Another question about wads

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flounder

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I've been wondering about this and thought I'd see what others think. I know when I use wads they normally stick to the bottom of my conicals, probably from a little excess lube. In fact I have recovered wads by my targets. Do you think that this hijacking wad adversely affects the bullets tragectory?
 
I've been wondering about this and thought I'd see what others think. I know when I use wads they normally stick to the bottom of my conicals, probably from a little excess lube. In fact I have recovered wads by my targets. Do you think that this hijacking wad adversely affects the bullets tragectory?

I have spoke about this quite a bit on here. A Wad sticking to the Bullet base can most DEFINITELY negatively affect accuracy, i have had it happen Several times, What Steers the Bullet? The Base is what Steers it!! This is why I ONLY Shoot 1/8” Oversize Wool Felt, I have NEVER had a Wool Felt Wad stick, They will ALL be found 15 Yards or so from the Muzzle. Hard Card Wads such as Vege Fiber, and LDPE Work great with my Dry Paper Patch bullets, or Jacketed Sabotless, But you won’t Catch me using a Hard Card Type Wad with a Grease Groove Bullet

The problem is Hard Card type Wads, Vege Wads, LDPE with Grease Groove Bullets, They are NOTORIOUS for sticking to the Bullet bases from Lube, BPCR Guy’s Actually use 2-3 Tiny Newspaper Wads Between the Bullet Base and Wad to help Release the Hard Card Type Wads.
 
Shooting over Crusted Snow, With Grease Groove Bullets and Hard Card Wads i have Found the Wads (Vege Fiber, Nitro Cards) all the way out to 50-60 Yards!! Some break away quickly, They will be found Scattered along. 1/8” Wool felt on the other Hand will ALL be Found Within a few Yards of eachother, and it will be CLOSE to the Muzzle, indicating they are “Breaking away” from the Bullet Base Immediately, And CONSISTENTLY Upon Exiting the Bore, Which is EXACTLY what you want an OP Wad to do!

Hard Card Wads with Grease Groove Bullets are VERY Hit & Miss, 1 day they do AWESOME, another Day Not so much? Wool is the Clear Winner for me with GG

Note the ONLY difference in these 2 Targets, Hard Card (.060 Vege Fiber) up First
ZNgeW5M.jpg


Everything is the Same as Target above, EXCEPT I Switched to 1/8” Wool Felt, Oversize
qGUOMzZl.jpg
 
Thanks Lewis, This is the kind of reply I was looking for. The only bad part is I have a boatload of wads for all three calibers I shoot. In past posts I thought the reason you liked the oversize wool wads was because they seal so well where they contact the barrel. I was kind of thinking that some of the wool might hang on to one side of my conicals but it seems that isn't a concern, especially with your results. Now I need to get the wool.
On a side note, A guy that does quite a bit of competitive shooting sent me some bullets as a favor to me. He included some slightly oversize thin plastic wads that he punched out. They seemed to work well.
 
I've been wondering about this and thought I'd see what others think. I know when I use wads they normally stick to the bottom of my conicals, probably from a little excess lube. In fact I have recovered wads by my targets. Do you think that this hijacking wad adversely affects the bullets tragectory?
Yes very much so.
 
I have found the wad still stuck to the bottom of a paper patched bullet in the dirt behind my target. It still stuck even with going thru the target and into the dirt. I look at the base of the bullet as the rutter that steers the bullet.
 
Thanks Lewis, This is the kind of reply I was looking for. The only bad part is I have a boatload of wads for all three calibers I shoot. In past posts I thought the reason you liked the oversize wool wads was because they seal so well where they contact the barrel. I was kind of thinking that some of the wool might hang on to one side of my conicals but it seems that isn't a concern, especially with your results. Now I need to get the wool.
On a side note, A guy that does quite a bit of competitive shooting sent me some bullets as a favor to me. He included some slightly oversize thin plastic wads that he punched out. They seemed to work well.

The thin plastic wads you speak of might be what’s called LDPE (Low-density polyethylene) I make them as well as the Vege Fiber. I have NOT shot a lot of LDPE, But i have Shot Enough to Know that they Can/will Stick as well. I have Shot a LOT of The Vege Fiber. Here is the CRAZY part, I have had some AMAZING outings with the Hard Cards, i have shot Some AWESOME Groups with them, Then go back out with the EXACT same load a Month or so down the Rd to Dial/Sight in and i Couldn’t Shoot a Decent Group to Save me?!! This Drove me NUTS trying to understand What was Going on? I began to suspect The Card Wads were Sticking to the Bullet bases? And SURE Enough they were! But why did i have a Few REALLY Good outings? Obviously they didn’t stick then? I don’t have an Answer to that? But My guess is Lube Viscosity, and Weather Conditions on a Given Day. Example being, Maybe If it is Warmer out they Don’t Stick as Bad? Or Maybe it’s if the Weather is Colder? I didn’t pay attention to that part?

