advantages for using an over powder card

[750k2]

The only reason I use it is I had a coned 40 that was pure joy
to load. Rice bbls shoot very good coned.
I let that one go - old story shoud've kept it.
I now shoot a 40 and 54 getz bbl'd rifles that are not coned.
They will shoot as good with thin patches and wadding as a tight patch.
I really do not want to cone them - I like not using a short starter.
Works for me - but then again I blow down my bbl

 

[hanshi]

You hear it both ways but for quite a few years I've used some sort of op wad in all my guns. I still think wasp/hornet nest can't be beat but it's not always at hand. At the range I use toilet paper which is actually a lot like wasp nest. In the woods I'll use wasp nest going in and felt wads in any reloads I may have to make.

I've satisfied myself that in many guns they hold sd to small numbers. However the main reason I use them is that except for my first load going into the woods, I use a liquid lube. A wad does keep the powder dry. Of coarse it's a personal choice of mine and I've never found it to be detrimental to accuracy. And, yes, I also believe it helps push fouling down the bore.

 

[gunner69skmc]

I shoot conicals quite a lot and find that my rifle likes a wad for a tad more tighter group. :yakyak:

 

[Thing]

Center it and push it dodwn on powder. Then the patched round ball on top 2nd.

 

[Billnpatti]

Please don't misunderstand me on this issue. I DON'T believe that wads are beneficial in all guns but I do know that they are beneficial in many guns. But, that is not the issue. My comment had to do with your statement that the use of wads was a "modern mindset".
Wads of one kind or another have been in use for many, many years and are not just a "modern mindset". But, we do agree on one thing and that is simplicity. I have been shooting muzzleloaders for over 40 years and have tried most of the modern gegaws that have come along promising wonderful things. The more I shoot, the more I want to simplify what I carry and use. When I shoot at the range, I have a rangebox that is heavy enough to give The Jolly Green Giant a hernia. It has everything I could ever need in it. I just don't want to run into a small problem and find that the very tool that I need is at home. But, when I strap on my bag and horn......that's when I want simplicity. Powder in my horn and balls, patches and spare flints in a flint wallet with my flint tool in my bag.....maybe a little snack in my pocket. Add a patch knife and short starter on my bag strap and I'm ready to go. "But what about patch lube?" you may ask. No problem, got lots, carry it in my mouth......spit, the wonder lube.

 

[ChrisLJ]

Just curious, but spit patches would be a problem for people with "dry mouth". Since they probably are at the point where they have a weak bladder also, could they just pee on the patch? :wink:

 

[Vaino]

I agree w/ most of what you stated and I'm not trying to convince anybody on what they shoot in their MLer. Simplicity, if it works, is always preferable to complexity.

Can't imagine in the early years of our country that a settler and his family who were in danger of their lives would contend w/ an "extra" component to load.....especially one that's hard to handle.

Just the logistics of supplying powder and RBs or lead {patches would be more available} in the wilderness are mind bogling....adding another item to the supply list just further complicates things.

The target range offers leisurely shooting which differs greatly when hurriedly loading while hunting.

All I can say...shoot what you will :grin: .....Fred