Card Wads.....questions

[dave63]

Had a couple of hours to try out the recently aquired Renegade last weekend. Boy...do I have alot to learn.

Before going out I had a chance to prep a little. I remembered Daryl posting something about using "card wads" to act as a fire block for the patch. So I cut a few out. After I was able to find a bunch of my patches, about 1/2 of them where "donuted" (I'm sure that's not a word). I tried the card wad over the powder, and the patches were nearly perfect. I didn't have time to experiment much more, but I'm a believer now.

Should I lube or presoak these wads in something? The ones I used last weekend just had a little bore butter slathered on 'em.

The wad will keep the patch from burning through, but is the patch burning through because I'm doing something wrong? I had patches that were lubed with Crisco, Bore Butter, and some Moose Milk concoction that somebody gave me. Can't really say which ones were burning through.

Particulars are: 70 grains Pyrodex RS, .54 cal Renegade, .530 Speer ball, and .015 or .018 TC pillow ticking patch lubed with one of the above experimental lubes.

Next time I get out, I will be ready with patches in .012, .018, and .020 thickness. I now have some .535 balls, and REAL black powder in 2f and 3f. I'll have patches of all thicknesses prelubed with Bore Butter, Crisco, and a newly made batch of "Stumpkillers Moosemilk All weather enriched Black Powder Solvent & Body Wash". Might even take some spit with me. If by the end of the day I can't make a respectable group at 75 yards, I might just pledge total allegiance to the $53 CVA Bobcat that will hit a target at 100 yards every time. :youcrazy:

Any thoughts or knowledge you'd like to share? I sure wish I had a buddy here that knew something about this stuff. :cry:

Thanks in advance.
Dave

 

[musketman]

Should I lube or presoak these wads in something? The ones I used last weekend just had a little bore butter slathered on 'em.

I think you can lube them as you need them, otherwise they my fall apart or get too soggy...

The wad will keep the patch from burning through, but is the patch burning through because I'm doing something wrong?

Are you lubing the patch too, you should be...

I got a lot of burn throughs from using FFFg in place of FFg in my big bore, I don't think Pyrodex RS is the cause of that in your case...

 

[dave63]

Yes. Patches were lubed. I tried several different lubes, and can't really say which ones were burning through.

With a .530 ball and .018 patch, it takes all I have (280 lbs) to get the load into the barrel. Is it possibly too tight?

Dave

 

[Stumpkiller]

Yep. You're risking injury from a snapped ramrod if it takes two hands and more than 30 lbs of force, or so, to jamb down a patched ball. Time to wipe between shots or switch to a thinner patch or different lube.

I can load my Renegade with a .530 ball and 0.018" tick with the ramrod held in just one hand with a single push once the ball is started (I use a 1-1/2" stub starter). I can push balls out of the ball block and load without a short starter using just the ramrod held short in one hand.

But this barrel has had maybe 5,000 rounds through it. :winking:

If you're burning through properly damp patches with my moose milk (made to specs) then there's something wrong. Of course, you've voided my money-back warranty by abusing the rifle and lube with a non-blackpowder propellent. :: Castor oil does not burn at blackpowder temperatures. That's why I bother with it. I've never tried Pyrodex, so I can't say how that stuff behaves. Probably introduced evil spirits into your poor Renegade.

 

[dave63]

Stumpkiller,

The Moosemilk I was using was not your recipe. It was some stuff somebody gave me. I just made your brand the other night. I'll give it a try this weekend.

I got this Renegade used. Maybe the barrel hasn't been broken in yet. I will definately go to a thinner patch. I picked up some .010 wonder patches yesterday. Hopefully with all the possibilities I have to choose from now, and the real black powder, I'll get it worked out.

Thanks again,

Dave

 

[Stumpkiller]

Oh, well there you go. Inferior stuff. :crackup:

Life is a compromise. Finding the right load is like pitching a three-staked shelter fly. The first stake determines where the other two have to be placed. And those three stakes are: Accuracy, Convenience, Energy. Stumpy's A.C.E. Triangle states there will be loads that are easy to seat and require the minimum of condements and equipment to be carried, loads that are accurate, and loads that are effectively powerful for hunting. Hopefully, you get all three stakes in without hitting a rock and having to shift. When you have achieved the maximum potential of these three forces in a single load, my son, you will know inner peace.

Some target rituals are entirely impractical for a squirrel hunt ( :imo. If I had to use a spit patch, and then a dry patch, and then an alcohol soaked patch, and then a lubed cleaning patch before I finally set a patched ball, I would be getting back into traditional archery full time.