Pistol wads for C & B revolvers?

[Dausener]

How many of you use pistol wads in a C & B revolver? I've never tried them but it seems like they could get caughtnin the action and jam the gun up. Do they really work good or not?

 

[necchi]

They work for me, :idunno:

 

[Electric Miner]

I use them. I've never had a problem. I'm not sure how they'd get caught in the action, since they follow the ball out the end of the barrel and head downrange. I've had wads get stuck on and through my targets at up to 25 yards.

 

[Chilidog]

I soak the felt wads in Criso first. Nuke the Crisco, add wads, soak,set on paper towel to get rid of excess and store in a plastic bag. When I use them I cut them in half and place on top of powder, add ball and ram. No problems.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

I use felt buttons under the Lee mold slugs I load, the slugs I dip in lube.
seems groups tighten a good bit

 

[cynthialee]

I use them on occasion. Seem to work just fine.

 

[BGRooster1]

I use them and never a problem . They won't get stuck . If the charge of powder can blow out a lead ball or conical. A wad won't have a farts chance in a wind storm.

 

[crockett]

I started with Crisco but moved to a hot climate where Crisco can melt out while carrying in a holster. I changed to lubed wads for that reason. The wads get blown out the barrel with no hang ups.
One point- I carry for small game like rabbits, etc but if you carry for self protection, etc- the wads take up space that could be used for more powder- in that situation I'd go without wads and use a good lube over the ends of the chambers.

 

[Flash Pan Dan]

There are many C&B pistol shooters, me among them, that use filler instead of a wad. I use Cream of Wheat. it works better, it is cheaper, and you can seat the ball/bullet closer to the chamber mouth, which some think makes the load shoot more accurately, again me being one of them.

 

[BGRooster1]

I don't know how you can seat a ball any closer just because you use "Cream of Wheat". It all depends on how much powder you put in to start with.I use wads and my balls are seated so they just clear the barrel. If you are using light loads,then yes ,you would have to use something to bring the ball to the front of the chamber.

 

[cynthialee]

I have occasionaly made my load: BP 3f powder toped with a few grains of cornmeal toped with a wad then a ball then greese.

 

[Flash Pan Dan]

That is my point whatever load you use you can vary the amount of Cream of Wheat to always have the ball seated at the front of the chamber.

 

[aeatwood]

Yah, but the amount of powder is easy. "All of it". I have gotten my best accuracy out of most of my C&B's with a cylinder full of 2f - just enough room to seat the wad so it does not interfere with centering the ball in the chamber mouth.

 

[Dphar]

Lots of people like them. But I always loaded a full charge of powder and had no room for an over powder wad.

Dan

 

[Dausener]

If a wad is used over the powder you don't need the grease over the ball? Is this correct or do you still need the grease?

 

[BGRooster1]

If you use a lubed wad , no grease is needed over the ball.

 

[yadkin]

I use em if I got em; or I will use em if shooting light loads.

 

[crockett]

Thanks for noting that sometimes (sometimes- not always) the best accuracy is acheived with a heavy charge of powder. The problem with stating such is that some folks just assume you are into some sort of bravado with the heavy charge- not true- and actually the recoil between say 15 grains and 22 grains in a Navy Colt isn't really any different. I think the heavier charge must send the ball at a faster speed that, given the twist on the gun in question, results in better accuracy in some guns. I have found this to be true in both black powder and modern handguns.
In any event if anyone is shooting light charges only and isn't happy with the accuracy- try some experimenting with heavier charges- it might improve things.

 

[nkbj]

Each piece likes what it likes.
If you are blessed with a piece that likes a full charge with either ball or conical, with or without wad, you are blessed indeed.

 

[PRM]

Been using them for close to 25 years now and have had great results. I started out putting lube over the balls - once I discovered Wonder Wads - they totally replaced the lube.