Paper Patch shooting

[Flinch Morningwood]

Okay...time to kick a hornets nest...I hope.

Who out there shoots paper patch, how and why?

I ask because I need some more complication in my life and am looking to try it.  The only bullets I could find that I liked (given my high degree of newbie-ness to paper patch) was a .450 tapered over on Buffalo Arms...so I ordered them and some of the 9#  25% cotton paper they sell and we'll see what happens. 

Those that may have read my earlier episodes concerning the weapon in question will know that I am dealing with 45-100 (2.6) Sharps 1974 Pedretti...so far it's been a combination of fun, frustration, more frustration, @#$#@! frustration and lots more fun (not exactly in that order).

Just wanted to see if theres any folks out interested in stirring this topic up.

BTW - I figured out last weekend that the difference between shooting a Buffalo gun and golf is the range officer won't let you throw your gun in the pond after a really bad shot.

[Possum Toed Rick]

Howdy Al,
     I'll give you a hand kickin that nest, I shoot a lot of PP and Love it. In my opinion there's nothin better lookin (or better shootin) than a belt full of REAL Sharps Bullets. I have a Shilo in 45-110 and a Perdersoli in 45-90. I feed them lots of PPBs. I buy the .450, 510gn SS bullets from Buffalo Arms and use the 100% Rag paper from BA as well. If you dont have it already I would recommend the 45 Cal. PP Template as well. It makes cutting uniform patches a whole lot easier.
     I roll my patches wet and line the top edge up with the shoulder of the Straight sided Bullet. This leaves a tail of approx. 3-4mm that I roll twist on my thumb to flatten them. After they dry I take a little lube on my fingers and rub a light coat on them to keep the patches from unrolling and to help them slip easily into the case mouth. I find that with Fire formed cases they slide in with just a tad of resistance  (they wont fall out). I dont seat the bullets until I am ready to shoot. I place the bullet about 4mm inside the case mouth and load. This lets the bullet seat on the lands, both of my Rifles like this method.

Rick

[Yellowhouse Sam]

If you just want to kick a hornets nest, go over to www.shilohrifle.com forums and flatly state that PP bullets aren't worth a hoot. Or say that GG bullets are far superior to PP.  Either way the furr will fly.  Or you can do a search and get lots of good info.

[French Jack]

I've found that the best "stuff" to put on the patched bullets is the lube called "Rooster Jacket" from Rooster Labs in Kansas City, MO.  It is a liquid, goes on easily just tumbled in a plastic sandwich box, and spread out to dry on a sheet of waxed paper.  It works well, and waterproofs the patch.  You can either buy it direct from the company, or Midway USA handles it.

[Ranch 13]

You can go to www.montanabulletworks.com and order bullets already patched.

I casting paper patch slugs from a mold by Old West molds out of Fruita, that is a copy of an original sharps bullet. I've been testing a variety of papers and loads. So far from my 45-70 the one thing that has remained constant is using a prelubed felt wad from Sage Outfitters has proven to be a big help in fouling and accuracy. 73 grs of goex 3f is also trying to be the best powder charge.
Hope to test a series of loads this morning, and then decide if I want to load enough to shoot the Midwest Nationals at Alliance Ne. this weekend or just go with my time tested grease grooves.

[Fox Creek Kid]

I've shot PP since 1982. FWIW, go to the Shiloh forum and do a search. You don't have to be a member to search & I guarantee you that EVERY question you can think of re PP bullets has been asked AND answered there as well as questions you will have down the road. 

[Black River Smith]

Ranch13,

What is the number for your bullet mold.

[Ranch 13]

BRS I'm not sure what the catalog number on it is. I noticed when Bernie sent it it wasn't on his catalog sheets.
It throws a hollowbase and its a stepped bullet , .435 at the thick part. Nose pour . Casts pretty well, but everything has got to be just right to get it to drop from the mold easily, due to the hollow base button.
I've been thinking about asking him if he could cut the base just a tad longer so I could get more bearing surface , when adjusting the weight down .
Using 20lb paper and a template for the BACO .441 bullet, I get a nice .450 diameter. 24 lb jumps it up to a bit over .452.

[French Jack]

Normally, the weight of the paper patch and the number of wraps is adjusted to obtain the correct diameter and relationship to the depth of rifling.  Since I have a couple of reams of legal size onionskin paper that is 9 lb., I use it with two wraps on my bullets.  I sometimes have to adjust the bullet diameter to accomodate different guns/barrel dimensions.  With most modern rifled barrels, the thickness is ideal from the 9 lb. onionskin.

[Ranch 13]

 The 450 diameter 20 lb paper combo is working the best at the moment. Rolling the patches damp seems to help as well.
Folks like Kurt Altenburg, Kenny Wasserberger, and Dan Theodore roll their 45's to 450 diameter, or bore diameter.
  Brent Danielson used to have a good dissertation on paper patching on the web, but trying to find it yesterday, ended up with a 404 not found, so evidently he took it down.
I think Dan T has a pretty good discussion of paper patching on BPCR.net

[Outlander]

The 450 diameter 20 lb paper combo is working the best at the moment..............

Here are my first cartridges in .45-110.
Montana Precision Swaging 510grs / 450 dia / 9 pound onion skin paper / 1.5 rounded to .456 and .458 all ordered in the United States, shot in germany.
I think the .450 is too large, so I have a gasting mould by Brooks ordered in .446

[Ranch 13]

 Buffalo Arms has a .446 mold that lots of folks are very happy with at the moment. I've shot some of those bullets wrapped with a variety of paper from 9-16lb.
From shooting both the baco and the old west bullet I'm thinking 100% cotton paper is the best bet.

It just seems to work best if the patched diameter ends up at the bore diameter (not the groove diameter).

[Outlander]

Buffalo Arms has a .446 mold that lots of folks are very happy with at the moment...............

The first test is done. 10 Bullets in 100m, the first two were too deep, like the rest of the picture.

.45-110 / 95grs Swiss # 4 / 510grs MPS Paper patch / poly & fiber