And another question..about homemade wads.

[Tallbald]

Got my felt from Durofelt yesterday and am running low on
wads, so need to make some. I have the Harbor freight punch set, and need to know if it's OK to just use the 1/2 inch punch to make wads for my .457-ball-using Ruger Old Army. I am wondering even if the wads go in cupped due to the extra diameter, would it be OK? I will be warm wax treating them as I have seen outlined other places in the forum. As always, thanks for everyone's time. Don

 

[junkman_01]

I use the 7/16" punch for all my .44/.45 C&B guns including the ROA. No problems as I believe they expand a bit when you seat the ball due to compression.

 

[mykeal]

+1 to junkman 01.

 

[makos_goods]

Tallbald,
Junkman is right. I use a 7/16th cutter and it is perfect. I actually have three sizes for .44 caliber cap pistols, a Ø.450 punch and a loading press cutter I think is Ø.452 and both are too hard to get started in the chambers. I end up using the cheap punch I bought in a set for less than $8. A fully soaked wad will fill the chamber just like Junkman said.

~Mako

 

[Noz]

The Harbor Freight punches work well. I picked up a metric set by mistake and discovered that the 11mm makes the best size wads for Colt Army chambers.

 

[junkman_01]

These punches work even better when used as a drill in a drill press!

 

[arcticap]

Some folks enlarge the diameter of their Harbor Freight wad cutter just a little bit by using a Dermel:

Homemade wads first try

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=591324&highlight=harbor

 

[junkman_01]

There is absolutely no need to open them up.

 

[arcticap]

There is absolutely no need to open them up.

You're right.
It's simply a matter of personal preference, how well the punch works and if it's sharp & well polished enough to cut the wads satisfactorily. And some folks might like them to fit a little more snug to seal the powder better, such as for leaving the gun loaded for a longer term.

Before I slightly reamed out my 7/16" punch, I made a couple of wads. They were a bit small, so I opened it up with my Dremel. This had the side benefit of polishing the inside, which was a bit rough.

When dealing with cheap Chicom hardware, tolerances may not be all that good. So, a "7/16"" punch may cut out an off-sized wad. The only real way to be sure is to cut a couple wads with a new punch and try them in your gun.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=7294366&postcount=8

 

[makos_goods]

Junkman,
Now besides the hammer punch set, Harbor Freight is making a 6 piece set just for the drill press:

http://www.harborfreight.com/6-piece-hollow-punch-set-67030.html

I had never seen these before.

And I agree with you on not needing to open up a Ø7/16 punch. That's Ø.438" and it gives you maybe .005" clearance per side to allow you to insert it. I spent $40 on a Ø.450 punch and I found the wads are hard to use. I just use a cheap Ø7/16 punch now. I bought a loading press mounted punch from a friend that cuts a Ø.452 when I measure a cardboard wad it cuts. I use it to make over powder rifle wads. I tried some felt wads in it and I went back to the Ø7/16" punch.

This is one time simple and cheap are definitely better. I may buy one of those drill press sets the next time I drive by the store.

~Mako

 

[junkman_01]

Mako,

That would have been JUST what I needed. As it is, I had to slightly reduce the shank end of my 7/16" punch on my mini-lathe to fit in my 1/2" drill press. Cutting them instead of punching them is so much faster and cleaner, not to mention quieter!

 

[Legionnaire]

For those of you cutting wads on a drill press, what speed are you using? I assume fairly low. Inquiring minds would like to know ...

 

[junkman_01]

I use the slowest speed on my 5 speed drill press 480 RPM.