Catweazle Posted May 8, 2013 Report Share Posted May 8, 2013 To use target loads in my blackpowder revolver I need something to take up the space between powder and ball. I was looking at the price of felt for making wads, it very expensive. Many shooters use a filler such as semolina to fill the air-gap, but it's messy and doesn't help lube the barrel. Then I remembered a device from the 70's, that made fire-logs from wet newspaper in a mould, and I wondered if I could make something similar to "cast" wads. Do you think it would work ? If not, any other suggestions ? I also thought about the wood pellets used for eco-boilers, they are made by heating sawdust and extruding it under pressure into a cylinder shape. I wonder if they make them in .45 calibre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 Why dont you seat the ball lower? U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Livefast123 Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 I was told that the closer the ball is to the top of the cylinder then the more accurate the load will be (I need all the help possible ) I use the felt wads from Kranks which are about £5 a hundred so if you find a cheaper way let me know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 But have you actually tried it ? If it was fine then thats better. Loads of lube in front of the ball. How far are you shooting? U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Livefast123 Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 I haven't tried it yet as I shoot 777 and supposedly can't use any fillers with it so am a bit stumped as to how I can get the ball closer being a noob to muzzleloading I shoot 25 and 50m with a Remington 1858. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted May 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 The loading ram won't push the ball down far enough, that's why a wad is used. I have found a supplier of cheaper felt wads and have ordered some. If they're good I'll report back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 But have you actually tried it ? . I have and cannot see any difference with accuracy when the ball is seated deeper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 I was looking at the price of felt for making wads, it very expensive. Many shooters use a filler such as semolina to fill the air-gap, but it's messy and doesn't help lube the barrel. Buy a punch from Kranks in the calibre of your choice and a sheet of felt pad from a dressmakers/home furnishing store. http://www.henrykrank.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=116_151_672 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 Take the cylinder out to seat the balls deeper. U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 Buy a punch from Kranks in the calibre of your choice and a sheet of felt pad from a dressmakers/home furnishing store. http://www.henrykrank.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=116_151_672 It takes forever, life is too short. By the time you have bought the felt you might as well buy the wads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 All my shotguns have used overshot cards as wads! A stack of a few of them usually perform as good as any other wad type ( I say usually because one shotgun don't like them and has to have a fiber wad). Get a punch or make one as I often do/have done and stamp beer mats. Go .025" larger than the cylinder bores. Three or four of them on yer powder, blob of lube, ball and somemore lube and away you go. U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floating Chamber Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 What about the green stuff used as 'underlay' in laminate flooring. It is sold in Wickes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted May 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 Or, of course, I could stop being such a wuss and fill the thing with powder Thing is, it shoots sweetly with 15grn Pyrodex in a chamber that can take 40grn+ so it needs quite a bit of space-filler. What about the green stuff used as 'underlay' in laminate flooring. It is sold in Wickes. That's an idea, I'll have a look. I've seen cork floor tiles recommended too, but I'd prefer some kind of felt boiled in tallow / lard / beeswax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 Possibly 3/8" for a .360. 3/8"= 3x .125"=.375". .44 maybe a 12mm punch. 12x.040=.480". http://www.handtools-uk.com/product_info.php?cPath=cPath=289&products_id=1226 U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted May 10, 2013 Report Share Posted May 10, 2013 It takes forever, life is too short. By the time you have bought the felt you might as well buy the wads. But you could also apply the same reasoning with reloading rife ammunition.Punching wads is just another part of the shooting hobby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted May 10, 2013 Report Share Posted May 10, 2013 Sometimes in world of instant gratification something that slows us down and helps our head catch our **** up is actually to be commended! U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phaedra1106 Posted May 10, 2013 Report Share Posted May 10, 2013 Plenty of cheapish sets on Ebay like this one, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261204271985 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsonicnat Posted May 10, 2013 Report Share Posted May 10, 2013 Use Wall insulation, thats what I use in the "4" Bore: Like compressed cardboard, need a sharp punch though: Rots away easily as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted May 10, 2013 Report Share Posted May 10, 2013 (edited) But you could also apply the same reasoning with reloading rife ammunition.Punching wads is just another part of the shooting hobby. No, punching wads is really slow and boring, like you do ten and give up, or want to give up and it stops being fun. I have punched out lots, from necessity, but I don't enjoy it. I have tried the underlay from laminate flooring. It looks like it should be brilliant but didn't cut very well. A second flask filled with semolina is still the easiest. But this is why I gave up on revolvers and shoot a single shot M/L pistol. In a morning on the range I will easily shoot double what my mates shoot with their revolvers. More than double, they spend more time loading than shooting, I don't. I can shoot sixty rounds in an hour and have done it easily as a bet. And my pistol is way more accurate than any revolver. Everybody buys revolvers because they think they are better but they are hard work and they wear out really quickly. The metal is really soft, Rugers being the exception Edited May 10, 2013 by Vince Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsonicnat Posted May 13, 2013 Report Share Posted May 13, 2013 Did know of a bloke years ago, He used to get the matting from the hospital, the one`s you lie on when having XRAYS, He Swore by the stuff, I was never able to get any, but if you know the right people Eh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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