Durafelt Wads - would I want? 1/4" 3/8" or 1/2"

[Pressure_Cleaner]

I did some searching and easily found how to make my own wads. I still have one question though. For my .36 and .44 caliber Italian revolvers, what thickness of Durafelt would I want? 1/4" 3/8" or 1/2" I have read about using Cream Of Wheat as a filler and have not tried it. Wouldn't a thicker wad or 2 be better than Cream of wheat? Or not?

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=561415&highlight=wads

 

[junkman_01]

You want 1/8 inch hard felt.

Here's the product on the Durofelt website...

FM1812H 36" 12" 1/8" 0.36 gm/c3 - Hard F-1 $12.00 each

http://www.durofelt.com/image_26.html

 

[Pressure_Cleaner]

Hmmmm, not reopening until Feb 4th

Thanks Junkman, I will order some on Feb 4th when they reopen.

 

[Cearbhall]

FM1812H 36" 12" 1/8" 0.36 gm/c3 - Hard F-1 $12.00 each- Temporarily Out of Stock. Dang! And that's not a bad price.

 

[arcticap]

But they do have some in the "Close out felt materials" section.

http://www.durofelt.com/image_16.html

 

[Gatofeo]

I usually use 1/8-inch felt.
However, for light loads where I need to take up room in the chamber, I also keep some lubricated 1/4 inch wads in my kit. I find the longer, lubricated wad easier to dispense than corn meal as a filler.
But typically, you'd almost always use 1/8" wads.
Duro-Felt is a great company. Very nice lady runs it. I was probably the first shooter to order felt from her. I also met the owner at her home-run business in Little Rock, Ark., about 2001.
At that time, she had no idea that shooters used felt. Had quite a talk with her, and have been singing the praises of Duro-Felt since. I'm sure she's learned a thing or two about what shooters need for felt, since then.
All her felt is made of wool, not polyester. I bought a large sheet of 1/8" hard years ago. I also have a small sheet of 1/4" felt. For me, these will be a lifetime supply.

 

[Noz]

She's nice to work with isn't she?

I too use the 1/8" felt she sells. A couple of hours with a harbor freight 11mm hollow punch and a plastic cutting board produces a years supply, and I shoot a lot. I soak mine in hot homemade lube before storage for use.

 

[bushrod2]

If the 1/8" material isn't available, I've used a old 100% wool coat cut up and soaked. Soak large pieces first then punch, much easier. Hope this helps.

 

[BullRunBear]

Another vote for Duro-Felt: a great product sold by a very nice lady. (Have to order some of that 1/4 inch stuff for reduced loads.) Also the lube that Gatofeo described in his original post works perfectly with the felt. That combination makes barrel cleaning easy and never a bit of leading. I use the same wads in 45 Colt BP cartridges, with the same good results, and will do so the next time I load some 45-70s.

Jeff