Hornet Nest Wadding

[lbothell]

No, the barrel itself gets dirty.

I use the bees nesting for my wadding bc it is simple cheap and fast to reload. I just keep it in my pocket, but yes it does get a little dirty. When I’m squirrel hunting fast reloads arnt necessary for me the reload time gives the woods some time to calm down. What I like to do is have a small plastic wine bottle (wine has already been consumed haha) and fill it with 90% rubbing alcohol, I used this in between each couple shots to swab the bore and a quick wipe down of my lock and flint. This insures me that my next shot will go off quick and effective as well. You don’t really have to do it every shot but I do like to at least do a dry patch through after each shot and a quick wipe down. But that’s what works for me when using the bees homes for wadding

 

[1:66 twisted]

I am collecting hornet nests, For future smoothbore wad. Hopefully will find a good working load.

 

[Magungo1066]

I use any kind of bee or wasp nest interchangeably. It works great and was my favorite until I figured out my shot card combo. I generally just keep my eye out during winter and knock down whatever I find. Ive never found anything live inside but I also only do it in New England or PA during winter. It compresses so well.

 

[Magungo1066]

I use any kind of bee or wasp nest interchangeably. It works great and was my favorite until I figured out my shot card combo. I generally just keep my eye out during winter and knock down whatever I find. Ive never found anything live inside but I also only do it in New England or PA during winter. It compresses so well.

Edit: sorry about the double post. I dont know how to delete the second one.

 

[Mousegunguy]

My girlfriend found this off the side of the road today

My early Xmas present!!

 

[Tradbow]

Makes me wonder if someone cut it off a tree and the bees warmed up as they were going down the road and started flying around inside vehicle. Thrown out the window to save themselves

 

[ord sgt]

I have a nest up in the eves of my house. You are welcome to come by and collect if you want. My ladder won't reach.

 

[BillinOregon]

I've used it a few times with little enthusiasm, but just to say I have done it. I'd rather use tow -- and the corn husk idea is interesting.
"Now search for tow, and some old saddle pierce. No wadding lies so close and drives so fierce ..." Pteryplegia

 

[Rob M.]

Hi everyone,

I have heard of lots of you using bald face hornet nests for shotgun wadding. How do you harvest the nests? To use them for historically correct wadding?

A damn long pole or ive shot them down before ....get them and in the winter time ! I'm always looking in the trees for them . I have three in my sights now . I'm going to stop and ask the folks if I can get them out of their trees ...I bet they say yes !

 

[Rob M.]

Oh yes .... Not trying to be a know it all but its the outside covering not the nest proper . Folks on some other forums seem to think its the actual next inside . Now ....dont gete wrong you can use the inside and you can use old wasp nest too just make sure the holes are empty with more grubs in there .... Messy messy ! LOL ....green grass works good too but most hunting is done in the fall and winter , obviously , so a hand gull of hornets nest thrown in the hunting pouch is handy . it won't burn so doesn't smolder or catch the leaves on fire after its been shot .

 

[Pete453]

See any wadding here? Found it on the floor of my deer blind last year. I'm 5'9", 200lbs. Glad I didn't find it when it was warm out!

 

[victor#0]

I watched an old movie clip of Eskimo's hunting spring geese with black powder shotguns and they were using a wad of grass, shot, and another wad of grass over the shot. They were knocking them out of the sky pretty good! I imagine in the old days they used whatever worked....................

 

[Rob M.]

Great wading ... Hornets nest, outside covering ..