Cards instead of wads for revolvers

[user 33697]

Hey guys,

Question: Have any forum members used a 45 cal. card as used for 45 long colt BP cartridge reloading rather than a wad when loading your BP revolver? I vaguely remember reading somewhere on the internet using a card as and alternative for BP revolvers very similar to BP shotgun loading. True, using a lubed wad or grease on the cylinder is the best way for insuring safety, but I would think that the card over powder would result in the same effect as loading paper cartridge during the civil war. I would be interested in your comments.

 

[Phil Coffins]

A card will only add to complexity, effort and cost of loading a revolver.

 

[nkbj]

Used to stamp my rifle wads out of paper pulp egg cartons and soak them in brewed up lube.
Bet they could have worked good to put lube residue in the barrel.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

I prefer to pan lube my conicals with SPG and use no wad. I do use a card with 45 LC BP loads.

 

[M. De Land]

I use a milk carton waxed card was in my smokeless cartridge loads and the main purpose is to make a barrier between the lubed bullet and the powder. In a percussion gun they can be used with a lube cooky in the same way. I now prefer an 1/8 inch felt wad soaked in bees wax lube seated under the ball as opposed to over ball lubing. Way less messy and seems to work just as well accuracy wise although I do need to test more to be sure.

 

[Bad Karma]

Somebody suggested laying a sheet of paper towel in a pan and saturating with melted beeswax and olive oil. punch wads out of this and you have a nice little lube pill. I’ve used it and for extended shooting sessions it’s pretty effective at softening fouling without taking up a lot of space in the chambers.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

I use a milk carton waxed card was in my smokeless cartridge loads and the main purpose is to make a barrier between the lubed bullet and the powder. In a percussion gun they can be used with a lube cooky in the same way. I now prefer an 1/8 inch felt wad soaked in bees wax lube seated under the ball as opposed to over ball lubing. Way less messy and seems to work just as well accuracy wise although I do need to test more to be sure.

BP rifle cartridge loading also uses a grease cookie over a card and compressed powder charge. I use this when loading paper patched Sharps loads.

 

[William P Sepessy]

Somebody suggested laying a sheet of paper towel in a pan and saturating with melted beeswax and olive oil. punch wads out of this and you have a nice little lube pill. I’ve used it and for extended shooting sessions it’s pretty effective at softening fouling without taking up a lot of space in the chambers.

I just started using this paper towel method to make wads and like it very much. I can control the thickness by how much lube covers the towel when it is saturated. Eventually I might start weighing the amount of lube first once I decide on the proper thickness, but for now this has become the easiest way for me.

 

[Bad Karma]

Yes, iv Made up several hundred so far and for volume shooters this is a very neat trick. I have a Pietta shooters model inbound and I’m gonna torture test wi the lube wafers.

 

[nkbj]

Somebody suggested laying a sheet of paper towel in a pan and saturating with melted beeswax and olive oil. punch wads out of this and you have a nice little lube pill. I’ve used it and for extended shooting sessions it’s pretty effective at softening fouling without taking up a lot of space in the chambers.

That's a fine idea. Reckon cotton felt (like for cleaning patches) would work too? We oughta find out!

 

[JCB]

I use wads in my 44 and cards in my 36. I wasn’t getting good accuracy with with wads in my 36 so switched to the fiber cards that Buffalo Arms sales. I use the same method that Jarod from Longhunters uses. I don’t know how to post a link but if you go to u tube and do a search for longhunter percussion revolver loading it should come up.

 

[Bad Karma]

Well my Shooters Model showed up Friday and I was all set to go torture testing over the weekend. I’d been having a cough and sore throat for a few days last week and Friday morning she really kicked into gear. 102 temp, freezing and coughing, a headache like I’ve never had before. Saturday night I felt pretty good or better, and then Sunday it was back with a vengeance. Fever all night, same today and I went in for the test. Doc is pretty sure it’s the Covid. I feel a little better right now but exhausted. Ya’ll take care. I’m postponing my torture test till this passes.

 

[Dave Marsh]

Woodnbow -- take care and good luck. Prayers for all that have the Covid.

Dave

 

[hawkeye2]

Woodnbow hang in there, we're all pulling for ya!

 

[Grenadier1758]

@Woodnbow , I want to add my concern for you and all who are suffering from the COVID-19 disease. Stay hydrated, isolated and continue to watch the symptoms.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Woodenbow, if I can get away with it here: God bless you.

 

[thomas]

Woodenbow, Take care & God bless you!
Thomas

 

[Bad Karma]

Thanks fellas... worst part is the headaches/fever. Trying not to take Tylenol, fevers natures way of killing viruses. Sleeping all day and night. God bless y’all, stay healthy.

 

[sourdough]

Woodnbow, you take utmost care and we all hope you survive this stuff. My wife and I have not been anywhere for over 3 weeks except to the PO to check mail, hand sanitizer on our persons. We have enough food in the house (canned, dried, frozen) to last nearly 3 months, have also ordered some foodstuffs online (WalMart, etc.) and when it gets delivered we just have the FedEx driver leave it outside of the garage door. It then gets brought into the garage for a 2-day "quarantine" and a wipe-down with disinfectant. Some folks may think this to be excessive behavior, but we do not. We do not want to become statistics.

We are located in WA State where it basically all started in the US.

Again, all of you folks please take care in your daily/weekly/monthly routines.

Regards,

Jim

 

[51colt]

When I use over the ball lube I use 50/50 beeswax and Crisco it's not messy and it works well. Years ago I got a grease cookie recipe Smoken gun one stick paraffin wax, 1/4 wax ring, and three tablespoons olive oil. Sometimes in hot weather, you might need to use more paraffin wax. In an old pan melt everything together. Pour the melted wax a pan 1/8 inch thick and let cool. I use a nine-inch round pan from the dollar store. When the wax is good and hard punch out the grease cookies with HF hollow punches. One nine-inch pan makes fifty 36 cal and 65 forty-four grease cookies. That's about a half a batch.

51