cotton ball wads?

[inlikeflint]

Has any one tried cotton balls? I just bought a sack of cotton balls with intention of using for 16ga wads. Shot and ball both. Figure I can spread the cotton out around the sides of the ball to hold it in place so it stays on top of the powder. I have a gunparts 16ga .670 barrel and a .662 ball needs a pretty thin patch in the .670 barrel. I shot one out of my belly gun and it seemed to want to do some afterburning! And just haven't got the short fusil out to try that yet. John

 

[Grenadier1758]

In Arkansas, where it can be fairly humid, you may get away with launching that fireball from your fusil. It will hold the ball better than no patch or wad. Be sure to lube the ball with a thick lube such as beeswax and olive oil. Also watch a for the fire hazard.

I think the thin patch or wad and card methods are better.

 

[Dewey]

Just make sure the cotton balls are 100% cotton - I've run into some synthetic ones !!!

 

[Rifleman1776]

lube the ball with a thick lube such as beeswax and olive oil. Also watch a for the fire hazard.

I think the thin patch or wad and card methods are better.

Amen, Bro. Real fire hazard.

 

[inlikeflint]

I just fired 6 shots using the cotton balls. With just enough around the sides of the ball to provide a little resistance going down and with out lube. I did not find one sign of the cotton after shooting. I need to move the front sight a hair to the left and I did file it down on top as was too high. I think the cotton is burning up in the air! Will have a spotter next time and will try some lube, just don't want to try too many things at the same time.

 

[spudnut]

wasp nest :thumbsup:

 

[Grandpa Ron]

My fiber board wads completed disintegrate when fired. Sometimes you see bit and pieces in the snow. My felt wads stay together but are stretched out.

Cupping the ball in the cotton ball helps hold it in place. The blow by will definitely shread the cotton ball.

How much of the cotton ball is left to carry an ember, will vary with the load.

 

[theoldredneck]

A friend and I play a lot with different loads in different guns. We have used wads over powder, shot and ball of all kinds of material. Some things like toilet paper, paper towel, cotton balls, etc. are worse about burning than other things. We are always looking for something cheap and easy to use that is abundant. The toilet paper, paper towel and cotton balls have been dropped because the wind can blow the burning embers. After a few small fires in the grass and leaves we try other things. There are a lot of good things listed on different threads here. Different mixtures that you can soak wads in. Cards and wads can be cut from different materials.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I think the cotton is burning up in the air!

Doubtful.... your probably looking for white cotton balls afterwards.......instead of little black burnt turds....
Glad I don't live in your neck of the woods...I hate forest fires...
I would choose a different wad unless the ground is snow covered.

 

[Dewey]

Hey Clyde -

You seem to like chemistry ...

What about GUNCOTTON wads !! :shocked2:

Looks and feels like cotton, but gone in a flash, and no smoldering residue !! :applause:

Plus a bit more "omph" to your black powder load !!! :wink:

A bit tricky to make, but fun to demonstrate ! :grin:

Just don't try putting it into a hot barrel ... !!! :shocked2:

(No, I really didn't try it in my smokepole.)

 

[The O'Dea]

Aye Flint,
Don't muck about with the non-historical stuff. TOW is the only way to go :thumbsup:
Here is where you can get it. I have been getting from the Silver Shuttle lady for years. Just tell her it's for your smoothbore.
Tow Flax, three(3) bags for ten bucks. Now ya can't be that.: She works out of Memphis, Tenn. Ring her up at: 901-324-2878
best money you ever spent.

the Irish Mick
Arizona Territory

 

[coloradoclyde]

Hey Clyde -

You seem to like chemistry ...

What about GUNCOTTON wads !! :shocked2:

Looks and feels like cotton, but gone in a flash, and no smoldering residue !! :applause:

Plus a bit more "omph" to your black powder load !!! :wink:

A bit tricky to make, but fun to demonstrate ! :grin:

Just don't try putting it into a hot barrel ... !!! :shocked2:

(No, I really didn't try it in my smokepole.)

