Card wads how do ya make them??

Bristow Kid · December 30, 2006, 03:59:18 PM

I should proably be posting this in BROW and proably will. But I am working on new loads for my .45-70 Rolling Block. I wanna make my own card wads and I was wondering what you pards use to punch them out? I appreciate any help.

Bristow Kid

Fox Creek Kid · December 30, 2006, 04:05:51 PM

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

Steel Horse Bailey · December 30, 2006, 04:35:07 PM

Howdy BK!

From Steel Horse's book, "Reloading for Cheap Ba$t...." I recommend a 7/16" punch from a set of punches that was less than $4 at Harbour Freight. I measured it at .454" which is perfect for 45 Colt and other pistol calibers. HOWEVER, it seals well in MY 45-70 if it has been at least neck-sized. (Hard to do, but not impossible in a 45-70.) I save the cardboard cartons from Tropicana (and others) Orange Juice cartons. You remember the cartons: the old ones were cardboard covered with wax; the new ones are c-board covered with a type of soft plastic that still feels like the wax. Using this type of wad insures that any lube cookie or BigLube (tm) bullet doesn't melt its lube and contaminate the powder.

Back to the wad punches. Another option is to call Circle Fly and get some of their .463" wads at between $8 - $10 per thousand. I don't know if they have any treated wads, however, that would be a barrier between lube & powder.

As to the Cheapo solution: there is some school of thought espoused by some FINE shooters and they don't resize the cases at all. The bullet is a slip-fit. There are many ways of achieving success, Grasshopper. (I'm STILL learning, too!

)

Oh ... I didn't really write a book entitled "Reloading for Cheap Ba$t....", but I've thought about it!

hellgate · December 30, 2006, 08:31:01 PM

I concur completely with Mr. Baily. If you have a drill press you can cut felt wads out even easier over a wooden block. I have the hole punch set but lately have bought wads from Circle Fly. I make my own felt wads but the harder card, fiber or soft filler wads are so cost effective from circle Fly that I would recommend you save time and just buy your wads, You'd be surprised what they offer. But, you just might be one to contribute a chapter to Steel Horse's "Reloading for cheap Ba$t...s" book. I'm sure I could write a few chapters too.

Adirondack Jack · December 30, 2006, 08:57:34 PM

I've cut em, but last time I bought walters wads for the .50-70 and let it be at that. they ain't THAT expensive, and assure ya got the same thing every time.

Steel Horse Bailey · December 30, 2006, 10:06:42 PM

Yeah ... Ya really gotta WANT to punch out 1000 card wads by hand or press!

Noz · December 31, 2006, 07:58:48 AM

If you do decide to use the punch, get a cheap plastic cutting boad to punch on. Way better than wood.
The metric Harbor Freight punch set has a 10.5 mm that fits my 41 cases perfectly.

Bristow Kid · December 31, 2006, 09:08:25 AM

Thanks for the information y'all much appreciated.

SHB if you ever write that book I want a copy and I could proably contribute a chapter or two on bargin shopping.

HAPPY NEW YEAR and GOOD SHOOTIN' Y'ALL

gw · December 31, 2006, 09:56:47 AM

Bristow---See my reply in BROW.

Delmonico · December 31, 2006, 09:12:44 PM

I use a soft lead ingot to cut wads on, when it wears out I remelt it. Don't cost me anything cause I got lots of them. do you want to include that in yer book pard?

BTW if anyone needs 32 wads just put a real sharp champher on a steel 7.62X39 case and cut the head off. When it wears out after a while just make another one. OK make that two entries in yer book for me Jeff.

Steel Horse Bailey · January 01, 2007, 01:37:39 AM

Good tip 'bout usin' that cutter on lead. I've been usin' one of thos cut-helper vinyl/plastic/synthetic/whatever boards as suggested by Nozzie. Works WAY better'n wood.

As to the book, well ... Thanks for the helpful add-ons for the chapter. 'Bout ANY shootin range open to the publik will prob'ly have plenty of those throw-away steel 7.62 X 39 cases lyin all 'round.

fourfingersofdeath · January 29, 2007, 07:08:26 AM

I used good old Govermint manilla floders to make card wads for my 44/40 92 when I had it, worked well. The punch set worked ok, but the next step was too big for the 45. I suppose you could drill one out. Circle fly are cheap, trouble is I have no idea what I want

Want to load 12Ga, 45Colt, 45ACP (ruger convertible), 44/40, 44 mag and special and of course, 45/70. I might load up some 38S&Ws as well for the nice little Po Po I have (Colt Police Positive.)

hellgate · January 29, 2007, 09:22:55 PM

Forufingers,
Hit the Circle fly website and you'll see they have all those diameters. Just mike the diameter of the bullets you shoot Or note the usual bore diameter and that is the card size.

fourfingersofdeath · January 30, 2007, 06:35:46 AM

Quote from: hellgate on January 29, 2007, 09:22:55 PM
Forufingers,
Hit the Circle fly website and you'll see they have all those diameters. Just mike the diameter of the bullets you shoot Or note the usual bore diameter and that is the card size.

Welllllllllllll, I figured the calibre part out, but I'm not sure if I need card wads, felt wads, grease wads, and how thick for the various applications. I think I need to get the Lyman Black Powder book or something similar. Any recommendations. There seems to be a heap of people into muzzle loading (I mean around my way), but not many into cartridge BP shooting.

I'm going to a new cowboy range this weekend, maybe there will be some darksiders there whose brains I can pick.

Sir Charles deMouton-Black · January 30, 2007, 09:25:08 AM

For .45 wads, I cut a belted magnum case at the neck & drill out the primer pocket to push out the wads. Chamfer well,may require resizing (run a .45-70 die over it, but WELL lubricated!) when it gets bentoutashape. Lots of tips on what to use on the bench, but I have been using END GRAIN wood scrap held in a vice. I will have to try that nylon cutting board idea!