Fiber wad question

[gmww]

I have some fiber wads for my 12 ga. that are "pre-conditioned" from Blue & Gray Products inc. I ordered some fiber wads from Dixie Gun Works for my .62 made by Circle Fly I believe. They don't appear to be "pre-conditioned".

Question. Do I need to "pre-condition" these wads with something? I have a 40 oz bottle of moose milk should I soak these in this liquid?
Thanks! :thumbsup:

 

[musketman]

Some do, some do not, I suggest you try a few both ways and see which you gun prefers, let you musket decide for you... :thumbsup:

 

[Russianblood]

I soak mine in Stumpy's Moose Milk and let them dry for a few hours then I seal them in a tin. They stay moist but not soaked and I can shoot all day using them! :thumbsup:

 

[gmww]

Will the wads swell up when they absorb the moose milk?

 

[Rebel]

I melt Crisco and dip mine in it. The lube helps keep the fouling sof in the barrel so i can shoot all day without swabbing. They don't swell up much if at all.

 

[gmww]

Thanks All! I'm going to print up some Turkey targets and test them out in my new .62 smooth bore. In case anyone is interested, here is a link to the free turkey targets you can print up.

Free Turkey Targets Link

 

[paulvallandigham]

Use an overpowder wad( 1/8" thick) as well as the cushion wad. I soak mine in moosemilk, then squeeze them out, and keep them in a plastic bag so they don't dry out. I can split them easily in two so I can keep the wad from following the shot column once it leaves the barrel, and spoiling the pattern. I redcommend you do the same with the new gun. The overpowder wad seems to scrape most of the crud back down into the front of the chamber, while the lubed wad lubes the barrel as the load goes down the barrel in front of the burning powder. that seems to keep the fouling softer, and makes it easier to scrape it back with the next overpowder wad. You might also try running a lubed patch down the barrel after the load is seated, to lube the barrel up. Some find this makes for consitent velocities and patterns. I don't see much if any improvement in my shot patterns, but it does seem to help when shooting PRB in the gun.

 

[musketman]

Thanks All! I'm going to print up some Turkey targets and test them out in my new .62 smooth bore. In case anyone is interested, here is a link to the free turkey targets you can print up.

Free Turkey Targets Link

I just opened a printable target links sub-section, so send me those links and I will add them for future reference...

Once we get enough, I will give them their own section, look for it on the links main page... :winking:

 

[Ohio Rusty]

Don't presoak fiber wads in liquid !! I had some like that and the fibers absorbed the moisture and swelled up. When I went to use them, they just fell apart into heaps of fiber .... useless. If you want to use fiber wads that are pre-treated, grease the outsides the night before you use them, or that morning before you go. That way, the fiber wads will remain tightly intact. If you want to see what happens to them, put one in a bowl, pour some water over it and leave it set for a couple of hours. Disasterous results for sure.
Ohio Rusty

 

[Rusty Old Gunns]

Don't presoak fiber wads in liquid !! I had some like that and the fibers absorbed the moisture and swelled up. When I went to use them, they just fell apart into heaps of fiber ....
Ohio Rusty

Ohio Rusty is right. But I have had wonderful luck with a mix an old timer passed down to me for Mini Ball lub.

Its 3/4 crisco, 1/4 bee's wax. Melt it all together over a very low burner. But buy a cheep pot at the dollar store. Wrecking one of Mama's good pots can get you shot with one of your own balls (Musket Balls, I mean). The finished product looks like a yellowish crisco, but its much stiffer.

So... I ladel a healthy table spoon full into a musket cap tin (About 3" round and an inch and a half tall). With the stove top on Low-Low, I warm it up until its liquid again. Then I drop in the fiber wad and let it sit for about 3 seconds or so before plucking it out. Not any longer because they really want to suck that stuf up.

Using that Musket Cap tin, they are submerged just about all the way. Then I set them on a flat piece of waxed papper or tin foil to dry.

