Lube with news paper wadding?

[JohnFH]

New to black powder, tried out a black powder shotgun today using news paper wadding (as suggested here) over powder and over shot, 2 4"squares over the powder, shot then 1 4" square over shot.

At 25 yards with #6 shot, I got patterns that will take any turkey that gets in range. I would actually like to tighten the pattern just a little, and I'm concerned about not having any thing lubed down the bore like I have with a lubed patch and a round ball in my Hawkins rifle.

Thanks in advance for tolerating my newbie questions and for all the help you have already given.

 

[poordevil]

Dip the news paper in melted lube,

P

 

[Leonredbeard]

John,
You don't really need lube. The wadded newspaper will give you little resistance in a dirty bore, so you will have no trouble ramming the wads. If you are shooting clays, just wipe after a number of shots if you want to.
volatpluvia

 

[ohio ramrod]

You might try using newspaper cartridges for your shot. I make mine by rolling the newspaper around a doll rod . Tieing off one end with lite string, filling the tube with desired shot charge, folding over and tieing off the end. You want about three layers of newspaper. And the doubleed over end loaded last. I use one felt (or leather ) wad over the powder then the shot cartridge. The doubled over end serves as an over shot card. load without "opening". If you desire a lube (which I do not use ) you could dip the newaspaer tubes in melted bees wax. Or lube the felt wads.

 

[wulf]

Agree...However, I noticed how black the cleaning
process was and concluded that it was caused by the printers ink...so I got printers paper before
it was used for printing and the cleaning is much
easier...Dip 'em in lube if you like. The paper
comes out like confetti

 

[JohnFH]

What is the benefit to using the little shot packs over just pouring it down the bore?

I plan on turkey hunting black powder this year and if I get off two shots it will be a lot, I don't need rapid reloads, just enough shot in the right spot to have a happy thanksgiving :grin:

 

[blafen]

I just run a lubed patch down the bore after I load my shot, the main thing I noticed is howmuch easier it was to clean after shooting compared to not using lube.

 

[paulvallandigham]

The benefit of using any kind of package, or shot cup, is that it protects the shot on the outside of the shot column from rubbing flats on the individual pellets against the bore. That means that more shot will be in the pattern, rather than dropping out and hitting the ground inside 20 yds. The better the shot cup, or package, ( and the use of fillers inside the shot column) the more pellets remain in the pattern. That gives denser patterns over a longer range, making it much more likely that you will get that turkey that won't come in closer than 30 yards, or so. :thumbsup:

 

[ohio ramrod]

The paper cartridge acts as a "shot cup" and will give you a tighter pattern. Just don't get to thick with the cartridge or you will get a "slug effect" at close ranges.

 

[JohnFH]

Ok I tried a couple, think this what they should look like, 4.5"x 1.75" piece of copier paper, makes a 2 layer tube, folded over the ends.

Now I still use the newspaper wadding (going to lube the over powder) over the powder and the "shot cup"?

 

[Jasseji]

if the shot cup sits tight, i'd leave out the overshot and overpowder wadding actually

you might want to try to use more paper so you get a bit of it standing out of the shot cup

After ramming it down, it will fill the gaps nicely and act as an over-shot wad

No need to stick more stuff down the bore

I lube my printer paper with patch milk - plan to try wax paper this week tho