Wad punch / drill

[Greg Y]

I have a bunch of dura felt in the mail and would like to get a bunch of 54 cal wads punched. Where can a guy buy a hollow punch this size?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Togo]

This might do the job. https://www.amazon.com/C-S-OSBORNE-149-9-16/dp/B000W7FHTA 9/16" = 0.5625

 

[stikshooter]

I have a bunch of dura felt in the mail and would like to get a bunch of 54 cal wads punched. Where can a guy buy a hollow punch this size?

Thanks in advance.

Find a Harbor Freight and get a punch set (CHEAP $15-20.00)contains many sizes (calibers) and punch away /Ed

 

[Greg Y]

Anyone try a 9/16" wad in a 50? My brain says that is too much....but I am only speculating.

 

[garypl]

Anyone try a 9/16" wad in a 50? My brain says that is too much....but I am only speculating.

I would use a .50 wad - I punch 9/16 for .54 cal wads - you want a snug fit but it will be difficult to get the 9/16 to start evenly in the muzzle. Harbor freight punches are cheap and once you sharpen them they will cut durofelt just fine.

 

[Colonial Boy]

Just be aware that some people, probably through ignorance, sell hole punches for wad punches.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Find a Harbor Freight and get a punch set (CHEAP $15-20.00)contains many sizes (calibers) and punch away /Ed

Ye said it before me. That's what I would do.

 

[Campbell]

Find a Harbor Freight and get a punch set (CHEAP $15-20.00)contains many sizes (calibers) and punch away /Ed

Yes.
Buy old 100% wool felt hats at Salvation Army - $1

 

[Timber Wolf]

I started with the HF set and have augmented those with more in-between sizes off fleabay. I have even bought “metric” sizes to get just what I wanted.

 

[Greg Y]

How far over bore diameter do you find to be too much?

 

[stikshooter]

How far over bore diameter do you find to be too much?

45 wants 50/50 wants 54 ect , throw metric in to standard (for fine tuning) /Ed

 

[Mogadishu Meanderer]

Just be aware that some people, probably through ignorance, sell hole punches for wad punches.

C Boy, what’s your angle here? Diameters of wads produced, easiness of use, durability? I have a punch for my 12 ga and is superb but it was almost $50, I have hole punches for the rest of my ML and have worked fine (or so I think). If you could abound in the difference , it would be appreciated!

 

[BS]

9/16" is about right for a .50, I use a custom .555

and a .580 in the 54

You can sometimes find a metric one 14.5 or even a 15mm

 

[flconch53]

I buy cheap punches so the handle is not to hard then machine the handle to run true to the punch. Put it in the drill press and make all the wads you want. The same procedure for making patches

 

[The Crisco Kid]

It's a whole lot easier to buy Walters wads 500 or 1000 at a batch. They come in probably any size you need. My wad punches have gotten real dusty since I started using Walters wads.

Edit: I meant to say both Circle Fly and Walters wads.

 

[LME]

Anyone try a 9/16" wad in a 50? My brain says that is too much....but I am only speculating.

One of the best long range shooters uses a .54 patch in his .50 M.L. and he swears by them? Looking at his shooting ability I would say yes!

 

[Greg Y]

One of the best long range shooters uses a .54 patch in his .50 M.L. and he swears by them? Looking at his shooting ability I would say yes!

Luckily I scored a 9/16 drill punch.....and Asha shipped my felt Wednesday....so I might get to try it if the post office is good to me.

 

[Mogadishu Meanderer]

One of the best long range shooters uses a .54 patch in his .50 M.L. and he swears by them? Looking at his shooting ability I would say yes!

I believe the OP is referring to wads, not patches. The difference in diameter from one to the other will be significant. Most of the commercial patches I have now are generic to be used in .45 to .54 so I suppose it won’t matter, I cut my own so I don’t know if someone sells a specific for caliber patch.

 

[Mogadishu Meanderer]

It's a whole lot easier to buy Walters wads 500 or 1000 at a batch. They come in probably any size you need. My wad punches have gotten real dusty since I started using Walters wads.

Edit: I meant to say both Circle Fly and Walters wads.

Rolling our own is part of the smoking experience, no pun intended!!

 

[BS]

9/16" is about right for a .50, I use a custom .555

and a .580 in the 54

You can sometimes find a metric one 14.5 or even a 15mm

Update