over powder wads

[smylee grouch]

I know several shooters use an over powder / under patched ball system when shooting but I am curious as to what size (diameter and thickness ) to use to try this out. Do you use an bore diameter or grove diameter wad or maybe it just doesn't matter.  

[Fyrstyk]

I use bore diameter wads about 3/8" thick.  Use them on my hunting loads when the gun may be loaded for an extended period of time.  I also have an heirloom 35 caliber rifle from my GG Grandfather.  The breech area is eroded from the gun being loaded for close to 70 years.  I use a wad in this gun to get the patched ball above the eroded portion of the bore so the patch seals better.  Accuracy improved greatly when I did this.

[shifty]

I use bore diameter wads about 3/8" thick.  Use them on my hunting loads when the gun may be loaded for an extended period of time.  I also have an heirloom 35 caliber rifle from my GG Grandfather.  The breech area is eroded from the gun being loaded for close to 70 years.  I use a wad in this gun to get the patched ball above the eroded portion of the bore so the patch seals better.  Accuracy improved greatly when I did this.

    Where can you buy those thick wads?

[smylee grouch]

Fyrstyk, 3/8 thick sounds thick to me but I have not tried them yet. Are those wads cushion wads ?

[hanshi]

You can order different thicknesses of felt from "Durofelt" and punch out your own.  I have a couple of hollow punch sets from Harbor Freight and they cover a wide assortment of sizes.  I use the closest to groove dia. punch for each caliber.  Sometimes that means a bore size wad or a bit larger wad depending on the size of the closest-to-bore punch.

[Fyrstyk]

You can order different thicknesses of felt from "Durofelt" and punch out your own.  I have a couple of hollow punch sets from Harbor Freight and they cover a wide assortment of sizes.  I use the closest to groove dia. punch for each caliber.  Sometimes that means a bore size wad or a bit larger wad depending on the size of the closest-to-bore punch.

I punch out my own wads from some pieces of dura felt or some old felt hats that i had lying around.

[Daryl]

Some sizes are available from track in 1/2" donacona as well as 1/8" hard card.
The punch set from Harbor Freight sounds like an excellent idea.
For my 14 bore, back when hunting in VERY cold temps, I wanted a barrier between the lubed & patched ball and powder, so I used
a card wad cut from 1/10" monopoly board.
I cut these with an 11/16" arch punch I found at a local hardware store that seemed just a bit oversize, which worked out perfectly.
I later found out the barrier wasn't necessary with Neestfoot Oil or Track's Mink Oil & that leaving the rifle loaded for up to 3 months,
then firing, it hit centre, every time at 100 meters.  Slightly better than needed for Minute of Moose.

[Scota4570]

    Where can you buy those thick wads?
[/quote]

Track
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/172/1

[Keith Zimmerman]

I just use a felt wad.  Not a card or fiber wad.  I buy them the same bore as the barrel.

[Brokennock]

I used to use thin wads sold for .45 caliber but I don't know which diameter they were, I bought them by the bag. They were very thin and seemed to be made of a hard fiber almost like gasket material. I only used them to separate the lubed patch from the powder as I'm more a hunter than a target shooter.

[Keith Zimmerman]

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/174/1

[Nazgul]

I get a med that is shipped with cotton waste insulation, some is 1/2" some is 3/4". It is random shredded 100% cotton, very soft. Originally started using it when shooting at the range with a soft olive oil/beeswax lube to soften fouling, really works. When hunting I use a piece dry to protect the powder for long periods.

Have a lifetime supply.

Don

[Percy]

Take a look at Eastern Maine Shooting Supply, 40% off everything thru 12/7/20. Good selection of thick wool wads.

Percy

[Keith Zimmerman]

I get my stuff from Eastern Maine Shooting Supplies.

[Ric Carter]

Two cards over powder, one over shot. Thick patches blow patterns.

[Brokennock]

Two cards over powder, one over shot. Thick patches blow patterns.

Judging from the o.p.'s question about bore or groove diameter, I was assuming he was referring to separating his powder from the the lube of a patched ball in a rifle.

[Herb]

In .54 caliber I use a 3/4" thin leather or thick wool (sweater) wad, which I start cupped into the bore.  The patched ball then seats it on top of the powder.

[smylee grouch]

Yes, Brokennock is right. I was curious about using the wads over powder in a rifle and the replies so far have been giving me some options to think about. Thanks every one for your replies.

[Keith Zimmerman]

Using the felt wad allows u to use a thinner patch to make loading easier.  It protects the patch.  Thats why I suggested it because u mentioned ur patch was a little beat up.

[Daryl]

Or you could just go to a better, more substantial patch and not add another step to loading.
Whatever you decide you need or works best for you.
Virtually every rifle I have, or have had in the past, shoots/shot amazingly well with a .005" undersized ball (smaller than bore dia.)
and a 10 ounce denim patch. Some of them shot the very best, using a bore sized or slightly larger ball and the same 10 ounce denim patch.
As a test, Taylor & I tested a .508" round ball and 10 ounce denim patch in his favourite offhand rifle, his Virginia .50 with Rice bl. He loaded that
with short starter (of course) and the rifle's tapered hickory rod. This rifle does have .016" deep, rounded rifling. Normally, he uses a .495" ball and
the same patch material.
My old calipers used to measure 10ounce denim at .0225", but the new ones, must have narrower jaws and measure this material at .021".(compressed)