Pistol wads for C & B revolvers?

[zimmerstutzen]

Keep in mind that under a round ball, wads do not seal the powder from the ball or seal the chamber against chain fires. Geometrically, if the wad is chamber diameter and seated on the powder and then a round ball is pushed down with even moderate compression, the wad distorts to the curvature of the ball. As the wad does so, the edges of the wad pull away from the chamber walls. When pushed up against the circumference/curvature of the ball, the wad is less than two thirds the size necessary to still seal the chamber.

Reason enough for me to keep using grease over the ball.

 

[Dickydalton]

It's wonderfull that we are all free to do as we choose to deal with this matter. I've done both and choose wads now with G #1 and don't want to jinx myself by saying anything about chainfires. Have a nice night all! :hatsoff:

 

[Adui]

Here's my take. I used to use them religiously because that's what I was taught to do. Back then, I never had a misfire nor have I ever had a chain fire though I have never used a grease patch over the ball.

Since getting back to it I didnt have wads so I just loaded the chamber with powder, ball and various other experiments (paper cartridges, wax / oil lube over the ball etc). My pistol has not fired reliably since I started using it again.

Disclaimer: I actually believe its operator error and or the poor old thing sat neglected for years and i need to rebuild it and get new nipples. However, that said, I may go back to wads when I do..

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Some folks have not used wads or grease and never had a chain fire. I myself have fired a gun without either.

I have never had a chain fire, I have seen one occur. Heck years ago, I fired a cap and ball revolver with plastic caps from a toy store.

I did some stupid stuff over the years. A chain fire is something I want to avoid. Wads under a round ball simply won't seal the chamber from sparks. It is simple geometry. However, whether they perform some other task as to accuraccy, I can't say.

I know some swear by them. I keep grease on top the balls, not just as a protection against the minor possibility of a chain fire through the front of the cylinder, but also to lube the bore preceding the ball as it slides through.

 

[aeatwood]

I guess it depends on the wad. I have use some VERY thin lubed wads that I bought, and about those you may be right, although I never had a chain-fire. Mine are 1/8" thick hard felt wads from durofelt.com, and they seem a good bit more substantial than the wonder wads. I also keep them "tacky" with lube, doesn't matter much which kind. They also take a good bit of lateral compression to get them in the chamber mouth.

I doubt very much that unless you are using a loose chamber/ball combo, that a chainfire occurs from the front of the cylinder. I would bet 99+% of those that do occur happen because a cap fell off a loaded chamber, or was loose-fitting enough to channel fire to mouth of the nipple.