introduction

[schultz's honor]

Allow me a moment to introduce myself.
I've been lurking this site for a couple of weeks, and thought it time to get involved.
I am fairly new to BP. Got a Hawken kit about 4 years ago, and this year was the first year that I hunted with it.
My wife gave me an 1858 buffalo for xmas last year and an Pietta 1858 old west this year for xmas.
Going to make some smoke and noise this afternoon.
Being fairly new to this, I went on the Cabelas site and watched their video on loading and shooting. They made no mention of the use of wadding between the powder and the ball.
How critical is the use of wadding, and what is the ideal material to use?
Scheels has the prelubed felt wads, 50 pack for 10 BUCKS!
That really takes the cost effectiveness out of the hobby.
I have seen reference to making your own wads.
Where does one find a wad cutter or is there an easy way to make one?
As an added note, what are your opinions on the Pietta's?

 

[Shawnee]

Hi SH....

If all else fails Cabela's has 'em for $6/100.

Felt is the commonly preferred wad material. Some will use pillow ticking often available at craft/sewing type stores.

Enjoy!

 

[J.T. Gerrity]

See the "Black Powder essentials" sticky at the top of the forum for this kind of info. Maybe this should be renamed "BP FAQ" or "Newbies start here" or something similar. Lots of good info there!

 

[schultz's honor]

The "Newbie" did start there.
I asked a question about types of wadding, and what other members of this forum preferred.
I did not see anything in the sticky about cornmeal, cream of wheat, or wool wadding preferences.
I also asked if anybody new of a way to make your own wadding punch. Is that in the sticky?
I did not see it but maybe I read over it.
I would think that if somebody is somewhat creative they could make their own punches out of brass tubing?

 

[pohill]

Use can use wadding, but in a pinch, you can use Bore Butter or Crisco over the ball. Messy but effective, and cheap. Try it - you might like it.
I now use lube pills, made of paraffin and beeswax, over the powder, under the ball. You can use cornmeal or Cream of Wheat over the powder to raise the ball - I did that for awhile but got lazy with the extra step.
I've heard of punches or cutters that you can put in a drill press to cut felt wads to size, but never tried it myself.

 

[AzShooter1]

Brass tubing is the best idea to make your own. Just sharpen the end. I bought my punch, you can get them at Harbour Frieght cheap or from Buffalo Arms http://www.buffaloarms.com

I got my felt from Duro-Felt http://www.durofelt.com/image_26.html. That would be the least expensive way to go.

I impregnate the felt wads with a mixture of wax and soy wax 50/50, a lot of people use beesway and olive oil. I'm going to try that next.

Put your wax combination in the microwav if you want, once it is a liquid ( about 5 minute) pour it over the wads. Let it harden. Then put the wads in the microwav and pour off the extra wax mix.

 

[pohill]

AzShooter1, I've never tried the soaked wads, but I probably will. Do they keep the barrel cleaner?

 

[Steve499]

About making your own wad punch, post # 88 in this thread tells how I made mine.

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=65820&page=4&highlight=wad+punch+3/4