revolver wad question

[torpedo]

So now I decided to make my own wads. However it appears I would have to order online for lambs tallow. Is there a good substitute for it? I have watched several videos on different combos, but still not sure what would be the best sub. Would lard or maybe crisco be as good or better than coconut oil? The beeswax is easy to get locally.

 

[B P Arn]

A mix of beeswax and Crisco works very well.

 

[Woody Morgan]

Or beeswax/olive oil.

wm (and awaaayyy we go!)

 

[cynthialee]

here let me foul this one further

ever consider a buffer instead of a wad?

 

[Bunk]

My felt wad lube is common no salt lard and paraffin canning wax mixed 1 oz lard to 4 oz Gulf wax..
For lubing bullets I use 2 oz. lard to 4 oz paraffin wax which makes a somewhat softer lube.
Pure wool felt made for gun wads is available from Duro Felt and is the source I have used for several years.
Beeswax will also work, but Gulf canning wax is less expensive and easy to find.
Please note he organic chemistry makeup of paraffin wax is completely compatible with Black Gunpowder residue.
Respectfully
Bunk (Formerly wb78963)

 

[torpedo]

Great info there Bunk, I already have recieved my felt from DuroFelt, Have the beeswax, cutter will be here tomorrow from Buffalo Arms. Most of the videos suggest lambs tallow but it is not available here locally, and it is pricey plus shipping cost. Some suggest coconut and olive oil subs, just wanted to check if there might be something better. Looks like I will go with the coconut and olive. Thanks to all the input folks.

 

[TFoley]

Remember that you are not trying out some odd Greek peasants' recipe, all you are trying to do is to go some way towards keeping the foiling soft.

Any natural lubricant in the form of cooking fat will do - nothing esoteric - remember that if you read the instructions on loading and cleaning a Colt's pistol from the box label, there is absolutely ZERO mention of wads of any kind.

Me, I don't use 'em, 'cepting in my .451 Whitworth rifle., and as a load 'fixer' in my S*i**r and .45-70 Govt cartridges which we will not be mentioning here.

 

[TreeMan]

Whatever mix you decide to use make sure the consistency is more waxy/dry than wet. When seating a ball on a wet wad it will squeeze that oil right into your powder. I gave up on those wads a long time ago and use cream of wheat as a spacer for targets. For light target loads id need three wads in each chamber to fill the gap. I compete with a Ruger old army. 20 grains of 3F, 20 grains of cream of wheat and a 457 ball = many blue ribbons.

 

[Zulch]

Remember that you are not trying out some odd Greek peasants' recipe, all you are trying to do is to go some way towards keeping the foiling soft.

Any natural lubricant in the form of cooking fat will do - nothing esoteric - remember that if you read the instructions on loading and cleaning a Colt's pistol from the box label, there is absolutely ZERO mention of wads of any kind.

Me, I don't use 'em, 'cepting in my .451 Whitworth rifle., and as a load 'fixer' in my S*i**r and .45-70 Govt cartridges which we will not be mentioning here.

Thanks TFoley. So no wads in your revolvers? Just powder and ball/conical? Cool. Love to hear more on this if you care to elaborate. Thank you

 

[Bunk]

Great info there Bunk, I already have recieved my felt from DuroFelt, Have the beeswax, cutter will be here tomorrow from Buffalo Arms. Most of the videos suggest lambs tallow but it is not available here locally, and it is pricey plus shipping cost. Some suggest coconut and olive oil subs, just wanted to check if there might be something better. Looks like I will go with the coconut and olive. Thanks to all the input folks.

Once I tried mineral oil in the lube and had problems with the oil bleeding out. It was OK for load and shoot, but not for leaving a gun loaded for a day or two.
At least that is my experience and the lard and wax mix is extremely stable.
Hold Center
Bunk

 

[Zulch]

Great info there Bunk, I already have recieved my felt from DuroFelt, Have the beeswax, cutter will be here tomorrow from Buffalo Arms. Most of the videos suggest lambs tallow but it is not available here locally, and it is pricey plus shipping cost. Some suggest coconut and olive oil subs, just wanted to check if there might be something better. Looks like I will go with the coconut and olive. Thanks to all the input folks.

