Leather wads???

[excess650]

"I am told that the leather from Ground Hog pelts makes excellent thongs"

Now THERE is one for the ladies.... :rotf: :blah: :rotf:

 

[hanshi]

I'm not going to touch that one! :shake:

 

[paulvallandigham]

For that kind of thong, stick with Chamois cloth. Its much softer, and can be shaped and sewn like cloth. :hmm:

 

[stfilcek]

As to the ground hog hide, the "Fox Fire" books mention it as very tough and the preferred material for banjo heads. Good enough for me and I am definitely going to try all kinds of leather for wads and patch. Betcha it cuts down on the smoldering big time too.

 

[Tajue17]

what about the leather from car seats? i know of a junk yard nearby that has some beaters qwith leather seats?

I'd love to try leather in my 62 smoothie but what type of leather that can be had and where..

 

[trent/OH]

I think I'll check a couple of thrift shops this weekend for old purses or belts. Two-ply belts might be just about right when split. I guess a 3/4" punch is in order too.
Would naugahyde be pushing it too far? :hmm: :rotf:

 

[paulvallandigham]

If the leather is thin enough to wrap around the ball, then use it. But take your micrometer, or caliper with you when you go to that junk yard. No sense spending lots of time, much less money, getting some fabric that is too thick to fit your gun.

For Wads, you would usually want thicker leather than what is used on car seats, and other upholstery. That is where belts, skirting leather, harness leather, etc. serve you better, than something much thinner.

Now, If you cut the thin leather fabric larger, similar to using .58 cal. wood wads in a .54 cal. rifle, then you might be able to use that leather for wads, too. I have never tried that. I have used wool felt wads, but not the oversized variety yet, that RB suggested in a post some time ago.

You raise a good suggestion to explore. :thumbsup:

 

[redwing]

I was bird hunting in Ky. with a fellow who could not read. I think that was right after the Civil War. I noticed he always loaded his shotgun with dead mice filled with #9 shot. This made a very handy shot cup. He trapped mice every nite. If the mice did not blow out they could be reloaded for the next day. :wink:

 

[DanChamberlain]

Hairless moles work best. Don't have to remove the hair. After that, the hide from a hairless chihuahua would be my next choice.

Dan

 

[excess650]

"I'd love to try leather in my 62 smoothie but what type of leather that can be had and where.."

You might try a taxidermy shop for deerskin scraps, or search for a Tandy Leather store, or online...

I would think that pigskin, or goatskin would work fine. Goatskin might be better for a PRB.

 

[Mike Brooks]

:rotf:
Do you use these critters tanned or as raw hide? If raw hide, dried or still bloody? Maybe you could use them live and just feed them a steady diet of lead pellets and train them to run back to you after you use them.... :haha:

 

[RonT]

If the mice are flat, how do you inflate them, Uh....wait...uh...never mind. :shocked2:
R

 

[Britsmoothy]

I use to use old welding gloves or new ones if the boss could not see for wads :wink:

Brits.

 

[larry wv]

Goat skin used to used in motocross pants. I wore a set for several years. Still have them somewhere. May try them for bp use. Larry

 

[Mike D]

Stupid responses..... of course you can use leather. Lubed, it would make the best wad possible. 5/8" hole punch. Christ, you can use a hand full of Gummi Bears if ya wanted to. Yeeeshhh...

 

[Grenadier1758]

Gummi bears have too low a melting point.

 

[wiscoaster]

Wow. Talk about resurrecting old threads!!