Wasp nest OPW

[Keppy]

Was using wasp nest for over the powder wad. I have a CVA Kentucky 45 Cal. that I used to hunt deer with this year. I had loaded this on Saturday and shot it on Monday evening. The temp was around 10 above to 5 below so temps were cold.
[url] http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f63/51349/waspOP001.jpg[/url]

This picture is the powder side of the patch after I took the wasp nest material off.
[url] http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f63/51349/waspOP002.jpg[/url]

This side is the ball side.
[url] http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f63/51349/waspOP003.jpg[/url]

I shoot 70grs fff goex with great results. I always use something over the powder. :hmm: Just because.
For those of you that use something over the powder, wasp nest are great for OPW's. I just found one out hunting the side of a coffee can. I use about 1/8 inch thick piece for a wad between the powder. Oh its best to get them nest in the fall when it cold. For some reason they don't like you taking it in the summer. Besides there not home in the winter.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

I've read that some original possible bags have been found that contained wasp nest, evidently it was used quite a bit by the old timers. I've never tryed it, I use felt buttons.

 

[Keppy]

I have heard of others that have used or tried wasp nest,so had found a nest over a year ago now. So thats what I've been using. I do use a cotton patch sometimes too. Have you ever tried burning a wasp nest? They don't burn easy.

 

[smo]

Hacksaw ,I found 10 or 12 wasp nest at the range a couple of weeks ago when I was shootin'. I tried them & didn't see much of a change in my groups. I'm going back to the range this week one day to shoot a Renagade 50 cal. I just rescued from this guy's closet & plan to keep using the nest. I have collected several since that trip to the range. My powder shipment is due in today & I plan to make a little smoke this week & maybe some meat next week! :thumbsup:

 

[roundball]

Got 3 Hornet's Nests from my Sister up north back in September, each much larger than a football...tried a dozen shots with that material as an OP wad and it worked just like the Oxyoke wads.

Found I had to tear off and stuff a couple of inches of nest material into the muzzle as it compressed a lot when seated but it worked fine, stayed right with the patches like the oxyoke wads normally do, did not burn, etc.

I'm not planning to routinely use it, just wanted the actual hands on experience so I'd know first hand how it performed.

 

[smo]

Thanks for the info Roundball, I didn't use that much I only used a pinch. 3/4 inch or so . I will try a little more I didn't notice any on the patches that I recovered.

 

[Keppy]

I should rephase the burning issue. It does burn with a match but when compressed as a wad it seems to work well. I fold it several times as it does compress a lot. I too had found no diffrence in my groups. I hit the wall of the barn I was standing in :hmm: :rotf: . Ok not true. They work for me.
Now what did they use for patches? leather?

 

[Runner]

The fiber pre-lubed cushion wads for shotguns crumble real easily. I just tear off a pinch of that and ram before the ball. I just always seem to have a couple of shotgun wads handy. The lubed wad material doesn't cause fires either.

 

[Walks with fire]

I got to thinking about the possible use of wasps nest and thought it might be used to seal the charge in the barrel from moisture in the old days.