Torpedo. What’s the cutter that you bought. I just bought some punches. I would like a link to your cutter. Maybe an easier process? Thanks

 

[torpedo]

Torpedo. What’s the cutter that you bought. I just bought some punches. I would like a link to your cutter. Maybe an easier process? Thanks

Go to Buffalo Arms web site and you will find sevaral sizes of hollow punches, TOTW also have them but somewhat more expensive. You can also get a cheap set ftom harbor freight but they are not the correct size. Good luck zulch.

 

[torpedo]

Whatever mix you decide to use make sure the consistency is more waxy/dry than wet. When seating a ball on a wet wad it will squeeze that oil right into your powder. I gave up on those wads a long time ago and use cream of wheat as a spacer for targets. For light target loads id need three wads in each chamber to fill the gap. I compete with a Ruger old army. 20 grains of 3F, 20 grains of cream of wheat and a 457 ball = many blue ribbons.

I too use cream of wheat, however want to try wads below the wheat. Kinda wierd but nothing better to do than spend money on my BP addiction.lol

 

[cynthialee]

cream of wheat...?!!?

I prefer corn meal

 

[M. De Land]

So now I decided to make my own wads. However it appears I would have to order online for lambs tallow. Is there a good substitute for it? I have watched several videos on different combos, but still not sure what would be the best sub. Would lard or maybe crisco be as good or better than coconut oil? The beeswax is easy to get locally.

I prefer the lubed wads to grease over ball for two reasons, It will last and seal better in en-climate weather and you get the same amount of lube for each shot. The trouble with over ball grease shooting is each progressive shot blows more of the grease off the following rounds.
As for lube you want less oil and more wax in felt wads. Bear grease if you can get it works well because you can melt it to soak into felt wads then when it cools it solidifies to white grease. It will lube your revolver very well too after a good water cleaning and drying.

 

[M. De Land]

cream of wheat...?!!?

I prefer corn meal

Cream of wheat will work better than corn meal for two reasons. Oil won't press out of it when ramming a ball and it will compress much better with out spring back.

 

[TFoley]

Thanks TFoley. So no wads in your revolvers? Just powder and ball/conical? Cool. Love to hear more on this if you care to elaborate. Thank you

Not a lot to add, in fact, zilch. I started shooting C&B revolvers in 1968, and still do, right up to yesterday. Apart from one messy experiment with some Ox-Yoke Wonder Wads, that is. The only 'wonder' is why the heck I bothered, especially at the ludicrous cost here in UK if I'd bothered to continue using them. Thankishly they were bought from Joe and Suzi in Springfield OR, where he allowed they might make a difference, and so might be worth a try.

IMO they were not.

Powder and ball is all.

 

[TrapperDude]

I prefer the lubed wads to grease over ball for two reasons, It will last and seal better in en-climate weather and you get the same amount of lube for each shot. The trouble with over ball grease shooting is each progressive shot blows more of the grease off the following rounds.
As for lube you want less oil and more wax in felt wads. Bear grease if you can get it works well because you can melt it to soak into felt wads then when it cools it solidifies to white grease. It will lube your revolver very well too after a good water cleaning and drying.

Rather than greasing over the ball, I use a technique I read about where I smear some lube around the mouth of the chamber before ramming the ball down on top of the charge. I use cork disks on top of the powder to prevent contamination. The technique lets me shoot eight cylinders without punching the bore, with minimally detectable loss of accuracy.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

My felt wad lube is common no salt lard and paraffin canning wax mixed 1 oz lard to 4 oz Gulf wax..
For lubing bullets I use 2 oz. lard to 4 oz paraffin wax which makes a somewhat softer lube.
Pure wool felt made for gun wads is available from Duro Felt and is the source I have used for several years.
Beeswax will also work, but Gulf canning wax is less expensive and easy to find.
Please note he organic chemistry makeup of paraffin wax is completely compatible with Black Gunpowder residue.
Respectfully
Bunk (Formerly wb78963)

Bunk, I use Gulf wax to make mini cannisters from lunch bag paper and .36 cal. balls. works great.

 

[Billy Boy]

So now I decided to make my own wads. However it appears I would have to order online for lambs tallow. Is there a good substitute for it? I have watched several videos on different combos, but still not sure what would be the best sub. Would lard or maybe crisco be as good or better than coconut oil? The beeswax is easy to get locally.

Beeswax and grape seed oil, tweeked either way depending on temp/season