Wonder seals?

[Panzerschwein]

Hi all!

Well I'm getting back into cap and ball shooting and ordered some oxyoke wonder seals from Track of the Wolf. I thought I was ordering wonder wads, where they go underneath the ball... but on the can it says these wonder seals are meant to go on top the ball, with a wonder wad below the ball... can I use the wonder seals between powder charge and ball? I haven't been able to find an answer to this anywhere, Thanks!

 

[birdshot8's]

I'll start. I used only the seals with the ball sitting on the powder. The sales guy at Cabelas told me I needed them, to prevent chain fire. I used one package and decided they were to much trouble. I switched to using bore butter as a chamber seal.

 

[Crawdad1]

I once used a wonder seal between the powder (GOEx FFFg) and ball and when that chamber went off it didn't sound right. They are soppy wet so it probably seeped into the powder. I don't used them anymore as I believe that a Oxy wonder wad is good enough to seal the chamber.

 

[whughett]

With a properly fitted ball that leaves a ring of lead behind as it is swaged into the chambers would seem that is seal enough. One just needs a source of lube for the ball .Sometimes I think these manufactures sit around dreaming up geegaws for us shooters to spend our hard earned dollars on. I know I have bought my share of crap now sitting around unused.

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

Back in the day wads were not used between ball and powder in revolvers.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Yes, I know that, I need to know if I can get by with just using these "wonder seals", as I meant to buy "wonder wads". I have made my own "wonder wads" from felt, beeswax, etc. in the past but I don't have any left and needed some for weekend shooting.

But, I accidently got these seals. I am wondering if I could just get by with these wonder seals over the ball? I am not worried about chain fires... I am interested in keeping the fouling soft, as my old homemade wonder wads did a great job.

Can I just use these up in the meantime?

 

[Crawdad1]

Over the ball certainly, under the ball alone without another wad separating it from the powder, I didn't have good luck with that combination but I sometimes use them in combination with a wonder wad (i.e. Powder, wonder wad, wonder seal, ball) arrangement in the chamber.

But the time I tried a wonder seal over the powder alone it sounded like a squib load when it went off.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Okay cool thanks! So I will be okay if I don't use an actual wonder wad between ball and powder, I should just load powder then ball then put a wonder seal on top of ball and be good to go?

 

[Crawdad1]

Yes Sir you're good to go. What are you shooting Cooldill your Cimarron '51 Navy?

How about an update on how she shoots??

 

[45 Dragoon]

Yeah!!

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com

 

[Panzerschwein]

Will do! I was a bit confused about these wonder seals and their purpose, now I can't wait to get my Navy Colt back out to the range!

 

[PRM]

I started shooting C&B revolvers back in the 70s. I was taught to use grease over the ball and I never had any problem with chain fires. Dependent on the type of lube it could get messy in the summer months if you were carrying them loaded. I started using the Wonder Wads in the 80s and have been equally as pleased with the result and a lot less mess.

Are they really needed??? I don't know, as long as you get a good ring of lead shaved when you ram the balls home and a good fitting cap - probably not. But I've been using them too long to want to change course now.