They dry in about 20 seconds, then I line them up neetly in a small tupperware "Burp N Seal" bowl. And cover it up.

Like I said, they suck that stuff up and it seems that the bee's wax holds them together just fine. In fact, other than a slight greasy feeling, they appear untouched and stay together perfectly.

You can shoot them all day (I've fired as many as 60 balls trying to get the proper load for one of my smooth bores) and the bore stays clean.

I have one tupperward bowl with a full bag of circle fly wads in it now, and they keep just fine.

 

[gmww]

I had to see what he was saying so I put one in a cap of my moose milk liquid. After about 30 seconds of soaking it, it felt like wet cardboard and fell apart like it too. I've got the one and only wad drying to see what happens.

I usually add bees wax to this solution and pour it into a musket cap tin for a paste lube that I use for conicals. I might try your idea with my bees was moose milk solution.

 

[Rusty Old Gunns]

I had to see what he was saying so I put one in a cap of my moose milk liquid. After about 30 seconds of soaking it, it felt like wet cardboard and fell apart like it too. I've got the one and only wad drying to see what happens.

30 Seconds? What are you maken there, Pardner Oat Meal? :winking:

I said 3 seconds.

 

[Dave K]

I soak mine in olive oil. Yep, make a bunch of them at a time and use them as I need them. I let them drain and then put them in a zip lock baggy. Never had any trouble with them breaking up, etc.

 

[TN.Frank]

Thanks for the idea Rusty. I've got a bunch of 50/50 beeswax/crisco lube that I made up for a 45/70 Sharps that I used to own and loaded with black powder and cast lead bullets. It's just been sitting in the fridge for a couple years going to waste. I think I'll break out some and give your idea a try. :thumbsup:

 

[gmww]

I had to see what he was saying so I put one in a cap of my moose milk liquid. After about 30 seconds of soaking it, it felt like wet cardboard and fell apart like it too. I've got the one and only wad drying to see what happens.

30 Seconds? What are you maken there, Pardner Oat Meal? :winking:



:rotf: I meant I did it before your post. I was referring to Ohio Rusty's warning. I like that bees wax mix. Instead of crisco I'll try my moose milk and bees wax. Will also give the Olive oil a try. :thumbsup:
I said 3 seconds.

 

[colt100]

It's really funny that you guys have the wads fall apart. I use about a 3/4 crisco to 1/4 bore butter mix, heated up and mixed together. Nothing fancy, just melt the two together.

I have had no problems with the wads falling apart. I melt, then soak the wads abit until they have picked up the liquid. They get soaked through. Never had one fall apart. Still have a bunch I made up last fall and they are fine.

These are circle fly 12 ga fiber cusion wads.

 

[Deerstalker]

I soak mine in Crisco that I melt in a pan, let them soak up all they will, then put them on a paper plate with a paper towel to soak away any excess. I then keep them sealed in a ziplock bag in my gun cabinet, but when I go shooting they gointo an Altiods tin that I cleaned up. Looks PC and works great. Mine stay together just fine.
Bryan

 

[BS]

This is simple and works great in my 7ga.
"I soak my felt wads in a 50 / 50 mix of veggy oil and mineral spirits. It prevents lead fouling and powder fouling."

 

[musketman]

This is simple and works great in my 7ga.
"I soak my felt wads in a 50 / 50 mix of veggy oil and mineral spirits. It prevents lead fouling and powder fouling."

Let's please pursue this for a bit, that is, if you don't mind elaborating for us...

Do you have to weight the wads down, assuming they will float in the mixture?

How long do you soak them?

Do you place them on something to absorb or drip off the excess mixture or pack them away wet?

Has the veggie oil in the wads ever turned rancid, how long will these keep?

 

[Rebel]

I have some fiber wads that i soaked over a year ago that are still together and shootable. I melt Crisco in a pan and then place the 1/2 a fiber cushion wad that i have already glued to my overpowder wad, in the Crisco until it is soaked good. Then i place thm on a paper towel to absorb the excess and place them in a Ziplock bag until needed.