Wax paper wads for black powder cartridges

[armoredman]

Specifically, how do I cut out .45 inch cardboard wads for a black powder 45 Colt cartridge? It appears I screwed up and thought SPG lube wouldn't degrade black powder, and didn't clean the bottom of the bullets before seating. Guess I'd better shoot them up this coming weekend...

I was told cutting out thin waxed paper wads, like cut from a paper milk carton, would work - is there a hole punch I can use? Ideas would be appreciated, thank you very much. 

[bula]

I've had some luck using a cartridge case to cut wads. drill out primer hole big enough to get something in to push wads back out. Sharpen case mouth. 

[sharps4590]

Several outfits sell 45 cal. punches. I believe I got mine from Buffalo Arms....a long time ago, 1988 maybe? Barring that, a 7/16 arch punch comes close. .45 in. = 29/64. 7/16 is 0.4375 or 28/64

[junebug]

You can order pre cut wads from myflintlock.com and maybe punches too.

[lar4570]

I started with a .308 case,
cut the shoulder off,
drill out the primer pocket,
expand to 45 cal with with a case flaring die.
Sharpen he mouth of the case with a case deburring tool.
Put the modified case in a drill and cut out your wads.
Only cut a few at a time or they can really get jammed in there.
Use a bolt or punch to push the wads out of your new wad cutter.

If you do get a steel punch to cut out the wads on a block of wood, they seem to cut easier on the end grain of a block of wood rather than on the side.


I started off drilling a hole in the sides to push out the wads, but it is much easier to drill out the primer pocket and push them out with a 1/4" bolt.

[wendigo]

I got a set of gasket punches from Harbor Freight that work pretty well for .44 and .45, though the set also comes with larger and smaller sizes. I punch the wads from sheets of cork that have had Lee Liquid Alox applied to them and allowed to dry before punching them out. I don't shoot a lot of BP so the slow, small volume approach works for me.

[armoredman]

I don't plan on shooting a ton of them either, so that approach will work fine for me. Thank you all for some great ideas!

[leadhound]

www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/173/1

Lot of stuff here, probably be cheaper just to buy some made for it, than tooling up and then finding proper materials.

[bula]

If buying, Walters Wads vegetable fiber wads. Just sayin'. 

[nicholst55]

Track also carries wad punches, if you decide to go that route.

[zeus]

Jul 2, 2024 6:20:19 GMT -5 bula said:

If buying, Walters Wads vegetable fiber wads. Just sayin'. 

This…..cheap and easy

[davet]

I've been loading black powder in 45 Colt cartridges since about 1985-86, after I got tired of fooling with Pyrodex for several months. I have never used a single wad of any persuasion in a black powder 45 Colt round and recommend you skip this step in loading BP handgun ammo. Rifle cartridges generally profit from some kind of over powder wad...your mileage may very as to type...but it's a waist of money and an extra step in the loading process for pistol length cases.

I've been shooting black powder 44 WCF (44-40) over the same time period in original and reproduction 1873 Winchesters and in an original Model 1892. No wads used for any of those either. They all shot better than I can see.

Dave