone else.