Hornet Nesting Material

[Glenfilthie]

I was reading that some black powder guys put a shred or two of this stuff between the patch and the powder because it it darn near flame proof and prevents the patch from burning out.

A. Is this true
B. How many of you fellas do it
C. Is there any alternatives to this?

The hornets in my neck of the woods are still using their nests and they get a little ornery this time of the year.

 

[redwing]

Yes it is true they did use hornets nest in the days gone by. I have found hornets nest in old bags over the years. Yes, some fellows still use the nest. Just make sure you wait until after a hard freeze before you take the hornets nest.

My choice for OP wads in a rifle, are the Pre-Lubed shot gun wads. I only use them in my .54 when I load over 100 Grs. as a fire wall to prevent patch burn with heavy loads. :thumbsup:

 

[brubincam]

yeah,,put the hornet between the powder and ball,,,that'll burn him up,,, :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

 

[nchawkeye]

I have done this and it works, as well as a lubed wad, and it works....Now a confession...

After doing this and various other methods (like using 2-.010 patches) to prevent patch burn out I found something else that works...

 

[Blizzard of '93]

I don't have any doubt that frontiersman used this material to patch round balls when cloth was not available. I've tryed it and it does OK, put a wad overpowder then PRB

 

It's good stuff. No doubt about it. But - just be careful of the embers. They can stick in the barrel and make the next powder charge you pour a very interesting experience. :shocked2:

 

[tg]

"Yes it is true they did use hornets nest in the days gone by. I have found hornets nest in old bags over the years."

Are there any period writings (18th cent.) of this practice I have seen it debated and said to be undocumentable on oher forums?

 

[Walks with fire]

I used it for a while and it did show improvement in my groups. I have since went to a heavier or thicker patch and the largest ball I can use with the heavier patch.

 

[redwing]

Well now that you mention no I have never seen any thing about it. I was first told about it in 1962. I went out to look at a rifle and hunting bag. The man who owned it was living alone in a one room log cabin.
The fellow told me he was 100 years old at the time. He went on to tell me about the old NC rifles history. In the hunting bag was a small Lutheran Bible,towl,mold,hornets nest. He went on to tell me how all shooters when he was boy used it as an OP to keep the patches from burning. He also said that hornets nest would not cause fires as it didn't burn. He told me that burning patches were always bad about setting fires. I have found this wadding in other shooting kits over the years. I have never tried it. :thumbsup:

 

[shootemup]

Works well if you want to use more powder but blow patches.

Don't wrestle the hornets for it though - wait until January to get the nest...

Mark

 

[Stumpkiller]

Yes. Fire resistant and easily useable. I used it frequently as wadding in my musket with shot loads. Never tried it in a rifle but can't see why not. Wouldn't make a patch (I don't think) but it would serve as a wad over the powder.

Harvest it after the second hard freeze. ;-)

An alternative would be the Ox Yoke vegetable fiber wads (Track of the Wolf). Back in my evil conical days I used these over the powder and it boosted accuracy with my loads. I still pack one in when hunting with round balls to keep the powder from soaking up oils off the lubed patch. When I remember to bring some, that is. :shake:

 

[Runner]

The lubed vegetable fiber wads for shotguns crumble up very easily. A pinch of that material and dropping the rod on it before loading the ball will do the same thing as Hornet's nest or wonder wads.