Sounds like a good way to blow your head off...
I wouldn't even advocate the idea...

You do realize that guncotton and smokeless powder are basically the same ?????

 

[Dewey]

Yeah ... that's why all the smilies ... I was joking.

Thus my last sentence - I would never really do it, and most folk wouldn't have the means to make it - and if they do, they should know better!

Fun stuff, though!

I've demonstrated it many times for my college-level chemistry classes.

Well, it wouldn't leave a smoldering residue ... but maybe a smoldering SHOOTER ... !!!

But you are right ... with all the info how-to-dos on the internet, I should have made it clearer that I was joking and this is NOT a thing to do.

 

[hoochiepapa]

I tried cotton balls in my .54 because it was shredding patches so bad. Started some small fires :shocked2: :shocked2:

 

[The O'Dea]

One thing that I failed to mention. TOW balls are re-usable :thumbsup: Simply rinse, and dry. And for you cheap :stir: what more can you ask for.

-The Irish Mick
Arizona Territory

 

[Zonie]

If someone was bound and determined to use cotton balls for wads they can make them fireproof by soaking them in a supersaturated solution of water and borax.

For the one or two of you who don't know what supersaturated means, it means you've put so much of the borax (in this case) into the water that you can't get any more of it to dissolve.

Cotton wads soaked in this and allowed to dry won't burn.

On the other hand, borax is soft mineral (read, rock). I don't know if it could cause any harm to the guns bore or not. Most likely it would just polish the metal surface.

 

[Billnpatti]

My main concern about using cotton balls in your gun is the issue of any fire hazard from the balls when the hit the ground. Let me suggest using Duro Felt and making your own wads using a 11/16" arbor punch or hollow punch to punch them out. A 3/4 " punch might be a bit tight. http://www.durofelt.com/image_26.html Ohio Ramrod might be able to make you a custom punch at an extremely reasonable price [email protected]

You might seat one on your powder before seating your ball and then seat another on top of your ball to keep it in place. I use the stuff to make my wads. it is 100% wool felt and contains no synthetics that would melt in your bore. They also carry thicker felt http://www.durofelt.com/image_69.html if you would prefer that. Just make sure that it is hard felt.

 

[Dewey]

Let me suggest using Duro Felt and making your own wads ...
... You might seat one on your powder before seating your ball and then seat another on top of your ball to keep it in place. I use the stuff to make my wads. it is 100% wool felt and contains no synthetics that would melt in your bore.

Billnpatti -

Have you tried the felt wads with shot, too ??
If so, how do they work ???

(Sorry for a bit of a hijack, but I am REALLY interested in trying felt wads !!!)

Thanks !

- Dewey

 

[coloradoclyde]

Let me suggest using Duro Felt and making your own wads ...
... You might seat one on your powder before seating your ball and then seat another on top of your ball to keep it in place. I use the stuff to make my wads. it is 100% wool felt and contains no synthetics that would melt in your bore.

yep!... tried the ones from BPI and one I made myself from Automotive insulation or carpet underlayment..made from recycled fibers and treated with fire retardant so it wouldn't burn when fired..
The problem with any felt is creating a gas seal..
.20 vegetable tanned patent leather is my favorite wad material...if you want to use a fiber product then use Tow or sisal rope fibers and lube well...
Sure felt will work so will a lot of other things.....just find and use what makes you happy... :v
Billnpatti -

Have you tried the felt wads with shot, too ??
If so, how do they work ???

(Sorry for a bit of a hijack, but I am REALLY interested in trying felt wads !!!)

Thanks !

- Dewey

 

[BrownBear]

The favored fire starter for emergency kits up here is a cottonball with just a little chapstick or vaseline rubbed into one side.

You might not be using vaseline or chapstick for lube, but............ :surrender: