45-70 card wads

[Roudy]

I was looking for a tool to make card wads (cardboard) to use when loading 45-70 cartridges with cast lead bullets. Someone suggested a company that sold the cut fiber wads and someone else suggested sharpening the edges of a 45-70 case and cutting them.

Being a long time cheapskate I decided to try the the sharpened case method first. While looking around for a defective 45-70 case I noticed an abundance of 45 ACP cases that I'm not using now and decided to try them out. I drilled out the primer hole so I could get a larger punch into the case to push out the cut wads and chucked that sucker up in the drill press. The 45 ACP case is rimless and chucks into the drill press real nice. Used a file to sharpen the case lip while the drill was running and proceeded to make 45 caliber wads from the back of a notebook tablet.

The case lip gets dull after 10-15 wads, but just touch it up with a file while the drill is running and it's sharp again. Now brass isn't the best material for cutting, but I think I saw some steel 45 ACP cases lying on the ground at the range.

 

[one-shot-one]

just a thought

i use to work for a printing co. we had hollow paper drills that would "punch holes through a stack of paper/cardboard, do not know if the come in .458" but a 7/16" (.437") or if you can find it a 15/32" (.469") might work they are apx. 4-5" in lenght and either chromed or teflon coated black. they can be bought at most printing supply houses. if nothing else you might see if the local "big" printer (ask for the bindery forman) can drill you up a few to try.
see what i'm talking about here:
http://www.dhpcatalog.com/DrillPaper/HollowPaperDrills/HollowDrills.htm

 

[Chuck R.]

Check out: http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/2,242.html

I use a couple of the bench mounted wad punches in .40 and .45. They're made by Fred Cornell (or they were) and are pretty slick.

One of those and some gasket material or LDPE and you're all set.

Chuck

 

[Roudy]

Thanks

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm still working up 45-70 loads for my Sharps replica. Have found the right combination for jacketed bullets but really want to shoot the 411 gr bullets I'm casting. Without the wads I'm only getting 3 inch groups at 50 yards using 38 gr of IMR 3031. If the wads work like I have been reading about I think I'll get the cutter from Buffalo Arms.

 

[redneck2]

http://www.bpcr.net

 

[Chuck R.]

Roudy,

PM me with your name/address, and I'll send you some in fiber and LDPE. I've already got enough laying around for you to test with.

Chuck

 

[Onmilo]

Not a bad idea for a wad punch.

May I suggest cardboard milk cartons as your source of wad material?
It is some of the best stuff I have found for wads which I use when I load .45-70 with Blackpowder and an SPG lubed, 420 grain, spire point, Lyman bullet.
Powder is GOEX and the primer is CCI large rifle magnum.