After the Poor, Hit & Miss Luck I’ve had with The Hard Card type Wads, i personally Can’t make myself Trust them anymore with a Grease Groove Bullet, They are WAY to Hit & Miss. They do Work well with my Paper Patch Loads, But so does my 1/8” Wool Felt, They Work just as well with ALL Bullet Types, 1/8” Wool Felt Wins HANDS DOWN, and has YET to Fail me, I HIGHLY Recommend it :lewis:

I even bought a Fred Cornell Press Mounted Wad Punch way back for HIGH Volume Vege Fiber, and LDPE Wads, I rarely use this Anymore, I stil Haven’t tried this Punch with Wool Felt? I bet it will work, The Cutter/Die Tolerance is TIGHT, I need to Try some Wool Felt
85iGTGrl.jpg


I can Crank out a Pile of Wads in a Hurry with this Setup (If Only that was ALL Wool Felt :))
uNzFvu4l.jpg


These .060 LDPE Wads sure Create a Nice Seal, EXCELLENT Behind a Dry Paper Patch Bullet, or Jacketed Sabotless :lewis: Anything But a Grease Groove Bullet
VHiNYgzl.jpg
 
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The thin plastic wads you speak of might be what’s called LDPE (Low-density polyethylene) I make them as well as the Vege Fiber. I have NOT shot a lot of LDPE, But i have Shot Enough to Know that they Can/will Stick as well. I have Shot a LOT of The Vege Fiber. Here is the CRAZY part, I have had some AMAZING outings with the Hard Cards, i have shot Some AWESOME Groups with them, Then go back out with the EXACT same load a Month or so down the Rd to Dial/Sight in and i Couldn’t Shoot a Decent Group to Save me?!! This Drove me NUTS trying to understand What was Going on? I began to suspect The Card Wads were Sticking to the Bullet bases? And SURE Enough they were! But why did i have a Few REALLY Good outings? Obviously they didn’t stick then? I don’t have an Answer to that? But My guess is Lube Viscosity, and Weather Conditions on a Given Day. Example being, Maybe If it is Warmer out they Don’t Stick as Bad? Or Maybe it’s if the Weather is Colder? I didn’t pay attention to that part?

After the Poor, Hit & Miss Luck I’ve had with The Hard Card type Wads, i personally Can’t make myself Trust them anymore with a Grease Groove Bullet, They are WAY to Hit & Miss. They do Work well with my Paper Patch Loads, But so does my 1/8” Wool Felt, They Work just as well with ALL Bullet Types, 1/8” Wool Felt Wins HANDS DOWN, and has YET to Fail me, I HIGHLY Recommend it :lewis:

I even bought a Fred Cornell Press Mounted Wad Punch way back for HIGH Volume Vege Fiber, and LDPE Wads, I rarely use this Anymore, I stil Haven’t tried this Punch with Wool Felt? I bet it will work, The Cutter/Die Tolerance is TIGHT, I need to Try some Wool Felt
85iGTGrl.jpg


I can Crank out a Pile of Wads in a Hurry with this Setup (If Only that was ALL Wool Felt :))
uNzFvu4l.jpg


These .060 LDPE Wads sure Create a Nice Seal, EXCELLENT Behind a Dry Paper Patch Bullet, or Jacketed Sabotless :lewis: Anything But a Grease Groove Bullet
VHiNYgzl.jpg
Have you tried one over powder with felt on top?
 
Have you tried one over powder with felt on top?

Bob, i have done that quite a Bit over the last few years and it works really well :lewis:

Ed’s Lyman Gould (Hollow Point) This was about 2 Years ago, I found other Targets where i had Tested this 3 Years ago. It DEFINITELY Works! These are Both Good examples of it, where i logged it down.
G44yFnDl.jpg


This was Ed’s Solid Gould
G44yFnDl.jpg


The Targets Above were Shot at a True, Ranged 100 Yards, Back when this Place was open to Shoot
c3xgeoPl.jpg
 
The Porous Surface of 1/8” Wool Felt, and a Much Larger Surface area at that, They just Won’t Stick to a Greased Bullet Base, They “Break Away” IMMEDIATELY upon Exiting the Bore. I stil have a Habit of wiping the Bases Clean Before i load, Just a Quick Wipe across an Old Towel/Paper Towel Etc. Though this isn’t needed with 1/8” Wool Felt

If a Guy insists on using Hard Card type Wads with Grease Groove Bullets, I HIGHLY advise you to Wipe the Bullet Base GOOD n CLEAN before Loading, They need ALL the Help they can Get to Release “Break free” From the Bullet base
 
The Porous Surface of 1/8” Wool Felt, and a Much Larger Surface area at that, They just Won’t Stick to a Greased Bullet Base, They “Break Away” IMMEDIATELY upon Exiting the Bore. I stil have a Habit of wiping the Bases Clean Before i load, Just a Quick Wipe across an Old Towel/Paper Towel Etc. Though this isn’t needed with 1/8” Wool Felt

If a Guy insists on using Hard Card type Wads with Grease Groove Bullets, I HIGHLY advise you to Wipe the Bullet Base GOOD n CLEAN before Loading, They need ALL the Help they can Get to Release “Break free” From the Bullet base

Which wool felt wads would you recommend? Something that's pre made and packaged.
Also do you recommend using that liquid was stuff to attach them to the bullet ahead of time? During a hunting situation fumbling around with all that is just not a good idea.
 
