Raw wool instead of flax tow

Moleman · Sep 29, 2024

As of late it's been really dry and under burn bans because of lack of rain, so being careful in the woods is imperative.
I love shooting bare ball using flax tow but it smolders badly after the shot, so what about raw wool?
The loading process would be the same, just replacing the flax tow with raw wool.
Has anyone tried this?
Since wool don't burn is it a viable choice?

Freedom · Sep 29, 2024

Wool works great. Seems to improve patterns with shot too.

Banjoman · Sep 29, 2024

I have used raw, unwashed sheeps wool in a smooth bore. It worked fine. I used all of it and haven’t found any more or I’d still use it.

CyrusP · Sep 29, 2024

Assuming that can be reused if found out front. On a range.

Moleman · Sep 29, 2024

Banjoman said:
I have used raw, unwashed sheeps wool in a smooth bore. It worked fine. I used all of it and haven’t found any more or I’d still use it.

Banjoman I found this.

Clark Badgett · Sep 29, 2024

Wool should be just fine, and it’s historically correct too.

Hermit Tim · Sep 29, 2024

I have only use raw wool in my smoothies. Over powder and shot. Works great and it's all I've used the last couple years. I buy it from a couple different guys on eBay and it runs 12-15 bucks for a priority envelope stuffed to the gills and free shipping. Doesn't take much so one pack will last a long time. The only problem I've had was, when my wife got sick, we spent 3.5 months in the hospital last winter. I had just loaded my New Englander 12 and my .56 smoothbore. Never got to hunt so they sat in the vault all winter. I think over that period if time the lanolin leached into the powder. Finally this spring when I got them out to shoot and clean they both failed and loads had to be pulled. Never had a problem leaving them loaded for several days or a couple weeks at a time. Apparently several months is too much. But it is great stuff.

Clark Badgett · Sep 29, 2024

Hermit Tim said:
I have only use raw wool in my smoothies. Over powder and shot. Works great and it's all I've used the last couple years. I buy it from a couple different guys on eBay and it runs 12-15 bucks for a priority envelope stuffed to the gills and free shipping. Doesn't take much so one pack will last a long time. The only problem I've had was, when my wife got sick, we spent 3.5 months in the hospital last winter. I had just loaded my New Englander 12 and my .56 smoothbore. Never got to hunt so they sat in the vault all winter. I think over that period if time the lanolin leached into the powder. Finally this spring when I got them out to shoot and clean they both failed and loads had to be pulled. Never had a problem leaving them loaded for several days or a couple weeks at a time. Apparently several months is too much. But it is great stuff.

That looks like turkey at the store

Banjoman · Sep 29, 2024

Moleman said:
Banjoman I found this.

I was getting mine free from some folks who had sheep. They no longer have the sheep and I hadn’t considered buying it.

Moleman · Sep 29, 2024

Thank you gentlemen for the replies.
I'll definitely be ordering some wool and giving it a try.
I like the traditionally correct aspect of loading as well as not leaving a possible fire ignition source in a dry woods.

Smokey Plainsman · Sep 30, 2024

Clark Badgett said:
Wool should be just fine, and it’s historically correct too.

What is your source for this claim?

Trigger · Sep 30, 2024

Smokey Plainsman said:
What is your source for this claim?

What period.. they had cards wad early 1800? Google search

My source would be they weren't stupid...

I'd say they had it... they might have used something less valuable but they had it.

Hemp. cotton. wool. Paper. Leather. Etc.

They new more than me anyway?

I think of they sold a gun. They sold everything you needed to load it.

Tumbledown · Sep 30, 2024

Trigger said:
What period.. they had cards wad early 1800? Google search

My source would be they weren't stupid...

That's not a source, that's just a wild guess.

Trigger said:
I'd say they had it... they might have used something less valuable but they had it.

Hemp. cotton. wool. Paper. Leather. Etc.

"If they had it, they would have used it." is not proof or evidence.

Trigger said:
They new more than me anyway?

I think of they sold a gun. They sold everything you needed to load it.

Another wild, unsubstantiated guess? Do car dealerships sell gasoline, too?

Trigger · Sep 30, 2024

Lol

Clark Badgett · Sep 30, 2024

Tumbledown said:
That's not a source, that's just a wild guess.

"If they had it, they would have used it." is not proof or evidence.

Another wild, unsubstantiated guess? Do car dealerships sell gasoline, too?

Be careful of throwing stones from your glass house. Most of the stuff you post is mostly conjecture and guess work.

Trigger · Sep 30, 2024

Google searches still say everything I listed was used back then..

I say.. use the search feature bub.. lots of good info..

Trigger · Sep 30, 2024

They even said.. vegetation had been found in those trade guns.

That's like leaves and stuff. No way.

Trigger · Sep 30, 2024

Before chalk boards.
At one time most teaching was done with a stick and dirt board on the ground.

Draw it out on the ground. Erase it.. keep drawing.. on dirt. It's works good.

Cave people were smart too. Lmao

Tumbledown · Sep 30, 2024

Trigger said:
Google searches still say everything I listed was used back then..

I say.. use the search feature bub.. lots of good info..

Did you google using wool as wadding? I doubt it...

I did, and found a post on the American Longrifle Forum where someone cited a source from 1797 that said wool was too soft and inconsistent for use as wadding. I found that source, HERE.

So, no, just because something existed doesn't mean it was used like we might want to imagine.

Trigger · Sep 30, 2024

Tumbledown said:
Did you google using wool as wadding? I doubt it...

I did, and found a post on the American Longrifle Forum where someone cited a source from 1797 that said wool was too soft and inconsistent for use as wadding. I found that source, HERE.

So, no, just because something existed doesn't mean it was used like we might want to imagine.

Dude what source did you post.

It's like a not even a sentence

Raw wool instead of flax tow

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