Which wool felt wads would you recommend? Something that's pre made and packaged.
Also do you recommend using that liquid was stuff to attach them to the bullet ahead of time? During a hunting situation fumbling around with all that is just not a good idea.

These are the ones i use the most, I get mine from Buffalo Arms Co. since i live so close. As for Pre attaching them, i have never tried that? It only takes me an Extra few Seconds to Send the Wad down on it’s own, Then the Bullet. I look at it this way, My Rifle is Already Loaded while Hunting, With a Muzzleloader you usually only get 1 Shot, And then a Reload, So you are only Dealing with the Over Powder Wad 1 time, in the Reload. It is VERY unlikely that you will make more than 2 Shots in a Hunting Situation, Not saying it isn’t possible, Just not likely
thnP8Ael.jpg
 
Looks like I may need to invest in some wool and some punches

Durofelt is probably gonna be the Best place for “Bulk” Wool Felt Material, They even list “Gun Wad” Wool Felt, 1/8” is the Best way to go in my Opinion, I see they also offer 1/4”, Which seems a Bit Thick? I have Shot a PILE of The 1/8” Wool Felt over the last few years, it has NEVER let me Down! I can’t say that for ANY other Wad Material
http://www.durofelt.com/products.html

These Punches are Kinda Spendy, But they are VERY HIGH Quality Caliber Specific, i have these in 40, 45, and 50 Cal, I also have a Cheap Generic Set of Punches, NO COMPARISON to the BACO Punches. The Cheap set has a .500 (1/2”) BACO’s .50 Cal is .512, Note The 45 Rifle is .460, They also make a .450, Again, These are FAR Superior in Quality to the Cheap Chinese Sets Which Don’t have the Proper sizes to begin with
https://www.buffaloarms.com/reloading-supplies-accessories/wad-punches/hammer-struck-wad-punches
 
These are the ones i use the most, I get mine from Buffalo Arms Co. since i live so close. As for Pre attaching them, i have never tried that? It only takes me an Extra few Seconds to Send the Wad down on it’s own, Then the Bullet. I look at it this way, My Rifle is Already Loaded while Hunting, With a Muzzleloader you usually only get 1 Shot, And then a Reload, So you are only Dealing with the Over Powder Wad 1 time, in the Reload. It is VERY unlikely that you will make more than 2 Shots in a Hunting Situation, Not saying it isn’t possible, Just not likely
thnP8Ael.jpg


That's mostly true, but have had many instances where it has happened.
Thanks for the information, it's very much appreciated!
 
By ClemBert from The Firing Line: 36" x 12" pc will punch out over 1,500 wads of .44/.45 caliber or over 2100 wads of .36/.38 caliber.

http://www.durofelt.com/image_26.html
So $24 shipped for 1500 45cal wads. Plus $20 +shipping for the good punch.

Best price i can find is around $40/1000 shipped.
 
http://www.durofelt.com/image_26.html
So $24 shipped for 1500 45cal wads. Plus $20 +shipping for the good punch.

Best price i can find is around $40/1000 shipped.

I meant to Touch on this as well, I know EXACTLY what you mean! How many people will Realistically Shoot 1000 Muzzleloader Shots in their Lifetime? My Bet is NOT Many. Cost wise, unless you Plan to shoot a Literal TON, you would be better off Buying a 1,000 Already made Wool Wads and See how far they go?

The ONLY reason I bought the Punches, Bulk material etc. is Simply Because I enjoy tinkering with ALL aspects of this Stuff. I DEFINITELY have More money in all of the Stuff to make my Own Wads than I could have Bought them Already Made. But I enjoy owning the Tools, and being self Sufficient. I have tools that i will likely NEVER use in my Lifetime, But i have them just in Case :) My Bullet Mold Collection is another good example, I must have Over 20 .45 Cal Bullet Molds Alone, I DEFINITELY don’t need that many! I could easily get away with just a Few Molds, But it’s part of the Hobby to me, I can almost gaurantee that i will have MANY more Tools, and Bullet Molds Before it’s over :D I’ve told my Wife MANY times if/when Something happens to me, Have a Garage Sale, and a Party Afterwards :D And TRUTH is, I actually Mean that :lewis:
 
I meant to Touch on this as well, I know EXACTLY what you mean! How many people will Realistically Shoot 1000 Muzzleloader Shots in their Lifetime? My Bet is NOT Many...…………..

There may not be many shooting 1000+ rounds a year, but there are far more doing it than one would imagine. Quite a few right here on this board.
 

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